FAQ

1. What are the differences between the UKPDS Risk Engine and the UKPDS Outcomes Model? Which one should I use?

03-Jun-2009
The UKPDS Risk Engine and the UKPDS Outcomes Model have both been developed using UKPDS data, but have distinct roles.

The UKPDS Risk Engine is a Type 2 diabetes-specific Risk Calculator designed to estimate the likelihood that a person with recently diagnosed Type 2 diabetes, who has not had a CVD event, will have one in the next defined period (usually 10 years). This calculator has been designed predominately for clinical use to help patients and health care providers decide on the most appropriate management for individuals who develop Type 2 diabetes. UKPDS Risk Engine outputs are the estimated risks and 95% CIs for a first CHD or stroke event within a given period.

The UKPDS Outcomes Model is also Type 2 diabetes-specific but requires considerably more input data and is a simulation model designed to assess the total burden of disease over an extrapolated lifetime for populations. The UKPDS Outcomes Model uses a wider variety of input data, including knowledge of previous events for individuals, and can take account of updated risk factor data over time where available. The UKPDS Outcomes Model outputs are estimated Life Expectancy and Quality Adjusted Life Expectancy.

2. Why will the UKPDS Outcomes model not allow me to have a subject whose duration of diabetes is greater than their age at diagnosis?

20-Jun-2007
This was a bug that is corrected in version 1.2.

3. Is there a way of running the UKPDS Outcomes Model for populations larger than 65,000 subjects?

02-Jun-2007
Version 1.2 includes a standalone implementation of the software that has no limit to the number of subjects that it can process.

4. Is it possible to use an alphanumeric value in the ID column?

20-Jun-2007
Version 1.2 allows alphanumeric values

5. What are the system requirements for the standalone application?

20-Jun-2007
Windows : Windows 2000 or later (2000/XP/Vista etc)
Macintosh : Intel or PowerPC Macintosh, Mac OS X 10.2 or later
Linux : x86-based Linux distributions with GTK+ 2.8 (or higher), glibc-2.4, libstdc++.so.6

6. Why does the Inputs sheet list CHD in version 1.1?

19-Sep-2005
This is a typographical error. Cell U5 on the Input sheet should read CHF, not CHD.

7. What do I do if I do not have values for risk factors such as HbA1c at the time of diagnosis?

19-Sep-2005
If risk factor values at diagnosis are not available it is still possible to use the Outcomes Model by taking one of two approaches. Firstly, estimates of missing values can be entered to enable the Outcome Model to run e.g. based on  current values that have been adjusted for any secular trends observed. If a significant proportion of risk factor values at diagnosis are missing the user should consider making a range of assumptions in a sensitivity analysis, in order to test the degree to which the outcomes of interest vary with different assumptions. Secondly, the user can supply predictions of future time paths for these risk factors. Again it would be good practice to examine the degree to which results varied across different assumptions.

OCDEM, Churchill Hospital, Old Road, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7LJ
Tel: +44 (0)1865 857233   Fax: +44 (0)1865 857235     Email: outcomes.model@dtu.ox.ac.uk

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