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Rosenwasser Y, Berger I, Loewy ZG. Therapeutic Approaches for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Exacerbations. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11121513. [PMID: 36558847 PMCID: PMC9784349 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11121513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive pulmonary disorder underpinned by poorly reversible airflow resulting from chronic bronchitis or emphysema. The prevalence and mortality of COPD continue to increase. Pharmacotherapy for patients with COPD has included antibiotics, bronchodilators, and anti-inflammatory corticosteroids (but with little success). Oral diseases have long been established as clinical risk factors for developing respiratory diseases. The establishment of a very similar microbiome in the mouth and the lung confirms the oral-lung connection. The aspiration of pathogenic microbes from the oral cavity has been implicated in several respiratory diseases, including pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This review focuses on current and future pharmacotherapeutic approaches for COPD exacerbation including antimicrobials, mucoregulators, the use of bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs, modifying epigenetic marks, and modulating dysbiosis of the microbiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yehudis Rosenwasser
- College of Pharmacy, Touro University, 230 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Irene Berger
- College of Pharmacy, Touro University, 230 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Zvi G. Loewy
- College of Pharmacy, Touro University, 230 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA
- School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-646-981-4718
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Cuthbert JJ, Pellicori P, Clark AL. Optimal Management of Heart Failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Clinical Challenges. Int J Gen Med 2022; 15:7961-7975. [PMID: 36317097 PMCID: PMC9617562 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s295467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common causes of breathlessness which frequently co-exist; one potentially exacerbating the other. Distinguishing between the two can be challenging due to their similar symptomatology and overlapping risk factors, but a timely and correct diagnosis is potentially lifesaving. Modern treatment for HF can substantially improve symptoms and prognosis for many patients and may have beneficial effects for patients with COPD. Conversely, while many inhaled treatments for COPD can improve symptoms and reduce exacerbations, there is conflicting evidence regarding the safety of some inhaled treatments for COPD in patients with HF. Here we explore the overlap between HF and COPD, examine the effect of one condition on the other, and address the challenges of managing patients with both conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J Cuthbert
- Centre for Clinical Sciences, Hull York Medical School, Kingston Upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, UK,Department of Cardiology, Hull University Teaching Hospital Trust, Kingston Upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, UK,Correspondence: Joseph J Cuthbert, Department of Cardiorespiratory Medicine, Centre for Clinical Sciences, Hull York Medical School, Hull and East Yorkshire Medical Research and Teaching Centre, Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham, Kingston Upon Hull, HU16 5JQ, UK, Tel +44 1482 461776, Fax +44 1482 461779, Email
| | - Pierpaolo Pellicori
- Robertson Centre for Biostatistics and Glasgow Clinical Trials Unit, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Andrew L Clark
- Department of Cardiology, Hull University Teaching Hospital Trust, Kingston Upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, UK
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3
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Cotton S, Devereux G, Abbas H, Briggs A, Campbell K, Chaudhuri R, Choudhury G, Dawson D, De Soyza A, Fielding S, Gompertz S, Haughney J, Lang CC, Lee AJ, MacLennan G, MacNee W, McCormack K, McMeekin N, Mills NL, Morice A, Norrie J, Petrie MC, Price D, Short P, Vestbo J, Walker P, Wedzicha J, Wilson A, Lipworth BJ. Use of the oral beta blocker bisoprolol to reduce the rate of exacerbation in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): a randomised controlled trial (BICS). Trials 2022; 23:307. [PMID: 35422024 PMCID: PMC9009490 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-022-06226-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Beta blockers are well-established drugs widely used to treat cardiovascular conditions. Observational studies consistently report that beta blocker use in people with COPD is associated with a reduced risk of COPD exacerbations. The bisoprolol in COPD study (BICS) investigates whether adding bisoprolol to routine COPD treatment has clinical and cost-effective benefits. A sub-study will risk stratify participants for heart failure to investigate whether any beneficial effect of bisoprolol is restricted to those with unrecognised heart disease. Methods BICS is a pragmatic randomised parallel group double-blind placebo-controlled trial conducted in UK primary and secondary care sites. The major inclusion criteria are an established predominant respiratory diagnosis of COPD (post-bronchodilator FEV1 < 80% predicted, FEV1/FVC < 0.7), a self-reported history of ≥ 2 exacerbations requiring treatment with antibiotics and/or oral corticosteroids in a 12-month period since March 2019, age ≥ 40 years and a smoking history ≥ 10 pack years. A computerised randomisation system will allocate 1574 participants with equal probability to intervention or control groups, stratified by centre and recruitment in primary/secondary care. The intervention is bisoprolol (1.25 mg tablets) or identical placebo. The dose of bisoprolol/placebo is titrated up to a maximum of 4 tablets a day (5 mg bisoprolol) over 4–7 weeks depending on tolerance to up-dosing of bisoprolol/placebo—these titration assessments are completed by telephone or video call. Participants complete the remainder of the 52-week treatment period on the final titrated dose (1, 2, 3, 4 tablets) and during that time are followed up at 26 and 52 weeks by telephone or video call. The primary outcome is the total number of participant reported COPD exacerbations requiring oral corticosteroids and/or antibiotics during the 52-week treatment period. A sub-study will risk stratify participants for heart failure by echocardiography and measurement of blood biomarkers. Discussion The demonstration that bisoprolol reduces the incidence of exacerbations would be relevant not only to patients and clinicians but also to healthcare providers, in the UK and globally. Trial registration Current controlled trials ISRCTN10497306. Registered on 16 August 2018 Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-022-06226-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seonaidh Cotton
- Centre for Healthcare Randomised Trials (CHaRT), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Graham Devereux
- Centre for Healthcare Randomised Trials (CHaRT), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK. .,Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, L3 5QA, UK.
| | - Hassan Abbas
- Division of Applied Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Andrew Briggs
- Institute of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, 1 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, G12 8RZ, UK
| | - Karen Campbell
- Centre for Healthcare Randomised Trials (CHaRT), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Rekha Chaudhuri
- Gartnavel General Hospital, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 0YN, UK
| | | | - Dana Dawson
- Division of Applied Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Anthony De Soyza
- University of Newcastle, Medical School, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Shona Fielding
- Medical Statistics Team, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Simon Gompertz
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2WB, UK
| | - John Haughney
- Centre of Academic Primary Care, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Chim C Lang
- Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK
| | - Amanda J Lee
- Medical Statistics Team, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Graeme MacLennan
- Centre for Healthcare Randomised Trials (CHaRT), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - William MacNee
- MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Kirsty McCormack
- Centre for Healthcare Randomised Trials (CHaRT), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Nicola McMeekin
- Institute of Health & Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, 1 Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, G12 8RZ, UK
| | - Nicholas L Mills
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Alyn Morice
- Cardiovascular and Respiratory Studies, Castle Hill Hospital, Hull, HU16 5JQ, UK
| | - John Norrie
- NINE Edinburgh BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, 9 Little France Road, Edinburgh, EH16 4UX, UK
| | - Mark C Petrie
- Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8TD, UK
| | - David Price
- Centre of Academic Primary Care, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | | | - Jorgen Vestbo
- Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, M23 9LT, UK
| | - Paul Walker
- Liverpool University Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust, University Hospital Aintree, Lower Lane, Liverpool, L9 7AL, UK
| | - Jadwiga Wedzicha
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, SW3 6LY, UK
| | - Andrew Wilson
- Department of Medicine, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Brian J Lipworth
- Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 9SY, UK
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Damkjær M, Suppli Ulrik C, Godtfredsen N, Håkansson KEJ. Beta-Blockers in High-Risk Outpatients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease are Associated with All-Cause Mortality - The STATUETTE Cohort Study. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2021; 16:2397-2406. [PMID: 34465987 PMCID: PMC8402979 DOI: 10.2147/copd.s315151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Beta-blockers have been proposed to improve COPD-related outcomes, yet studies report conflicting results. We aimed to investigate the effect of beta blockers on time-to-first exacerbation and all-cause mortality in high-risk COPD outpatients. Methods All COPD outpatients managed at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Hvidovre, Denmark in 2016 were followed for 3.5 years in this retrospective, registry-based cohort study. Outcomes were time-to-first acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) or death. The association was estimated using time-varying crude and multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression adjusted for age, sex, BMI, use of COPD medication, smoking status, cardiovascular disease and COPD severity. Results The cohort comprised 950 COPD outpatients, mean age 71 (SD 11) years, and FEV1 44% predicted (IQR 33%; 57%). The annual exacerbation rate was 0.88 (SD 1.68) and 211 patients (22%) had a history of hospitalization requiring AECOPD within 12 months. Of the enrolled patients, 247 (26%) were prescribed beta blockers. Beta-blocker use was associated, although with borderline significance, with increased all-cause mortality (HR 1.37 (95% CI, 0.99 to 1.89, p = 0.059)). On the other hand, beta blocker use did not reduce the risk of AECOPD (HR = 0.89 (95% CI 0.71 to 1.10; p = 0.270)), which remained non-significant after stratifying for severity of exacerbations. Conclusion We found an association between beta blocker use and all-cause mortality in high-risk COPD outpatients. No association was found between beta blocker use and risk of AECOPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Damkjær
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Charlotte Suppli Ulrik
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nina Godtfredsen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kjell E J Håkansson
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital - Hvidovre, Hvidovre, Denmark
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Simons SO, Elliott A, Sastry M, Hendriks JM, Arzt M, Rienstra M, Kalman JM, Heidbuchel H, Nattel S, Wesseling G, Schotten U, van Gelder IC, Franssen FME, Sanders P, Crijns HJGM, Linz D. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and atrial fibrillation: an interdisciplinary perspective. Eur Heart J 2021; 42:532-540. [PMID: 33206945 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehaa822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is highly prevalent among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), shares common risk factors, and adds to the overall morbidity and mortality in this population. Additionally, it may promote AF and impair treatment efficacy. The prevalence of COPD in AF patients is high and is estimated to be ∼25%. Diagnosis and treatment of COPD in AF patients requires a close interdisciplinary collaboration between the electrophysiologist/cardiologist and pulmonologist. Differential diagnosis may be challenging, especially in elderly and smoking patients complaining of unspecific symptoms such as dyspnoea and fatigue. Routine evaluation of lung function and determination of natriuretic peptides and echocardiography may be reasonable to detect COPD and heart failure as contributing causes of dyspnoea. Acute exacerbation of COPD transiently increases AF risk due to hypoxia-mediated mechanisms, inflammation, increased use of beta-2 agonists, and autonomic changes. Observational data suggest that COPD promotes AF progression, increases AF recurrence after cardioversion, and reduces the efficacy of catheter-based antiarrhythmic therapy. However, it remains unclear whether treatment of COPD improves AF outcomes and which metric should be used to determine COPD severity and guide treatment in AF patients. Data from non-randomized studies suggest that COPD is associated with increased AF recurrence after electrical cardioversion and catheter ablation. Future prospective cohort studies in AF patients are needed to confirm the relationship between COPD and AF, the benefits of treatment of either COPD or AF in this population, and to clarify the need and cost-effectiveness of routine COPD screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sami O Simons
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Division of Respiratory & Age-related Health, Department of Respiratory Medicine, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Adrian Elliott
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, 1 Port Road, SA 5000 Adelaide, Australia
| | - Manuel Sastry
- Academic Sleep Centre CIRO, Hornerheide 1, 6085 NM Horn, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen M Hendriks
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, 1 Port Road, SA 5000 Adelaide, Australia.,Institute of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Campus US, SE 581 83 Linköping, Sweden.,Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, SA 5001 Adelaide, Australia
| | - Michael Arzt
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Centre of Sleep Medicine, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Michiel Rienstra
- Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jonathan M Kalman
- Department of Cardiology, Royal Melbourne Hospital and Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Grattan St Parkville, 3050 Melbourne, Australia
| | - Hein Heidbuchel
- University of Antwerp and Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Antwerp, Belgium.,Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, Martelarenlaan 42, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Stanley Nattel
- Department of Medicine, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, 5000 Rue Bélanger, QC H1T 1C8, Montréal, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, 3649 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, QC H3A 1A3, Canada.,Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, Faculty of Medicine, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Geertjan Wesseling
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Ulrich Schotten
- University Maastricht, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Isabelle C van Gelder
- Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Frits M E Franssen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Division of Respiratory & Age-related Health, Department of Respiratory Medicine, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Universiteitssingel 40, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Academic Sleep Centre CIRO, Hornerheide 1, 6085 NM Horn, the Netherlands
| | - Prashanthan Sanders
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, 1 Port Road, SA 5000 Adelaide, Australia
| | - Harry J G M Crijns
- University Maastricht, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Cardiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Dominik Linz
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, 1 Port Road, SA 5000 Adelaide, Australia.,University Maastricht, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Cardiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Cardiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 København N, Denmark
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Beta-blockers in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the good, the bad and the ugly. Curr Opin Pulm Med 2020; 27:125-131. [PMID: 33332878 DOI: 10.1097/mcp.0000000000000748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Several observational studies have suggested that β-blockers, especially cardioselective ones, are well tolerated and associated with a lower risk of acute exacerbations and death in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there are dissenting studies. This review provides an update on the use of β-blockers in COPD, focusing on results of recent prospective studies and randomized controlled trials. RECENT FINDINGS In totality, cohort studies indicate that β-blockers are generally well tolerated and effective in COPD patients who also have a clear cardiovascular indication for these medications. Although β-blockers on average reduce lung function acutely in COPD patients, the absolute decrease is relatively small, especially if cardioselective β-blockers are used. The results of two large randomized controlled trials suggest that β-blocker use does not reduce the therapeutic benefits of inhaled bronchodilators in COPD patients. The use of β-blockers in COPD patients, who do not have overt cardiovascular disease, does not prevent COPD exacerbations and may paradoxically increase the risk of COPD-related hospitalization and mortality. SUMMARY The use of β-blockers is generally well tolerated and effective in COPD patients, who also have a clear cardiovascular indication for these drugs. However, they should not be used in patients who do not have overt cardiovascular disease as β-blockers can reduce lung function, worsen health status and increase the risk of COPD-related hospitalization.
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Dal-Ré R. The PRECIS-2 tool seems not to be useful to discriminate the degree of pragmatism of medicine masked trials from that of open-label trials. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2020; 77:539-546. [PMID: 33106910 DOI: 10.1007/s00228-020-03030-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess, with all available trial information, whether the assessment of the PRECIS-2 nine domains could provide a clear distinction between medicine masked pragmatic randomized controlled trials (pRCTs) and open-label pRCTs. METHODS A search was conducted of participant-level pRCTs on medicines published on 25 influential medical journals in July 2018-December 2019. All pre-licensing (phases 1-3) and cluster pRCTs were excluded. All trials' available reports were searched through the published article information, Google Scholar, and trial websites. Instead of providing a score to each PRECIS-2 domain, these were classified as E (explanatory), N (neutral), or P (pragmatic). RESULTS Of 128 pRCTs, 18 (14%) were participant-level pRCTs on medicines. The full trial protocol was available for 14 trials; 12 had published the protocol and nine had additional reports published. All trials were prospectively registered, and none was funded by industry. Ten and eight were masked and open-label trials, respectively. Masked pRCTS had 34% of pragmatic and 60% of explanatory domains; open-label pRCTS had 45% pragmatic and 45% explanatory domains. Among the 10 masked trials, only one had a majority of five pragmatic domains; among the eight open-label trials, four had a majority of six or five pragmatic domains. "Follow-up" was considered explanatory in the 18 pRCTs; "primary analysis" was pragmatic in 17 pRCTs. CONCLUSION The PRECIS-2 tool seems not to be sensitive enough to clearly discriminate between medicine masked pRCTs and open-label pRCTs. When conducting systematic reviews, it is suggested that the PRECIS-2 tool should not be used to support placing masked trials in the pragmatic side of the explanatory/pragmatic continuum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Dal-Ré
- Epidemiology Unit, Health Research Institute-Fundación Jiménez Díaz University Hospital, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Avda Reyes Católicos 2, E-28040, Madrid, Spain.
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