A systematic scoping review on patients' perceptions of dignity

Background

A socioculturally appropriate appreciation of dignity is pivotal to the effective provision of care for dying patients. Yet concepts of dignity remain poorly defined. To address this gap in understanding and enhance dignity conserving end-of-life care, a review of current concepts of dignity is proposed.

Methods

To address its primary research question “How do patients conceive the concept of dignity at the end of life?”, this review appraises regnant concepts and influences of dignity, and evaluates current dignity conserving practices. To enhance accountability, transparency and reproducibility, this review employs the Ring Theory of Personhood (RToP) as its theoretical lens to guide a Systematic Evidence Based Approach guided Systematic Scoping Review (SSR in SEBA) of patient perspectives of dignity. Three independent teams of reviewers independently analysed included articles from a structured search of PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, CINAHL and Cochrane Databases using thematic and content analyses. The themes and categories identified were compared and combined using the Funnelling Process to create domains that guide the discussion that follows.

Results

Seventy-eight thousand five hundred seventy-five abstracts were identified, 645 articles were reviewed, and 127 articles were included. The three domains identified were definitions of dignity, influences upon perceptions of dignity, and dignity conserving care.

Conclusions

This SSR in SEBA affirms the notion that dignity is intimately entwined with self-concepts of personhood and that effective dignity conserving measures at the end of life must be guided by the patient’s concept of dignity. This SSR in SEBA posits that such personalised culturally sensitive, and timely support of patients, their family and loved ones may be possible through the early and longitudinal application of a RToP based tool.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12904-022-01004-4.

Effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors on serum urate levels in patients with and without diabetes: a systematic review and meta-regression of 43 randomized controlled trials

Objectives

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have been found to reduce serum urate in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. To evaluate if this effect applies to both patients with and without diabetes, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of SGLT2 inhibitors on serum urate levels in this population.

Methods

Four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane and SCOPUS) were searched on 25 September 2021 for articles published from 1 January 2000 up to 25 September 2021, for studies that examined the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on serum urate in study subjects. Random-effects meta-analysis was performed, with subgroup analyses on the type of SGLT2 inhibitor agent administered, presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, presence of chronic kidney disease and drug dose.

Results

A total of 43 randomized controlled trials, with a combined cohort of 31,921 patients, were included. Both patients with [-31.48 μmol/L; 95% confidence interval (CI): -37.35 to -25.60] and without diabetes (-91.38 μmol/L; 95% CI: -126.53 to -56.24) on SGLT2 inhibitors had significantly lower urate levels when compared with placebo. This treatment effect was similarly observed across different types of SGLT2 inhibitors. However, in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with chronic kidney disease, the reduction in serum urate with SGLT2 inhibitors became insignificant (95% CI: -22.17 to 5.94, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that SGLT2 inhibitors are beneficial in reducing serum urate in patients with and without diabetes. SGLT2 inhibitors could therefore contribute to the general treatment of hyperuricaemia.

Effects of Sodium/Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors on Cardiac Imaging Parameters: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Recent studies have shown that sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors might exert favourable changes on cardiac parameters as observed on cardiovascular imaging. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on cardiac imaging parameters. Four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus) were searched for studies in which the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on cardiac imaging parameters were examined. Studies in which a population was administered SGLT2 inhibitors and analysed by echocardiography and/or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging were included. Random-effects pair-wise meta-analysis models were utilized to summarize the studies. A total of 11 randomized controlled trials was included with a combined cohort of 910 patients. Comparing patients receiving SGLT2 inhibitors with subjects receiving placebo, the mean change in CMR-measured left ventricular mass (LVM) was −3.87 g (95% confidence interval [CI], −7.77 to 0.04), that in left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) was −5.96 mL (95% CI, −10.52 to −1.41) for combined LVESV outcomes, that in left atrial volume index (LAVi) was −1.78 mL/m² (95% CI, −3.01 to −0.55) for combined LAVi outcomes, and that in echocardiography-measured E/e′ was −0.73 (95% CI, −1.43 to −0.03). Between-group differences were not observed in LVM and LVESV after indexation. The only between-group difference that persisted was for LAVi. Treatment with SGLT2 inhibitors resulted in reduction in LAVi and E/e′ on imaging, indicating they might have an effect on outcomes associated with LV diastolic function.

Effects of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 on Amputation Events: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized-Controlled Trials

INTRODUCTION

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are increasingly utilized in the treatment of diabetes mellitus as well as therapeutic extra-glycemic effects. However, there are still concerns over complications such as amputation events, given the results from the Canagliflozin Cardiovascular Assessment Study (CANVAS) trial. Hence, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials to investigate the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on amputation events.

METHODS

Four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and SCOPUS) were searched on November 21, 2020, for articles published from January 1, 2000, up to November 21, 2020, for studies that examined the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on amputation events. Random-effect pair-wise meta-analysis for hazard ratios and fixed-effect Peto odds ratio meta-analysis were utilized to summarize the studies.

RESULTS

A total of 15 randomized-controlled trials were included with a combined cohort of 63,716 patients. We demonstrated that there was no significant difference in amputation events across different types of SGLT2 inhibitors, different baseline populations, and different duration of SGLT2 inhibitor use.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS

In this meta-analysis, SGLT2 inhibitors were not associated with a significant difference in amputation events.

Effects of Sodium/Glucose Cotransporter Inhibitors on Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke: A Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVES

Recent clinical trials have shown the potential of sodium glucose cotransporter (SGLT) 2 inhibitors to reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation but not stroke. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify if SGLT2 or combined SGLT1/2 inhibitors affect the risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke in patients regardless of diabetic status.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four electronic databases were searched on 21st November 2020 for studies evaluating outcomes of stroke and atrial fibrillation with SGLT2 or combined SGLT1/2 inhibitors in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Both random and fixed effect, pair-wise meta-analysis models were used to summarize the results of the studies.

RESULTS

A total of 13 placebo-controlled, randomized-controlled trials were included. Eight trials comprising 35,702 patients were included in the analysis of atrial fibrillation outcomes and eight trials comprising 47,910 patients were included in the analysis of stroke outcomes. Patients on SGLT inhibitors, particularly SGLT2 inhibitors, had lower odds of atrial fibrillation (Peto odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 0.76 [0.63-0.92]) compared to placebo. This effect remained significant with a follow-up duration longer than 1 year, in studies utilizing dapagliflozin, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and patients with cardiovascular disease. No difference was observed in the odds of atrial fibrillation in patients with baseline heart failure. No effect was seen on the risk of stroke in patients taking SGLT inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS

SGLT2 inhibitors significantly reduced the odds of atrial fibrillation in diabetic patients. However, SGLT inhibitors did not significantly affect the risk of stroke.

Effect of butanedioic Acid mono (2,2-dimethylhydrazide) on the activity of membrane-bound succinate dehydrogenase

Mitochondria isolated from hypocotyls of five-day-old bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. ;Black Valentine') seedlings rapidly oxidized succinate, malate, and NADH. Oxidation rates, respiratory control, and ADP:O ratios obtained with saturating concentrations of all three substrates indicated that the mitochondria were tightly coupled. The mitochondrial preparation was then employed to investigate the respiration-inhibiting effects of butanedioic acid mono (2,2-dimethyl-hydrazide) (daminozide) a plant growth retardant having structural similarity to an endogenous respiratory substrate (succinate). Daminozide markedly inhibited the activity of membrane-bound succinate dehydrogenase. Inhibition was of the competitive type (apparent K(i), 20.2 millimolar) with respect to succinate. Although not excluding other hypotheses, the results support an active role for daminozide in the suppression of respiration as an important metabolic site of its action as a plant growth regulator.