The empty pelvis syndrome: a core data set from the PelvEx collaborative

BACKGROUND

Empty pelvis syndrome (EPS) is a significant source of morbidity following pelvic exenteration (PE), but is undefined. EPS outcome reporting and descriptors of radicality of PE are inconsistent; therefore, the best approaches for prevention are unknown. To facilitate future research into EPS, the aim of this study is to define a measurable core outcome set, core descriptor set and written definition for EPS. Consensus on strategies to mitigate EPS was also explored.

METHOD

Three-stage consensus methodology was used: longlisting with systematic review, healthcare professional event, patient engagement, and Delphi-piloting; shortlisting with two rounds of modified Delphi; and a confirmatory stage using a modified nominal group technique. This included a selection of measurement instruments, and iterative generation of a written EPS definition.

RESULTS

One hundred and three and 119 participants took part in the modified Delphi and consensus meetings, respectively. This encompassed international patient and healthcare professional representation with multidisciplinary input. Seventy statements were longlisted, seven core outcomes (bowel obstruction, enteroperineal fistula, chronic perineal sinus, infected pelvic collection, bowel obstruction, morbidity from reconstruction, re-intervention, and quality of life), and four core descriptors (magnitude of surgery, radiotherapy-induced damage, methods of reconstruction, and changes in volume of pelvic dead space) reached consensus-where applicable, measurement of these outcomes and descriptors was defined. A written definition for EPS was agreed.

CONCLUSIONS

EPS is an area of unmet research and clinical need. This study provides an agreed definition and core data set for EPS to facilitate further research.

Impact of cardiovascular events on primary and hospital care costs: findings from UK Biobank study

Background

Need for primary and secondary healthcare increases following cardiovascular disease (CVD) events but there is no data on comparative increases in costs.

Purpose

To estimate annual primary care and hospital inpatient costs associated with key CVD and other adverse events using the UK Biobank (UKB) individual participant data.

Methods

UKB participants with linked primary care data (192,983 participants) or hospital inpatient episodes data (all 501,807 participants) contributed data to this study. The three categories of primary care services (patient consultations, diagnostic and monitoring tests, prescription medications), and hospital episodes were costed (2020 UK£) using the NHS England reference costs. Annual primary care costs and, separately, annual hospital inpatient costs were modelled as functions of participant characteristics at entry (socio-demographic, clinical, prior diseases) and time-updated first occurrences of myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, incident cancer, incident diabetes, vascular death and non-vascular death during follow-up (p-value <0.01 in stepwise covariate selection). One-part generalized linear regression model (GLM) with Poisson distribution and identity link function was used for primary care costs, and two-part model was used for inpatient costs (part 1: logistic regression models probability of incurring costs; part 2: GLM with Poisson distribution and identity link function models costs conditional on incurring any). Separate models were fitted among participants with and without previous CVD at entry into UKB.

Results

Most adverse events were associated with excess primary care and hospital inpatient costs. Compared to people without previous CVD, people with previous CVD had on average larger excess primary care and hospital inpatient costs in years with myocardial infarction, stroke and vascular death; but similar excess costs in years with other events. Among both people without and with previous CVD, the excess annual primary care costs were less than 7% of the excess annual hospital inpatient costs for vascular events (Table). However, following diabetes diagnosis the excess annual primary care costs were higher than the excess annual hospital inpatient costs (Table).

Conclusions

These excess primary and hospital care costs associated with CVD events could inform assessments of interventions and policies to reduce CVD risks in UK.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme, UK Medical Research Council (MRC), British Heart Foundation

Cost-effectiveness of statin therapy in categories of patients in the UK

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality has declined steadily over the last few decades across Europe and North America.

Purpose

To provide contemporary estimates of long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of statin therapy in different categories of patients in UK.

Methods

The CTT-UKB micro-simulation model, developed using the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' Collaboration data (CTT: 118,000 participants; 5 years follow-up), and calibrated in the UK Biobank cohort (UKB: 502,000 participants; 9 years follow-up). The model integrates parametric risk equations for incident myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, diabetes, cancer and vascular and nonvascular death, and projects annually these endpoints and survival using patient characteristics at entry. UKB data and linked primary and hospital care data informed healthcare costs in the model (2020 UK£); 2021 UK NHS Drug Tariff informed statin costs (atorvastatin 40mg at £1.22 and 80mg at £1.68 per 28 tablets); and Health Survey for England data informed health-related quality of life in the model. Previous CTT meta-analysis, atorvastatin dose-response randomized trials, and further meta-analyses of statin trials and cohort studies informed effects of 40mg/80mg atorvastatin therapy daily on rates of incident myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, vascular death, diabetes, myopathy and rhabdomyolysis.

The model was used to project gains in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and additional cost per QALY with lifetime use of atorvastatin 40mg or 80mg daily in categories of UKB participants by sex, age at statin initiation (40–49; 50–59 and 60–70 years), and 10-year CVD risk (QRISK3 risk (%): <5; 5–10, 10–15, 15–20, ≥20). Further scenarios explored effects of 5-year delay of statin initiation in people under 45 years of age or stopping statin therapy at 80 years of age.

Results

Across men and women in categories by age and CVD risk, lifetime use of atorvastatin 40mg daily was associated with increases in survival by 0.44–1.69 years (0.28–1.02 QALYs), and atorvastatin 80mg daily with increases in survival of 0.45–1.87 years (0.32–1.13 QALYs; Figure 1) with gains larger among participants at higher CVD risk. Both atorvastatin 40mg and 80mg doses were in the range of cost-effective treatments with incremental cost per QALY gained with atorvastatin 40mg daily versus no statin therapy below £7200/QALY and with atorvastatin 80mg vs 40mg daily below £16000/QALY (Figure 2) across all patient categories studied. Compared to lifetime statin therapy, stopping therapy at 80 years of age substantially reduced benefits and was not cost-effective in any patient category studied. Similarly, compared to immediate initiation, 5-year delay of statin therapy in 40–45 years old patients was not a cost-effective.

Conclusions

In the UK, statin therapy remains highly cost-effective across men and women 40–70 years old, including those at 10-year CVD risk <5%.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme, UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme, UK Medical Research Council (MRC), British Heart Foundation

Benefit accrual with cardiovascular disease prevention and effects of discontinuation: a modelling study

Background

Statin therapy reduces rates of heart attacks and strokes and improves survival in people at increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, there is some uncertainty when to start and how long to persist with statin therapy so as to optimise benefits.

Purpose

To project the accrual of benefit with statin therapy in population groups by age at therapy initiation using a newly developed micro-simulation model.

Methods

Participants without previous CVD (N=44,412) and with previous CVD (N=13,061) at entry were randomly selected from the UK Biobank cohort, ensuring sufficient representation in respective categories by age, LDL cholesterol, diabetes and 10-year CVD risk categories (QRISK3 score, for those without previous CVD only). The CTT-UKB model, a CVD micro-simulation model [1], was used to predict subsequent survival and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of the participants using their characteristics at entry. Treatment with atorvastatin 40mg daily was used as an example to illustrate the effect of the therapy compared to no such therapy. Scenarios include: (1) lifelong preventive therapy, (2) preventive therapy stopped at 80 years of age, and (3) delayed initiation of preventive therapy by 5 years in participants under 45 years of age.

Results

Statin treatment benefits, measured in QALYs gained, accrue over lifetime. The majority of benefits accrue later in life. Men accumulate larger benefits and earlier than women (Figure 1A). The pattern of benefits accrual is similar for participants with and without previous CVD (data not shown). The higher the participants' CVD risk, the larger and earlier the benefits, with younger participants accruing larger benefits (Figure 1B). Compared with lifelong prevention, stopping treatment at 80 years of age leads to large reductions in overall benefits, especially in women and those at lower CVD risk. For example, compared to lifelong therapy, people without previous CVD who initiate therapy in their 50s, would lose 47% of QALYs benefit (if men), 66% (if women), 73% (if with CVD risk <5%), and 35% (if with CVD risk ≥20%), respectively, if they stop treatment when they reach 80 years of age. Five-year delay of statin therapy initiation in people under 45 years of age reduces their benefits by about 4% on average, though the loss is somewhat larger in people at higher CVD risk (Figure 2).

Conclusion

Benefits from lifelong cardiovascular prevention accrue over peoples' lifespan with large share of benefits accruing at older age. Stopping treatment earlier substantially reduces benefits.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): UK NationalInstitute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme, UK Medical Research Council (MRC), and British Heart Foundation

Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on dementia and cognitive Impairment in the ASCEND trial

Background

Observational data suggest that higher fish consumption is associated with a lower risk of dementia and supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid (FA) is associated with better cognition. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of omega-3 fatty acid (FA) supplementation on the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment in a pre-specified secondary analysis, with longer follow-up, of a randomized comparison in the ASCEND trial.

Methods

The study included 15,427 people in the United Kingdom with diabetes and no history of prior cardiovascular disease or recorded dementia randomized in the ASCEND trial between June 2005 and July 2011 randomly assigned to 1g capsules daily containing omega-3 fatty acids or matching placebo for a mean of 7.4 years. The main pre-specified comparison by randomized treatment in this cognitive study was a “broad dementia outcome” of dementia, cognitive impairment or confusion ascertained through participant, carer or general practitioner report or hospital admission diagnosis, by 31 March 2019 (∼2 years beyond the scheduled treatment period).

Results

During a mean follow-up of 7.4 years within the scheduled treatment period and 1.7 years afterwards, the broad dementia outcome occurred in 1146 participants, a similar percentage of participants in the omega-3 FA group and placebo groups: 574 participants (7.4%) vs. 572 (7.4%), rate ratio 1.00 (95% CI, 0.89–1.12) p=0.99. Allocation to omega-3 FA was not associated with any significant effect on measured cognitive function at end of the scheduled treatment period.

Conclusions

Omega-3 FA allocation was not associated with risk of the broad dementia outcome in this population of people with diabetes and the results excluded a proportional impact greater than 11%. Further trials are needed to assess the impact of higher dose omega-3 FA supplementation, but the current evidence does not support supplementation with omega-3 FA for dementia prevention.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): British Heart Foundation, UK Medical Research Council

Long-term safety and efficacy of anacetrapib in patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease

AIMS

REVEAL was the first randomized controlled trial to demonstrate that adding cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor therapy to intensive statin therapy reduced the risk of major coronary events. We now report results from extended follow-up beyond the scheduled study treatment period.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 30 449 adults with prior atherosclerotic vascular disease were randomly allocated to anacetrapib 100 mg daily or matching placebo, in addition to open-label atorvastatin therapy. After stopping the randomly allocated treatment, 26 129 survivors entered a post-trial follow-up period, blind to their original treatment allocation. The primary outcome was first post-randomization major coronary event (i.e. coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization) during the in-trial and post-trial treatment periods, with analysis by intention-to-treat. Allocation to anacetrapib conferred a 9% [95% confidence interval (CI) 3-15%; P = 0.004] proportional reduction in the incidence of major coronary events during the study treatment period (median 4.1 years). During extended follow-up (median 2.2 years), there was a further 20% (95% CI 10-29%; P < 0.001) reduction. Overall, there was a 12% (95% CI 7-17%, P < 0.001) proportional reduction in major coronary events during the overall follow-up period (median 6.3 years), corresponding to a 1.8% (95% CI 1.0-2.6%) absolute reduction. There were no significant effects on non-vascular mortality, site-specific cancer, or other serious adverse events. Morbidity follow-up was obtained for 25 784 (99%) participants.

CONCLUSION

The beneficial effects of anacetrapib on major coronary events increased with longer follow-up, and no adverse effects emerged on non-vascular mortality or morbidity. These findings illustrate the importance of sufficiently long treatment and follow-up duration in randomized trials of lipid-modifying agents to assess their full benefits and potential harms.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) 48678192; ClinicalTrials.gov No. NCT01252953; EudraCT No. 2010-023467-18.

A model of lifetime health outcomes in cardiovascular disease based on clinical trials and large cohorts

Background and purpose

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk of individuals depends on their socio-demographic characteristics, clinical risk factors, and treatments, and strongly influences their quality of life and survival. Individual-based long-term disease models, which aim to more accurately calculate the lifetime consequences, can help to target treatments, develop disease management programmes, and assess the value of new therapies. We present a new micro-simulation CVD model.

Methods

This micro-simulation model was developed using individual participant data from the Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' collaboration (CTT: 118,000 participants; 15 trials) and calibrated (with added socioeconomic deprivation, ethnicity, physical activity, mental illness, cancer and incident diabetes) in the UK Biobank cohort (UKB: 502,000 participants). Parametric survival models estimated risks of key endpoints (myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, coronary revascularisation (CRV), diabetes, cancer and vascular (VD) and nonvascular death (NVD) using participants' age, sex, ethnicity, physical activity, socioeconomic deprivation, smoking history, lipids, blood pressure, creatinine, previous cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, mental illness and cancer at entry and non-fatal incidents of the key endpoints during follow-up. The model integrates the risk equations and enables annual projection of endpoints and survival over individuals' lifetimes. The model was used to project remaining life expectancy across UK Biobank participants.

Results

Nonfatal cardiovascular events and age were the major determinants of CVD risk and, together with incident diabetes and cancer, of individuals' survival. The cumulative incidence of the key endpoints predicted by the CTT-UKB model corresponded well to their observed incidence in the UK Biobank cohort, overall (Figure 1) and in categories of participants by age, sex, prior CVD and CVD risk. Predicted remaining life expectancy across UK Biobank participants without history of CVD ranged between 22 and 43 years in men and between 24 and 46 years in women, depending on their age and CVD risk (Figure 2). Among UK Biobank participants with history of CVD, depending on their age, predicted remaining life expectancy ranged from 20 to 32 years in men and from 26 to 38 years in women.

Conclusion

This new lifetime CVD model accurately predicts morbidity and mortality in a large UK population cohort. It will be made available to provide individualised projections of expected lifetime health outcomes and benefits of treatments.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme, UK Medical Research Council (MRC), British Heart Foundation Figure 1. Predicted (in black) versus observed (95% CI; in red) incidence of major clinical outcomes in the UK Biobank.Figure 2. Predicted remaining life expectancy of participants in UK Biobank cohort, by age and CVD risk or previous CVD at entry. QRISK, a 10-year CVD risk scoring algorithm for people without previous CVD, recommended for use in the UK National Health Service.

530 An Audit of Appropriate Documentation Following Urethral Catheterisation

Introduction

Urethral catheterisation is a procedure frequently done in the hospital by medical personnel. Appropriate documentation is necessary to ensure safe clinical care and to reduce the risk of litigation.

Method

We randomly reviewed electronic notes of patients seen by the on-call urology team who had a urethral catheter inserted in September 2020. Reviewing the trust’s guidelines, we considered that appropriate documentation should include reference to the following 10 items; indication, chaperone present, consent obtained, groin examination, catheter size, catheter type, insertion process, urine colour, water in balloon and residual volume were reviewed.

Results

A total of 50 patients were included. 72%(36/50) were inserted by a member of the urology team. Only 28%(14/50) had all 10 items documented. Indication for catheterisation was best documented at 94%(47/50) while presence of a chaperone and groin examination (i.e. presence of a foreskin and its replacement post-catheterisation) were the lowest at 44%(22/50).

Conclusions

This study shows there is low compliance to adequate documentation of urethral catheterisation. A ‘smart phrase’ has been developed for use with our Trusts electronic medical records system to assist clinicians with appropriate documentation. Clinicians that use the phrase ‘.icat’ are prompted to document all 10 requisite items. This uses the mnemonic i-CATHETAR [indication, Chaperone and consent, groin Assessment, Tube (catheter size and type), insertion process (Hard/Easy), urine Tint, Aqua in balloon, Residual volume]. A second audit cycle is currently being done to review the effectiveness of this intervention.

Thromboxane metabolite excretion is associated with serious vascular events in diabetes mellitus: a sub-study of the ASCEND trial

Background

Platelet activation plays a major role in the atherothrombotic complications of diabetes. Thromboxane (TX)A2 is a pro-thrombotic prostanoid, synthesized via cyclooxygenase-1 and released by activated platelets. The metabolism of TXA2 in vivo leads to a major stable end-product, 11-dehydro-TXB2 (TXM), measurable in urine and reflecting the whole-body rate of TXA2 biosynthesis. In two large trials of high-risk, aspirin-treated (mostly, without diabetes) patients, (CHARISMA and HOPE trials), the baseline rate of urinary TXM excretion was an independent predictor of future cardiovascular events.

Purpose

The aim of the ASCEND (A Study of Cardiovascular Events in Diabetes) TXM sub-study was to investigate the association between baseline urinary TXM and future serious vascular events or revascularization (SVE-R), major bleeds and incident cancer independent of other risk factors and treatment, in people with diabetes and no manifest cardiovascular disease at trial entry.

Methods

Urinary TXM was measured by a previously GC/MS-validated, immunoassay in 6,487 participants with eligible baseline samples. Analyses excluded 539 participants using NSAIDs. TXM appeared log-normally distributed, so analyses were by quintiles and per SD (=0.622) of continuous loge TXM. The association of loge TXM with outcome was adjusted by basic factors (age, sex, sample volume and randomized treatment allocation) and by the predictors of log TXM (smoking, type 2 diabetes treated with insulin or oral hypoglycaemics, HDL cholesterol, body mass index, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, eGFR). The association of log TXM with non-vascular, non-cancer MedDRA outcomes was investigated to determine whether TXM had a general effect on outcome. During a mean of 6.6 years follow-up there were 618 SVE-Rs, 206 bleeds and 700 cancers among these patients.

Results

Log TXM correlated significantly with SVE-R, hazard ratio (HR) per 1 SD of log TXM: 1.13 (1.04–1.23), p=0.003 (Figure 1, panel a), non-significantly with major bleeds [HR 1.15 (1.00–1.32), p=0.055] (Figure 1, panel b), and marginally significantly with cancer [HR 1.09 (1.01–1.17), p=0.03] (Figure 1, panel c). There was no association of log TXM with non-vascular non-cancer MedDRA outcomes (HR per 1 SD, 0.99; 99% CI, 0.94–1.05).

Conclusion

The rate of urinary TXM excretion, a non-invasive biomarker of TXA2-mediated platelet activation in vivo, is log-linearly associated with serious vascular events independent of other risk factors in people with diabetes. Its potential association with cancer must be viewed as hypothesis-generating and needs confirmation.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): IMI1: Surrogate markers for micro- and macro-vascular hard endpoints for innovative diabetes tools (SUMMIT).

P656Risk of major gastrointestinal bleed in relation to vascular disease risk in 0.5M UK Biobank participants

Background

Low-dose aspirin is of established benefit for secondary prevention of cardiovascular events but in primary prevention the benefit is finely balanced with the hazard of major bleeds, and in particular gastrointestinal (GI) bleeds.

Purpose

To investigate non-vascular, non-genetic risk factors for major GI bleeds and derive a score for GI bleed risk which may help identify who will receive most net benefit from aspirin.

Methods

In the UK Biobank prospective study of 0.5M participants aged 40–69 at recruitment, prior history of cardiovascular disease, bleeds and other medical conditions was ascertained from self-reported diagnoses and electronic heath records (EHR) prior to recruitment. Major GI bleed during 6 years of follow-up was defined based on coded diagnoses and duration of hospital stay. Non-vascular risk factors for bleed were identified from amongst 100 baseline and prior disease factors using a stepwise regression with adjustment for established vascular risk factors, aspirin and warfarin use. 10-way cross-validation was used when making risk scores.

Results

Among the primary prevention population without prior intracranial bleed, serious extracranial bleed or gastrointestinal ulcer in the 6 months prior to recruitment, 1682 (0.06%/y) participants had a major GI bleed (1006 upper GI, 676 lower GI) with a mean stay in hospital of 3.2 days. Antiplatelet use (in 11%) and anticoagulant use (in 1%), were associated with 1.5 and 4 fold risks of GI bleed, respectively. Stepwise regression identified a non-vascular risk score for major bleed with a 4-fold risk ratio across fifths (Figure). But the score was also associated with a 2-fold risk ratio for major vascular events.

Conclusions

Major GI bleeds cause substantial morbidity. A 4-fold difference in bleed risk across quintiles was distinguishable by a score based largely on EHR prior disease information and frailty measures. This score is applicable in other contexts and will be applied in the ASCEND randomised trial of daily aspirin to provide randomized evidence of the net benefit of aspirin in different risk categories. However, vascular risk factors predicted risk of GI bleeds, and non-vascular risk factors for GI bleed predicted risk of major vascular events; so the net benefit from aspirin may vary only modestly across categories by vascular and bleed risks.

Effect on non-vascular outcomes of lowering LDL cholesterol in patients with chronic kidney disease: results from the Study of Heart and Renal Protection

Background

Reducing LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) with statin-based therapy reduces the risk of major atherosclerotic events among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), with no evidence of an excess risk of cancer or death from any non-vascular cause. However, non-randomized data have suggested that statin therapy may have effects (both adverse and beneficial) on particular non-vascular conditions that do not cause death.

Methods

The Study of Heart and Renal Protection (SHARP) randomized patients with CKD to simvastatin 20 mg plus ezetimibe 10 mg (simvastatin/ezetimibe) daily versus matching placebo. Participants were followed up at least 6 monthly and all post-randomization serious adverse events (SAEs) were recorded. This supplementary analysis reports the effects of treatment on non-vascular SAEs, overall, by system of disease, by baseline characteristics, and by duration of follow-up.

Results

During a median of 4.9 years follow-up, similar numbers of participants in the two groups experienced at least one non-vascular SAE (3551 [76.4%] simvastatin/ezetimibe vs 3537 [76.6%] placebo; risk ratio [RR] 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.95–1.04). There was no good evidence of any significant effect of simvastatin/ezetimibe on SAEs attributed to any particular nonvascular disease system (of 43 comparisons, only 3 yielded an uncorrected p value < 0.05, of which the smallest was p = 0.02). The relative risk of any nonvascular SAE did not vary significantly among particular prognostic subgroups or by duration of follow-up.

Conclusions

In the SHARP trial, allocation to simvastatin/ezetimibe combination therapy was not associated with any significant non-vascular hazard.

Trials registration

SHARP was retrospectively registered after the first participant was enrolled in 2003 at ISRCTN (ISRCTN54137607 on 31 January 2005: http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN54137607) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00125593 on 29 July 2005: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00125593).

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12882-017-0545-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Optimum dose of vitamin D for disease prevention in older people: BEST-D trial of vitamin D in primary care

This trial compared the effects of daily treatment with vitamin D or placebo for 1 year on blood tests of vitamin D status. The results demonstrated that daily 4000 IU vitamin D3 is required to achieve blood levels associated with lowest disease risks, and this dose should be tested in future trials for fracture prevention.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this trial was to assess the effects of daily supplementation with vitamin D3 4000 IU (100 μg), 2000 IU (50 μg) or placebo for 1 year on biochemical markers of vitamin D status in preparation for a large trial for prevention of fractures and other outcomes.

METHODS

This is a randomized placebo-controlled trial in 305 community-dwelling people aged 65 years or older in Oxfordshire, UK. Outcomes included biochemical markers of vitamin D status (plasma 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25[OH]D], parathyroid hormone [PTH], calcium and alkaline phosphatase), cardiovascular risk factors and tests of physical function.

RESULTS

Mean (SD) plasma 25(OH)D levels were 50 (18) nmol/L at baseline and increased to 137 (39), 102 (25) and 53 (16) nmol/L after 12 months in those allocated 4000 IU, 2000 IU or placebo, respectively (with 88%, 70% and 1% of these groups achieving the pre-specified level of >90 nmol/L). Neither dose of vitamin D3 was associated with significant deviation outside the normal range of PTH or albumin-corrected calcium. The additional effect on 25(OH)D levels of 4000 versus 2000 IU was similar in all subgroups except for body mass index, for which the further increase was smaller in overweight and obese participants compared with normal-weight participants. Supplementation with vitamin D had no significant effects on cardiovascular risk factors or on measures of physical function.

CONCLUSIONS

After accounting for average 70% compliance in long-term trials, doses of 4000 IU vitamin D3 daily may be required to achieve plasma 25(OH)D levels associated with lowest disease risk in observational studies.

Protocol for analyses of adverse event data from randomized controlled trials of statin therapy

The Cholesterol Treatment Trialists' (CTT) Collaboration was originally established to conduct individual participant data meta-analyses of major vascular events, cause-specific mortality, and site-specific cancers in large, long-term, randomized trials of statin therapy (and other cholesterol-modifying treatments). The results of the trials of statin therapy and their associated meta-analyses have shown that statins significantly reduce the risk of major vascular events without any increase in the risk of nonvascular causes of death or of site-specific cancer, but do produce small increases in the incidence of myopathy, diabetes, and, probably, hemorrhagic stroke. The CTT Collaboration has not previously sought data on other outcomes, and so a comprehensive meta-analysis of all adverse events recorded in each of the eligible trials has not been conducted. This protocol prospectively describes plans to extend the CTT meta-analysis data set so as to provide a more complete understanding of the nature and magnitude of any other effects of statin therapy.

Phenotype standardization for statin-induced myotoxicity

Statins are widely used lipid-lowering drugs that are effective in reducing cardiovascular disease risk. Although they are generally well tolerated, they can cause muscle toxicity, which can lead to severe rhabdomyolysis. Research in this area has been hampered to some extent by the lack of standardized nomenclature and phenotypic definitions. We have used numerical and descriptive classifications and developed an algorithm to define statin-related myotoxicity phenotypes, including myalgia, myopathy, rhabdomyolysis, and necrotizing autoimmune myopathy.

Aspirin for the older person: report of a meeting at the Royal Society of Medicine, London, 3rd November 2011

On November 23rd 2011, the Aspirin Foundation held a meeting at the Royal Society of Medicine in London to review current thinking on the potential role of aspirin in preventing cardiovascular disease and reducing the risk of cancer in older people. The meeting was supported by Bayer Pharma AG and Novacyl.

Randomised controlled trials: important but overrated?

Practising physicians individualise treatments, hoping to achieve optimal outcomes by tackling relevant patient variables. The randomised controlled trial (RCT) is universally accepted as the best means of comparison. Yet doctors sometimes wonder if particular patients might benefit more from treatments that fared worse in the RCT comparisons. Such clinicians may even feel ostracised by their peers for stepping outside treatments based on RCTs and guidelines. Are RCTs the only acceptable evaluations of how patient care can be assessed and delivered? In this controversy we explore the interpretation of RCT data for practising clinicians facing individualised patient choices. First, critical care anaesthetists John Boylan and Brian Kavanagh emphasise the dangers of bias and show how Bayesian approaches utilise prior probabilities to improve posterior (combined) probability estimates. Secondly, Jane Armitage, of the Clinical Trial Service Unit in Oxford, argues why RCTs remain essential and explores how the quality of randomisation can be improved through systematic reviews and by avoiding selective reporting.

Laparoscopic excision of retrorectal schwannoma

The short-term benefits of laparoscopic resection for standard tumors of the colon and rectum are well accepted. Retrorectal tumors are relatively uncommon, and there have been few reports of laparoscopic techniques being applied to such tumors. This video article presents a laparoscopic approach to a retrorectal schwannoma, highlights the technical challenges of such a procedure, and offers some operative tips to aid management of such tumors (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.com/DCR/A29).

Rectal cancer

Surgery is the cornerstone of rectal cancer treatment. Oncological cure and overall survival continue to be the main goals, but sparing of the anal sphincter mechanism and functional results are also important. The modern management of rectal cancer is a multidisciplinary approach, and pre-operative staging is of crucial importance when planning treatment in these patients. Pre-operative staging is used to determine the indication for neoadjuvant therapy prior to surgical resection or to determine whether local excision is an option in carefully selected patients with early rectal cancer. Surgery in the form of total mesorectal excision (TME) has become the standard of care for mid and distal rectal cancers. Early rectal cancers do not require neoadjuvant therapy. For locally advanced cancers of the lower two-thirds of the rectum, the combination of surgical resection with chemoradiotherapy decreases local recurrence rates and probably improves overall survival. Whereas in the past local excision was only contemplated in patients who were unfit for radical surgery or for local palliation in cases of metastatic disease, over the last number of years there has been increasing interest in local treatment with curative intent in early rectal cancer.

Effects of FCGR3A and FCGR2A polymorphisms on outcomes of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with CHOP-like chemotherapy versus CHOP-rituximab

8567

Background: The addition of rituximab to cyclophosphamide/ doxorubicin/ vincristine/ prednisone (R-CHOP) therapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has significantly improved the outcome for many patients (pts). We evaluated the impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Fc receptor (FcR) genes FCGR3A and FCGR2A on the outcomes of patients with DLBCL treated with R-CHOP compared to a historical control patientss treated with CHOP-like chemotherapy alone. Methods: 199 patients with DLBCL who had received CHOP or CHOP-like chemo (N=99) or R-CHOP (N=100) had tissue blocks assayed for FCGR3A and FCGR2A polymorphisms. The patient characteristics, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survivals (OS) were compared and analyzed with respect to the polymorphisms. Results: In the univariate analysis, the probability of PFS of pts according to polymorphisms in the FCGR2A gene treated with CHOP-like chemotherapy; H/H (n=25), H/R (n=39), and R/R (n=35) and those treated with R-CHOP; H/H (n=24), H/R (n=41), and R/R (n=35) were both not statistically different; log-rank p=0.47 and p=0.86, respectively. The probability of PFS in the FCGR3A gene treated with CHOP-like chemotherapy; V/V (n=10), F/V (n=40), F/F (n=49) and those treated with R-CHOP; V/V (n=12), F/V (N=40), F/F (n=48) were also not statistically different; log-rank p=0.32 and p=0.22, respectively. In a multivariate analysis for risk of progression or death: FCGR2A : H/H vs. H/R or R/R by treatment type: CHOP-like [RR 0.63 (95% CI 0.37–1.08), p=0.10] and R-CHOP [RR 0.59 (0.36–0.96), p=0.04] and for FCGR3A V/V vs. F/V or F/F by treatment arm: CHOP-like [RR 0.75 (0.36–1.54), p=0.43] and R-CHOP [RR 2.28(0.70–7.44), p=0.17]. Conclusions: Generally, the addition of rituximab to CHOP chemotherapy results in better outcomes than patients who receive CHOP-like regimen regardless of polymorphisms. However, our study also suggests that a trend toward association of certain polymorphisms with clinical outcomes. Additional, larger studies are needed to confirm this data. This information may assist in targeting additional therapies in patients with less favorable outcomes.

[Table: see text]

VITATOPS, the VITAmins TO prevent stroke trial: rationale and design of a randomised trial of B-vitamin therapy in patients with recent transient ischaemic attack or stroke (NCT00097669) (ISRCTN74743444)

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological studies suggest that raised plasma concentrations of total homocysteine (tHcy) may be a common, causal and treatable risk factor for atherothromboembolic ischaemic stroke, dementia and depression. Although tHcy can be lowered effectively with small doses of folic acid, vitamin B(12) and vitamin B(6), it is not known whether lowering tHcy, by means of B vitamin therapy, can prevent stroke and other major atherothromboembolic vascular events.

AIM

To determine whether the addition of B-vitamin supplements (folic acid 2 mg, B(6) 25 mg, B(12) 500 microg) to best medical and surgical management will reduce the combined incidence of stroke, myocardial infarction (MI) and vascular death in patients with recent stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) of the brain or eye.

DESIGN

A prospective, international, multicentre, randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

SETTING

One hundred and four medical centres in 20 countries on five continents.

SUBJECTS

Eight thousand (6600 recruited as of 5 January, 2006) patients with recent (<7 months) stroke (ischaemic or haemorrhagic) or TIA (brain or eye).

RANDOMISATION

Randomisation and data collection are performed by means of a central telephone service or secure internet site.

INTERVENTION

One tablet daily of either placebo or B vitamins (folic acid 2 mg, B(6) 25 mg, B(12) 500 mug).

PRIMARY OUTCOME

The composite of stroke, MI or death from any vascular cause, whichever occurs first. Outcome and serious adverse events are adjudicated blinded to treatment allocation.

SECONDARY OUTCOMES

TIA, unstable angina, revascularisation procedures, dementia, depression. STATISTICAL POWER: With 8000 patients followed up for a median of 2 years and an annual incidence of the primary outcome of 8% among patients assigned placebo, the study will have at least 80% power to detect a relative reduction of 15% in the incidence of the primary outcome among patients assigned B vitamins (to 6.8%/year), applying a two-tailed level of significance of 5%.

CONCLUSION

VITATOPS aims to recruit and follow-up 8000 patients between 1998 and 2008, and provide a reliable estimate of the safety and effectiveness of folic acid, vitamin B(12), and vitamin B(6) supplementation in reducing recurrent serious vascular events among a wide range of patients with TIA and stroke throughout the world.

SLCO1B1 variants and statin-induced myopathy--a genomewide study

BACKGROUND

Lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol with statin therapy results in substantial reductions in cardiovascular events, and larger reductions in cholesterol may produce larger benefits. In rare cases, myopathy occurs in association with statin therapy, especially when the statins are administered at higher doses and with certain other medications.

METHODS

We carried out a genomewide association study using approximately 300,000 markers (and additional fine-mapping) in 85 subjects with definite or incipient myopathy and 90 controls, all of whom were taking 80 mg of simvastatin daily as part of a trial involving 12,000 participants. Replication was tested in a trial of 40 mg of simvastatin daily involving 20,000 participants.

RESULTS

The genomewide scan yielded a single strong association of myopathy with the rs4363657 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located within SLCO1B1 on chromosome 12 (P=4x10(-9)). SLCO1B1 encodes the organic anion-transporting polypeptide OATP1B1, which has been shown to regulate the hepatic uptake of statins. The noncoding rs4363657 SNP was in nearly complete linkage disequilibrium with the nonsynonymous rs4149056 SNP (r(2)=0.97), which has been linked to statin metabolism. The prevalence of the rs4149056 C allele in the population was 15%. The odds ratio for myopathy was 4.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.6 to 7.7) per copy of the C allele, and 16.9 (95% CI, 4.7 to 61.1) in CC as compared with TT homozygotes. More than 60% of these myopathy cases could be attributed to the C variant. The association of rs4149056 with myopathy was replicated in the trial of 40 mg of simvastatin daily, which also showed an association between rs4149056 and the cholesterol-lowering effects of simvastatin. No SNPs in any other region were clearly associated with myopathy.

CONCLUSIONS

We have identified common variants in SLCO1B1 that are strongly associated with an increased risk of statin-induced myopathy. Genotyping these variants may help to achieve the benefits of statin therapy more safely and effectively. (Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN74348595.)

Homocysteine-lowering trials for prevention of vascular disease: protocol for a collaborative meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Elevated plasma total homocysteine is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the randomized trials of dietary supplementation with B-vitamins to lower homocysteine have not yet provided clear evidence of benefit on vascular risk.

METHODS

Cumulative meta-analysis of all randomized trials assessing the effects of lowering homocysteine levels with B-vitamins on risk of CVD.

RESULTS

An individual patient data meta-analysis of all randomized trials of the effects on vascular risk of lowering homocysteine with B-vitamins will maximize the power to assess the epidemiologically predicted differences in risk. Among the 12 randomized homocysteine-lowering trials for prevention of CVD, involving more than 1000 participants, data should be available on approximately 52,000 participants (32,000 with prior CVD in unfortified populations; and 14,000 with prior CVD and 6000 with renal disease in fortified populations). To minimize bias, the design and primary analyses to be carried out have been pre-specified. The analyses will include assessment of effects on major vascular events (MVE), stroke, major coronary events (MCE), in addition to venous thrombosis, cancer and fractures. Additional analyses will assess effects on vascular outcomes in sub-groups defined by population, prior disease, per 3 micromol/L difference in homocysteine levels achieved by treatment, pre-treatment vitamin status, duration, age, sex and vascular events excluding revascularizations and, separately, excluding vascular events occurring during the first year of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

A cumulative meta-analysis of the homocysteine-lowering trials should ensure that reliable evidence emerges about the effects of lowering homocysteine on risk of vascular and non-vascular outcomes.

Efficacy of cholesterol-lowering therapy in 18,686 people with diabetes in 14 randomised trials of statins: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Although statin therapy reduces the risk of occlusive vascular events in people with diabetes mellitus, there is uncertainty about the effects on particular outcomes and whether such effects depend on the type of diabetes, lipid profile, or other factors. We undertook a prospective meta-analysis to help resolve these uncertainties.

METHODS

We analysed data from 18 686 individuals with diabetes (1466 with type 1 and 17,220 with type 2) in the context of a further 71,370 without diabetes in 14 randomised trials of statin therapy. Weighted estimates were obtained of effects on clinical outcomes per 1.0 mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol.

FINDINGS

During a mean follow-up of 4.3 years, there were 3247 major vascular events in people with diabetes. There was a 9% proportional reduction in all-cause mortality per mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol in participants with diabetes (rate ratio [RR] 0.91, 99% CI 0.82-1.01; p=0.02), which was similar to the 13% reduction in those without diabetes (0.87, 0.82-0.92; p<0.0001). This finding reflected a significant reduction in vascular mortality (0.87, 0.76-1.00; p=0.008) and no effect on non-vascular mortality (0.97, 0.82-1.16; p=0.7) in participants with diabetes. There was a significant 21% proportional reduction in major vascular events per mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol in people with diabetes (0.79, 0.72-0.86; p<0.0001), which was similar to the effect observed in those without diabetes (0.79, 0.76-0.82; p<0.0001). In diabetic participants there were reductions in myocardial infarction or coronary death (0.78, 0.69-0.87; p<0.0001), coronary revascularisation (0.75, 0.64-0.88; p<0.0001), and stroke (0.79, 0.67-0.93; p=0.0002). Among people with diabetes the proportional effects of statin therapy were similar irrespective of whether there was a prior history of vascular disease and irrespective of other baseline characteristics. After 5 years, 42 (95% CI 30-55) fewer people with diabetes had major vascular events per 1000 allocated statin therapy.

INTERPRETATION

Statin therapy should be considered for all diabetic individuals who are at sufficiently high risk of vascular events.

Radioimmunotherapy with 131-I tositumomab enhanced survival in good prognosis relapsed and high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation

8013

Background: The 5-year overall survival (OS) for pts with relapsed chemosensitive DLBCL with standard transplantation is approximately 40–50%. We previously piloted the addition of standard outpatient radioimmunotherapy (RIT) with 131-I tositumomab to the transplant regimen for patients with relapsed chemoresistant NHL. This phase I study demonstrated a 3 yr OS of 55% in these poor prognosis patients (JCO 23: 461–467, 2005). The current study is a follow-up phase II study in good prognosis relapsed and high risk DLBCL patients using 131-I tositumomab with BEAM (BCNU, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan) followed by an autologous stem cell transplant. Methods: Forty patients were accrued to the study between 2000–2005. The patients had a median age of 54 yrs (26–75) and all had a diagnosis of DLBCL. The patients had a median of two prior chemotherapies before transplant and 88% had received prior Rituximab. All patients had chemotherapy sensitive disease at the time of stem cell transplant. Following stem cell collection, all patients received a stem cell preparative regimen of 75 cGy total body dose of 131-I tositumomab (dosimetric dose day -19 and therapeutic day -12) followed by a standard BEAM transplant regimen. Autologous unpurged stem cells were infused on day 0. The median time of follow-up of the survivors is 28 months (3–68). Results: Seventy eight percent of the patients had a complete remission following the transplant. The 3 year progression free survival (PFS) is 70% (95% CI - 48 - 84%) and the 3 year OS is 81% (95% CI - 61 - 91%). The entire transplant can be delivered on an outpatient basis. No increased toxicity compared to a similar cohort receiving BEAM alone could be detected. Conclusions: The addition of 131-I tositumomab to BEAM and autologous stem cell transplant for relapsed or high-risk chemosensitive DLBCL produces a 3-yr OS of 81% without excess toxicity. This compares favorably to historical controls. This regimen is currently being tested in a phase III trial in the BMT/CTN of Rituximab/BEAM vs. 131-I tositumomab/BEAM in patients with relapsed chemosensitive DLBCL.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Hodgkin's lymphoma in systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), there is a well-documented increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), but little is known about the risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). The purpose of our work was to describe the phenomenon of HL in SLE.

METHODS

A multi-site cohort of 9547 SLE subjects was assembled; HL cases were ascertained through cancer registry linkage, and the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for HL was determined. We also performed a literature search for HL cases in SLE, and compared these with our sample. Finally, we pooled results from our cohort study with two large population-based cohort studies providing SIR estimates for HL in SLE.

RESULTS

Five cases of HL occurred in our SLE cohort during the observation interval, for an SIR of 2.4 (95% CI 0.8, 5.5). The literature review documented 13 HL case reports developing in patients with SLE. A pooled analysis combining our data with the other large cohort studies yielded a standardized incidence ratio of 3.16 (95% CI, 1.63-5.51) for HL in SLE.

CONCLUSIONS

Data suggest that risk in SLE is increased not only for NHL, but also for other malignancies arising from B-lymphocytes, including HL.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL): Induction therapy with HyperCVAD/High-dose methotrexate and cytarabine (M-C) (±rituximab) improves results of autologous stem cell transplant in first remission

7511

Background: Although patients (pts) with MCL have a high response rate to standard chemotherapy, they continue to relapse with no plateau in long term disease-free survival. The use of dose intense induction therapy such as HyperCVAD (M-C) ±Rituximab(R) and high-dose therapy and stem cell may improve these results. In this analysis the outcomes of pts receiving a standard anthracycline induction therapy or HyperCVAD(M-C)(±R) then followed by a stem cell transplant in first complete (CR1) or partial remission (PR1) were compared. Methods: Between 6/91 and 11/05, 124 pts with MCL received high-dose chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant. Of these pts, 80 received an autologous stem cell transplant in CR1 (N = 47) or PR1 (N = 33). A standard anthracycline based CHOP-like (±R) induction therapy was given to 48 pts compared with 32 pts who received HyperCVAD(M-C)(±R) prior to transplant. Results: The median age of pts was 56 years (range 33–70). The male:female ratio was 33:57. Bone marrow involvement prior to conditioning was present in 52% of pts. An elevated lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) was present in 58% of pts. 65% of patients received one prior chemotherapy before coming to stem cell transplant. The median follow up of pts is 38 months (range 3–143). Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) are outlined in table 1 . Characteristics associated with an improved OS by multivariate analysis included receiving HyperCVAD induction (p = 0.04), transplant in CR1 (p = 0.009), ≤ 3 prior chemotherapy regimens (p = 0.02) and no B symptoms at transplant (p = 0.05). Conclusions: To improve the long term disease free survival for pts with MCL, Hyper-CVAD(M-C)(±R) induction should be given to eligible patients with autolgous stem cell transplantation in CR1.

[Table: see text]

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

The Charlson comorbidity score: a superior comorbidity assessment tool for the prostate cancer multidisciplinary meeting

INTRODUCTION

Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings use precise prognostic factors to select treatment options for patients with prostate cancer. Comorbidity is judged subjectively. Recent publications favour the Charlson comorbidity score (CS) for the use in the management of prostate cancer. We assess the feasibility of using the CS by our MDT in planning the treatment of patients with prostate cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients from the histopathology database aged less than 75 years and with a diagnosis of localized prostate cancer between 1993 and 1995 were included in a notes audit. A second group consisted of patients recommended for curative treatment for localized prostate cancer by the local MDT in 2004. Data on comorbidity, prostatic malignancy and survival up to 10 years was collected. The prognostic accuracy of the CS was assessed for those patients offered radical treatment between 1993 and 1995.

RESULTS

Of 1043 patients initially assessed, 37 patients with localized prostate cancer were identified. Using Cox regression, we found the CS to be a statistically significant predictor of survival, following radical treatment for localized prostate cancer (P=0.005). Current practice in 2004 (56 patients) shows a mean (range) Charlson probability of 10-year survival for radical prostatectomy of 0.823 (0.592-0.923) and for radical radiotherapy of 0.653 (0.07-0.936).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the findings of recent research. We also found the CS easy to calculate and therefore feasible to use in our MDT setting. We propose the introduction of the Charlson score by prostate cancer MDTs to assess age and comorbidity.

[Patterns of use, cannabis beliefs and dependence: study of 159 adolescent users]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the connections between the frequency and patterns of cannabis use and dependence, and the beliefs linked to cannabis use in a sample of adolescents.

METHOD

In 2001, 285 high school students (163 boys, 122 girls; mean age = 17.5 +/- 1.1 years) completed questionnaires assessing the patterns of cannabis use, and the symptoms of dependence and abuse, using a questionnaire derived from the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Cannabis-related beliefs were assessed using the Beliefs Questionnaire for Drug Addiction.

RESULTS

Frequency of subjects who reported having used cannabis during the last year was 65.4% of boys and 42.6% of girls. Among users, 53.6% of boys and 39.3% of girls were regular users, 10.6% of boys and 7.8% of girls being daily users. Almost half of the users reported other means of consumption than "joints", in particular water-pipes or "bongs" (34.5% of boys, 26.4% of girls). Among users, near of 33% of boys and girls met the criteria for cannabis dependence. Dependence was more frequent in users practicing other means of consumption than "joints", increasing to 51% for "bong" users. Expectancies of pleasure or relief, and permissive beliefs reflecting the perception of cannabis use as risk free were higher in users and, particularly, in subjects with cannabis dependence. Regression analysis showed that these beliefs were the strongest predictors of cannabis use and dependence. Predictors of use in the total sample were expectancies of pleasure and permissive beliefs, being a male and the age of the subject. Predictors of dependence among users were expectancies of relief, frequency of use, and use of other means of consumption than "joints".

CONCLUSIONS

Cannabis use in adolescents appeared to be characterized by the frequency of use, consumption by means other than "joints" and by the frequency of dependence. Cannabis use and dependence are linked to expectancies and permissive beliefs that could be targeted for prevention and treatment.