Readers guide to critical appraisal of cohort studies: 3. Analytical strategies to reduce confounding

Assessing cardiovascular disease risk in women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: A guidance paper for studies using administrative data

BACKGROUND

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a major cause of maternal morbidity and mortality, and their association with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk represents a major public health concern. However, assessing CVD risk in women with a history of these conditions presents unique challenges, especially when studies are carried out using routinely collected data.

OBJECTIVES

To summarise and describe key challenges related to the design and conduct of administrative studies assessing CVD risk in women with a history of HDP and provide concrete recommendations for addressing them in future research.

METHODS

This is a methodological guidance paper.

RESULTS

Several conceptual and methodological factors related to the data-generating mechanism and study conceptualisation, design/data management and analysis, as well as the interpretation and reporting of study findings should be considered and addressed when designing and carrying out administrative studies on this topic. Researchers should develop an a priori conceptual framework within which the research question is articulated, important study variables are identified and their interrelationships are carefully considered.

CONCLUSIONS

To advance our understanding of CVD risk in women with a history of HDP, future studies should carefully consider and address the conceptual and methodological considerations outlined in this guidance paper. In highlighting these challenges, and providing specific recommendations for how to address them, our goal is to improve the quality of research carried out on this topic.

Association between ethylene oxide exposure and periodontitis: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2013-2014

BACKGROUND

Exposure to ethylene oxide (EO) induces inflammation and oxidative stress, which are the main mechanisms of periodontitis. However, the effect of EO on periodontal health is not unclear. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between EO exposure and the risk of periodontitis in general US adults.

METHODS

Data used in our study from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2014. The EO biomarker, hemoglobin adduct of EO (HbEO), was measured in blood samples utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Periodontitis category was defined by the CDC/AAP according to clinical periodontal parameters. Natural cubic spline, weight multivariable logistic regression analyses and subgroup analysis were used to explore the association between EO exposure and the risk of periodontitis.

RESULTS

A total of 1497 participants over the age of 30 were included in our study. A non-linear positive association with periodontitis was identified for HbEO levels. Participants in the highest tertile of HbEO levels were more likely to have poorer periodontal health compared to the lowest tertile (ORtertile3vs1 = 2.80, 95% CI: 1.85-4.24). Similar results were also found in different subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

HbEO levels are positively associated with poor periodontal health in US adults. Additional longitudinal studies are necessary to further enhance our comprehension of the impact of exposure to EO on periodontal status.

Longitudinal evolution of sleep disturbances in early multiple system atrophy: a 2-year prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The progression of sleep disturbances remains unclear in patients with early multiple system atrophy (MSA). We aimed to explore the frequency, severity, and coexistence of 2-year longitudinal changes of sleep disturbances including REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and Parkinson's disease-related sleep problems (PD-SP) in early MSA.

METHODS

MSA patients with a disease duration < 3 years were enrolled to complete a 2-year follow-up visit. Sleep disturbances including RBD, EDS, and PD-SP were assessed using the RBD Screening Questionnaire, Epworth sleepiness scale, and PD sleep scale-2, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 220 patients with MSA enrolled in the study and 90 patients completed the 2-year follow-up visit. The score of all three sleep disturbances significantly increased over the 2-year follow-up in MSA and MSA with the predominant parkinsonism group (all p < 0.05). The frequency of PD-SP (from 14.5 to 26.7%) and EDS (from 17.7 to 37.8%) was progressively increased (all p < 0.05) except for RBD (from 51.8 to 65.6%, p = 0.152) over the 2-year follow-up in MSA. The frequency of coexistence of two or three sleep disturbances also increased over time. The most common sleep disturbance was RBD, followed by EDS and PD-SP over the 2-year follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrated that the frequency of different types of sleep disturbances progressively increased except for RBD and the coexistence of two or three sleep disturbances became more common over time in early MSA. Our study suggested that the assessment and management of sleep disturbances should begin early in MSA.

Cerebral Venous Thrombosis during Thyrotoxicosis: Case Report and Literature Update

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare cause of stroke, particularly in young adults. Several known thrombophilic conditions may lead to an increased CVT risk. Interestingly, few cases in the literature have reported an association between CVT and thyrotoxicosis. Here, we describe the case of a young woman with CVT and concomitant thyrotoxicosis, without any other known prothrombotic conditions. We also performed a literature review of CVT cases and hyperthyroidism, searching for all articles published in peer-reviewed journals. We identified 39 case reports/case series concerning patients with CVT associated with thyrotoxicosis, highlighting, in most cases, the association with additional known prothrombotic factors. We then discussed the possible mechanisms by which hyperthyroidism could underlie a pro-coagulative state resulting in CVT. Thyroid disease might be a more common prothrombotic risk factor than expected in determining CVT. However, in most cases, a coexistence of multiple risk factors was observed, suggesting a multifactorial genesis of the disorder. We hope that this work may alert clinicians to consider thyrotoxicosis as a potential risk factor for CVT, even in patients who apparently have no other pro-coagulative conditions.

Linear high-dimensional mediation models adjusting for confounders using propensity score method

High-dimensional mediation analysis has been developed to study whether epigenetic phenotype in a high-dimensional data form would mediate the causal pathway of exposure to disease. However, most existing models are designed based on the assumption that there are no confounders between the exposure, the mediators, and the outcome. In practice, this assumption may not be feasible since high-dimensional mediation analysis (HIMA) tends to be observational where a randomized controlled trial (RCT) cannot be conducted for some economic or ethical reasons. Thus, to deal with the confounders in HIMA cases, we proposed three propensity score-related approaches named PSR (propensity score regression), PSW (propensity score weighting), and PSU (propensity score union) to adjust for the confounder bias in HIMA, and compared them with the traditional covariate regression method. The procedures mainly include four parts: calculating the propensity score, sure independence screening, MCP (minimax concave penalty) variable selection, and joint-significance testing. Simulation results show that the PSU model is the most recommended. Applying our models to the TCGA lung cancer dataset, we find that smoking may lead to lung disease through the mediation effect of some specific DNA-methylation sites, including site Cg24480765 in gene RP11-347H15.2 and site Cg22051776 in gene KLF3.

Application of Transactional (Cross-lagged panel) Models in Mental Health Research: An Introduction and Review of Methodological Considerations

Transactional models employing cross-lagged panels have been used for over 40 years to examine the longitudinal relations and directional associations between variables of interest to child and adolescent mental health. Through a narrative synthesis of the literature, we provide an accessible overview of cross-lagged panels with attention to developing a research question, study design and assumptions, dynamic effects (including the random-intercept cross-lagged panel model), and reporting and interpretation of results. Implications and critical appraisal guidelines for readers are discussed throughout. Overall, several key points are highlighted, with particular emphasis on the intended level of inference, model and measure selection, and timing of assessments. Despite limitations in establishing causation, cross-lagged panel models are fundamental to non-experimental epidemiologic research in child mental health and development.

Comparative risk of acute myocardial infarction for anti-osteoporosis drugs in primary care: a meta-analysis of propensity-matched cohort findings from the UK Clinical Practice Research Database and the Catalan SIDIAP Database

The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of acute myocardial infarction in patients taking osteoporosis medication. Patients were taken from the SIDIAP or CPRD database and were matched using propensity scores. Patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease taking SERMs were at an increased risk. The results favour the cardiovascular safety of alendronate as a first-line choice for osteoporosis treatment.

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to evaluate the comparative safety of anti-osteoporosis drugs based on the observed risk of acute myocardial infarction while on treatment in a primary care setting.

METHODS

This is a propensity-matched cohort study and meta-analysis. This study was conducted in two primary care record databases covering UK NHS (CPRD) and Catalan healthcare (SIDIAP) patients during 1995-2014 and 2006-2014, respectively. The outcome was acute myocardial infarction while on treatment. Users of alendronate (reference group) were compared to those of (1) other oral bisphosphonates (OBP), (2) strontium ranelate (SR), and (3) selective oestrogen receptor modulator (SERM), after matching on baseline characteristics (socio-demographics, fracture risk factors, comorbidities, and concomitant drug use) using propensity scores. Multiple imputation was used to handle missing data on confounders and competing risk modelling for the calculation of relative risk (sub-distribution hazard ratios (SHR)) according to therapy. Country-specific data were analysed individually and meta-analysed.

RESULTS

A 10% increased risk of acute myocardial infarction was found in users of other bisphosphonates as compared to alendronate users within CPRD. The meta-analysis of CPRD and SIDIAP results showed a 9% increased risk in users of other bisphosphonate as compared to alendronate users. Sensitivity analysis showed SERMS users with diabetes and chronic kidney disease were at an elevated risk.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides additional data on the risk of acute myocardial infarction in patients receiving osteoporosis treatment. The results favour the cardiovascular safety of alendronate as a first-line choice for osteoporosis treatment.

Early Neuromuscular Blockade in Moderate-to-Severe Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Objectives

The use of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) is common but unsupported by efficacy data. We sought to compare the outcomes between patients with moderate-to-severe PARDS receiving continuous NMBA during the first 48 hours of endotracheal intubation (early NMBA) and those without.

Design

Secondary analysis of data from the Randomized Evaluation of Sedation Titration for Respiratory Failure (RESTORE) clinical trial, a pediatric multicenter cluster randomized trial of sedation.

Setting

Thirty-one PICUs in the United States.

Patients

Children 2 weeks to 17 years receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) for moderate-to-severe PARDS (i.e., oxygenation index >= 8 and bilateral infiltrates on chest radiograph on days 0-1 of endotracheal intubation).

Interventions

NMBA for the entire duration of days 1 and 2 after intubation.

Measurements and Main Results

Among 1,182 RESTORE patients with moderate-to-severe PARDS, 196 (17%) received early NMBA for a median of 50.0% ventilator days (interquartile range, 33.3-60.7%). The propensity score model predicting the probability of receiving early NMBA included high-frequency oscillatory ventilation on days 0-2 (odds ratio [OR], 7.61; 95% CI, 4.75-12.21) and severe PARDS on days 0-1 (OR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.50-3.12). After adjusting for risk category, early use of NMBA was associated with a longer duration of MV (hazard ratio, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.48-0.68; p < 0.0001), but not with mortality (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 0.92-2.85; p = 0.096) compared with no early use of NMBA. Other outcomes including cognitive, functional, and physical impairment at 6 months post-PICU discharge were similar. Outcomes did not differ when comparing high versus low NMBA usage sites or when patients were stratified by baseline PaO2/FIO2 less than 150.

Conclusions

Early NMBA use was associated with a longer duration of MV. This propensity score analysis underscores the need for a randomized controlled trial in pediatrics.

Relationship between fasting blood glucose and subsequent vascular events in Chinese patients with mild ischaemic stroke: a cohort study

Objective

To characterise the relationship between fasting blood glucose (FBG) and the incidence of subsequent vascular events (SVE) during the 6 months following a mild ischaemic stroke (MIS) in Chinese patients.

Methods

Data from patients with MIS were retrospectively analysed. The primary endpoint was an SVE during the 6-month follow-up period. The participants were allocated to three groups (tertiles), according to their FBG concentration.

Results

Of the 260 participants, 51 (19.6%) reported an SVE during the follow-up period. The incidence of SVE significantly differed among the tertiles of FBG. The odds ratio (OR) was 2.361 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.551–3.594) for FBG as a continuous variable and that for FBG categorised according to tertile was 13.30 (95% CI: 3.519–50.322) in the fully adjusted model. Curve fitting showed that the incidence of SVE gradually increased with increasing FBG, with the highest tertile showing the highest mean incidence (46.7%; 95% CI: 16.2%–79.9%). In addition, participants with or without diabetes mellitus, hypertension, headache, dizziness, mild cognitive impairment or anterior circulation artery lesion showed similar associations between FBG and the incidence of SVE.

Conclusion

FBG is an independent predictor of 6-month SVE risk in Chinese patients with MIS.

Clinical Trials Evaluating Drug Therapy: Types, Reliability of Results, Place in Modern Evidence-Based Medicine

The article discusses the main methods of evidence in modern medicine. Special attention is paid to randomized controlled trials and observational studies. The advantages of randomized controlled trials over observational studies are considered. A comparison of the informative value of randomized controlled trials and observational studies in assessing the effect of therapeutic interventions is made. Attention is drawn to situations when conducting randomized controlled trials is not possible and when they become the main source of information. It is emphasized that in order to verify the results of randomized controlled trials in real clinical practice, it is necessary to conduct observational studies. The basic principles of conducting observational studies are considered.

Sleep-related symptoms in multiple system atrophy: determinants and impact on disease severity

Background:

Sleep disorders are common but under-researched symptoms in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA). We investigated the frequency and factors associated with sleep-related symptoms in patients with MSA and the impact of sleep disturbances on disease severity.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study involved 165 patients with MSA. Three sleep-related symptoms, namely Parkinson's disease (PD)-related sleep problems (PD-SP), excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD), were evaluated using the PD Sleep Scale-2 (PDSS-2), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and RBD Screening Questionnaire (RBDSQ), respectively. Disease severity was evaluated using the Unified MSA Rating Scale (UMSARS).

Results:

The frequency of PD-SP (PDSS-2 score of ≥18), EDS (ESS score of ≥10), and RBD (RBDSQ score of ≥5) in patients with MSA was 18.8%, 27.3%, and 49.7%, respectively. The frequency of coexistence of all three sleep-related symptoms was 7.3%. Compared with the cerebellar subtype of MSA (MSA-C), the parkinsonism subtype of MSA (MSA-P) was associated with a higher frequency of PD-SP and EDS, but not of RBD. Binary logistic regression revealed that the MSA-P subtype, a higher total UMSARS score, and anxiety were associated with PD-SP; that male sex, a higher total UMSARS score, the MSA-P subtype, and fatigue were associated with EDS; and that male sex, a higher total UMSARS score, and autonomic onset were associated with RBD in patients with MSA. Stepwise linear regression showed that the number of sleep-related symptoms (PD-SP, EDS, and RBD), disease duration, depression, fatigue, and total Montreal Cognitive Assessment score were predictors of disease severity in patients with MSA.

Conclusions:

Sleep-related disorders were associated with both MSA subtypes and the severity of disease in patients with MSA, indicating that sleep disorders may reflect the distribution and degree of dopaminergic/non-dopaminergic neuron degeneration in MSA.

Evidence-based medicine-When observational studies are better than randomized controlled trials

In evidence-based medicine, clinical research questions may be addressed by different study designs. This article describes when randomized controlled trials (RCT) are needed and when observational studies are more suitable. According to the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine, study designs can be divided into analytic and non-analytic (descriptive) study designs. Analytic studies aim to quantify the association of an intervention (eg, treatment) or a naturally occurring exposure with an outcome. They can be subdivided into experimental (ie, RCT) and observational studies. The RCT is the best study design to evaluate the intended effect of an intervention, because the randomization procedure breaks the link between the allocation of the intervention and patient prognosis. If the randomization of the intervention or exposure is not possible, one needs to depend on observational analytic studies, but these studies usually suffer from bias and confounding. If the study focuses on unintended effects of interventions (ie, effects of an intervention that are not intended or foreseen), observational analytic studies are the most suitable study designs, provided that there is no link between the allocation of the intervention and the unintended effect. Furthermore, non-analytic studies (ie, descriptive studies) also rely on observational study designs. In summary, RCTs and observational study designs are inherently different, and depending on the study aim, they each have their own strengths and weaknesses.

Impact of emergency department management of atrial fibrillation with amiodarone on length of stay. A propensity score analysis based on the URGFAICS registry

OBJECTIVE

Amiodarone is a widely used drug in the emergency department (ED) for control of atrial fibrillation, but it has a delayed onset of action and slow metabolism, leading to longer length of ED stay. The aim of this study was to compare the length of ED stay of atrial fibrillation patients who were treated with or without amiodarone.

METHODS

We undertook a multicenter, observational, cohort study of the URGFAICS registry of older adults with atrial fibrillation who presented to five Spanish EDs and compared patients who had received amiodarone with those who had not. Afterward, we performed a propensity score matched analysis of atrial fibrillation to determine the ED length of stay related to amiodarone.

RESULTS

Of the 1199 patients included in the registry, 225 patients (18.8%) were treated with amiodarone while 974 (81.2%) were not. We performed a univariate study depending on amiodarone administration followed by propensity score calculation according to the 14 statistically different features found previously and six significant variables, obtaining 150 patients (75 for each group) suitable for the analysis. The length of ED stay was analyzed using box plot, with a P <0.001 in the crude analysis and P = 0.012 after propensity score matching and using survival curves for the analysis of prolonged ED stay, with a log rank <0.001 in the crude analysis and log rank 0.021 after the propensity score-matched analysis.

CONCLUSION

Amiodarone is associated with longer length of ED stay until discharge independently of the baseline characteristics of the patients.

Behavioural activation treatment for depression in individuals with neurological conditions: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effectiveness of behavioural activation interventions for people with neurological conditions with comorbid depression, and explore content and adaptations.

DATA SOURCES

PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED, and EMBASE databases were searched on the 19 November 2019. Reference lists of selected full-texts were screened by title.

REVIEW METHODS

We included peer-reviewed studies published in English that used behavioural activation for treatment of depression in adults with a neurological condition. Single-case reports, reviews, and grey literature were excluded. Methodological quality was assessed by two authors independently, and quality was appraised using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklists.

RESULTS

From 2714 citations, 10 articles were included comprising 590 participants. Behavioural activation was used to treat depression in people with dementia (n = 4), stroke (n = 3), epilepsy (n = 1), Parkinson's disease (n = 1), and brain injury (n = 1). Sample size ranged from 4 to 105 participants. There were seven randomized controlled studies; however, no studies compared behavioural activation to an alternative psychological therapy. The effect sizes varied between small and large in the studies where effect size could be calculated (d = 0.24-1.7). Methodological quality of the included studies was variable. Intervention components were identifying and engaging in pleasurable activities, psychoeducation, and problem-solving. Adaptations included delivering sessions via telephone, delivering interventions via primary caregivers, and giving psychoeducation to caregivers.

CONCLUSION

The effectiveness of behavioural activation in randomized controlled trials varied from small to large (d = 0.24-1.7) in reducing depression. The content of behavioural activation was comparable to established treatment manuals. Adaptations appeared to support individuals to engage in therapy.

REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO 2018, CRD42018102604.

Comparison of Long-term Survival of Patients With Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer After Surgery vs Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy

IMPORTANCE

Previous comparisons of surgery and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for early-stage (ES) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) did not account for the extent of regional lymph node examination (LNE) during surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To compare long-term overall survival (OS) of patients with ES NSCLC after surgery vs SBRT when the extent of regional LNE in patients undergoing surgery is thoroughly considered.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Cohort study with survival comparisons using the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model and after propensity score matching. Data from the National Cancer Database were analyzed from October 28, 2018, through April 18, 2019. Patients with ES NSCLC diagnosed between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2015, who underwent any curative-intent surgery or SBRT were included.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Long-term OS.

RESULTS

Of 104 709 total patients, 91 330 underwent surgery (42 508 [46.5%] male; median [interquartile range] age, 68 [61-75] years) and 13 379 received SBRT (6065 [45.3%] male; median [interquartile range] age, 75 [68-81] years). Surgery, especially lobectomy (hazard ratio [HR], 0.53; 95% CI, 0.50-0.56), and regional LNE, especially when more than 10 lymph nodes were examined (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.69-0.77), were associated with better long-term OS (P < .001). Pneumonectomy was not associated with reduced mortality risk when 0 nodes were examined (HR for stage T1, 1.43; 95% CI, 0.67-3.06; P = .35; HR for stage T2-T3, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.34-1.13; P = .12) or when more than 15 nodes were examined for stage T1 disease in patients younger than 80 years (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.54-1.09; P = .14) or when patients aged 80 years or older received regional LNE of any extent (>15 nodes examined: HR for stage T1, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.16-2.64; P = .54; HR for stage T2-T3, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.50-1.60; P = .71). Less extensive surgery was not associated with improved OS when 0 nodes were examined in patients aged 80 years or older with stage T2 to T3 tumors (HR for lobectomy, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.65-1.25; P = .53) and in selected operable patients older than 75 years with stage T1 tumors (HR for lobectomy, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.57-2.00; P = .84).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This study found that, overall, surgery coupled with regional LNE of appropriate extent was associated with the best long-term OS in patients with ES NSCLC.

Effect of Timing and Duration of Statin Exposure on Risk of Hip or Knee Revision Arthroplasty: A Population-based Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether the timing and duration of statin exposure following total hip/knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA) influence the risk of revision arthroplasty.

METHODS

Subjects from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, a large population-based clinical database, who had THA/TKA from 1988 to 2016, were included. Propensity score adjusted Cox regression models were used to determine the association between statin exposure and the risk of revision THA/TKA, (1) at any time, and (2) if first exposed 0-1, 1-5, or > 5 years following THA/TKA. We also investigated the effect of duration of statin exposure (< 1, 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5, > 5 yrs).

RESULTS

The study included 151,305 participants. There were 65,032 (43%) exposed to statins during followup and 3500 (2.3%) had revision arthroplasty. In a propensity score adjusted model, exposure to statins was associated with a reduced risk of revision arthroplasty (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.75-0.90). Participants first exposed within 1 year and between 1 and 5 years following THA/TKA (vs unexposed) had a reduced risk of revision arthroplasty (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.74-0.91 and HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.65-0.90, respectively). In relation to duration of statin therapy, participants exposed for more than 5 years in total (vs < 1 yr) had a reduced risk of revision (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.62-0.88).

CONCLUSION

Statin therapy initiated up to 5 years following THA/TKA may reduce the risk of revision arthroplasty.

[Real-world evidence : Benefits and limitations in multiple sclerosis research]

BACKGROUND

Real-world evidence (RWE) expands the data obtained in randomized clinical trials (RCTs), which are based on both homogeneous selected patient groups and limited study durations, to long-term experiences in clinical routine. In particular, chronic diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) with both heterogeneous pathologies and a growing number of therapeutic options require a careful RWE-based assessment of long-term efficacy and safety parameters.

OBJECTIVE

This review presents RWE data sources applied in MS research and discusses potential quality standards.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This article is based on the results of an expert meeting of the authors held in October 2015 and a selective literature search.

RESULTS

The RWE data sources include the reporting system of drug safety monitoring, non-interventional studies, MS-specific registries, administrative health databases, and electronic medical records. These data sources have different objectives and are subject to specific limitations with respect to the disease and therapy-relevant analytical options. The combination of different sources into an integrative approach might improve the validity of RWE in MS research; however, this objective requires the standardization of data collection and processing as well as the definition of uniform and transnational quality standards.

CONCLUSION

There is still a need for high-quality, comprehensive, and valid RWE data as these data cover additional aspects of patient care and expand the data available by complementary information. Further development of an integrative RWE approach requires cooperation at various levels with the aim of the best possible standardization and harmonization of clinical MS data.

Comparison of prescribing practices for older adults treated by female versus male physicians: A retrospective cohort study

Importance

Subtle but important differences have been described in the way that male and female physicians care for their patients, with some evidence suggesting women are more likely to adhere to best practice recommendations.

Objective

To determine if male and female physicians differ in their prescribing practices as measured by the initiation of lower-than-recommended dose cholinesterase inhibitor (ChEI) drug therapy for dementia management.

Design, setting, and participants

All community-dwelling Ontario residents aged 66 years and older with dementia and newly dispensed an oral ChEI drug (donepezil, galantamine, or rivastigmine) between April 1, 2010 and June 30, 2016 were included.

Main outcome and measures

The association between physician sex and the initiation of a lower than recommended-dose ChEI was examined using generalized linear mixed regression models, adjusting for patient and physician characteristics. Data were stratified by specialty. Secondary analyses explored the association between physician sex and cardiac screening as well as shorter duration of the initial prescription.

Results

The analysis included 3,443 female and 5,811 male physicians and the majority (83%) were family physicians, Female physicians were more likely to initiate ChEI therapy at a lower-than-recommended dose (Adjusted odds ratio = 1.43,95% confidence interval = 1.17 to 1.74). Compared to their male counterparts, female physicians were also more likely to follow other conservative prescribing practices including cardiac screening (55.1% vs. 49.2%, P-value<0.001) around the time of ChEI initiation, and dispensing a shorter duration of initial prescription (41.8% vs 35.5% P-value<0.001).

Conclusions

There is a statistically significant and important difference in ChEI prescribing patterns between female and male physicians, suggesting that female physicians may be more careful and conservative in their approaches. This will inform future research to determine if patients receiving lower-than-recommended initial doses also have better outcomes.

Comparative anti-fracture effectiveness of different oral anti-osteoporosis therapies based on "real-world" data: a meta-analysis of propensity-matched cohort findings from the UK Clinical Practice Research Database and the Catalan SIDIAP Database

PURPOSE

This paper aims to compare the clinical effectiveness of oral anti-osteoporosis drugs based on the observed risk of fracture while on treatment in primary care actual practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We investigated two primary care records databases covering UK National Health Service (Clinical Practice Research Datalink, CPRD) and Catalan healthcare (Information System for Research in Primary Care, SIDIAP) patients during 1995-2014 and 2006-2014, respectivey. Treatment-naive incident users of anti-osteoporosis drugs were included and followed until treatment cessation, switching, death, transfer out, or study completion. We considered hip fracture while on treatment as main outcome and major osteoporotic fractures (hip, clinical spine, wrist, and proximal humerus) as secondary outcome. Users of alendronate (reference group) were compared to those of (1) OBP, (2) strontium ranelate (SR), and (3) selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), after matching on baseline characteristics using propensity scores. Multiple imputation was used to handle missing data on confounders and competing risk modelling for the calculation of relative risk according to therapy. Country-specific data were analyzed separately and meta-analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 163,950 UK and 145,236 Catalan patients were identified. Hip (sub-hazard ratio [SHR] [95% CI] 1.04 [0.77-1.40]) and major osteoporotic (SHR [95% CI] 1 [0.78-1.27]) fracture risks were similar among OBP compared to alendronate users. Both hip (SHR [95% CI] 1.26 [1.14-1.39]) and major osteoporotic (SHR [95% CI] 1.06 [1.02-1.12]) fracture risk were higher in SR compared to alendronate users. SERM users had a reduced hip (SHR [95% CI] 0.75 [0.60-0.94]) and major osteoporotic (SHR [95% CI] 0.77 [0.72-0.83]) fracture risk compared to alendronate users.

CONCLUSION

We found a 26% excess hip fracture risk among SR compared to matched alendronate users, in line with placebo-controlled RCT findings. Conversely, in a lower risk population, SERM users had a 25% reduced hip fracture risk compared to alendronate users. Head-to-head RCTs are needed to confirm these findings.

Effects on short term outcome of non-invasive ventilation use in the emergency department to treat patients with acute heart failure: A propensity score-based analysis of the EAHFE Registry

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effects of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in emergency department (ED) patients with acute heart failure (AHF) on short term outcomes.

METHODS

Patients from the EAHFE Registry (a multicenter, observational, multipurpose, cohort-designed database including consecutive AHF patients in 41 Spanish EDs) were grouped based on NIV treatment (NIV+ and NIV-groups). Using propensity score (PS) methodology, we identified two subgroups of patients matched by 38 covariates and compared regarding 30-day survival (primary outcome). Interaction was investigated for age, sex, ischemic cardiomyopathy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, AHF precipitated by an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), AHF classified as hypertensive or acute pulmonary edema (APE), and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Secondary outcomes were intensive care unit (ICU) admission; mechanical ventilation; in-hospital, 3-day and 7-day mortality; and prolonged hospitalization (>7 days).

RESULTS

Of 11,152 patients from the EAHFE (age (SD): 80 (10) years; 55.5% women), 718 (6.4%) were NIV+ and had a higher 30-day mortality (HR = 2.229; 95%CI = 1.861-2.670) (p < 0.001). PS matching provided 2 groups of 490 patients each with no significant differences in 30-day mortality (HR = 1.239; 95%CI = 0.905-1.696) (p = 0.182). Interaction analysis suggested a worse effect of NIV on elderly patients (>85 years, p < 0.001), AHF associated with ACS (p = 0.045), and SBP < 100 mmHg (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found in the secondary endpoints except for more prolonged hospitalizations in NIV+ patients (OR = 1.445; 95%CI = 1.122-1.862) (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

The use of NIV to treat AHF in ED is not associated with improved mortality outcomes and should be cautious in old patients and those with ACS and hypotension.

Efficacy and safety of faecal microbiota transplantation in patients with psoriatic arthritis: protocol for a 6-month, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

An unbalanced intestinal microbiota may mediate activation of the inflammatory pathways seen in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). A randomised, placebo-controlled trial of faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) infused into the small intestine of patients with PsA with active peripheral disease who are non-responsive to methotrexate (MTX) treatment will be conducted. The objective is to explore clinical aspects associated with FMT performed in patients with PsA.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This trial is a randomised, two-centre stratified, double-blind (patient, care provider and outcome assessor), placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Eighty patients will be included and randomised (1:1) to either placebo (saline) or FMT provided from an anonymous healthy donor. Throughout the study, both groups will continue the weekly self-administered subcutaneous MTX treatment, remaining on the preinclusion dosage (15-25 mg/week). The clinical measures of psoriasis and PsA disease activity used include the Short (2-page) Health Assessment Questionnaire, the Dermatology Quality of Life Index, the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada Enthesitis Index, the Psoriasis Area Severity Index, a dactylitis digit count, a swollen/tender joint count (66/68), plasma C reactive protein as well as visual analogue scales for pain, fatigue and patient and physician global assessments. The primary end point is the proportion of patients who experience treatment failure during the 6-month trial period. The number of adverse events will be registered throughout the study.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This is a proof-of-concept clinical trial and will be performed in agreement with Good Clinical Practice standards. Approvals have been obtained from the local Ethics Committee (DK-S-20150080) and the Danish Data Protection Agency (15/41684). The study has commenced in May 2017. Dissemination will be through presentations at national and international conferences and through publications in international peer-reviewed journal(s).

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03058900; Pre-results.

The STROCSS statement: Strengthening the Reporting of Cohort Studies in Surgery

INTRODUCTION

The development of reporting guidelines over the past 20 years represents a major advance in scholarly publishing with recent evidence showing positive impacts. Whilst over 350 reporting guidelines exist, there are few that are specific to surgery. Here we describe the development of the STROCSS guideline (Strengthening the Reporting of Cohort Studies in Surgery).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We published our protocol apriori. Current guidelines for case series (PROCESS), cohort studies (STROBE) and randomised controlled trials (CONSORT) were analysed to compile a list of items which were used as baseline material for developing a suitable checklist for surgical cohort guidelines. These were then put forward in a Delphi consensus exercise to an expert panel of 74 surgeons and academics via Google Forms.

RESULTS

The Delphi exercise was completed by 62% (46/74) of the participants. All the items were passed in a single round to create a STROCSS guideline consisting of 17 items.

CONCLUSION

We present the STROCSS guideline for surgical cohort, cross-sectional and case-control studies consisting of a 17-item checklist. We hope its use will increase the transparency and reporting quality of such studies. This guideline is also suitable for cross-sectional and case control studies. We encourage authors, reviewers, journal editors and publishers to adopt these guidelines.

A protocol for the development of the STROCSS guideline: Strengthening the Reporting of Cohort Studies in Surgery

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No guidelines currently exist to support authors reporting on surgical cohort studies.

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We hereby provide our protocol for the development of the STROCSS Guideline for surgical cohort studies.

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Dissemination to interested parties and journals will be encouraged to endorse the reporting guideline.

Introduction

Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE) coined in 2007, highlighted the importance of improving the quality of observational research by providing an item checklist in order to avoid inadequate reporting of research. However, currently there are no reporting guidelines specific to surgical cohort studies, which have an extremely important role within the surgical literature. The recent development of surgery specific guidelines has underscored how surgical and procedural interventions require additional detail for readers to have a complete, clear, transparent and reproducible understanding. The objective of this research is to conduct a Delphi consensus exercise to develop the STROCSS guideline (Strengthening the Reporting of Cohort Studies in Surgery).

Methods and analysis

Current guidelines for case series (PROCESS), Cohort Studies (STROBE) and randomised controlled trials (CONSORT) will be analysed to compile items to form baseline material for developing cohort guidelines in the Delphi consensus exercise. The Delphi questionnaire will be administered via Google Forms and conducted using standard Delphi Methodology. Surgeons and individuals with significant experience of reviewing cohort studies as well as those with experience in developing reporting guidelines will be invited to participate. In the first round, existing items from PROCESS and STROBE will be put forward and participants will be invited to augment them or contribute further items for consideration. The provisional guidelines will then be updated in successive rounds using the nine-point Likert scale as proposed by the Grading Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) working group. This process will be used to agree Standard definitions for the outcomes.

Dissemination

The work will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at national and international meetings. Findings will be disseminated to interested parties, and journals will be encouraged to endorse the reporting guidelines.

Morphine Use in the ED and Outcomes of Patients With Acute Heart Failure: A Propensity Score-Matching Analysis Based on the EAHFE Registry

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to determine the relationship between short-term mortality and intravenous morphine use in ED patients who received a diagnosis of acute heart failure (AHF).

METHODS

Consecutive patients with AHF presenting to 34 Spanish EDs from 2011 to 2014 were eligible for inclusion. The subjects were divided into those with (M) or without IV morphine treatment (WOM) groups during ED stay. The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality, and secondary outcomes were mortality at different intermediate time points, in-hospital mortality, and length of hospital stay. We generated a propensity score to match the M and WOM groups that were 1:1 according to 46 different epidemiological, baseline, clinical, and therapeutic factors. We investigated independent risk factors for 30-day mortality in patients receiving morphine.

RESULTS

We included 6,516 patients (mean age, 81 [SD, 10] years; 56% women): 416 (6.4%) in the M and 6,100 (93.6%) in the WOM group. Overall, 635 (9.7%; M, 26.7%; WOM, 8.6%) died by day 30. After propensity score matching, 275 paired patients constituted each group. Patients receiving morphine had a higher 30-day mortality (55 [20.0%] vs 35 [12.7%] deaths; hazard ratio, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.09-2.54; P = .017). In patients receiving morphine, death was directly related to glycemia (P = .013) and inversely related to the baseline Barthel index and systolic BP (P = .021) at ED arrival (P = .021). Mortality was increased at every intermediate time point, although the greatest risk was at the shortest time (at 3 days: 22 [8.0%] vs 7 [2.5%] deaths; OR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.40-7.93; P = .014). In-hospital mortality did not increase (39 [14.2%] vs 26 [9.1%] deaths; OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 0.97-2.82; P = .083) and LOS did not differ between groups (median [interquartile range] in M, 8 [7]; WOM, 8 [6]; P = .79).

CONCLUSIONS

This propensity score-matched analysis suggests that the use of IV morphine in AHF could be associated with increased 30-day mortality.

A review of routinely collected data studies in urology: Methodological considerations, reporting quality, and future directions

Studies using routinely collected data (RCD) are common in the urological literature; however, there are important considerations in the creation and review of RCD discoveries. A recent reporting guideline (REporting of studies Conducted using Observational Routinely-collected health Data, RECORD) was developed to improve the reporting of these studies. This narrative review examines important considerations for RCD studies. To assess the current level of reporting in the urological literature, we reviewed all the original research articles published in Journal of Urology and European Urology in 2014, and determined the proportion of the RECORD checklist items that were reported for RCD studies. There were 56 RCD studies identified among the 608 articles. When the RECORD items were considered applicable to the specific study, they were reported in 52.5% of cases. Studies most consistently (>80% of them) reported the names of the data sources, the study time frame, the extent to which the authors could access the database source, the patient selection, and discussed missing data. Few studies (<25%) discussed validation of key coding elements, details on data-linkage, data-cleaning, the impact of changing eligibility over time, or provided the complete list of coding elements used to define key study variables. Reporting factors specifically relevant in RCD studies may serve to increase the quality of these studies in the urological literature. With increased technological integration in healthcare and the proliferation of electronic medical records, RCD will continue to be an important source for urological research.

Clinical assessments and care interventions to promote oral hydration amongst older patients: a narrative systematic review

BACKGROUND

Older patients in hospital may be unable to maintain hydration by drinking, leading to intravenous fluid replacement, complications and a longer length of stay. We undertook a systematic review to describe clinical assessment tools which identify patients at risk of insufficient oral fluid intake and the impact of simple interventions to promote drinking, in hospital and care home settings.

METHOD

MEDLINE, CINAHL, and EMBASE databases and two internet search engines (Google and Google Scholar) were examined. Articles were included when the main focus was use of a hydration/dehydration risk assessment in an adult population with/without a care intervention to promote oral hydration in hospitals or care homes. Reviews which used findings to develop new assessments were also included. Single case reports, laboratory results only, single technology assessments or non-oral fluid replacement in patients who were already dehydrated were excluded. Interventions where nutritional intake was the primary focus with a hydration component were also excluded. Identified articles were screened for relevance and quality before a narrative synthesis. No statistical analysis was planned.

RESULTS

From 3973 citations, 23 articles were included. Rather than prevention of poor oral intake, most focused upon identification of patients already in negative fluid balance using information from the history, patient inspection and urinalysis. Nine formal hydration assessments were identified, five of which had an accompanying intervention/ care protocol, and there were no RCT or large observational studies. Interventions to provide extra opportunities to drink such as prompts, preference elicitation and routine beverage carts appeared to support hydration maintenance, further research is required. Despite a lack of knowledge of fluid requirements and dehydration risk factors amongst staff, there was no strong evidence that increasing awareness alone would be beneficial for patients.

CONCLUSION

Despite descriptions of features associated with dehydration, there is insufficient evidence to recommend a specific clinical assessment which could identify older persons at risk of poor oral fluid intake; however there is evidence to support simple care interventions which promote drinking particularly for individuals with cognitive impairment.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO 2014:CRD42014015178.

Zinc Status and Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus-A Systematic Review of Prospective Cohort Studies

Zinc is an essential trace element with proposed therapeutic effects in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), however, the associations between zinc status and the prospective risks of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and Type 2 DM have not been evaluated. The current systematic review aims to determine the relationships between zinc intake or plasma/serum zinc levels and prospective incidence of CVD and Type 2 DM. Fourteen papers describing prospective cohort studies were included, reporting either CVD (n = 91,708) and/or Type 2 DM (n = 334,387) outcomes. Primary analyses from four out of five studies reported no association between zinc intake and CVD events, when adjusted for multiple variables. Higher serum zinc level was associated with lower risk of CVD in three out of five studies; pronounced effects were observed in vulnerable populations, specifically those with Type 2 DM and patients referred to coronary angiography. The limited evidence available suggests no association between zinc status and Type 2 DM risk. Further investigations into the mechanisms of zinc's action on the pathogenesis of chronic diseases and additional evidence from observational studies are required to establish a recommendation for dietary zinc in relation to the prevention of CVD and Type 2 DM.

Comparing the validity of the payment card and structured haggling willingness to pay methods: The case of a diabetes prevention program in rural Kenya

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to compare the theoretical validity of two willingness-to-pay (WTP) methods, the commonly used payment card (PC) and the recently developed structured haggling (SH), for estimating the potential benefits of a diabetes prevention program in rural Kenya.

METHODS

A convenience sample of adult residents from a rural county in Kenya (Kiambu), with no history of diabetes, was randomly assigned to one of two WTP methods, PC or SH, using structured face-to-face interviews from December 2011 to February 2012.

RESULTS

A total of 376 respondents completed the interviews using PC (n = 185) or SH (n = 191). More than 95% of respondents were willing to pay something for program access. The study showed that both methods were feasible in rural Kenya. SH resulted in a higher annual mean WTP than PC, Ksh504.05 (US$7.25) versus Ksh619.95 (US$5.90), respectively (p < 0.01). Based on theory, it was hypothesized that certain predisposing factors would result in greater WTP. Greater socio-economic status (measured using income proxies) resulted in greater unconditional WTP for both the PC and SH groups (t-tests and bivariate correlations) and conditional WTP (GLM models). GLM for PC showed being male, employed and having distant relatives with diabetes were significant predictors for WTP, while for SH being educated, employed and owning a vehicle were significant predictors.

CONCLUSION

Both PC and SH showed theoretical validity in rural Kenya. However, the use of SH over PC in rural Kenya may be the better choice given that SH more closely mirrors marketplace transactions in this setting and the use of SH resulted in more significant variables in the GLM models.

The importance of collecting structured clinical information on multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the 'gold standard' in the generation of drug efficacy and safety evidence. However, enrolment criteria, timelines and atypical comparators of RCTs limit their relevance to standard clinical practice.

DISCUSSION

Real-world data (RWD) provide longitudinal information on the comparative effectiveness and tolerability of drugs, as well as their impact on resource use, medical costs, and pharmacoeconomic and patient-reported outcomes. This is particularly important in multiple sclerosis (MS), where economic treatment benefits of long-term disability reduction are a cornerstone of payer drug approvals - these are typically not examined in the RCT itself but modelled using real-world datasets. Importantly, surrogate markers used in RCTs to predict the prevention of long-term disability progression can only truly be assessed through RWD methodologies. We discuss the differences between RCTs and RWD studies, describe how RWD complements the evidence base from RCTs in MS, summarize the different methods of RWD collection, and explain the importance of structuring data analysis to avoid bias. Guidance on performing and identifying high-quality real-world evidence studies is also provided.

Epoch Analysis of On-Treatment Disability Progression Events over Time in the Tysabri Observational Program (TOP)

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of natalizumab on disability progression beyond 2 years of treatment in clinical practice.

METHODS

Analyses included the 496 relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients among 5122 patients in the Tysabri Observational Program (TOP) who had completed 4 continuous years of natalizumab treatment and had baseline (study enrollment) and postbaseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) assessments. Proportions of patients with 6-month or 12-month confirmed ≥1.0-point EDSS progression relative to baseline were compared in treatment months 1-24 and 25-48. Sensitivity analyses compared progression rates in months 13-24 and 25-36.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics appeared similar between the overall TOP population (N = 5122), patients who had completed 4 years of natalizumab treatment (n = 469), and patients eligible to complete 4 years in TOP who had discontinued natalizumab after 2 years of treatment (n = 514). Among 4-year completers, the proportion of patients with 6-month and 12-month confirmed EDSS progression decreased between months 1-24 and 25-48 of natalizumab treatment by 42% (from 10.9% to 6.3%; p < 0.01) and 52% (from 9.5% to 4.6%; p < 0.01), respectively. Few patients had 6-month or 12-month confirmed EDSS progression in both epochs (0.6% and 0.2%, respectively). Between months 13-24 and 25-36 of treatment, the proportion of patients with 6-month and 12-month confirmed EDSS progression decreased by 60% (from 7.5% to 3.0%; p < 0.01) and 58% (from 6.7% to 2.8%; p < 0.01), respectively. Significant reductions in disability progression events between months 13-24 and 25-36 were also observed in relapse-free patients.

CONCLUSION

In this observational study, the disability progression rate decreased further beyond 2 years of natalizumab treatment. Patients who responded well and remained on continuous natalizumab therapy for over 4 years had sustained and potentially enhanced reductions in EDSS progression over time.

Management of diverticular disease

Diverticular disease is a common condition in Western countries and the incidence and prevalence of the disease is increasing. The pathogenetic factors involved include structural changes in the gut that increase with age, a diet low in fibre and rich in meat, changes in intestinal motility, the concept of enteric neuropathy and an underlying genetic background. Current treatment strategies are hampered by insufficient options to stratify patients according to individual risk. One of the main reasons is the lack of an all-encompassing classification system of diverticular disease. In response, the German Society for Gastroenterology and Digestive Diseases (DGVS) has proposed a classification system as part of its new guideline for the diagnosis and management of diverticular disease. The classification system includes five main types of disease: asymptomatic diverticulosis, acute uncomplicated and complicated diverticulitis, as well as chronic diverticular disease and diverticular bleeding. Here, we review prevention and treatment strategies stratified by these five main types of disease, from prevention of the first attack of diverticulitis to the management of chronic complications and diverticular bleeding.

Correlation of Incident Potentially Inappropriate Medication Prescriptions and Hospitalization: An Analysis Based on the PRISCUS List

Background

Multimorbidity and polypharmacy represent a major problem for elderly patients. Potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use is highly prevalent among the elderly. PIMs are considered high-risk drugs and are suspected to be responsible for adverse drug events (ADEs) leading to hospitalization.

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine hospitalization rates related to selected ADEs in elderly patients with an incident prescription of a PIM as defined by the PRISCUS list. A second objective was to identify other factors independently associated with hospitalization.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed a full census of pharmaceutical claims, from one of the largest public sickness funds in Germany, for 647,073 patients aged ≥65 years in 2010, the year of publication of the PRISCUS list. Patients who received an incident PIM in 2010 were assigned to the intervention group. Propensity score matching was used to build a control group of patients at a comparable risk level who received an incident equivalent non-PIM. The risk of hospitalization due to PIM prescription was estimated via the odds ratio (OR). Risk factors were analysed via logistic regression models.

Results

The results showed significantly more ADEs in the PIM group. The OR for hospitalization was 1.54 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.23–1.93] for patients receiving any PIM compared with those who received a non-PIM. This trend remained stable [OR 1.46 (95 % CI 1.16–1.84)] after adjustment for relevant covariates in the logistic regression models showing ORs for each risk factor. Besides PIMs, common risk factors such as greater age, comorbidity and specific drug classes were significantly responsible for hospitalization.

Conclusion

PIMs (as defined by the PRISCUS list) are associated with high rates of ADEs associated with hospitalization. Our study suggests that PIM reduction may result in a lower risk of hospitalization in the elderly.

Searching for randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews on exercise. A descriptive study

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE

The current paradigm of science is to accumulate as much research data as possible, with less thought given to navigation or synthesis of the resulting mass, which hampers locating and using the research. The aim here was to describe the number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews (SRs) focusing on exercise, and their journal sources, that have been indexed in PubMed over time.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Descriptive study conducted at Bond University, Australia.

METHOD

To find RCTs, a search was conducted in PubMed Clinical Queries, using the category "Therapy" and the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) term "Exercise". To find SRs, a search was conducted in PubMed Clinical Queries, using the category "Therapy", the MeSH term "Exercise" and various methodological filters.

RESULTS

Up until 2011, 9,354 RCTs about exercise were published in 1,250 journals and 1,262 SRs in 513 journals. Journals in the area of Sports Science published the greatest number of RCTs and journals categorized as belonging to "Other health professions" area (for example nursing or psychology) published the greatest number of SRs. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews was the principal source for SRs, with 9.8% of the total, while the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research and Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise published 4.4% and 5.0% of the RCTs, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The rapid growth and resulting scatter of RCTs and SRs on exercise presents challenges for locating and using this research. Solutions for this issue need to be considered.

VA Vascular Injury Study (VAVIS): VA-DoD extremity injury outcomes collaboration

BACKGROUND

Limb injuries comprise 50-60% of U.S. Service member's casualties of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Combat-related vascular injuries are present in 12% of this cohort, a rate 5 times higher than in prior wars. Improvements in medical and surgical trauma care, including initial in-theatre limb salvage approaches (IILS) have resulted in improved survival and fewer amputations, however, the long-term outcomes such as morbidity, functional decline, and risk for late amputation of salvaged limbs using current process of care have not been studied. The long-term care of these injured warfighters poses a significant challenge to the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

METHODS/DESIGN

The VA Vascular Injury Study (VAVIS): VA-DoD Extremity Injury Outcomes Collaborative, funded by the VA, Health Services Research and Development Service, is a longitudinal cohort study of Veterans with vascular extremity injuries. Enrollment will begin April, 2015 and continue for 3 years. Individuals with a validated extremity vascular injury in the Department of Defense Trauma Registry will be contacted and will complete a set of validated demographic, social, behavioral, and functional status measures during interview and online/ mailed survey. Primary outcome measures will: 1) Compare injury, demographic and geospatial characteristics of patients with IILS and identify late vascular surgery related limb complications and health care utilization in Veterans receiving VA vs. non-VA care, 2) Characterize the preventive services received by individuals with vascular repair and related outcomes, and 3) Describe patient-reported functional outcomes in Veterans with traumatic vascular limb injuries.

DISCUSSION

This study will provide key information about the current process of care for Active Duty Service members and Veterans with polytrauma/vascular injuries at risk for persistent morbidity and late amputation. The results of this study will be the first step for clinicians in VA and military settings to generate evidence-based treatment and care approaches to these injuries. It will identify areas where rehabilitation medicine and vascular specialty care or telehealth options are needed to allow for better planning, resource utilization, and improved DoD-to-VA care transitions.

The quality of control groups in nonrandomized studies published in the Journal of Hand Surgery

PURPOSE

To evaluate control group selection in nonrandomized studies published in the Journal of Hand Surgery American (JHS).

METHODS

We reviewed all papers published in JHS in 2013 to identify studies that used nonrandomized control groups. Data collected included type of study design and control group characteristics. We then appraised studies to determine whether authors discussed confounding and selection bias and how they controlled for confounding.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven nonrandomized studies were published in JHS in 2013. The source of control was either the same institution as the study group, a different institution, a database, or not provided in the manuscript. Twenty-nine (78%) studies statistically compared key characteristics between control and study group. Confounding was controlled with matching, exclusion criteria, or regression analysis. Twenty-two (59%) papers explicitly discussed the threat of confounding and 18 (49%) identified sources of selection bias.

CONCLUSIONS

In our review of nonrandomized studies published in JHS, papers had well-defined controls that were similar to the study group, allowing for reasonable comparisons. However, we identified substantial confounding and bias that were not addressed as explicit limitations, which might lead the reader to overestimate the scientific validity of the data.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Incorporating a brief discussion of control group selection in scientific manuscripts should help readers interpret the study more appropriately. Authors, reviewers, and editors should strive to address this component of clinical importance.

Bipolar or borderline: a clinical overview

OBJECTIVE

To examine the empirical literature on diagnostic validators in borderline personality and bipolar illness.

METHOD

Using principles of evidence-based medicine, the highest levels of evidence were emphasized in interpretation of similarities or differences between bipolar illness and borderline personality on the five standard diagnostic validators in psychiatric nosology: symptoms, course, genetics, treatment response, and neurobiology.

RESULTS

Bipolar illness and borderline personality were found to be similar in the nosological validator of symptoms of mood lability and impulsivity, but differed notably on all other diagnostic validators, especially the course validator of past sexual abuse and the genetic validator of a bipolar family history. They also differ notably in the symptom validator of parasuicidal self-harm. Treatment response and neurobiological differences were also present and consistent.

CONCLUSION

This review of the literature indicates that these two conditions, bipolar illness and borderline personality, are different and can be distinguished. The much stronger biological and genetic evidence for bipolar illness in particular suggests that the two conditions can be reasonably seen as different kinds of clinical entities, namely a biological disease versus a psychosocially caused clinical picture. If this interpretation is correct, similarities between the two conditions, such as mood lability and impulsivity, are superficial, while differences are profound. Further, true comorbidity may be much less common than often presumed.

Infants with severe respiratory syncytial virus needed less ventilator time with nasal continuous airways pressure then invasive mechanical ventilation

AIM

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) has been proposed as an early first-line support for infants with severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. We hypothesised that infants <6 months with severe RSV would require shorter ventilator support on NCPAP than invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV).

METHODS

Retrospective cohort analysis of infants admitted to two paediatric intensive care units, one primarily using NCPAP and one exclusively using IMV, between January 2008 and February 2010.

RESULTS

We studied 133 (NCPAP n = 89, IMV n = 46) consecutively admitted infants. On admission, disease severity [i.e. Paediatric RISk of Mortality (PRISM) II score (NCPAP 5.1 ± 2.8 vs. IMV 12.2 ± 6.0, p < 0.001) and SpO2 /Fi O2 ratio (NCPAP 309 ± 81 vs. IMV 135 ± 98, p < 0.001)] was higher in the IMV group. NCPAP remained independently associated with shorter ventilatory support (hazard ratio 2.3, 95% CI 1.1-4.7, p = 0.022) after adjusting for PRISM II score, PCO2 , SpO2 /Fi O2 ratio, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and occurrence of clinically suspected secondary bacterial pneumonia.

CONCLUSION

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure was independently associated with a shorter duration of ventilatory support. Differences in baseline disease severity mandate a randomised trial before the routine use of NCPAP can be recommended.

An Analysis of Methodologies That Can Be Used to Validate if a Perioperative Surgical Home Improves the Patient-centeredness, Evidence-based Practice, Quality, Safety, and Value of Patient Care

Approximately 80 million inpatient and outpatient surgeries are performed annually in the United States. Widely variable and fragmented perioperative care exposes these surgical patients to lapses in expected standard of care, increases the chance for operational mistakes and accidents, results in unnecessary and potentially detrimental care, needlessly drives up costs, and adversely affects the patient healthcare experience. The American Society of Anesthesiologists and other stakeholders have proposed a more comprehensive model of perioperative care, the Perioperative Surgical Home (PSH), to improve current care of surgical patients and to meet the future demands of increased volume, quality standards, and patient-centered care. To justify implementation of this new healthcare delivery model to surgical colleagues, administrators, and patients and maintain the integrity of evidenced-based practice, the nascent PSH model must be rigorously evaluated. This special article proposes comparative effectiveness research aims or objectives and an optimal study design for the novel PSH model.

Impact of the 2004 tsunami on self-reported physical health in Thailand for the subsequent 2 years

OBJECTIVES

We examined self-reported physical health during the first 2 years following the 2004 tsunami in Thailand.

METHODS

We assessed physical health with the revised Short Form Health Survey. We evaluated 6 types of tsunami exposure: personal injury, personal loss of home, personal loss of business, loss of family member, family member's injury, and family's loss of business. We examined the relationship between tsunami exposure and physical health with multivariate linear regression.

RESULTS

One year post-tsunami, we interviewed 1931 participants (97.2% response rate), and followed up with 1855 participants 2 years after the tsunami (96.1% follow-up rate). Participants with personal injury or loss of business reported poorer physical health than those unaffected (P < .001), and greater health impacts were found for women and older individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

Exposure to the tsunami disaster adversely affected physical health, and its impact may last for longer than 1 year, which is the typical time when most public and private relief programs withdraw.