Development of a core outcome set for studies on prevention and management of pregnancy-associated venous thromboembolism (COSPVenTE): a study protocol

Engaging pregnant individuals and healthcare professionals in an international mixed methods study to develop a core outcome set for studies on placenta accreta spectrum disorder (COPAS): a study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder is a life-threatening condition that may result in serious maternal complications, including mortality. The placenta which is pathologically adherent to the uterine wall, places individuals at high risk of major haemorrhage during the third stage of labour. Current research reports on PAS disorder outcomes have highly variable levels of information, which is therefore difficult for investigators to aggregate to inform practice. There is an urgent need to harmonise data collection in prospective studies to identify and implement best practices for management. One approach to standardise outcomes across any health area via the use of core outcome sets (COSs), which are consensus-derived standardised sets of outcomes that all studies for a particular condition should measure and report. This protocol outlines the steps for developing a COS for PAS disorder (COPAS).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This protocol outlines steps for the creation of COPAS. The first step, a systematic review, will identify all reported outcomes in the scientific literature. The second step will use qualitative one-on-one interviews to identify additional outcomes identified as important by patients and healthcare professionals that are not reported in the published literature. Outcomes from the first two steps will be combined to form an outcome inventory. This outcome inventory will inform the third step which is a Delphi survey that encourages agreement between patients and healthcare professionals on which outcomes are most important for inclusion in the COS. The fourth step, a consensus group meeting of representative participants, will finalise outcomes for inclusion in the PAS disorder COS.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study has obtained Research Ethics Board approval from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (#2338, #1488). We will aim to publish the study findings in an international peer-reviewed OBGYN journal.

REGISTRATION DETAILS

COMET Core Outcome Set Registration: https://www.comet-initiative.org/Studies/Details/1127.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020173426.

A systematic review of reported outcomes in people with lower limb chronic venous insufficiency of the deep veins

OBJECTIVE

The prevalence of lower limb chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) of the deep veins is increasing and presents a significant burden to patients and health care services. To improve the evaluation of interventions it is necessary to standardise their reporting. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of the outcomes of interventions delivered to people with CVI of the deep veins as part of the development of a novel core outcome set (COS).

METHODS

Following the Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) framework for COS development, a systematic review was conducted to PRISMA guidance. The protocol was preregistered on PROSPERO (CRD42021236795). MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Clinicaltrials.gov were searched from January 2018 to January 2021. Clinical trials and observational studies involving more than 20 participants, reporting outcomes for patients with CVI of the deep veins were eligible. Outcomes were extracted verbatim, condensed into agreed outcome terms and coded into domains using standard COMET taxonomy. Outcome reporting consistency, where outcomes were fully reported throughout the methods and results of their respective articles was also assessed.

RESULTS

Some 103 studies were eligible. There were 1183 verbatim outcomes extracted, spanning 22 domains. No outcome was reported unanimously, with the most widely reported outcome of primary patency featuring in 51 articles (<50%). There was a predominant focus on reporting clinical outcomes (n = 963 [81%]), with treatment durability (n = 278 [23%]) and clinical severity (n = 108 [9%]) reported frequently. Life impact outcomes were relatively under-reported (n = 60 [5%]). Outcome reporting consistency was poor, with just 50% of outcomes reported fully.

CONCLUSIONS

Outcome reporting in studies of people with CVI of the deep veins is currently heterogeneous. Life impact outcomes, which likely reflect patients' priorities are under-reported. This study provides the first step in the development of a COS for people with lower limb CVI of the deep veins.

Core Outcome Sets (COS) related to pregnancy and childbirth: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Systematic reviews often conclude low confidence in the results due to heterogeneity in the reported outcomes. A Core Outcome Set (COS) is an agreed standardised collection of outcomes for a specific area of health. The outcomes included in a COS are to be measured and summarized in clinical trials as well as systematic reviews to counteract this heterogeneity.

AIM

The aim is to identify, compile and assess final and ongoing studies that are prioritizing outcomes in the area of pregnancy and childbirth.

METHODS

All studies which prioritized outcomes related to pregnancy and childbirth using consensus method, including Delphi surveys or consensus meetings were included. Searches were conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Academic Search Elite, CINAHL, SocINDEX and COMET databases up to June 2021. For all studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria, information regarding outcomes as well as population, method, and setting was extracted. In addition, reporting in the finalized studies was assessed using a modified version of the Core Outcome Set-STAndards for Reporting.

RESULTS

In total, 27 finalized studies and 42 ongoing studies were assessed as relevant and were included. In the finalized studies, the number of outcomes included in the COS ranged from 6 to 51 with a median of 13 outcomes. The majority of the identified COS, both finalized as well as ongoing, were relating to physical complications during pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

There is a growing number of Core Outcome Set studies related to pregnancy and childbirth. Although several of the finalized studies follow the proposed reporting, there are still some items that are not always clearly reported. Additionally, several of the identified COS contained a large number (n > 20) outcomes, something that possibly could hinder implementation. Therefore, there is a need to consider the number of outcomes which may be included in a COS to render it optimal for future research.

Uncaptured rates of postpartum venous thromboembolism: a US national analysis

OBJECTIVE

To quantify the proportion of postpartum venous thromboembolism (VTE) readmissions, including those that occur at different hospitals from index admission, and describe risk factors for this outcome.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

SETTING

US hospitals included in the Nationwide Readmissions Database.

SAMPLE

A total of 3 719 238 patients >14 years of age with a delivery-associated hospitalisation in 2014.

METHODS

Univariate analysis was performed to identify patient and hospital factors associated with readmissions. Significant factors were included in multivariate logistic regression to identify independent risk factors. Results were weighted for national estimates.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Readmission with VTE to both index and different hospitals at 30, 60 and 90 days.

RESULTS

The VTE cumulative readmission rate was 0.053% (n = 1477), 0.063% (n = 1765) and 0.069% (n = 1938) at 30, 60 and 90 days, respectively. Patients were readmitted to different hospitals 31% of the time within 90 days. Risk factors for different hospital VTE readmission were unique and included younger age and initial admission to a small/medium-sized hospital. Initial admission to a for-profit hospital increased the likelihood of readmission to a different hospital.

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly one in three postpartum VTEs are missed by the current quality metrics, with significant implications for outcomes and quality. For-profit hospitals have a significant portion of their VTE readmissions hidden, falsely lowering their readmission rates relative to public hospitals.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

US analysis shows 1 in 3 readmissions for postpartum venous thromboembolism currently missed.

Patient- and Health-Care-Provider-Reported Outcomes to Consider in Research on Pregnancy-Associated Venous Thromboembolism

BACKGROUND

 Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pregnancy can have numerous adverse impacts on patients and health care systems. Ongoing research aimed at improving maternal and fetal/neonatal outcomes is hampered by the lack of patient perspective in determining which outcomes are considered important to assess the effectiveness of interventions.

OBJECTIVES

 The objective of this study was to elicit outcomes from those who experienced or were at risk for pregnancy-associated VTE (health service users, HSUs) and health care providers (HCPs) involved in their care.

METHODS

 Canadian HSUs and HCPs were recruited using convenience and purposive sampling, respectively. Individual, semistructured interviews aimed specifically at eliciting pregnancy-related outcomes were conducted until data saturation was attained. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Written transcripts were de-identified and interpretatively analyzed in duplicate to obtain outcomes related to participant experiences. Outcomes were grouped based on a taxonomy developed for medical research and compared between and across interviews with patients and HCPs, and with those obtained through a systematic review of the published literature.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

 We interviewed 10 HSUs and eight HCPs and elicited 52 outcomes, 21 of which have not been reported in the literature. Although the majority of elicited outcomes were in the clinical/physiological core outcome area, both HSUs and HCPs highlighted the importance of outcomes related to functioning/life impact and general wellbeing of mother and baby. These outcomes representing the perspectives of HSUs and HCPs should be considered while conducting trials on pregnancy-associated VTE.

Core outcome set for studies on pregnant women with vasa previa (COVasP): a study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Vasa previa is a condition where fetal blood vessels run unprotected in the membranes, outside the umbilical cord, and cross the internal opening of the cervix. During rupture of membranes, these vessels can rupture and put the baby at serious risk of severe blood loss and death. Numerous studies are being conducted to improve diagnostic modalities and establish clear management plans to improve pregnancy outcomes. However, the lack of a standardised set of outcomes for studies on vasa previa makes it difficult to compare study findings and draw meaningful conclusions. Through this project, we will be developing a core outcome set for studies on pregnant women with vasa previa (COVasP).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The development of COVasP will involve five steps. The first will be a systematic review, in which we will generate a long list of outcomes based on published studies in pregnancies complicated with vasa previa. The second will involve in-depth interviews with current and former patients, their family members and healthcare providers who care for these patients. This will be followed by a two-round Delphi survey, which will aim to narrow down the long list of outcomes into those considered important by four groups of 'stakeholders': (1) patients, family members and patient advocates/representatives, (2) healthcare providers, (3) researchers, epidemiologists and methodologists and (4) other stakeholders directly or indirectly involved in the management of these pregnancies such as administrators, guideline developers and policymakers. The fourth step will involve a face-to-face consensus meeting using a nominal group approach to establish a finalised core outcome set. The final step will involve measuring and defining the identified outcomes using a combination of systematic reviews and Delphi surveys.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study as well as consent forms for stakeholder participation have received approval from the Mount Sinai Hospital Research Ethics Board (REB number 18-0173-E) on 05 September 2018 and the Human Research Ethics Committee at The University of Technology Sydney, Australia on 30 July 2019 (UTS HREC reference number ETH19-3718). All progress will be documented on the international prospective register of systematic reviews and Core Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials databases. REGISTRATION DETAILS: http://www.comet-initiative.org/studies/details/1117.

Patients and Health Care Providers Identify Important Outcomes for Research on Pregnancy and Heart Disease

Background

A core outcome set for studies on cardiac disease in pregnancy is being developed. Incorporating perspectives of patients and health care providers (HCPs) is an essential step in developing this core outcome set, and eliciting these outcomes is the objective of this study.

Methods

We interviewed pregnant women with heart disease, family members, and HCPs, until data saturation was attained. Participants were asked to share experiences and perspectives, and comment on outcomes they deemed important. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, and interpretive analysis was used to translate experiences into measurable outcomes. These were classified under 5 core outcome areas, based on a taxonomy of outcomes for medical research. A comparison of the distribution of outcomes within outcome areas, between patients and HCPs, and between interviews and published literature is presented.

Results

We obtained 17 outcomes from 13 patients and 3 family members, mostly related to general wellness of the baby, congenital anomalies, mental health, and health care delivery; and 45 outcomes from 10 HCPs, which were mostly clinical. Outcomes in published literature when compared with participant interviews put greater emphasis on clinical outcomes (94% vs 76.5%, P = 0.03) and limited emphasis on life impact (0% vs 17.6%, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Although clinical outcomes are the main focus of published research in heart disease and pregnancy, patients and HCPs emphasize the importance of outcomes related to general maternal and fetal well-being and life impact, which are seldom reported. Including these outcomes in future studies is essential to facilitating patient-centred care for pregnant women with cardiac disease.