Helen Macdonald and Carl Heneghan are back again talking about what's happened in the world of evidence this month. They start by talking about shoulders - what does the evidence say about treating subacromial pain, and why the potential for a subgroup effect shouldn't change our views about stop surgery (for now, more research needed). (16.00) Statins - more uncertainty about statins, this is now looking at older people. Age is a big risk factor for cardiovascular disease - at what point does that risk overwhelm any potential benefit from taking statins? (20.30)Carl explains his rule-of-thumb for turning relative risks into absolute risks, in a way can help doctors talk to patients about new evidence. (25.46)What's the evidence for doctors messes? Carl's rant of the week focuses on the calls (including the BMJ's campaign) to have spaces for doctors to relax in hospitals. He asks, is that better than putting in a gym? What's the evidence for that. Reading list: Subacromial decompression surgery for adults with shoulder pain https://www.bmj.com/content/364/bmj.l294 Efficacy and safety of statin therapy in older people https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)31942-1/fulltext The future of doctor's messes https://www.bmj.com/content/364/bmj.k5367.abstract

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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