Dr Sara Muller

Title: Research Associate: Clinical Epidemiology
Phone: +44 (0) 1782 734842
Email:
Location: DJW 0.74
Role: As above
Contacting me: Via email
Staff photo

I gained my BSc Mathematics from the University of Sheffield in 2004, before undertaking an MSc in Biometry at the University of Reading. Following this, I joined the Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre at Keele in 2005 as a Research Assistant in Biostatistics. In 2006, I began my PhD, entitled “The measurement of locomotor disability in epidemiological studies”, which I completed in 2010.  I took up my current position as a Research Associate in Epidemiology in July 2010.

I am interested in epidemiological methodology, particularly in the fields of musculoskeletal pain and rheumatology. I have particular interests in ordinal regression models and Rasch analysis. I am currently working in the field of diagnosis and prognosis in primary care.

I am a member of the Society for Academic Primary Care and a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society. I sit on the committee of the RSS Primary Health Care Study Group, and I am currently an Associate Editor for the journal Family Practice.

Selected Publications

  • Hayward RA, Rathod T, Roddy E, Muller S, Hider SL, Mallen CD. 2013. The association of gout with socioeconomic status in primary care: a cross-sectional observational study. Rheumatology (Oxford). link> doi>
  • Muller S, Hider SL, Belcher J, Helliwell T, Mallen CD. 2013. Is cancer associated with polymyalgia rheumatica? A cohort study in the General Practice Research Database. Ann Rheum Dis. link> doi>
  • Benyon K, Muller S, Hill S, Mallen C. 2013. Coping strategies as predictors of pain and disability in older people in primary care: a longitudinal study. BMC Fam Pract, vol. 14, 67. link> doi>
  • Muller S, Thomas E, Dunn KM, Mallen CD. 2013. A prognostic approach to defining chronic pain across a range of musculoskeletal pain sites. Clin J Pain, vol. 29(5), 411-416. link> doi>
  • Muller S, Mallen CD, Belcher J, Helliwell T, Hider SL. 2013. THE RISK OF A SUBSEQUENT CANCER DIAGNOSIS AFTER PMR: A PRIMARY CARE DATABASE STUDY. RHEUMATOLOGY (vol. 52, p. 40). link>

Full Publications List show

Journal Articles

  • Hayward RA, Rathod T, Roddy E, Muller S, Hider SL, Mallen CD. 2013. The association of gout with socioeconomic status in primary care: a cross-sectional observational study. Rheumatology (Oxford). link> doi>
  • Muller S, Hider SL, Belcher J, Helliwell T, Mallen CD. 2013. Is cancer associated with polymyalgia rheumatica? A cohort study in the General Practice Research Database. Ann Rheum Dis. link> doi>
  • Benyon K, Muller S, Hill S, Mallen C. 2013. Coping strategies as predictors of pain and disability in older people in primary care: a longitudinal study. BMC Fam Pract, vol. 14, 67. link> doi>
  • Muller S, Thomas E, Dunn KM, Mallen CD. 2013. A prognostic approach to defining chronic pain across a range of musculoskeletal pain sites. Clin J Pain, vol. 29(5), 411-416. link> doi>
  • Roddy E, Muller S, Hayward R, Mallen CD. 2013. The association of gout with sleep disorders: a cross-sectional study in primary care. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, vol. 14, 119. link> doi>
  • Chandratre P, Mallen C, Richardson J, Rome K, Bailey J, Gill R, Hider S, Mason J, Mayson Z, Muller S, Purcell C, Titley J, Wathall S, Zwierska I, Roddy E. 2012. Prospective observational cohort study of Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL), chronic foot problems and their determinants in gout: a research protocol. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, vol. 13, 219. link> doi>
  • Campbell P, Wynne-Jones G, Muller S, Dunn KM. 2013. The influence of employment social support for risk and prognosis in nonspecific back pain: a systematic review and critical synthesis. Int Arch Occup Environ Health, vol. 86(2), 119-137. link> doi>
  • Muller S, Wynne-Jones G, Daniel R, Creavin ST, Bishop A, Mallen CD. 2012. There is no association between a measure of clinical care and the response rate of GPs to postal surveys: a methodological study. Eur J Gen Pract, vol. 18(3), 154-158. link> doi>
  • Muller S, Hider S, Helliwell T, Bailey J, Barraclough K, Cope L, Dasgupta B, Foskett R, Hughes R, Mayson Z, Purcell C, Roddy E, Wathall S, Zwierska I, Mallen CD. 2012. The epidemiology of polymyalgia rheumatica in primary care: a research protocol. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, vol. 13, 102. link> doi>
  • Peat G, Duncan RC, Wood LR, Thomas E, Muller S. 2012. Clinical features of symptomatic patellofemoral joint osteoarthritis. Arthritis Res Ther, vol. 14(2), R63. link> doi>
  • Muller S, Thomas E, Peat G. 2012. The effect of changes in lower limb pain on the rate of progression of locomotor disability in middle and old age: evidence from the NorStOP cohort with 6-year follow-up. Pain, vol. 153(5), 952-959. link> doi>
  • Helliwell T, Muller S, Hider S. 2012. RAISED INFLAMMATORY MARKERS ESR can be normal in giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, vol. 344, Article ARTN e1408. link> doi>
  • Muller S, Bedson J, Mallen CD. 2012. The association between pain intensity and the prescription of analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Eur J Pain, vol. 16(7), 1014-1020. link> doi> full text>
  • Muller S, Hider SL, Helliwell T, Mallen CD. 2012. An unorthodox approach to calculating sample size. BMJ, vol. 345, e6586. link> doi>
  • Helliwell T, Muller S, Hider S. 2012. ESR can be normal in giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. BMJ, vol. 344, e1408. link>
  • Wilkie R, Jordan JL, Muller S, Nicholls E, Healey EL, Van der Windt DA. 2011. Measures of Social Function and Participation in Musculoskeletal Populations Impact on Participation and Autonomy ( IPA), Keele Assessment of Participation (KAP), Participation Measure for Post-Acute Care (PM-PAC), Participation Objective, Participation Subjective (POPS), Rating of Perceived Participation (ROPP), and The Participation Scale. ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH, vol. 63, S325-S336. link> doi>
  • Roddy E, Myers H, Thomas MJ, Marshall M, D'Cruz D, Menz HB, Belcher J, Muller S, Peat G. 2011. The clinical assessment study of the foot (CASF): study protocol for a prospective observational study of foot pain and foot osteoarthritis in the general population. J Foot Ankle Res, vol. 4, 22. link> doi>
  • Bedson J, Kadam U, Muller S, Peat G. 2011. Does comorbid disease influence consultation for knee problems in primary care?. Prim Health Care Res Dev, vol. 12(4), 322-328. link> doi>
  • Roddy E, Muller S, Thomas E. 2011. Onset and Persistence of Disabling Foot Pain in Community-Dwelling Older Adults Over a 3-Year Period: A Prospective Cohort Study. JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES, vol. 66(4), 474-480. link> doi>
  • Wood L, Muller S, Peat G. 2011. The epidemiology of patellofemoral disorders in adulthood: a review of routine general practice morbidity recording. Prim Health Care Res Dev, vol. 12(2), 157-164. link> doi> full text>
  • Hacking JM, Muller S, Buchan IE. 2010. Trends in mortality from 1965 to 2008 across the English north-south divide: comparative observational study. BMJ, vol. d508(342), 423. doi> full text>
  • Barber J, Muller S, Whitehurst T, Hay E. 2010. Measuring morbidity: self-report or health care records?. Fam Pract, vol. 27(1), 25-30. link> doi>
  • Muller S, Thomas E, Peat G. 2009. Derivation and testing of an interval-level score for measuring locomotor disability in epidemiological studies of middle and old age. Qual Life Res, vol. 18(10), 1341-1355. link> doi>
  • Jordan KP, Wilkie R, Muller S, Myers H, Nicholls E, Arthritis Research Campaign National Primary Care Centre. 2009. Measurement of change in function and disability in osteoarthritis: current approaches and future challenges. Curr Opin Rheumatol, vol. 21(5), 525-530. link> doi>
  • Roddy E, Muller S, Thomas E. 2009. Defining disabling foot pain in older adults: further examination of the Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index. Rheumatology (Oxford), vol. 48(8), 992-996. link> doi>
  • Wynne-Jones G, Mallen CD, Mottram S, Main CJ, Dunn KM. 2009. Identification of UK sickness certification rates, standardised for age and sex. Br J Gen Pract, vol. 59(564), 510-516. link> doi>
  • Mallen CD, Mottram S, Thomas E. 2009. Is childhood pain associated with future mental health problems? A population based study of young adults in North Staffordshire. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol, vol. 44(6), 489-494. link> doi>
  • Muller S and Roddy E. 2009. A rasch analysis of the Manchester foot pain and disability index. J Foot Ankle Res, vol. 2, 29. link> doi>
  • Bedson J, Mottram S, Peat G. 2009. Non-consultation among community-dwelling older adults with knee pain: completing the picture. Primary Health Care Research and Development, vol. 10, 143-150.
  • Mottram S, Peat G, Thomas E, Wilkie R, Croft P. 2008. Patterns of pain and mobility limitation in older people: cross-sectional findings from a population survey of 18,497 adults aged 50 years and over. Qual Life Res, vol. 17(4), 529-539. link> doi>
  • Mallen C, Mottram S, Thomas E. 2008. Birth factors and common mental health problems in young adults: a population-based study in North Staffordshire. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol, vol. 43(4), 325-330. link> doi>
  • Mallen CD, Mottram S, Wynne-Jones G, Thomas E. 2008. Birth-related exposures and asthma and allergy in adulthood: a population-based cross-sectional study of young adults in North Staffordshire. J Asthma, vol. 45(4), 309-312. link> doi>
  • Wilkie R, Thomas E, Mottram S, Peat G, Croft P. 2008. Onset and persistence of person-perceived participation restriction in older adults: a 3-year follow-up study in the general population. Health Qual Life Outcomes, vol. 6, 92. link> doi> full text>
  • Thomas E, Mottram S, Peat G, Wilkie R, Croft P. 2007. The effect of age on the onset of pain interference in a general population of older adults: prospective findings from the North Staffordshire Osteoarthritis Project (NorStOP). Pain, vol. 129(1-2), 21-27. link> doi>
  • Bedson J, Mottram S, Thomas E, Peat G. 2007. Knee pain and osteoarthritis in the general populations: what influences patients to consult?. Family Practice, vol. 24, 443-453. full text>

Other

  • Muller S, Mallen CD, Belcher J, Helliwell T, Hider SL. 2013. THE RISK OF A SUBSEQUENT CANCER DIAGNOSIS AFTER PMR: A PRIMARY CARE DATABASE STUDY. RHEUMATOLOGY (vol. 52, p. 40). link>
  • Monk HL, Muller S, Mallen C, Hider SL. 2012. ARE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS SCREENED FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN PRIMARY CARE?. RHEUMATOLOGY (vol. 51, pp. 37-38). link>
  • Green DJ, Muller S, Mallen C, Hider SL. 2012. FATIGUE AS A PRECURSOR TO POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA: A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY. RHEUMATOLOGY (vol. 51, p. 112). link>
  • Roddy E, Muller S, Hayward R, Mallen C. 2012. THE ASSOCIATION OF GOUT WITH SLEEP DISORDERS AND SLEEP APNOEA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY IN PRIMARY CARE. RHEUMATOLOGY (vol. 51, p. 111). link>
  • Muller S, Thomas E, Peat G. 2011. LOCOMOTOR DISABILITY IN MIDDLE AND OLD AGE: A POPULATION PERSPECTIVE ON MEASUREMENT AND THE IMPACT OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS. RHEUMATOLOGY (vol. 50). link>
  • Roddy E, Mottram S, Thomas E. 2009. ONSET AND PERSISTENCE OF DISABLING FOOT PAIN IN COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD. RHEUMATOLOGY (vol. 48, p. I127). link>

SSC Research Methods