2
|
Nimmo A, Latimer N, Oniscu GC, Ravanan R, Taylor DM, Fotheringham J. Propensity Score and Instrumental Variable Techniques in Observational Transplantation Studies: An Overview and Worked Example Relating to Pre-Transplant Cardiac Screening. Transpl Int 2022; 35:10105. [PMID: 35832035 PMCID: PMC9271574 DOI: 10.3389/ti.2022.10105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Inferring causality from observational studies is difficult due to inherent differences in patient characteristics between treated and untreated groups. The randomised controlled trial is the gold standard study design as the random allocation of individuals to treatment and control arms should result in an equal distribution of known and unknown prognostic factors at baseline. However, it is not always ethically or practically possible to perform such a study in the field of transplantation. Propensity score and instrumental variable techniques have theoretical advantages over conventional multivariable regression methods and are increasingly being used within observational studies to reduce the risk of confounding bias. An understanding of these techniques is required to critically appraise the literature. We provide an overview of propensity score and instrumental variable techniques for transplant clinicians, describing their principles, assumptions, strengths, and weaknesses. We discuss the different patient populations included in analyses and how to interpret results. We illustrate these points using data from the Access to Transplant and Transplant Outcome Measures study examining the association between pre-transplant cardiac screening in kidney transplant recipients and post-transplant cardiac events.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ailish Nimmo
- Renal Department, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol National Health Service Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Ailish Nimmo,
| | - Nicholas Latimer
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Gabriel C. Oniscu
- Transplant Unit, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Rommel Ravanan
- Renal Department, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol National Health Service Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Dominic M. Taylor
- Renal Department, Southmead Hospital, North Bristol National Health Service Trust, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - James Fotheringham
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Nguyen LS, Salem JE, Bories MC, Coutance G, Amour J, Bougle A, Suberbielle C, Kheav VD, Carmagnat M, Rouvier P, Kirsch M, Varnous S, Leprince P, Saheb S. Impact of Sex in the Efficacy of Perioperative Desensitization Procedures in Heart Transplantation: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Front Immunol 2021; 12:659303. [PMID: 34305891 PMCID: PMC8292826 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.659303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sensitized patients, i.e. recipients with preformed donor-specific HLA antibodies (pfDSA), are at high-risk of developing antibody-mediated rejections (AMR) and dying after heart transplantation (HTx). Perioperative desensitization procedures are associated with better outcomes but can cause sensitization, which may influence their efficacy. Methods In sensitized patients (pfDSA>1000 mean immunofluorescence (MFI) units), we assessed the effect of perioperative desensitization by comparing treated patients to a historical control cohort. Multivariable survival analyses were performed on the time to main outcome, a composite of death and biopsy-proven AMR with 5-year follow-up. Results The study included 68 patients: 31 control and 37 treated patients. There was no difference in preoperative variables between the two groups, including cumulative pfDSA [4026 (1788;8725) vs 4560 (3162;13392) MFI units, p=0.28]. The cause of sensitization was pregnancy in 24/68, 35.3%, transfusion in 61/68, 89.7%, and previous HTx in 4/68, 5.9% patients. Multivariable analysis yielded significant protective association between desensitization and events (adjusted (adj.) hazard ratio (HR)=0.44 (95% confidence interval (95CI)=0.25-0.79), p=0.006) and deleterious association between cumulative pfDSA and events [per 1000-MFI increase, adj.HR=1.028 (1.002-1.053), p=0.031]. There was a sex-difference in the efficacy of desensitization: in men (n=35), the benefit was significant [unadj.HR=0.33 (95CI=0.14-0.78); p=0.01], but not in women (n=33) [unadj.HR=0.52 (0.23-1.17), p=0.11]. In terms of the number of patients treated, in men, 2.1 of patients that were treated prevented 1 event, while in women, 3.1 required treatment to prevent 1 event. Conclusion Perioperative desensitization was associated with fewer AMR and deaths after HTx, and efficacy was more pronounced in men than women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lee S Nguyen
- Sorbonne Université, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, AP.HP.6 Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris, France.,CMC Ambroise Paré, Research and Innovation, RICAP, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.,Sorbonne Université, Clinical Investigations Center, AP.HP.6, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Joe-Elie Salem
- Sorbonne Université, Clinical Investigations Center, AP.HP.6, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Cécile Bories
- Sorbonne Université, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, AP.HP.6 Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Coutance
- Sorbonne Université, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, AP.HP.6 Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris, France
| | - Julien Amour
- Jacques Cartier Private Hospital, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Massy, France
| | - Adrien Bougle
- Sorbonne Université, Department of Anesthesiology, AP.HP.6 Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | - Philippe Rouvier
- Sorbonne Université, Department of Anatomopathology, AP.HP.6 Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris, France
| | - Matthias Kirsch
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Shaida Varnous
- Sorbonne Université, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, AP.HP.6 Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris, France
| | - Pascal Leprince
- Sorbonne Université, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, AP.HP.6 Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris, France
| | - Samir Saheb
- Sorbonne Université, service d'hémobiologie, AP.HP.6 Pitie-Salpetriere, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Saib A, Amara W, Wang P, Cattan S, Dellal A, Regaieg K, Nahon S, Nallet O, Nguyen LS. Lack of efficacy of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia: A retrospective study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0252388. [PMID: 34106964 PMCID: PMC8189518 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hydroxychloroquine combined with azithromycin (HCQ/AZI) has initially been used against coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). In this retrospective study, we assessed the clinical effects of HCQ/AZI, with a 28-days follow-up. Methods In a registry-study which included patients hospitalized for COVID-19 between March 15 and April 2, 2020, we compared patients who received HCQ/AZI to those who did not, regarding a composite outcome of mortality and mechanical ventilation with a 28-days follow-up. QT was monitored for patients treated with HCQ/AZI. Were excluded patients in intensive care units, palliative care and ventilated within 24 hours of admission. Three analyses were performed to adjust for selection bias: propensity score matching, multivariable survival, and inverse probability score weighting (IPSW) analyses. Results Overall, 203 patients were included: 60 patients treated by HCQ/AZI and 143 control patients. During the 28-days follow-up, 32 (16.3%) patients presented the primary outcome and 23 (12.3%) patients died. Propensity-score matching identified 52 unique pairs of patients with similar characteristics. In the matched cohort (n = 104), HCQ/AZI was not associated with the primary composite outcome (log-rank p-value = 0.16). In the overall cohort (n = 203), survival and IPSW analyses also found no benefit from HCQ/AZI. In the HCQ/AZI group, 11 (18.3%) patients prolonged QT interval duration, requiring treatment cessation. Conclusions HCQ/AZI combination therapy was not associated with lower in-hospital mortality and mechanical ventilation rate, with a 28-days follow-up. In the HCQ/AZI group, 18.3% of patients presented a prolonged QT interval requiring treatment cessation, however, control group was not monitored for this adverse event, making comparison impossible.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anis Saib
- Cardiology Department, Groupe Hospitalier Intercommunal Le Raincy-Montfermeil, Montfermeil, France
| | - Walid Amara
- Cardiology Department, Groupe Hospitalier Intercommunal Le Raincy-Montfermeil, Montfermeil, France
| | - Pascal Wang
- Pneumology Department, Groupe Hospitalier Intercommunal Le Raincy-Montfermeil, Montfermeil, France
| | - Simon Cattan
- Cardiology Department, Groupe Hospitalier Intercommunal Le Raincy-Montfermeil, Montfermeil, France
| | - Azeddine Dellal
- Rheumatology Department, Groupe Hospitalier Intercommunal Le Raincy-Montfermeil, Montfermeil, France
| | - Kais Regaieg
- Intensive Care Medicine Department, Groupe Hospitalier Intercommunal Le Raincy-Montfermeil, Montfermeil, France
| | - Stephane Nahon
- Gastroenterology Department, Groupe Hospitalier Intercommunal Le Raincy-Montfermeil, Montfermeil, France
| | - Olivier Nallet
- Cardiology Department, Groupe Hospitalier Intercommunal Le Raincy-Montfermeil, Montfermeil, France
| | - Lee S. Nguyen
- Research & Innovation Department (RICAP), CMC Ambroise Paré, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|