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Frontiers in Pediatrics 2024Prolonged mechanical ventilation, commonly used to assist preterm newborns, increases the risk of developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). In recent decades, studies... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Prolonged mechanical ventilation, commonly used to assist preterm newborns, increases the risk of developing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). In recent decades, studies have demonstrated that systemic corticosteroids play a significant role in the prevention and management of BPD. In this systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), we evaluated the association between the administration of systemic corticosteroids in preterm infants and its long-term outcomes, such as neurodevelopment, growth, extubation rate, and related adverse effects.
METHODS
We conducted an electronic search in Medline, Scopus, and PubMed using the following terms: "premature infants" and "corticosteroids." We considered all RCTs published up to June 2023 as eligible. We included all studies involving preterm newborns treated with systemic corticosteroids and excluded studies on inhaled corticosteroids.
RESULTS
A total of 39 RCTs were evaluated. The influence of steroids administered systemically during the neonatal period on long-term neurological outcomes remains unknown, with no influence observed for long-term growth. The postnatal administration of systemic corticosteroids has been found to reduce the timing of extubation and improve respiratory outcomes. Dexamethasone appears to be more effective than hydrocortisone, despite causing a higher rate of systemic hypertension and hyperglycemia. However, in the majority of RCTs analyzed, there were no differences in the adverse effects related to postnatal corticosteroid administration.
CONCLUSION
Dexamethasone administered during the neonatal period appears to be more effective than hydrocortisone in terms of respiratory outcomes; however, caution should be taken when administering dexamethasone. Data derived from current evidence, including meta-analyses, are inconclusive on the long-term effects of the administration of systemic steroids in preterm infants or the possibility of neurodevelopmental consequences.
PubMed: 38419972
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1344337 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2024This review investigates the relationship between pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, often associated with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, and cardiovascular health,... (Review)
Review
This review investigates the relationship between pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, often associated with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, and cardiovascular health, particularly pulmonary hypertension. We conducted a comprehensive literature search using electronic databases, including Medline Pub-Med, Scopus, and the Web of Science. The study analyzed a total of 230 articles and screened 48 articles, with 20 included in the final analysis, involving 2429 children. The PRISMA flowchart visually illustrates the selection process, and the ROBINS-E and -I tools help ensure the reliability and validity of the evidence produced by these studies. These studies explored various aspects, including the severity of obstructive sleep apnea, cardiac anomalies, cardiac stress markers, risk factors for pulmonary hypertension, and the impact of adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy on cardiac function. The research found that adenotonsillar hypertrophy and obstructive sleep apnea are significant risk factors for cardiovascular complications, especially pulmonary hypertension, in children. Adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy may provide effective treatments. Following adenoidectomy in relation to obstructive sleep apnea, there appears to be a reduction in mean pulmonary artery pressure during echocardiographic examination. However, the efficacy of these procedures can vary based on the severity of obstructive sleep apnea and individual cardiac conditions. The study also identified concerns regarding data bias. The authors emphasize the need for well-designed clinical studies, including both healthy patients with adenotonsillar hypertrophy and vulnerable children with genetic disorders, to ensure that clinical decisions are based on solid scientific evidence.
PubMed: 38397319
DOI: 10.3390/children11020208 -
Internal and Emergency Medicine Apr 2024The evidence for the treatment of connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTD-PAH) mostly depends on subgroup or post hoc analysis of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The evidence for the treatment of connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTD-PAH) mostly depends on subgroup or post hoc analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Thus, we performed a meta-analysis of RCTs that reported outcomes for CTD-PAH. PubMed and EMBASE were searched for CTD-PAH treatment. The selected outcomes were functional class (FC) change, survival rates, 6-min walk distance (6-MWD), clinical worsening (CW), N-terminal prohormone BNP (NT-proBNP), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), right atrial pressure (RAP), and cardiac index (CI). The meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020153560). Twelve RCTs conducted with 1837 patients were included. The diagnoses were systemic sclerosis in 59%, SLE in 20%, and other CTDs in 21%. The pharmacological interventions were epoprostenol, treprostinil, sildenafil, tadalafil, bosentan, macitentan, ambrisentan, riociguat, and selexipag. There was a significant difference between interventions and placebo in FC, 6MWD, CW, PVR, RAP, and CI that favored intervention. Our analysis showed a 39% reduction in the CW risk with PAH treatment. The short-term survival rates and mean serum NT-proBNP changes were similar between the study and control groups. Treatment for CTD-PAH had favorable effects on clinical and hemodynamic outcomes but not on survival and NT-proBNP levels. Different from the previous meta-analyses that focused on 6-MWD, time to clinical worsening, and CW as outcomes, this meta-analysis additionally reports the pooled analysis of change in FC, hemodynamic measurements (RAP, PVR, CI), and NT-proBNP, some of which have prognostic value for PAH.
Topics: Humans; Antihypertensive Agents; Connective Tissue Diseases; Peptide Fragments; Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 38378970
DOI: 10.1007/s11739-024-03539-1 -
Critical Care Explorations Feb 2024Conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess prevalence and timing of acute kidney injury (AKI) development after acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess prevalence and timing of acute kidney injury (AKI) development after acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and its association with mortality.
DATA SOURCES
Ovid MEDLINE(R), Ovid Embase, Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Ovid PsycINFO database, Scopus, and Web of Science thought April 2023.
STUDY SELECTION
Titles and abstracts were screened independently and in duplicate to identify eligible studies. Randomized controlled trials and prospective or retrospective cohort studies reporting the development of AKI following ARDS were included.
DATA EXTRACTION
Two reviewers independently extracted data using a pre piloted abstraction form. We used Review Manager 5.4 software (Cochrane Library, Oxford, United Kingdom) and Open Meta software (Brown University, Providence, RI) for statistical analyses.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Among the 3646 studies identified and screened, 17 studies comprising 9359 ARDS patients met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. AKI developed in 3287 patients (40%) after the diagnosis of ARDS. The incidence of AKI at least 48 hours after ARDS diagnosis was 20% (95% CI, 0.18-0.21%). The pooled risk ratio (RR) for the hospital (or 30-d) mortality among ARDS patients who developed AKI was 1.93 (95% CI, 1.71-2.18). AKI development after ARDS was identified as an independent risk factor for mortality in ARDS patients, with a pooled odds ratio from multivariable analysis of 3.69 (95% CI, 2.24-6.09). Furthermore, two studies comparing mortality between patients with late vs. early AKI initiation after ARDS revealed higher mortality in late AKI patients with RR of 1.46 (95% CI, 1.19-1.8). However, the certainty of evidence for most outcomes was low to very low.
CONCLUSIONS
While our findings highlight a significant association between ARDS and subsequent development of AKI, the low to very low certainty of evidence underscores the need for cautious interpretation. This systematic review identified a significant knowledge gap, necessitating further research to establish a more definitive understanding of this relationship and its clinical implications.
PubMed: 38352941
DOI: 10.1097/CCE.0000000000001054 -
Journal of Scleroderma and Related... Feb 2024Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have a poor prognosis, accounting for 30% of all SSc-related deaths. Guidelines...
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have a poor prognosis, accounting for 30% of all SSc-related deaths. Guidelines recommend annual screening for PAH regardless of symptoms, as early treatment improves outcomes. Current protocols include combinations of clinical features, biomarkers, pulmonary function tests, and echocardiography. None include exercise testing, although early-stage PAH may only be evident during exercise. This systematic review assessed the performance of exercise tests in predicting the presence of PAH in patients with SSc, where PAH was confirmed through right heart catheterisation (RHC).
METHODS
Comprehensive literature searches were performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trails, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science from inception to May 2023. Articles were screened for eligibility by two independent reviewers. Eligibility criteria included the use of a non-invasive exercise test to screen adult patients to detect PAH in a population without a previous diagnosis of PAH, with diagnosis confirmed by RHC.
RESULTS
Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, describing at least one of three different non-invasive exercise tests: cardiopulmonary exercise test, six-minute walk test and stress Doppler echocardiography. All studies found that exercise tests had some ability to predict the presence of PAH, with sensitivity between 50% and 100% and specificity from 73% to 91%.
CONCLUSION
Exercise tests are infrequently used for screening for PAH in SSc but can predict the presence of PAH. More data are required to establish which tests are most effective.
PubMed: 38333530
DOI: 10.1177/23971983231199148 -
Open Heart Feb 2024Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the prognostic value of RV free-wall longitudinal strain (RVfwLS), compared with other RV parameters in PH.
METHODS
We searched for articles presenting the HR of two-dimensional RVfwLS in PH. HRs were standardised using the within-study SD. The ratio of HRs of a 1 SD change in RVfwLS versus systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (SPAP), systolic tricuspid annular velocities (s'-TV), RV fractional area change (FAC) or tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) was calculated for each study, after which we conducted a random model meta-analysis. Subgroup analysis regarding the type of outcome, aetiology of PH and software vendor was also performed.
RESULTS
Twenty articles totalling 2790 subjects were included. The pooled HR of a 1 SD decrease of RVfwLS was 1.80 (95% CI: 1.62 to 2.00, p<0.001), and there was a significant association with all-cause death (ACD) and composite endpoints (CEs). The ratio of HR analysis revealed that RVfwLS has a significant, strong association with ACD and CE per 1 SD change, compared with corresponding values of SPAP, s'-TV, RVFAC or TAPSE. RVfwLS was a significant prognostic factor regardless of the aetiology of PH. However, significant superiority of RVfwLS versus other parameters was not observed in group 1 PH.
CONCLUSIONS
The prognostic value of RVfwLS in patients with PH was confirmed, and RVfwLS is better than other RV parameters and SPAP. Further accumulation of evidence is needed to perform a detailed subgroup analysis for each type of PH.
TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER
UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000052679).
Topics: Humans; Prognosis; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Tricuspid Valve; Systole
PubMed: 38325907
DOI: 10.1136/openhrt-2023-002561 -
Neonatology 2024Antenatal antibiotic exposure has been suggested as a risk factor for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). We aimed to summarize the evidence from randomized controlled... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
INTRODUCTION
Antenatal antibiotic exposure has been suggested as a risk factor for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). We aimed to summarize the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies on this potential association.
METHODS
PubMed/Medline and Embase databases were searched. BPD was classified as BPD28 (supplemental oxygen during 28 days or at postnatal day 28), BPD36 (supplemental oxygen at 36 weeks postmenstrual age), BPD36 or death, and BPD-associated pulmonary hypertension (BPD-PH). Bayesian model-averaged (BMA) meta-analysis was used to calculate Bayes factors (BFs). The BF10 is the ratio of the probability of the data under the alternative hypothesis (H1) over the probability of the data under the null hypothesis (H0).
RESULTS
We included 6 RCTs and 27 observational studies (126,614 infants). Regarding BPD28, BMA showed that the evidence in favor of H0 (lack of association with antenatal antibiotics) was weak for the RCTS (BF10 = 0.506, 6 studies) and moderate for the observational studies (BF10 = 0.286, 10 studies). Regarding BPD36, the evidence in favor of H0 was moderate for the RCTs (BF10 = 0.127, 2 studies) and weak for the observational studies (BF10 = 0.895, 14 studies). Evidence in favor of H0 was also weak for the associations with BPD36 or death (BF10 = 0.429, 2 studies) and BPD-PH (BF10 = 0.384, 2 studies). None of the meta-analyses showed evidence in favor of H1.
CONCLUSIONS
The currently available evidence suggests a lack of association between antenatal antibiotics and BPD. However, our results should not be interpreted as an argument for widespread use of antibiotics in the setting of preterm delivery.
Topics: Humans; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia; Bayes Theorem; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Pregnancy; Female; Infant, Newborn; Risk Factors; Observational Studies as Topic; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Infant, Premature
PubMed: 38310865
DOI: 10.1159/000536220 -
Thrombosis Research Mar 2024Up to 50 % of patients surviving a pulmonary embolism (PE) report persisting shortness of breath, reduced physical capacity and psychological distress. As the PE... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Up to 50 % of patients surviving a pulmonary embolism (PE) report persisting shortness of breath, reduced physical capacity and psychological distress. As the PE population is heterogeneous compared to other cardiovascular patient groups, outcome measures for assessing physical capacity traditionally used in cardiac populations may not be reliable for the PE population as a whole. This scoping review aims to 1) map performance-based outcome measures (PBOMs) used for assessing physical capacity in PE research, and 2) to report the psychometric properties of the identified PBOMs in a PE population.
METHODS
The review was conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute framework for scoping reviews and reported according to the PRISMA-Extension for Scoping Reviews guideline.
RESULTS
The systematic search of five databases identified 4585 studies, of which 243 studies met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 185 studies focused on a subgroup of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Ten different PBOMs were identified in the included studies. The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) were the most commonly used, followed by the (Modified) Bruce protocol and Incremental Shuttle Walk test. No studies reported psychometric properties of any of the identified PBOMs in a PE population.
CONCLUSIONS
Publication of studies measuring physical capacity within PE populations has increased significantly over the past 5-10 years. Still, not one study was identified, reporting the validity, reliability, or responsiveness for any of the identified PBOMs in a PE population. This should be a priority for future research in the field.
Topics: Humans; Reproducibility of Results; Exercise Test; Pulmonary Embolism; Psychometrics; Outcome Assessment, Health Care
PubMed: 38301376
DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2024.01.008 -
BJGP Open May 2024Depression is the second most common chronic condition affecting women of reproductive age; 23.4% of women enter pregnancy with depression and use of selective serotonin...
BACKGROUND
Depression is the second most common chronic condition affecting women of reproductive age; 23.4% of women enter pregnancy with depression and use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in pregnancy is often necessary for maternal wellbeing. However, SSRI use during pregnancy can cause congenital malformations, postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), and persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). In UK primary care, prescribing formularies are one medium by which prescribers are provided with local medicines advice.
AIM
To review all local prescribing formularies with respect to prescribing SSRIs in women of reproductive age, during pregnancy, and during breastfeeding.
DESIGN & SETTING
A systematic review of prescribing formularies in England and Wales.
METHOD
A systematic keyword search of all clinical commissioning group and Integrated Care Board websites in England and Local Health Board websites in Wales was undertaken between December 2021-22 to identify prescribing formularies. Data were extracted on prescribing guidance for SSRIs.
RESULTS
Seventy-four prescribing formularies were reviewed. Of these, 14.9% ( = 11/74) provided links to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency guidance on congenital abnormalities associated with SSRIs, 28.4% ( = 21/74) provided links to guidance on PPH risk, and 1.4% ( = 1/74) provided links to guidance on PPHN. Specific local guidance was given on SSRI prescribing for women of reproductive age, during pregnancy, and during breastfeeding in 12.2% ( = 9/74), 23.0% ( = 17/74), and 21.6% ( = 16/74) of formularies, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that prescribers may be poorly informed by local formularies about the risks of SSRI use around pregnancy. This could place babies at increased risk of unintentional SSRI exposure.
PubMed: 38272494
DOI: 10.3399/BJGPO.2023.0255 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2023Stroke is a significant global cause of mortality and long-term disability, potentially influenced by infections that heighten systemic inflammation and thrombotic...
BACKGROUND
Stroke is a significant global cause of mortality and long-term disability, potentially influenced by infections that heighten systemic inflammation and thrombotic events. The full impact of influenza vaccination on stroke remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between influenza immunization and stroke incidence.
METHODS
We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), case-control, and cohort studies published in PubMed/Medline, Cochrane-Central-Register-of-Controlled-Trials (CENTRAL), and Embase until 5 December 2022, and identified articles investigating the effect of influenza vaccine on stroke occurrence. All articles were screened by two independent reviewers. We performed a meta-analysis to investigate the risk of stroke occurrence in vaccinated vs. unvaccinated individuals. The random-effects model was used in all statistical analyses.
RESULTS
Among the 26 articles meeting our criteria, 10 were retrospective cohort studies, 9 were case-control studies, 3 were prospective cohort studies, 3 were RCTs and 1 case-series. Overall, the studies showed a significant decrease in the risk of stroke incidence/hospitalization among vaccinated patients (OR = 0.81, 95% CI [0.77-0.86], = 0.00001). Furthermore, studies showed flu vaccine decreases the occurrence of mortality among stroke patients (OR = 0.50, 95% CI [0.37-0.68], = 0.00001). Sub-group analysis revealed significant protective effect for patients with specific comorbidities including atrial fibrillation (OR = 0.68, 95% CI [0.57-0.81], = 0.0001), diabetes (OR = 0.76, 95% CI [0.66-0.87], = 0.0001), Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR = 0.70, 95% CI [0.61-0.81], = 0.00001), and hypertension (OR = 0.76, 95% CI [0.70-83], = 0.00001).
CONCLUSION
The current meta-analysis further supports prior findings that influenza vaccination reduces stroke risk, particularly in patients with comorbidities. Guidelines should promote vaccination for at-risk individuals.
PubMed: 38269000
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1324677