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Journal of Human Hypertension Sep 2022Hypertension is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. This study aimed to obtain an overall regional estimate of the prevalence of hypertension and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Hypertension is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. This study aimed to obtain an overall regional estimate of the prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension and present the disease pattern based on the age and time in the Middle East region. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, Medline for articles on the prevalence of hypertension, pre-hypertension among countries of the Middle East region from 1999 to 2019. STATA-14 was used to analyze the data. Data were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis model, and heterogeneity between studies was assessed using I test and subgroup analysis. A total of eighty-three studies with 479816 participants met the criteria for inclusion in the meta-analysis process. The overall prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension in the Middle East region were 24.36% (95% CI: 19.06-31.14) and 28. 60% (95% CI: 24.19-33.80), respectively. An increasing trend in the prevalence of hypertension was observed with the increasing age. The prevalence of hypertension in the ≤ 49-year-old age group was 17.13% (95% CI: 13.79-21.27) and in people over 60 years was 61.24% (95% CI: 55.30-67.81) (P < 0.001). This pattern has been similar among both males and females. On the other hand, a decreasing trend in the prevalence of pre-hypertension was observed with the increasing age. The increasing trend in the prevalence of hypertension and decreasing trend in the prevalence of pre-hypertension with age are significant concerns in the Middle East region. Screening for the prevention and control of hypertension should prioritize public health programs.
Topics: Female; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Middle East; Prehypertension; Prevalence
PubMed: 35031669
DOI: 10.1038/s41371-021-00647-9 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Jan 2021Many people with chronic disease have more than one chronic condition, which is referred to as multimorbidity. The term comorbidity is also used but this is now taken to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Many people with chronic disease have more than one chronic condition, which is referred to as multimorbidity. The term comorbidity is also used but this is now taken to mean that there is a defined index condition with other linked conditions, for example diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It is also used when there are combinations of defined conditions that commonly co-exist, for example diabetes and depression. While this is not a new phenomenon, there is greater recognition of its impact and the importance of improving outcomes for individuals affected. Research in the area to date has focused mainly on descriptive epidemiology and impact assessment. There has been limited exploration of the effectiveness of interventions to improve outcomes for people with multimorbidity.
OBJECTIVES
To determine the effectiveness of health-service or patient-oriented interventions designed to improve outcomes in people with multimorbidity in primary care and community settings. Multimorbidity was defined as two or more chronic conditions in the same individual.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and seven other databases to 28 September 2015. We also searched grey literature and consulted experts in the field for completed or ongoing studies.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Two review authors independently screened and selected studies for inclusion. We considered randomised controlled trials (RCTs), non-randomised clinical trials (NRCTs), controlled before-after studies (CBAs), and interrupted time series analyses (ITS) evaluating interventions to improve outcomes for people with multimorbidity in primary care and community settings. Multimorbidity was defined as two or more chronic conditions in the same individual. This includes studies where participants can have combinations of any condition or have combinations of pre-specified common conditions (comorbidity), for example, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The comparison was usual care as delivered in that setting.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently extracted data from the included studies, evaluated study quality, and judged the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach. We conducted a meta-analysis of the results where possible and carried out a narrative synthesis for the remainder of the results. We present the results in a 'Summary of findings' table and tabular format to show effect sizes across all outcome types.
MAIN RESULTS
We identified 17 RCTs examining a range of complex interventions for people with multimorbidity. Nine studies focused on defined comorbid conditions with an emphasis on depression, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The remaining studies focused on multimorbidity, generally in older people. In 11 studies, the predominant intervention element was a change to the organisation of care delivery, usually through case management or enhanced multidisciplinary team work. In six studies, the interventions were predominantly patient-oriented, for example, educational or self-management support-type interventions delivered directly to participants. Overall our confidence in the results regarding the effectiveness of interventions ranged from low to high certainty. There was little or no difference in clinical outcomes (based on moderate certainty evidence). Mental health outcomes improved (based on high certainty evidence) and there were modest reductions in mean depression scores for the comorbidity studies that targeted participants with depression (standardized mean difference (SMD) -0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.63 to -0.2). There was probably a small improvement in patient-reported outcomes (moderate certainty evidence). The intervention may make little or no difference to health service use (low certainty evidence), may slightly improve medication adherence (low certainty evidence), probably slightly improves patient-related health behaviours (moderate certainty evidence), and probably improves provider behaviour in terms of prescribing behaviour and quality of care (moderate certainty evidence). Cost data were limited.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
This review identifies the emerging evidence to support policy for the management of people with multimorbidity and common comorbidities in primary care and community settings. There are remaining uncertainties about the effectiveness of interventions for people with multimorbidity in general due to the relatively small number of RCTs conducted in this area to date, with mixed findings overall. It is possible that the findings may change with the inclusion of large ongoing well-organised trials in future updates. The results suggest an improvement in health outcomes if interventions can be targeted at risk factors such as depression in people with co-morbidity.
Topics: Age Factors; Amblyopia; Chronic Disease; Community Health Services; Disease Management; Growth Disorders; Health Behavior; Health Personnel; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Intellectual Disability; Medication Adherence; Multimorbidity; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Patient-Centered Care; Primary Health Care; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Factors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 33448337
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006560.pub4 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2023The etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains largely unknown. This study aimed to summarize the relationship between ALS and its genetic and non-genetic...
BACKGROUND
The etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains largely unknown. This study aimed to summarize the relationship between ALS and its genetic and non-genetic risk factors.
METHOD
A search of relevant literature from PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Database from inception to December 2022 was performed. Random-effects or fixed-effects models were performed by Stata MP 15.0 to pool multivariate or adjusted ratios (OR). PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022301549.
RESULTS
230 eligible studies were included, of which 67 involved 22 non-genetic factors, and 163 involved genetic factors. Four aspects of non-genetic factors, including lifestyle, environmental and occupational exposures, pre-existing diseases/comorbidity and medical exposures, and others, were analyzed. Exposure to heavy metals (OR = 1.79), pesticides (OR = 1.46), solvents (OR = 1.37), previous head trauma (OR = 1.37), military service (OR = 1.29), stroke (OR = 1.26), magnetic field (OR = 1.22) and hypertension (OR = 1.04) are significant risk factors, but use of antidiabetics (OR = 0.52), high BMI (OR = 0.60 for obese and overweight vs. normal and underweight), living in urban (OR = 0.70), diabetes mellitus (OR = 0.83), and kidney disease (OR = 0.84) decrease the risk for ALS. In addition, eight common ALS-related genes were evaluated, the mutation frequencies of these genes were ranked from highest to lowest as (2.2%), (2.1%), (1.7%), (1.7%), (0.8%), (0.6%), (0.6%) and (0.6%) in all the ALS patients.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggested that effective intervention for risk exposure and timely modification of lifestyle might prevent the occurrence of ALS. Genetic mutations are important risk factors for ALS and it is essential to detect genetic mutations correctly and scientifically.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=301549, identifier: CRD42022301549.
PubMed: 37168926
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1177431 -
Pituitary Jun 2022To evaluate the association between acromegaly and pregnancy in terms of disease activity, maternal and fetal outcomes. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
PURPOSE
To evaluate the association between acromegaly and pregnancy in terms of disease activity, maternal and fetal outcomes.
METHODS
This systematic review was conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews of etiology and risk. We focused on observational studies that included pregnant women with acromegaly. The outcomes were acromegaly activity, preterm birth, gestational diabetes, hypertension, eclampsia/preeclampsia, miscarriage, perinatal mortality, low birthweight, small for gestational age, and congenital malformations. Embase, Medline, LILACS, and CENTRAL were our source databases. To perform proportional meta-analyses, we used Stata Statistical Software 17.
RESULTS
Nineteen studies were included encompassing a total of 273 pregnancies in 211 women with acromegaly. The overall frequency of control of acromegaly during pregnancy was 62%, and of tumor growth was 9%. No fetal or maternal deaths were reported. The overall frequency of worsening of previous diabetes or development of gestational diabetes was 9%, and of previous hypertension or preeclampsia/eclampsia was 6%. The overall frequency of premature labor was 9% [from 17 studies of 263 pregnancies; 95% confidence interval (CI), 5-13%]; of spontaneous miscarriage was 4% (from 19 studies of 273 pregnancies; 95% CI, 2-11%); of small for gestational age was 5% (from 15 studies of 216 newborns; 95% CI, 3-9%); and of congenital malformations was 1% (from 18 studies of 240 newborns; 95% CI, 0-7%).
CONCLUSION
Pregnancy in women with acromegaly is frequently associated with disease control and is safe in relation to fetal and maternal outcomes, as in women without acromegaly.
Topics: Abortion, Spontaneous; Acromegaly; Diabetes, Gestational; Eclampsia; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Infant, Newborn; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Premature Birth
PubMed: 35098440
DOI: 10.1007/s11102-022-01208-0 -
Environmental Research Aug 2023Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including gestational hypertension (GH) and preeclampsia (PE), cause significant morbidity and mortality among pregnant women.... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including gestational hypertension (GH) and preeclampsia (PE), cause significant morbidity and mortality among pregnant women. Several environmental toxins, particularly those that affect the normal function of the placenta and the endothelium, are emerging as potential risk factors for HDP. Among them, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), widely used in a variety of commercial products, have been related to a variety of adverse health effects including HDP. This study was conducted by searching three databases for observational studies reporting associations between PFAS and HDP, all of which were published before December 2022. We used random-effects meta-analysis to calculate pooled risk estimates, and assessing each combination of exposure and outcome for quality and level of evidence. In total, 15 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The results from meta-analyses showed that risk of PE was increased with exposure to PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) (RR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.05, 1.85; N = 6 studies; exposure = 1 ln-unit increment; low certainty), PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) (RR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.23, 1.86; N = 6 studies; exposure = 1 ln-unit increment; moderate certainty), and PFHxS (perfluorohexane sulfonate) (RR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.10, 1.76; N = 6 studies; exposure = 1 ln-unit increment; low certainty). PFOS was also associated with an increased risk of HDP (RR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.10, 1.76; exposure = 1 ln-unit increment; low certainty). Exposure to legacy PFAS (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS) is associated with an increased risk of PE, and PFOS is further associated with HDP. In view of the limitations of meta-analysis and quality of evidence, these findings should be interpreted with caution. Further research is required that assesses exposure to multiple PFAS in diverse and well-powered cohorts.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced; Environmental Pollutants; Pre-Eclampsia; Fluorocarbons; Alkanesulfonic Acids; Hazardous Substances; Observational Studies as Topic
PubMed: 37178750
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116064 -
BJOG : An International Journal of... Nov 2022To examine the association between race and pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension after adjustment for factors in maternal characteristics and medical history in a... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
To examine the association between race and pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension after adjustment for factors in maternal characteristics and medical history in a screening study from the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) in England, and to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on pre-eclampsia.
DESIGN
Prospective observational study and systematic review with meta-analysis.
SETTING
Two UK maternity hospitals.
POPULATION
A total of 168 966 women with singleton pregnancies attending for routine ultrasound examination at 11-13 weeks of gestation without major abnormalities delivering at 24 weeks or more of gestation.
METHODS
Regression analysis examined the association between race and pre-eclampsia or gestational hypertension in the FMF data. Literature search to December 2021 was carried out to identify peer-reviewed publications on race and pre-eclampsia.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
Relative risk of pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension in women of black, South Asian and East Asian race by comparison to white women.
RESULTS
In black women, the respective risks of total-pre-eclampsia and preterm-pre-eclampsia were 2-fold and 2.5-fold higher, respectively, and risk of gestational hypertension was 25% higher; in South Asian women there was a 1.5-fold higher risk of preterm pre-eclampsia but not of total-pre-eclampsia and in East Asian women there was no statistically significant difference in risk of hypertensive disorders. The literature search identified 19 studies that provided data on several million pregnancies, but 17 were at moderate or high-risk of bias and only three provided risks adjusted for some maternal characteristics; consequently, these studies did not provide accurate contributions on different racial groups to the prediction of pre-eclampsia.
CONCLUSION
In women of black and South Asian origin the risk of pre-eclampsia, after adjustment for confounders, is higher than in white women.
Topics: Cohort Studies; England; Female; Humans; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced; Infant, Newborn; Observational Studies as Topic; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies
PubMed: 35620879
DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17240 -
Interventions in hypertension: systematic review and meta-analysis of natural and quasi-experiments.Clinical Hypertension May 2022Hypertension is an urgent public health problem. Consistent summary from natural and quasi-experiments employed to evaluate interventions that aim at preventing or...
BACKGROUND
Hypertension is an urgent public health problem. Consistent summary from natural and quasi-experiments employed to evaluate interventions that aim at preventing or controlling hypertension is lacking in the current literature. This study aims to summarize the evidence from natural and quasi-experiments that evaluated interventions used to prevent or control hypertension.
METHODS
We searched PubMed, Embase and Web of Science for natural and quasi-experiments evaluating interventions used to prevent hypertension, improve blood pressure control or reduce blood pressure levels from January 2008 to November 2018. Descriptions of studies and interventions were systematically summarized, and a meta-analysis was conducted.
RESULTS
Thirty studies were identified, and all used quasi-experimental designs including a difference-in-difference, a pre-post with a control group or a propensity score matching design. Education and counseling on lifestyle modifications such as promoting physical activity (PA), promoting a healthy diet and smoking cessation consultations could help prevent hypertension in healthy people. The use of computerized clinical practice guidelines by general practitioners, education and management of hypertension, the screening for cardiovascular disease (CVD) goals and referral could help improve hypertension control in patients with hypertension. The educating and counseling on PA and diet, the monitoring of patients' metabolic factors and chronic diseases, the combination of education on lifestyles with management of hypertension, the screening for economic risk factors, medical needs, and CVD risk factors and referral all could help reduce blood pressure. In the meta-analysis, the largest reduction in blood pressure was seen for interventions which combined education, counseling and management strategies: weighted mean difference in systolic blood pressure was - 5.34 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI], - 7.35 to - 3.33) and in diastolic blood pressure was - 3.23 mmHg (95% CI, - 5.51 to - 0.96).
CONCLUSIONS
Interventions that used education and counseling strategies; those that used management strategies; those that used combined education, counseling and management strategies and those that used screening and referral strategies were beneficial in preventing, controlling hypertension and reducing blood pressure levels. The combination of education, counseling and management strategies appeared to be the most beneficial intervention to reduce blood pressure levels.
PubMed: 35490246
DOI: 10.1186/s40885-022-00198-2 -
Frontiers in Public Health 2023We aimed to address which interventions best control blood pressure (BP) and delay disease progression in prehypertension and to give recommendations for the best option... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
We aimed to address which interventions best control blood pressure (BP) and delay disease progression in prehypertension and to give recommendations for the best option following a quality rating.
METHODS
A Bayesian network meta-analysis was used to assess the effect of the intervention on BP reduction, delaying hypertension progression and final outcome, with subgroup analyses for time and ethnicity. Recommendations for interventions were finally based on cumulative ranking probabilities and CINeMA.
RESULTS
From 22,559 relevant articles, 101 eligible randomized controlled trial articles (20,176 prehypertensive subjects) were included and 30 pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions were evaluated. Moderate-quality evidence demonstrated that angiotensin II receptor blockers, aerobic exercise (AE), and dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) lowered systolic blood pressure (SBP). For lowering diastolic blood pressure (DBP), AE combined with resistance exercise (RE) or AE alone provided high quality evidence, with calcium channel blockers, lifestyle modification (LSM) combined with drug providing moderate quality evidence. LSM produced the best BP lowering effect at 12 months and beyond of intervention. In Asians, TCD bubble was moderate quality evidence for lowering SBP and RE may have had a BP lowering effect in Caucasians. No recommendation can be given for delaying the progression of hypertension and reducing mortality outcomes because of low to very low quality of evidence.
CONCLUSION
AE combined RE are preferentially recommended for BP control in prehypertension, followed by DASH. Long-term BP control is preferred to LSM. Asians and Caucasians add TCD bubble and RE to this list as potentially effective interventions.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022356302, identifier: CRD42022356302.
Topics: Humans; Blood Pressure; Prehypertension; Bayes Theorem; Hypertension
PubMed: 37033077
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1139617 -
Ageing Research Reviews Jul 2023Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is the leading cause of vascular cognitive impairment and is associated with COVID-19. However, contributing factors that often... (Review)
Review
Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is the leading cause of vascular cognitive impairment and is associated with COVID-19. However, contributing factors that often accompany CSVD pathology in COVID-19 patients may influence the incidence of cerebrovascular complications. Thus, a mechanism linking COVID-19 and CSVD has yet to be uncovered and differentiated from age-related comorbidities (i.e., hypertension), and medical interventions during acute infection. We aimed to evaluate CSVD in acute and recovered COVID-19 patients and to differentiate COVID-19-related cerebrovascular pathology from the above-mentioned contributing factors by assessing the localization of microbleeds and ischemic lesions/infarctions in the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem. A systematic search was performed in December 2022 on PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase using a pre-established search criterion related to history of, or active COVID-19 with CSVD pathology in adults. From a pool of 161 studies, 59 met eligibility criteria and were included. Microbleeds and ischemic lesions had a strong predilection for the corpus callosum and subcortical/deep white matter in COVID-19 patients, suggesting a distinct CSVD pathology. These findings have important implications for clinical practice and biomedical research as COVID-19 may independently, and through exacerbation of age-related mechanisms, contribute to increased incidence of CSVD.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases; White Matter; Hypertension; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 37224885
DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101962 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... May 2020Hypertension is a major public health challenge affecting more than one billion people worldwide; it disproportionately affects populations in low- and middle-income...
BACKGROUND
Hypertension is a major public health challenge affecting more than one billion people worldwide; it disproportionately affects populations in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where health systems are generally weak. The increasing prevalence of hypertension is associated with population growth, ageing, genetic factors, and behavioural risk factors, such as excessive salt and fat consumption, physical inactivity, being overweight and obese, harmful alcohol consumption, and poor management of stress. Over the long term, hypertension leads to risk for cardiovascular events, such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, disability, and premature mortality. Cardiovascular events can be preventable when high-risk populations are targeted, for example, through population-wide screening strategies. When available resources are limited, taking a total risk approach whereby several risk factors of hypertension are taken into consideration (e.g. age, gender, lifestyle factors, diabetes, blood cholesterol) can enable more accurate targeting of high-risk groups. Targeting of high-risk groups can help reduce costs in that resources are not spent on the entire population. Early detection in the form of screening for hypertension (and associated risk factors) can help identify high-risk groups, which can result in timely treatment and management of risk factors. Ultimately, early detection can help reduce morbidity and mortality linked to it and can help contain health-related costs, for example, those associated with hospitalisation due to severe illness and poorly managed risk factors and comorbidities.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effectiveness of different screening strategies for hypertension (mass, targeted, or opportunistic) to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with hypertension.
SEARCH METHODS
An Information Specialist searched the Cochrane Register of Studies (CRS-Web), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, Embase, Latin American Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) Bireme, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP) without language, publication year, or publication status restrictions. The searches were conducted from inception until 9 April 2020.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs (NRCTs), that is, controlled before and after (CBA), interrupted time series (ITS), and prospective analytic cohort studies of healthy adolescents, adults, and elderly people participating in mass, targeted, or opportunistic screening of hypertension.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Screening of all retrieved studies was done in Covidence. A team of reviewers, in pairs, independently assessed titles and abstracts of identified studies and acquired full texts for studies that were potentially eligible. Studies were deemed to be eligible for full-text screening if two review authors agreed, or if consensus was reached through discussion with a third review author. It was planned that at least two review authors would independently extract data from included studies, assess risk of bias using pre-specified Cochrane criteria, and conduct a meta-analysis of sufficiently similar studies or present a narrative synthesis of the results.
MAIN RESULTS
We screened 9335 titles and abstracts. We identified 54 potentially eligible studies for full-text screening. However, no studies met the eligibility criteria.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
There is an implicit assumption that early detection of hypertension through screening can reduce the burden of morbidity and mortality, but this assumption has not been tested in rigorous research studies. High-quality evidence from RCTs or programmatic evidence from NRCTs on the effectiveness and costs or harms of different screening strategies for hypertension (mass, targeted, or opportunistic) to reduce hypertension-related morbidity and mortality is lacking.
Topics: Early Diagnosis; Humans; Hypertension; Mass Screening
PubMed: 32378196
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013212.pub2