title: Age-related references in national public health, technology appraisal and clinical guidelines and guidance: documentary analysis.
abstract: older people may be less likely to receive interventions than younger people. Age bias in national guidance may influence entire public health and health care systems. We examined how English National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) guidance and guidelines consider age.
  
  
  
  we undertook a documentary analysis of NICE public health (n = 33) and clinical (n = 114) guidelines and technology appraisals (n = 212). We systematically searched for age-related terms, and conducted thematic analysis of the paragraphs in which these occurred ('age-extracts'). Quantitative analysis explored frequency of age-extracts between and within document types. Illustrative quotes were used to elaborate and explain quantitative findings.
  
  
  
  2,314 age-extracts were identified within three themes: age documented as an a-priori consideration at scope-setting (518 age-extracts, 22.4%); documentation of differential effectiveness, cost-effectiveness or other outcomes by age (937 age-extracts, 40.5%); and documentation of age-specific recommendations (859 age-extracts, 37.1%). Public health guidelines considered age most comprehensively. There were clear examples of older-age being considered in both evidence searching and in making recommendations, suggesting that this can be achieved within current processes.
  
  
  
  we found inconsistencies in how age is considered in NICE guidance and guidelines. More effort may be required to ensure age is consistently considered. Future NICE committees should search for and document evidence of age-related differences in receipt of interventions. Where evidence relating to effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in older populations is available, more explicit age-related recommendations should be made. Where there is a lack of evidence, it should be stated what new research is needed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.|School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Lynne F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Forrest
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.|MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ben-Shlomo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buckner
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rimmer
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salway
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sowden
authors.affiliation: Centre for Ageing and Population Studies, University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.|MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D063506:Ageism / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011634:Public Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013222:State Medicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: NICE guidance; clinical; older-age; public health; technology appraisal