What Changed This Week

From the GPAtlas Spotlight

AI tools approved to improve prostate cancer detection

Five NICE-approved AI tools enhance accuracy of MRI interpretation for prostate cancer, improving diagnostic certainty.

Read the topic: Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Testing in The Ocean

IXCHIQ chikungunya vaccine withdrawn from UK market

MHRA ends marketing authorisation following safety review. GPs should stop offering and manage patient queries.

Comorbid asthma in COPD increases exacerbation risk

Comorbid asthma in COPD fell from 22% to 9% between cohorts. Remains associated with increased exacerbation risk.

Read the topic: Asthma–COPD Overlap (ACO) in The Ocean

This week's podcast

Knee osteoarthritis: before anyone talks about a new knee

The case. Linda, aged 68, has aching, stiff knees and asks for an X-ray and a referral.

Three things for Monday

1. Aged 45 and over, pain on activity, morning stiffness up to 30 minutes: diagnose without an X-ray.
2. Offer exercise to everyone, before and alongside any medicine, with weight loss if overweight.
3. Examine the hip. Refer for replacement when symptoms substantially affect quality of life despite non-surgical treatment.

The journals

BJGP Open: Barriers and enablers to engagement with green social prescribing in primary care: a scoping review using the socio-ecological model.

Scoping review identified multi-level barriers (knowledge gaps, cost, weather) and enablers (flexible approaches, partnerships, community co-design) to green social prescribing and nature-based interventions in primary care.

BMC Primary Care: Prevalence of ECG-detected and previously unrecognized atrial fibrillation among older adults attending a family health center: a single-center cross-sectional screening study.

Single-centre screening study in Istanbul found 11.8% of adults aged 65 and over had atrial fibrillation on ECG, with 52% previously unrecognized and associated with heart failure.

BMC Primary Care: How relational continuity shapes recommended chronic disease management: analysis of population-based administrative health data in British Columbia.

Population-based Canadian cohort found relational continuity showed null association with recommended diabetes and hypertension management after adjustment, despite being valued in primary care policy.

BMC Primary Care: Improving breast and colorectal cancer screening information through co-design with underserved groups in an urban area.

Co-design study in Amsterdam with underserved populations found limited cancer screening knowledge, early stage decision engagement, and need for tailored culturally appropriate information strategies.

BMC Primary Care: Breast cancer screening for persons experiencing homelessness.

Specialized breast cancer screening program for homeless participants found 124 underwent mammography, with 86.3% normal and 13.7% abnormal results, and high patient satisfaction with navigation support.

Topic of the week

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) in The Ocean, and its one-page summary in The Scope.

Earlier editions

• What Changed This Week, 19 October 2026
• What Changed This Week, 7 September 2026

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