Evidence Updates Homepage – Public Health Key Documents
The Health Care Team produce a monthly report on evidence updates. The methods used to identify potentially relevant evidence and circulate it each month can be viewed here.
Past months’ updates (plus this months in PDF format) can be accessed at the bottom of the page.
Public Health Key Documents: May – June 2025
NIHR
Some forms of exercise may be effective for managing sleep problems in people with fibromyalgia. However, heterogeneity, imprecision and low quality of the current evidence base preclude any firm conclusions. Qualitative data indicate that poor sleep is a common, profoundly disabling problem for people with fibromyalgia that negatively affects their other symptoms (e.g. pain), health and well-being. While heterogeneity was found among the item content of the patient-reported outcome measures, all capture constructs associated with sleep quality and, conceptually, are similar enough to be combined in a synthesis.
Systematic search: Limited
May 2025
Despite clinical benefits, none of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene modulators assessed would be considered cost-effective based on the NICE threshold of £20,000–30,000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained.
Systematic search: Limited
May 2025
Behaviour change technique-based interventions are effective, targeting intention to engage in physical activity, in improving daily physical activity and functional outcomes in the short term, although evidence is limited for maintenance. There is a need for more randomised controlled trials examining daily physical activity and clinical outcomes, including longer-term follow-up, with detailed descriptions of behaviour change techniques, costs and provider views.
Systematic search: Limited
May 2025
Medium-dose inhaled corticosteroid + long-acting β2-agonist is recommended for children with asthma that is uncontrolled on inhaled corticosteroid alone; leukotriene receptor antagonist alone should be avoided. Data from 67% of the eligible trials could not be included. Conclusions should therefore be viewed with some caution.
Systematic search: Limited
May 2025
Artificial intelligence-assisted analysis of computed tomography scan images may reduce variability of and improve consistency in the measurement and clinical management of lung nodules. Artificial intelligence may increase nodule and cancer detection but may also increase the number of patients undergoing computed tomography surveillance unnecessarily. No direct comparative evidence was found, and nor was any direct evidence found on clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness. Artificial intelligence-assisted image analysis may be cost-effective in screening for lung cancer but not for symptomatic populations. However, reliable estimates of cost-effectiveness cannot be calculated with current evidence.
Systematic search: Limited
May 2025
C-reactive protein point-of-care test may reduce the number of patients given an antibiotic prescription but could increase the rate of re-consultations. C-reactive protein point-of-care test may potentially be cost-effective but existing estimates were based on very small and uncertain gains in quality-adjusted life-years and only accounted for short-term costs and consequences. There was very limited or an absence of evidence for other point-of-care tests.
Systematic search: Limited
May 2025
The King’s Fund
Nil
SIGN
Nil
Public Health Scotland
The report presents a summary of the most recently available Scottish life expectancy at birth projections for males and females up to 2035 encompassing a review of routinely published projections and scenarios, and the findings of a bespoke analysis conducted by Public Health Scotland in January 2025.
Systematic search: No
June 2025
Mental health in and through work: findings from participatory arts-based qualitative research
The report outlines findings from participatory arts-based research which explores experiences of mental health, employment and economic inactivity. It examines the complex and intersectional nature of barriers to re-enter employment after being out of work due to mental illness. It also
considers practical, attitudinal and emotional barriers to employment and suggests ways in which these can be addressed across mental health, employability and connected policy areas.
Systematic search: No
May 2025
Scottish Government
The report has five overarching themes: strengthening the contribution and impact of the mental health nursing profession; mental health nursing leadership; mental health nursing education and development; nurturing the mental health nursing workforce; rural and island considerations. It makes 24 recommendations
Systematic search: No
June 2025
What Works to Reduce Reoffending: update of the evidence on imprisonment and community disposals
This paper is the first in the series on reducing reoffending.
June 2025
Scotland’s Population Health Framework
The Population Health Framework sets out the Scottish Government’s and COSLA’s long-term collective approach to improving Scotland’s health and reducing health inequalities for the next decade.
Systematic search: No
June 2025
Population Health Framework: evidence paper
This report accompanies the Population Health Framework (PHF). It provides an overview of evidence on population health in Scotland, highlighting key challenges and opportunities for improvement. It also includes a technical note on the development of the PHF aim.
Systematic search: Limited
June 2025
Brain Health Service pilot: evaluation – final report
This report presents detailed findings from Blake Stevenson’s independent evaluation of the Brain Health Service demonstrator site in Aberdeen, delivered collaboratively by NHS Grampian, Alzheimer Scotland, and the Scottish Government.
Systematic search: No
June 2025
A summary of the evidence on historical approaches to tackling child poverty in Finland, Denmark, Slovenia and Croatia, with the key learnings for policy makers in Scotland.
Systematic search: No
June 2025
Minimum Income Guarantee: report – a roadmap to dignity for all
The final report by the independent Minimum Income Guarantee Expert Group outlines how a Minimum Income Guarantee could potentially be delivered in Scotland using a roadmap approach, combining long-term vision with near term steps.
Systematic search: No
June 2025
Tackling child poverty priority families overview
This evidence pack highlights key issues for the six priority family types identified as being at highest risk of child poverty: lone parent families, minority ethnic families, families with a disabled adult or child, families with a younger mother (under 25), families with a child under 1, and larger families (3+ children).
Systematic search: Limited
June 2025
Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC Advice)
Sumatriptan 85mg / naproxen 457mg (Suvexx®) is NOT recommended for use within NHSScotland
for the acute treatment of the headache phase of migraine attacks with or without aura in adults where treatment with a mono-entity product has been insufficient.
Systematic search: No
June 2025
Accepted for restricted use as monotherapy for the treatment of adults and adolescents 12 years and older with advanced rearranged during transfection (RET)-mutant medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). Restricted to patients who require systemic therapy and have not previously received systemic therapy.
Systematic search: No
June 2025
Accepted for use for the treatment of patients aged 12 years and older with acute graft versus host disease who have inadequate response to corticosteroids.
Systematic search: No
June 2025
Accepted for restricted use for the treatment of adult patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (RMS) with active disease as defined by clinical or imaging features. Restricted to patients with active relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
Systematic search: No
June 2025
Accepted for use in adults for treatment of neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration.
Systematic search: No
June 2025
NOT recommended in combination with tremelimumab for the first-line treatment of adults with advanced or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Systematic search: No
June 2025
Accepted for restricted use as an add-on treatment for severe refractory eosinophilic asthma in adults, adolescents and children aged 6 years and older. SMC restriction: patients who have eosinophils of at least 150 cells per microlitre (0.15 x 109/L) at initiation of treatment and have had at least three asthma exacerbations in the preceding year or are receiving maintenance treatment with oral corticosteroids.
Systematic search: No
May 2025
NOT recommended for use for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who have been previously treated with available therapies, including fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin-, and irinotecan-based chemotherapy, with or without an anti-VEGF therapy, and if RAS wildtype and medically appropriate, an anti-EGFR therapy.
Systematic search: No
May 2025
Accepted for use as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC), harbouring susceptible FGFR3 genetic alterations who have previously received at least one line of therapy containing a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor in the unresectable or metastatic treatment setting.
Systematic search: No
May 2025
sodium thiosulfate (Pedmarqsi)
Accepted for use for the prevention of ototoxicity induced by cisplatin chemotherapy in patients 1 month to <18 years of age with localised, non-metastatic, solid tumours.
Systematic search: No
May 2025
NOT recommended for use for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in adult patients that are apolipoprotein E ε4 (ApoE ε4) heterozygotes or non-carriers.
Systematic search: No
May 2025
exagamglogene autotemcel (exa-cel) (Casgevy)
From 19 June, 2025 exagamglogene autotemcel (exa-cel) (Casgevy®), for the treatment of transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia in patients 12 years of age and older for whom haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is appropriate and a human leukocyte antigen matched related haematopoietic stem cell donor is not available, can be prescribed within the ultra-orphan pathway while further evidence on its effectiveness is generated.
Systematic search: No
May 2025
NICE – Technology Appraisal Guidance
TA1071 Atezolizumab for adjuvant treatment of resected non-small-cell lung cancer
Systematic search: No
June 2025
TA1070 Spesolimab for treating generalised pustular psoriasis flares
Systematic search: No
June 2025
TA1067 Linzagolix for treating symptoms of endometriosis
Systematic search: No
June 2025
TA1069 Efgartigimod for treating antibody-positive generalised myasthenia gravis
Systematic search: No
June 2025
TA1066 Somapacitan for treating growth hormone deficiency in people 3 to 17 years
Systematic search: No
June 2025
Systematic search: No
May 2025
Systematic search: No
May 2025
Systematic search: No
May 2025
Systematic search: No
May 2025
Systematic search: No
May 2025
TA1059 Brentuximab vedotin in combination for untreated stage 3 or 4 CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma
Systematic search: No
May 2025
NICE – Guidelines
Nil
UKHSA
This rapid systematic review identifies and summarises evidence of the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Argentine haemorrhagic fever (caused by Junin virus).
Systematic search: Limited
June 2025
SACN statement on expressing fat and carbohydrate recommendations
This Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) position statement clarifies and updates the terms to use to express: energy intakes dietary reference values for fats (total and saturated) and carbohydrates (total and free sugars). It also makes recommendations for reporting and monitoring intakes of energy, fats (total and saturated) and carbohydrates (total and free sugars). The updated terminology should be used in any future publication or website when referring to energy intakes or UK recommendations for average dietary intakes of total fats, saturated fats, total carbohydrates and free sugars relative to energy intakes. This includes reporting and monitoring of intakes.
Systematic search: No
June 2025
Changes in food and drink purchasing behaviour and the impact on diet and nutrition: 2021 to 2023
This report provides information on trends in the purchasing of food and drink. It examines changes in purchasing behaviour and presents the impact on overall sales, and changes in type of food purchased and its nutrient content. It analyses purchasing of food, drink and alcohol to be taken into the home and food and drink to be consumed out of the home. It compares the 12-week period to the beginning of September 2023 with the corresponding periods in 2022 and 2021. This coincided with price increases and a continuing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic which impacted consumer behaviour.
Systematic search: No
June 2025
A whole-system response to drug prevention in the UK
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) was commissioned in July 2023 to provide advice on drug prevention for young people, supporting the 10-year national drugs strategy (‘From harm to hope’). This report includes recommendations on: a whole-system response to prevention of drug use and related harms, including actions for younger age groups; effective labelled interventions on prevention and the structural components of a robust drug prevention system.
Systematic search: No
May 2025
PVL-SA associated pneumonia: antibiotic effectiveness
This rapid systematic review aimed to identify and summarise evidence relating to the effectiveness of antibiotics to treat Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-positive Staphylococcus aureus (PVL-SA) associated pneumonia. No published randomised controlled trials, non-randomised controlled trials or observational studies (case control or cohort studies) were identified looking at the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating PVL-SA-associated pneumonia.
Systematic search: Limited
May 2025
Health inequalities in health protection report
This report examines the state of health inequalities in the UK, and how UKHSA aims to make health protection fair.
Systematic search: No
May 2025
Local preparedness for synthetic opioids in England
This report summarises analysis and recommendations developed from a review of Combating Drugs Partnership (CDPs) synthetic opioid preparedness plans, and a tabletop exercise conducted with a range of relevant local partners. It offers evidence and insights for CDPs, especially public health and law enforcement leads, intending to help strengthen their preparedness for an evolving threat. The report also informs national initiatives on this topic. Many of the principles and recommendations discussed are relevant to multiple drug types.
Systematic search: No
May 2025
This rapid evidence review summarised available evidence on the infectious (timeframe in which an individual may transmit the infection to others) and incubation period (time between contracting an infection and symptom onset) as well as evidence on pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic transmission and location of exposure of influenza A subtype (H1N1pdm09).
Systematic search: Limited
May 2025
Health and Care Research Wales Evidence Centre
Increasing waiting times and an ageing population are well-recognised policy drivers for service integration, although there remains limited clarity about the effectiveness of integrated care interventions in improving the timeliness of health and social care delivery. To address this gap, a rapid review was conducted, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative perspectives that evaluate the impact of integrated care interventions on waiting times and waiting lists. Whilst the review includes a description of all relevant studies, the synthesis of the findings focuses on studies that included integrated care that operated across two or more services (primary, hospital, community or social care).
Systematic search: Limited
June 2025
EPPI Centre
Nil
AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality – USA)
Blood-Based Tests for Multiple Cancer Screening: A Systematic Review
No controlled studies of MCSTs that reported on benefits of screening (e.g., mortality, cancer detection, quality of life) were identified, though some studies are ongoing. The accuracy of MCSTs varied by test and study design; evidence was insufficient to evaluate harms of screening.
Systematic search: Yes
May 2025
Health Foundation
UK mortality trends and international comparisons
This briefing compares trends in mortality within the UK and with 21 high-income countries, based on new research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The findings are stark, underlining deep inequalities in health between different parts of the UK and a worrying decline in UK health compared with international peers.
Systematic search: No
May 2025
Canadian Agency for drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)
Antiviral Drugs for Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Against Influenza A or Influenza B
Two systematic reviews (SRs) of 12 randomized studies published in 2024 were identified. The included studies examined the efficacy of 3 antiviral medications (baloxavir, oseltamivir, and zanamivir) in preventing influenza infection. The reviews were generally well conducted. The findings show that these 3 antiviral medications are effective in reducing symptomatic influenza infection; however, the evidence on their impact on overall influenza and asymptomatic influenza infections is less clear. The evidence on the impact of these medicines on hospitalization and mortality was generally weak, with no strong conclusions. There is also little evidence of any additional adverse events (side effects) from these medicines.
Systematic search: Limited
June 2025
Antiviral Drugs for the Prevention or Treatment of Zoonotic Influenza
There is a lack of evidence on the efficacy, effectiveness, and safety of various antivirals for the prevention and treatment of zoonotic influenza; therefore, no conclusions were able to be drawn.
Systematic search: Limited
May 2025
McGill University Health Centre (Canada)
Nil
Health Information & Quality Authority (Ireland) – Health Technology Assessments
Nil
Campbell Collaboration
Nil
Glasgow Centre for Population Health
Economies for Healthier Lives – Year three evaluation: concluding the project
The Health Foundation’s Economies for Healthier Lives Programme (EfHL) funded five partnerships across the UK between 2021 and 2024 to develop locally-appropriate approaches with the aim of reducing health inequalities through action on economic development. The Glasgow City Region (GCR) EfHL project has aimed to maximise the health, wellbeing and economic benefits generated by the region’s capital investment programmes. In the final year of funding, the project delivered its primary objective of developing a toolkit to support the consideration of health in capital spend projects. This was achieved through a planned, persistent and iterative approach by the Project Lead and Core Team, underpinned by evidence and the experience of multiple stakeholders. The Capital Investment Health Impact Assessment Toolkit (or ‘CHIA’ toolkit) is an accessible and educational resource that can now be used to shape capital spend projects across the city region and beyond.
Selected other recent reports
Action on Salt (2025) Are ready meals ready for a change?
A new, large-scale investigation by Action on Salt has revealed that more than half (55%) of ready meals sold in the UK are excessively high in salt. Surveying 1,511 products from 11 major retailers, Action on Salt calls for urgent government action to enforce stricter, mandatory limits on salt.
Cancer Research UK (2025) Cancer in the UK 2025
The annual Cancer in the UK report summarises key data across the cancer pathway, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes. It looks at where progress is being made and what challenges remain in the UK.
Carer’s Week (2025) Caring about Equality Report
The research clearly sets out the significant impacts of providing unpaid care and the disadvantages that current and former carers feel they face in their health, finances, work, education and social contact.
Royal Society for Public Health (2025) Streets Ahead: building health on the high street
This report brings together the expertise of the public health, planning, and business communities to set out a roadmap for every local authority to put in place the facilities and services which are needed to ensure that their high streets not only thrive, but support the local population to do the same.
UNICEF UK (2025) Held back from the start: the impact of deprivation on early childhood
The report maps every Local Authority area in England against its level of deprivation and a range of early childhood health and educational outcomes. Mapped across a range of key indicators, the analysis shows that young children living in areas with higher levels of deprivation and child poverty have poorer outcomes. They are more likely to experience obesity and severe dental decay and present in emergency health settings. They are also less likely to reach a ‘good level of development’ in school reception class. The analysis shows that every Local Authority in the top 20% of deprivation was in the bottom 20% for multiple measures of child health and development. In the first five years of life, the effects of deprivation and poverty are already well established and likely to impact that child for the rest of their life.
WHO (2025) World report on social determinants of health equity: executive summary
This report presents evidence-based strategies and policy recommendations to guide governments, civil society and international organizations in creating just and equitable health systems. Drawing on evidence, examples and country case studies from around the world, it illustrates the positive impacts of interventions that address social determinants – whether through universal access to health and social protection, fair labour practices or inclusive education.
NICE FORWARD PLANNING – Publications due July 2025
Dapagliflozin for treating chronic kidney disease
Technology Appraisal
Mirikizumab for treating moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease
Technology Appraisal
Teplizumab for delaying the onset of stage 3 type 1 diabetes in people 8 years and over with stage 2 type 1 diabetes
Technology Appraisal
Benralizumab for treating relapsing or refractory eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis Technology Appraisal
Nemolizumab for treating moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in people 12 years and over Technology Appraisal
Encorafenib with binimetinib for treating BRAF V600E mutation-positive advanced non-small-cell lung cancer
Technology Appraisal
Donanemab for treating mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease
Technology Appraisal
Lecanemab for treating mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease Technology Appraisal
Enfortumab vedotin with pembrolizumab for untreated unresectable or metastatic urothelial cancer when platinum-based chemotherapy is suitable
Technology Appraisal
Guselkumab for treating moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis
Technology Appraisal
Key Document
2025
2024
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