Changes in Blood Lipids Following Initiation of Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aim

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of changes in low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol, and triglycerides following initiation of feminizing or masculinizing gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT).

Methods

A search of Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and CINAHL databases identified potentially relevant articles published from 1990 through 2024. Both observational and randomized trials of adults receiving feminizing or masculinizing GAHT with baseline and follow-up measures were included. Articles were reviewed for eligibility using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. The risk of bias in each study was quantified using the NHLBI Study Quality Assessment Tool for Before-After (Pre-Post) Studies with No Control Group. Random effects models were used to compute the before-and-after meta-differences in mean values for each parameter along with the I2 statistic to assess heterogeneity of results.

Results

Thirty-five studies met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Masculinizing GAHT was associated with significant changes in serum lipids from baseline up through the 60-month timepoint with meta-difference of means (95% CI) estimates of 26.2mg/dL (23.3,29.0) for LDL-C, 26.1mg/dL (22.8,29.4) for total cholesterol, 30.7mg/dL (6.9,54.6) for triglycerides and -9.4mg/dL (-12.1, -6.7) for HDL-C. Studies evaluating the effects of feminizing GAHT on balance demonstrated no notable changes in HDL-C or triglycerides while the results for LDL-C and total cholesterol were inconsistent. Heterogeneity of results ranged from minimal (I2 = 0%) to substantial (I2 = 90%).

Conclusions

While the results for transfeminine individuals on GAHT appear somewhat reassuring, transmasculine patients receiving testosterone may benefit from closer monitoring of lipid profiles.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment: an individual participant data network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Effective therapies that target three main signalling pathways are approved to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, there are few large patient-level studies that compare the effectiveness of these pathways. The aim of this analysis was to compare the effectiveness of the treatment pathways in PAH and to assess treatment heterogeneity.

METHODS

A network meta-analysis was performed using individual participant data of 6811 PAH patients from 20 Phase III randomized clinical trials of therapy for PAH that were submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration. Individual drugs were grouped by the following treatment pathways: endothelin, nitric oxide, and prostacyclin pathways.

RESULTS

The mean (±standard deviation) age of the sample was 49.2 (±15.4) years; 78.4% were female, 59.7% had idiopathic PAH, and 36.5% were on background PAH therapy. After covariate adjustment, targeting the endothelin + nitric oxide pathway {β: 43.7 m [95% confidence interval (CI): 32.9, 54.4]}, nitric oxide pathway [β: 29.4 m (95% CI: 22.6, 36.3)], endothelin pathway [β: 25.3 m (95% CI: 19.8, 30.8)], and prostacyclin pathway [oral/inhaled β: 19.1 m (95% CI: 14.2, 24.0), intravenous/subcutaneous β: 24.4 m (95% CI: 15.1, 33.7)] significantly increased 6 min walk distance at 12 or 16 weeks compared with placebo. Treatments also significantly reduced the likelihood of having clinical worsening events. There was significant heterogeneity of treatment effects by age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, and coronary artery disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Drugs targeting the three traditional treatment pathways significantly improve outcomes in PAH, with significant treatment heterogeneity in patients with some comorbidities. Randomized clinical trials are warranted to identify the most effective treatment strategies in a personalized approach.

Electrocardiographic Abnormalities and Their Association with Outcomes in Randomized Clinical Trials of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Rationale PAH is a progressive disease with manifestations including right atrial enlargement, right ventricular dysfunction, dilation and hypertrophy. ECG is a non-invasive, inexpensive test that is routinely performed in clinical settings. Prior studies have described separate abnormal findings in ECGs of patients with PAH. However, the role of composite ECG findings reflective of right heart disease for risk stratification, clinical trial enrichment and management of patients with PAH has not been explored. Objectives i. Describe a pattern of right heart disease on ECG in patients with PAH. ii. Investigate the association of this pattern with clinical measures of disease severity and outcomes. Methods We harmonized individual participant data from 18 Phase-III randomized clinical trials of therapies for PAH (1998 - 2013) submitted to the FDA. Right heart disease (RHD) was defined as the presence of RV hypertrophy, right axis deviation, right atrial enlargement, or right bundle branch block on ECG. Random effects linear regression, multilevel ordinal regression (cumulative link model), and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association of RHD by ECG with six-minute walk distance (6MWD), WHO functional class, and clinical worsening after a priori adjustment for age, sex, body mass index and PAH etiology. Effect modification of treatment and ECG abnormalities was assessed by including an interaction term. Results 4439 patients had baseline ECGs and 68% patients had evidence of RHD. RHD on ECG was associated with higher PVR (p<0.001) and higher mean PA pressures (p<0.001). Patients with RHD on ECG had 10 meters shorter 6MWD (p=0.005) and worse WHO functional class (p<0.001) at baseline. RHD on baseline ECG was associated with increased risk of clinical worsening (HR=1.42, 95%CI=1.21,1.67, p<0.001). Patients with RHD had greater treatment effect in terms of 6MWD, WHO-FC and time to clinical worsening compared to those without (p for interaction= 0.03, 0.001 and 0.03, respectively). Conclusion Right heart disease by ECG may be associated with a worse outcomes and potentially greater treatment effect. ECGs could be an inexpensive, widely available noninvasive method to enrich clinical trial populations in PAH.

Is low-risk status a surrogate outcome in pulmonary arterial hypertension? An analysis of three randomised trials

BACKGROUND

Targeting short-term improvements in multicomponent risk scores for mortality in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) could result in improved long-term outcomes. We aimed to determine whether PAH risk scores were adequate surrogates for clinical worsening or mortality outcomes in PAH randomised clinical trials (RCTs).

METHODS

We performed an individual participant data meta-analysis of RCTs selected from PAH trials provided by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We calculated predicted risk using the COMPERA, COMPERA 2.0, non-invasive FPHR, REVEAL 2.0, and REVEAL Lite 2 risk scores. The primary outcome of interest was time to clinical worsening, a composite endpoint composed of any of the following events: all-cause death, hospitalisation for worsening PAH, lung transplantation, atrial septostomy, discontinuation of study treatment (or study withdrawal) for worsening PAH, initiation of parenteral prostacyclin analogue therapy, or decrease of at least 15% in 6-min walk distance from baseline, combined with either worsening of WHO functional class from baseline or the addition of an approved PAH treatment. The secondary outcome of interest was time to all-cause mortality. We assessed the surrogacy of these risk scores, parameterised as attainment of low-risk status by 16 weeks, for improvement in long-term clinical worsening and survival using mediation and meta-analysis frameworks.

FINDINGS

Of 28 trials received from the FDA, three RCTs (AMBITION, GRIPHON, and SERAPHIN; n=2508) had the data necessary to assess long-term surrogacy. The mean age was 49 years (SD 16), 1956 (78%) participants were women, 1704 (68%) were classified as White, and 280 (11%) were Hispanic or Latino. 1388 (55%) of 2503 participants with available data had idiopathic PAH and 776 (31%) of 2503 had PAH associated with connective tissue disease. In a mediation analysis, the proportions of treatment effects explained by attainment of low-risk status ranged only from 7% to 13%. In a meta-analysis of trial-regions, the treatment effects on low-risk status were not predictive of the treatment effects on time to clinical worsening (R2 values 0·01-0·19) nor the treatment effects on time to all-cause mortality (R2 values 0-0·2). A leave-one-out analysis suggested that the use of these risk scores as surrogates might lead to biased inferences regarding the effect of therapies on clinical outcomes in PAH RCTs. Results were similar when using absolute risk scores at 16 weeks as the potential surrogates.

INTERPRETATION

Multicomponent risk scores have utility for the prediction of outcomes in patients with PAH. Clinical surrogacy for long-term outcomes cannot be inferred from observational studies of outcomes. Our analyses of three PAH trials with long-term follow-up suggest that further study is necessary before using these or other scores as surrogate outcomes in PAH RCTs or clinical care.

FUNDING

Cardiovascular Medical Research and Education Fund, US National Institutes of Health.

Novel Liver Injury Phenotypes and Outcomes in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Background

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) are disorders of the pulmonary vasculature that cause right ventricular dysfunction. Systemic consequences of right ventricular dysfunction include damage to other solid organs, such as the liver. However, the profiles and consequences of hepatic injury due to PAH and CTEPH have not been well-studied.

Methods

We aimed to identify underlying patterns of liver injury in a cohort of PAH and CTEPH patients enrolled in 15 randomized clinical trials conducted between 1998 and 2012. We used unsupervised machine learning to identify liver injury clusters in 13 trials and validated the findings in two additional trials. We then determined whether these liver injury clusters were associated with clinical outcomes or treatment effect heterogeneity.

Results

Our training dataset included 4,219 patients and our validation dataset included 1,756 patients with complete liver laboratory panels (serum total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and albumin). Using k-means clustering paired with factor analysis, we identified four unique liver phenotypes (no liver injury, hepatocellular injury, cholestatic injury, and combined injury patterns). Patients in the cholestatic injury liver cluster had the shortest time to clinical worsening and highest chance of worsening World Health Organization functional class. Randomization to the experimental arm was associated with a transition to healthier liver clusters compared to randomization to the control arm. The cholestatic injury group experienced the greatest placebo-corrected treatment benefit in terms of six-minute walk distance.

Conclusions

Liver injury patterns were associated with adverse outcomes in patients with PAH and CTEPH. Randomization to active treatment of pulmonary hypertension in these clinical trials had beneficial effects on liver health compared to placebo. The independent role of liver disease (often subclinical) in determining outcomes warrants prospective studies of the clinical utility of liver phenotyping for PAH prognosis and contribution to clinical disease.

Heterogeneity of treatment effects by risk in pulmonary arterial hypertension

BACKGROUND

It is currently unknown if disease severity modifies response to therapy in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We aimed to explore if disease severity, as defined by established risk-prediction algorithms, modified response to therapy in randomised clinical trials in PAH.

METHODS

We performed a meta-analysis using individual participant data from 18 randomised clinical trials of therapy for PAH submitted to the United States Food and Drug Administration to determine if predicted risk of 1-year mortality at randomisation modified the treatment effect on three outcomes: change in 6-min walk distance (6MWD), clinical worsening at 12 weeks and time to clinical worsening.

RESULTS

Of 6561 patients with a baseline US Registry to Evaluate Early and Long-Term PAH Disease Management (REVEAL 2.0) score, we found that individuals with higher baseline risk had higher probabilities of clinical worsening but no difference in change in 6MWD. We detected a significant interaction of REVEAL 2.0 risk and treatment assignment on change in 6MWD. For every 3-point increase in REVEAL 2.0 score, there was a 12.49 m (95% CI 5.86-19.12 m; p=0.001) greater treatment effect in change in 6MWD. We did not detect a significant risk by treatment interaction on clinical worsening with most of the risk-prediction algorithms.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that predicted risk of 1-year mortality in PAH modified treatment effect as measured by 6MWD, but not clinical worsening. Our findings highlight the importance of identifying sources of treatment heterogeneity by predicted risk to tailor studies to patients most likely to have the greatest treatment response.

Six-Minute walk distance predicts outcomes in liver transplant candidates

A 6-minute walk test is a simple tool for assessing submaximal exercise capacity. We sought to determine whether a 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) predicts outcomes in patients with cirrhosis. The Pulmonary Vascular Complications of Liver Disease 2 study is a multicenter, prospective cohort study that enrolled adults with portal hypertension during liver transplantation evaluation. We excluded subjects with an incident or prevalent portopulmonary hypertension. The 6-minute walk test was performed using standardized methods. Cox proportional hazards modeling and multivariable linear regression analysis were performed to determine the relationship between baseline 6MWD and outcomes. The study sample included 352 subjects. The mean 6MWD was 391±101 m. For each 50-meter decrease in 6MWD, there was a 25% increase in the risk of death (HR 1.25, 95% CI [1.11, 1.41], p < 0.001) after adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, MELD-Na, and liver transplant as a time-varying covariate. In a multistate model, each 50-meter decrease in 6MWD was associated with an increased risk of death before the liver transplant ( p < 0.001) but not after the transplant. 6MWD was similar to MELD-Na in discriminating mortality. Each 50-meter decrease in 6MWD was associated with an increase in all-cause ( p < 0.001) and transplant-free hospitalizations ( p < 0.001) in multivariable models for time-to-recurrent events. Shorter 6MWD was associated with worse Short Form-36 physical ( p < 0.001) and mental component scores ( p = 0.05). In conclusion, shorter 6MWD is associated with an increased risk of death, hospitalizations, and worse quality of life in patients evaluated for liver transplantation. The 6-minute walk distance may be a useful adjunct for risk assessment in patients undergoing liver transplant evaluation.

Minimal Clinically Important Difference in the 6-minute-walk Distance for Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Rationale: The 6-minute-walk distance (6MWD) is an important clinical and research metric in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH); however, there is no consensus about what minimal change in 6MWD is clinically significant. Objectives: We aimed to determine the minimal clinically important difference in the 6MWD. Methods: We performed a meta-analysis using individual participant data from eight randomized clinical trials of therapy for PAH submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to derive minimal clinically important differences in the 6MWD. The estimates were externally validated using the Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry. We anchored the change in 6MWD to the change in the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form physical component score. Measurements and Main Results: The derivation (clinical trial) and validation (Pulmonary Hypertension Association Registry) samples were comprised of 2,404 and 537 adult patients with PAH, respectively. The mean ± standard deviation age of the derivation sample was 50.5 ± 15.2 years, and 1,849 (77%) were female, similar to the validation sample. The minimal clinically important difference in the derivation sample was 33 meters (95% confidence interval, 27-38), which was almost identical to that in the validation sample (36 m [95% confidence interval, 29-43]). The minimal clinically important difference did not differ by age, sex, race, pulmonary hypertension etiology, body mass index, use of background therapy, or World Health Organization functional class. Conclusions: We estimated a 6MWD minimal clinically important difference of approximately 33 meters for adults with PAH. Our findings can be applied to the design of clinical trials of therapies for PAH.

Baseline Sex Differences in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Randomized Clinical Trials

Rationale: Sex-based differences in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are known, but the contribution to disease measures is understudied. Objectives: We examined whether sex was associated with baseline 6-minute-walk distance (6MWD), hemodynamics, and functional class. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of participant-level data from randomized clinical trials of investigational PAH therapies conducted between 1998 and 2014 and provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Outcomes were modeled as a function of an interaction between sex and age or sex and body mass index (BMI), respectively, with generalized mixed modeling. Results: We included a total of 6,633 participants from 18 randomized clinical trials. A total of 5,197 (78%) were female, with a mean age of 49.1 years and a mean BMI of 27.0 kg/m2. Among 1,436 males, the mean age was 49.7 years, and the mean BMI was 26.4 kg/m2. The most common etiology of PAH was idiopathic. Females had shorter 6MWD. For every 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI for females, 6MWD decreased 2.3 (1.6-3.0) meters (P < 0.001), whereas 6MWD did not significantly change with BMI in males (0.31 m [-0.30 to 0.92]; P = 0.32). Females had lower right atrial pressure (RAP) and mean pulmonary artery pressure, and higher cardiac index than males (all P < 0.03). Age significantly modified the sex by RAP and mean pulmonary artery pressure relationships. For every 10-year increase in age, RAP was lower in males (0.5 mm Hg [0.3-0.7]; P < 0.001), but not in females (0.13 [-0.03 to 0.28]; P = 0.10). There was a significant decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) with increasing age regardless of sex (P < 0.001). For every 1 kg/m2 increase in BMI, there was a 3% decrease in PVR for males (P < 0.001), compared with a 2% decrease in PVR in females (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Sexual dimorphism in subjects enrolled in clinical trials extends to 6MWD and hemodynamics; these relationships are modified by age and BMI. Sex, age, and body size should be considered in the evaluation and interpretation of surrogate outcomes in PAH.

HBV continuum of care using community- and hospital-based screening interventions in Senegal: Results from the PROLIFICA programme

Background & Aims

Strategies to implement HBV screening and treatment are critical to achieve HBV elimination but have been inadequately evaluated in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA).

Methods

We assessed the feasibility of screen-and-treat interventions in 3 real-world settings (community, workplace, and hospital) in Senegal. Adult participants were screened using a rapid HBsAg point-of-care test. The proportion linked to care, the proportion who had complete clinical staging (alanine transaminase [ALT], viral load, and FibroScan®), and the proportion eligible for treatment were compared among the 3 intervention groups.

Results

In 2013-2016, a total of 3,665 individuals were screened for HBsAg in the community (n = 2,153) and in workplaces (n = 1,512); 199/2,153 (9.2%) and 167/1,512 (11%) were HBsAg-positive in the community and workplaces, respectively. In the hospital setting (outpatient clinics), 638 HBsAg-positive participants were enrolled in the study. All infected participants were treatment naïve. Linkage to care was similar among community-based (69.9%), workplace-based (69.5%), and hospital-based interventions (72.6%, p = 0.617). Of HBV-infected participants successfully linked to care, full clinical staging was obtained in 47.5% (66/139), 59.5% (69/116), and 71.1% (329/463) from the community, workplaces, and hospitals, respectively (p <0.001). The proportion eligible for treatment (EASL criteria) differed among community- (9.1%), workplace- (30.4%), and hospital-based settings (17.6%, p = 0.007). Acceptability of antiviral therapy, adherence, and safety at 1 year were very good.

Conclusions

HBV screen-and-treat interventions are feasible in non-hospital and hospital settings in Senegal. However, the continuum of care is suboptimal owing to limited access to full clinical staging. Improvement in access to diagnostic services is urgently needed in sSA.

Lay summary

Hepatitis B infection is highly endemic in Senegal. Screening for infection can be done outside hospitals, in communities or workplaces. However, the hepatitis B continuum of care is suboptimal in Senegal and needs to be simplified to scale-up diagnosis and treatment coverage.

Impact of hepatopulmonary syndrome in liver transplantation candidates and the role of angiogenesis

BACKGROUND

Hepatopulmonary syndrome affects 10-30% of patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. We evaluated the serum angiogenic profile of hepatopulmonary syndrome and assessed the clinical impact of hepatopulmonary syndrome in patients evaluated for liver transplantation.

METHODS

The Pulmonary Vascular Complications of Liver Disease 2 study was a multicentre, prospective cohort study of adults undergoing their first liver transplantation evaluation. Hepatopulmonary syndrome was defined as an alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient ≥15 mmHg (≥20 mmHg if age >64 years), positive contrast-enhanced transthoracic echocardiography and absence of lung disease.

RESULTS

We included 85 patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome and 146 patients without hepatopulmonary syndrome. Patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome had more complications of portal hypertension and slightly higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Na score compared to those without hepatopulmonary syndrome (median (interquartile range) 15 (12-19) versus 14 (10-17), p=0.006). Hepatopulmonary syndrome patients had significantly lower 6-min walk distance and worse functional class. Hepatopulmonary syndrome patients had higher circulating angiopoietin 2, Tie2, tenascin C, tyrosine protein kinase Kit (c-Kit), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and von Willebrand factor levels, and lower E-selectin levels. Patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome had an increased risk of death (hazard ratio 1.80, 95% CI 1.03-3.16, p=0.04), which persisted despite adjustment for covariates (hazard ratio 1.79, 95% CI 1.02-3.15, p=0.04). This association did not vary based on levels of oxygenation, reflecting the severity of hepatopulmonary syndrome.

CONCLUSION

Hepatopulmonary syndrome was associated with a profile of abnormal systemic angiogenesis, worse exercise and functional capacity, and an overall increased risk of death.

Maternal age at first childbirth and geographical variation in HBV prevalence in Cameroon: Important role of mother-to-child transmission

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection varies geographically around the world. However, the underlying reasons for this variation are unknown. Using a nationally representative population-based sample from all 58 administrative divisions in Cameroon, we examined the association between median maternal age at first childbirth in a preceding generation, a proxy for the frequency of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HBV in a region, and the risk of chronic HBV infection, defined as positive surface antigen (HBsAg), in the index generation.

METHODS

We estimated a division-specific median maternal age at first childbirth using historical data from Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) in 1991/1998/2004/2011. We tested HBsAg in 2011 DHS participants. We used maps to display spatial variation and spatial models for the analysis.

RESULTS

In 14,150 participants (median 27 years old, 51% females), the overall weighted prevalence of HBsAg was 11.9% (95%CI: 11.0-12.8), with a wide geographical variation across the divisions (range: 6.3-23.7%). After adjusting for confounding factors and spatial dependency, lower maternal age at first childbirth was significantly associated with positive HBsAg at the division level (β: 1.89 [95%CI: 1.26-2.52], p<0.001), and at the individual level (OR: 1.20 [95%CI: 1.04-1.39], p=0.016). A similar ecological correlation was observed across other African countries.

CONCLUSIONS

The significant association between the maternal age at first childbirth and HBsAg-positivity suggests a crucial role of MTCT in maintaining high HBV endemicity in some areas in Cameroon. This underlines an urgent need to effectively prevent MTCT in order to achieve WHO's global hepatitis elimination goals.

Clinical laboratory parameters associated with severe or critical novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

To date, several clinical laboratory parameters associated with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity have been reported. However, these parameters have not been observed consistently across studies. The aim of this review was to assess clinical laboratory parameters which may serve as markers or predictors of severe or critical COVID-19.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL and Google Scholar databases from 2019 through April 18, 2020, and reviewed bibliographies of eligible studies, relevant systematic reviews, and the medRxiv pre-print server. We included hospital-based observational studies reporting clinical laboratory parameters of confirmed cases of COVID-19 and excluded studies having large proportions (>10%) of children and pregnant women. Two authors independently carried out screening of articles, data extraction and quality assessment. Meta-analyses were done using random effects model. Meta-median difference (MMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated for each laboratory parameter. Forty-five studies in 6 countries were included. Compared to non-severe COVID-19 cases, severe or critical COVID-19 was characterised by higher neutrophil count (MMD: 1.23 [95% CI: 0.58 to 1.88] ×109 cells/L), and lower lymphocyte, CD4 and CD8 T cell counts with MMD (95% CI) of -0.39 (-0.47, -0.31) ×109 cells/L, -204.9 (-302.6, -107.1) cells/μl and -123.6 (-170.6, -76.6) cells/μl, respectively. Other notable results were observed for C-reactive protein (MMD: 36.97 [95% CI: 27.58, 46.35] mg/L), interleukin-6 (MMD: 17.37 [95% CI: 4.74, 30.00] pg/ml), Troponin I (MMD: 0.01 [0.00, 0.02] ng/ml), and D-dimer (MMD: 0.65 [0.45, 0.85] mg/ml).

CONCLUSIONS

Relative to non-severe COVID-19, severe or critical COVID-19 is characterised by increased markers of innate immune response, decreased markers of adaptive immune response, and increased markers of tissue damage and major organ failure. These markers could be used to recognise severe or critical disease and to monitor clinical course of COVID-19.

Effect of exercise on symptoms of premenstrual syndrome in low and middle-income countries: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) has the potential to affect the quality of life adversely. Published guidelines recommend the use of exercise as part of the first-line management interventions for PMS. However, the published evidence related to the effectiveness of physical activity and PMS is inconclusive. This review will assess the effectiveness of exercise-based interventions in reducing PMS in women screened or diagnosed with PMS in low and middle-income countries, where the prevalence of PMS is high.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Electronic databases will be researched, including Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov and Google Scholar. All the studies published until March 2020 will be included. A standardised data extraction form will be used adapted from the Cochrane Handbook of Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Included articles will be assessed using the risk of bias tools based on study design. Data will be analysed using Review Manager V.5.3. The inverse-variance random-effects method will be used to report the standardised mean difference. A meta-analysis will be used only if studies are sufficiently homogenous. A narrative synthesis will be undertaken when studies are heterogeneous. Methodological heterogeneity between studies will be evaluated by considering the study types. Statistical heterogeneity will be tested using the I² test. Subgroup analyses may be performed only for the primary outcome in case of sufficient studies. Sensitivity analysis will be conducted to assess the impact of intervention excluding studies without randomisation and studies with a high risk of bias. Funnel plots will be used to assess the potential reporting bias and small-study effects only when there are more than 10 studies included in the meta-analysis.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study does not require ethical approval, as the review is entirely based on published studies. The results will be published and/or will be presented at a pertinent conference.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020163377.

Determinants of hyperuricemia in non-dialysed chronic kidney disease patients in three hospitals in Cameroon

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a substantial health burden in sub-Saharan Africa, with risk factors ranging from communicable to non-communicable diseases. Hyperuricemia has been recently identified as a factor of progression of CKD. Identifying factors associated with hyperuricemia in CKD patients would help determine interventions to reduce CKD mortality, particularly in resources limited countries. We sought to determine the prevalence and factors associated with hyperuricemia in non-dialysed CKD adult patients in Cameroon.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study of non-dialysed CKD patients, conducted in 3 referral nephrology units in Cameroon. Relevant clinical and laboratory data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Serum uric acid, spot urine protein and spot urine creatinine were assessed. Associations between variables were assessed using multivariate analysis. Level of statistical significance was set at α < 0.05.

RESULTS

A sample of 103 participants was included. Mean age of study participants was 55.78 ± 12.58 years, and 59.3% were men. Sixty-nine (67%) had hyperuricemia. Patient's age (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.03-1.13), estimated glomerular filtration rate (OR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90-0.98), spot urine protein-creatinine ratio (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.07-3.12), no hypertension (OR: 0.09, 95% CI: 0.02-0.46), urate lowering therapy (OR: 4.99, 95% CI: 1.54-16.16), loop diuretics (OR: 3.39, 95% CI: 1.01-11.42), obesity (OR: 6.12, 95% CI: 1.15-32.55) and no anaemia (OR: 0.04, 95% CI: 0.00-0.29) were independently significantly associated with hyperuricemia.

CONCLUSIONS

In this sample of non-dialysed CKD patients in Cameroon, about 7 out of 10 had hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia was independently associated with patient's age, estimated glomerular filtration rate, spot urine protein-creatinine ratio, hypertension, urate lowering therapy, loop diuretics, obesity and anaemia. More studies are required to establish causal relationships between these associations.

Characteristics and determinants of clinical symptoms in radiographic lumbar spinal stenosis in a tertiary health care centre in sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND

Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) refers to narrowing of the lumbar central spinal canal, lateral recess, and/or neuro-foramina. Radiographic LSS plays an important role in clinical LSS but is not solely accountable for the presence of symptoms. We sought to characterise clinical LSS and to determine factors associated with presence of symptoms of LSS in patients with radiographic LSS in a sub Saharan Africa setting.

METHODS

After prior ethical clearance, a case control study was done in a tertiary hospital in Douala-Cameroon, including 105 patients with radiographic LSS: 57 with symptoms of LSS (cases) and 58 with no symptoms (controls). Spinal stenosis was assessed using computed tomography (CT) scans. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23.

RESULTS

The mean age of our study participants was 53.4 ± 13.1 years. The mean age of onset of symptoms of LSS was 50.3 ± 11.6 years and the most common symptoms were Low back pain (100.0%), radicular symptoms (98.2%) and neurogenic claudication (98.2%). Obesity (p < 0.001) and a high waist circumference (p = 0.002) were significantly associated with presence of LSS symptoms in persons with radiographic LSS. After adjusting for body mass index, a positive family history of low back pain (p = 0.004), vertebra lesion at L2 (p = 0.034), L3 (p = 0.002), L4 (p = 0.025) and multiple (p = 0.008) levels, degenerative disc protrusion (p = 0.044), disc lesion at L3-L4 (p = 0.001), L4-L5 (p = 0.011) and multiple (p = 0.046) levels were significantly associated with presence of symptoms of LSS in persons with radiographic LSS.

CONCLUSION

Characteristics of clinical LSS have been described in this sub-Saharan Africa population. Obesity, a high waist circumference and a positive family history of low back pain are significantly associated with presence of symptoms of LSS in persons with radiographic LSS.