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International Journal of Clinical... Apr 2023Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a predominant cause of mortality. Pharmacists play an important role in secondary prevention of CVD, however, their role in cardiac... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a predominant cause of mortality. Pharmacists play an important role in secondary prevention of CVD, however, their role in cardiac rehabilitation is under-reported and services are under-utilised.
AIM
To explore the role of pharmacists in cardiac rehabilitation, the impact of their interventions on patient outcomes, and prospects of future role development.
METHOD
Databases searched were PubMed, Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and PsycINFO from January 2006 to October 2021. Randomised and non-randomised controlled trials were selected if they assessed the role of pharmacists in cardiac rehabilitation. Cochrane risk of bias tool, Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tool for Quasi-Experimental Studies and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NIH) quality assessment tool, were used to assess quality and a narrative synthesis was conducted.
RESULTS
The search yielded 786 studies, only five met the inclusion criteria. The pharmacist-led interventions included patient education, medication review and reconciliation, and medication adherence encouragement. Four out of the five studies showed that pharmacist-led interventions in cardiac rehabilitation significantly improved patient clinical and non-clinical outcomes. One study showed a statistically significant reduction in low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels to optimal target of < 70 mg/dL (80% vs 60%, p = 0.0084). Two studies reported better medication adherence, and two studies showed greater improvement in all domains of health-related quality of life observed in the intervention group.
CONCLUSION
Pharmacist-led interventions in cardiac rehabilitation could lower CVD risk factors and hence recurrence. Although these findings support pharmacists' involvement in cardiac rehabilitation, larger intervention studies are needed to evaluate the feasibility of pharmacist-led interventions and their impact on hospital admissions and mortality risk.
Topics: Humans; Cardiac Rehabilitation; Pharmacists; Quality of Life; Cardiovascular Diseases; Medication Adherence
PubMed: 36401764
DOI: 10.1007/s11096-022-01517-1 -
The Lancet. Respiratory Medicine Dec 2022The association of respiratory mechanics, particularly respiratory system static compliance (C), with severity of hypoxaemia in patients with COVID-19-related acute... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Respiratory system mechanics, gas exchange, and outcomes in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
The association of respiratory mechanics, particularly respiratory system static compliance (C), with severity of hypoxaemia in patients with COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been widely debated, with some studies reporting distinct ARDS phenotypes based on C. Ascertaining whether such phenotypes exist is important, because they might indicate the need for ventilation strategies that differ from those used in patients with ARDS due to other causes. In a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published between Dec 1, 2019, and March 14, 2022, we evaluated respiratory system mechanics, ventilator parameters, gas exchange parameters, and clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19-related ARDS. Among 11 356 patients in 37 studies, mean reported C, measured close to the time of endotracheal intubation, was 35·8 mL/cm HO (95% CI 33·9-37·8; I=96·9%, τ=32·6). Pooled mean C was normally distributed. Increasing ARDS severity (assessed by PaO/FiO ratio as mild, moderate, or severe) was associated with decreasing C. We found no evidence for distinct C-based clinical phenotypes in patients with COVID-19-related ARDS, and we therefore conclude that no change in conventional lung-protective ventilation strategies is warranted. Future studies should explore the personalisation of mechanical ventilation strategies according to factors including respiratory system mechanics and haemodynamic status in patients with ARDS.
Topics: Humans; Respiration, Artificial; COVID-19; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Respiratory Mechanics; Lung
PubMed: 36335956
DOI: 10.1016/S2213-2600(22)00393-9 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2022New ventilation modes have been proposed to support the perioperative treatment of patients with obesity, but there is a lack of consensus regarding the optimal... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
New ventilation modes have been proposed to support the perioperative treatment of patients with obesity, but there is a lack of consensus regarding the optimal strategy. Therefore, a network meta-analysis update of 13 ventilation strategies was conducted to determine the optimal mode of mechanical ventilation as a protective ventilation strategy decreases pulmonary atelectasis caused by inflammation.
METHODS
The following databases were searched: MEDLINE; Cochrane Library; Embase; CINAHL; Google Scholar; and Web of Science for randomized controlled trials of mechanical ventilation in patients with obesity published up to May 1, 2022.
RESULTS
Volume-controlled ventilation with individualized positive end-expiratory pressure and a recruitment maneuver (VCV+PEEPind+RM) was found to be the most effective strategy for improving ratio of the arterial O partial pressure to the inspiratory O concentration (PaO/FiO), and superior to pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV), volume-controlled ventilation (VCV), volume-controlled ventilation with recruitment maneuver (VCV+RM), volume-controlled ventilation with low positive end-expiratory pressure (VCV+lowPEEP), volume-controlled ventilation with lower positive expiratory end pressure (PEEP) and recruitment maneuver (VCV+lowPEEP+RM), and the mean difference [MD], the 95% confidence intervals [CIs] and [quality of evidence] were: 162.19 [32.94, 291.45] [very low]; 180.74 [59.22, 302.27] [low]; 171.07 [40.60, 301.54] [very low]; 135.14 [36.10, 234.18] [low]; and 139.21 [27.08, 251.34] [very low]. Surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) value showed VCV+PEEPind+RM was the best strategy for improving PaO/FiO (SUCRA: 0.963). VCV with high positive PEEP and recruitment maneuver (VCV+highPEEP+RM) was more effective in decreasing postoperative pulmonary atelectasis than the VCV+lowPEEP+RM strategy. It was found that volume-controlled ventilation with high positive expiratory end pressure (VCV+highPEEP), risk ratio [RR] [95% CIs] and [quality of evidence], 0.56 [0.38, 0.81] [moderate], 0.56 [0.34, 0.92] [moderate]. SUCRA value ranked VCV+highPEEP+RM the best strategy for improving postoperative pulmonary atelectasis intervention (SUCRA: 0.933). It should be noted that the quality of evidence was in all cases very low or only moderate.
CONCLUSIONS
This research suggests that VCV+PEEPind+RM is the optimal ventilation strategy for patients with obesity and is more effective in increasing PaO/FiO, improving lung compliance, and among the five ventilation strategies for postoperative atelectasis, VCV+highPEEP+RM had the greatest potential to reduce atelectasis caused by inflammation.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42021288941.
Topics: Humans; Network Meta-Analysis; Lung; Pulmonary Atelectasis; Obesity; Inflammation
PubMed: 36330511
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1032783 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Oct 2022Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Adjunct hemoadsorption is increasingly utilized to target underlying... (Review)
Review
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Adjunct hemoadsorption is increasingly utilized to target underlying hyperinflammation derived from ARDS. This article aims to review available data on the use of CytoSorb© therapy in combination with V-V ECMO in severe ARDS, and to assess the effects on inflammatory, laboratory and clinical parameters, as well as on patient outcomes. A systematic literature review was conducted and reported in compliance with principles derived from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. When applicable, a before-and-after analysis for relevant biomarkers and clinical parameters was carried out. CytoSorb© use was associated with significant reductions in circulating levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 ( = 0.039 and = 0.049, respectively). Increases in PaO2/FiO2 reached significance as well ( = 0.028), while norepinephrine dosage reductions showed a non-significant trend ( = 0.067). Mortality rates in CytoSorb© patients tended to be lower than those of control groups of most included studies, which, however, were characterized by high heterogeneity and low power. In an exploratory analysis on 90-day mortality in COVID-19 patients supported with V-V ECMO, the therapy was associated with a significantly reduced risk of death. Based on the reviewed data, CytoSorb© therapy is able to reduce inflammation and potentially improves survival in ARDS patients treated with V-V ECMO. Early initiation of CytoSorb© in conjunction with ECMO might offer a new approach to enhance lung rest and promote recovery in patients with severe ARDS.
PubMed: 36294309
DOI: 10.3390/jcm11205990 -
Annals of Hepato-biliary-pancreatic... Feb 2023A systematic review was conducted in compliance with PRISMA statement standards to identify all studies reporting outcomes of laparoscopic resection of benign or... (Review)
Review
A systematic review was conducted in compliance with PRISMA statement standards to identify all studies reporting outcomes of laparoscopic resection of benign or malignant lesions located in caudate lobe of liver. Pooled outcome data were calculated using random-effects models. A total of 196 patients from 12 studies were included. Mean operative time, volume of intraoperative blood loss, and length of hospital stay were 225 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI], 181-269 minutes), 134 mL (95% CI, 85-184 mL), and 7 days (95% CI, 5-9 days), respectively. The pooled risk of need for intraoperative transfusion was 2% (95% CI, 0%-5%). It was 3% (95% CI, 1%-6%) for conversion to open surgery, 6% (95% CI, 0%-19%) for need for intra-abdominal drain, 1% (95% CI, 0%-3%) for postoperative mortality, 2% (95% CI, 0%-4%) for biliary leakage, 2% (95% CI, 0%-4%) for intra-abdominal abscess, 1% (95% CI, 0%-4%) for biliary stenosis, 1% (95% CI, 0%-3%) for postoperative bleeding, 1% (95% CI, 0%-4%) for pancreatic fistula, 2% (95% CI, 1%-5%) for pulmonary complications, 1% (95% CI, 0%-4%) for paralytic ileus, and 1% (95% CI, 0%-4%) for need for reoperation. Although the available evidence is limited, the findings of the current study might be utilized for hypothesis synthesis in future studies. They can be used to inform surgeons and patients about estimated risks of perioperative complications until a higher level of evidence is available.
PubMed: 36245071
DOI: 10.14701/ahbps.22-045 -
Medicina Intensiva Jul 2023To determine which method of Positive End-expiratory Pressure (PEEP) titration is more useful, and to establish an evidence base for the clinical impact of Electrical... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
To determine which method of Positive End-expiratory Pressure (PEEP) titration is more useful, and to establish an evidence base for the clinical impact of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) based individual PEEP setting which appears to be a promising method to optimize PEEP in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) patients.
DESIGN
A systematic review and meta-analysis.
SETTING
4 databases (PUBMED, EMBASE, Web Of Science, and the Cochrane Library) from 1980 to December 2020 were performed.
PARTICIPANTS
Randomized clinical trials patients with ARDS.
MAIN VARIABLES
PaO/FiO-ratio and respiratory system compliance.
INTERVENSION
The quality of the studies was assessed with the Cochrane risk and bias tool.
RESULTS
8 trials, including a total of 222 participants, were eligible for analysis. Meta-analysis demonstrates a significantly EIT-based individual PEEP setting for patients receiving higher PaO/FiO ratio as compared to other PEEP titration strategies [5 trials, 202 patients, SMD 0.636, (95% CI 0.364-0.908)]. EIT-drived PEEP titration strategy did not significantly increase respiratory system compliance when compared to other peep titration strategies, [7 trials, 202 patients, SMD -0.085, (95% CI -0.342 to 0.172)].
CONCLUSIONS
The benefits of PEEP titration with EIT on clinical outcomes of ARDS in placebo-controlled trials probably result from the visible regional ventilation of EIT. These findings offer clinicians and stakeholders a comprehensive assessment and high-quality evidence for the safety and efficacy of the EIT-based individual PEEP setting as a superior option for patients who undergo ARDS.
Topics: Humans; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Lung; Positive-Pressure Respiration; Respiratory Physiological Phenomena
PubMed: 36243630
DOI: 10.1016/j.medine.2022.06.020 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Oct 2022Background: Lung-protective ventilation strategies are recommended for patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. However, there are currently no guidelines to follow... (Review)
Review
Background: Lung-protective ventilation strategies are recommended for patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. However, there are currently no guidelines to follow regarding recruitment maneuvers (RMs). We attempted to identify the effects of RMs on patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery. Methods: We searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in PubMed, the Cochrane Library databases, Embase, Web of Science and the ClinicalTrials.gov registry for trials published up to December 2021. The primary outcome was postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). The secondary outcomes consisted of the static lung compliance, driving pressure (DP), intraoperative oxygenation index (OI), OI in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR). Seventeen RCTs with a total of 3480 patients were examined. Results: Patients who received RMs showed a considerable reduction in PPCs (risk ratio (RR) = 0.70; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.62 to 0.79; p < 0.01), lower DP (weighted mean difference (WMD) = −3.96; 95% CI: −5.97 to −1.95; p < 0.01), elevated static lung compliance (WMD = 10.42; 95% CI: 6.13 to 14.71; p < 0.01) and improved OI (intraoperative: WMD = 53.54; 95% CI: 21.77 to 85.31; p < 0.01; PACU: WMD = 59.40; 95% CI: 39.10 to 79.69; p < 0.01) without substantial changes in MAP (WMD = −0.16; 95% CI −1.35 to 1.03; p > 0.05) and HR (WMD = −1.10; 95% CI: −2.29 to 0.10; p > 0.05). Conclusions: Recruitment maneuvers reduce postoperative pulmonary complications and improve respiratory mechanics and oxygenation in patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery. More data are needed to elucidate the effect of recruitment maneuver on the circulatory system.
PubMed: 36233708
DOI: 10.3390/jcm11195841 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Sep 2022Non-adherence to immunosuppressant therapy is a significant concern following a solid organ transplant, given its association with graft failure. Adherence to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Non-adherence to immunosuppressant therapy is a significant concern following a solid organ transplant, given its association with graft failure. Adherence to immunosuppressant therapy is a modifiable patient behaviour, and different approaches to increasing adherence have emerged, including multi-component interventions. There has been limited exploration of the effectiveness of interventions to increase adherence to immunosuppressant therapy.
OBJECTIVES
This review aimed to look at the benefits and harms of using interventions for increasing adherence to immunosuppressant therapies in solid organ transplant recipients, including adults and children with a heart, lung, kidney, liver and pancreas transplant.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Kidney and Transplant Register of Studies up to 14 October 2021 through contact with the Information Specialist using search terms relevant to this review. Studies in the Register were identified through searches of CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE, conference proceedings, the International Clinical Trials Register (ICTRP) Search Portal and ClinicalTrials.gov.
SELECTION CRITERIA
All randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-RCTs, and cluster RCTs examining interventions to increase immunosuppressant adherence following a solid organ transplant (heart, lung, kidney, liver, pancreas) were included. There were no restrictions on language or publication type.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two authors independently screened titles and abstracts of identified records, evaluated study quality and assessed the quality of the evidence using the GRADE approach. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane tool. The ABC taxonomy for measuring medication adherence provided the analysis framework, and the primary outcomes were immunosuppressant medication initiation, implementation (taking adherence, dosing adherence, timing adherence, drug holidays) and persistence. Secondary outcomes were surrogate markers of adherence, including self-reported adherence, trough concentration levels of immunosuppressant medication, acute graft rejection, graft loss, death, hospital readmission and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Meta-analysis was conducted where possible, and narrative synthesis was carried out for the remainder of the results.
MAIN RESULTS
Forty studies involving 3896 randomised participants (3718 adults and 178 adolescents) were included. Studies were heterogeneous in terms of the type of intervention and outcomes assessed. The majority of studies (80%) were conducted in kidney transplant recipients. Two studies examined paediatric solid organ transplant recipients. The risk of bias was generally high or unclear, leading to lower certainty in the results. Initiation of immunosuppression was not measured by the included studies. There is uncertain evidence of an association between immunosuppressant medication adherence interventions and the proportion of participants classified as adherent to taking immunosuppressant medication (4 studies, 445 participants: RR 1.09, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.20; I² = 78%). There was very marked heterogeneity in treatment effects between the four studies evaluating taking adherence, which may have been due to the different types of interventions used. There was evidence of increasing dosing adherence in the intervention group (8 studies, 713 participants: RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.26, I² = 61%). There was very marked heterogeneity in treatment effects between the eight studies evaluating dosing adherence, which may have been due to the different types of interventions used. It was uncertain if an intervention to increase immunosuppressant adherence had an effect on timing adherence or drug holidays. There was limited evidence that an intervention to increase immunosuppressant adherence had an effect on persistence. There was limited evidence that an intervention to increase immunosuppressant adherence had an effect on secondary outcomes. For self-reported adherence, it is uncertain whether an intervention to increase adherence to immunosuppressant medication increases the proportion of participants classified as medically adherent to immunosuppressant therapy (9 studies, 755 participants: RR 1.21, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.49; I² = 74%; very low certainty evidence). Similarly, it is uncertain whether an intervention to increase adherence to immunosuppressant medication increases the mean adherence score on self-reported adherence measures (5 studies, 471 participants: SMD 0.65, 95% CI -0.31 to 1.60; I² = 96%; very low certainty evidence). For immunosuppressant trough concentration levels, it is uncertain whether an intervention to increase adherence to immunosuppressant medication increases the proportion of participants who reach target immunosuppressant trough concentration levels (4 studies, 348 participants: RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.40; I² = 40%; very low certainty evidence). It is uncertain whether an intervention to increase adherence to immunosuppressant medication may reduce hospitalisations (5 studies, 460 participants: RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.44 to 1.02; I² = 64%; low certainty evidence). There were limited, low certainty effects on patient-reported health outcomes such as HRQoL. There was no clear evidence to determine the effect of interventions on secondary outcomes, including acute graft rejection, graft loss and death. No harms from intervention participation were reported.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Interventions to increase taking and dosing adherence to immunosuppressant therapy may be effective; however, our findings suggest that current evidence in support of interventions to increase adherence to immunosuppressant therapy is overall of low methodological quality, attributable to small sample sizes, and heterogeneity identified for the types of interventions. Twenty-four studies are currently ongoing or awaiting assessment (3248 proposed participants); therefore, it is possible that findings may change with the inclusion of these large ongoing studies in future updates.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Graft Rejection; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Medication Adherence; Organ Transplantation; Transplant Recipients
PubMed: 36094829
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD012854.pub2 -
Respiratory Medicine Sep 2022Apps can play a role in self-management of symptoms such as breathlessness. This systematic review aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of breathlessness apps and... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Apps can play a role in self-management of symptoms such as breathlessness. This systematic review aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of breathlessness apps and assess the quality of those publicly available.
METHODS
The full protocol for this systematic review is available on PROSPERO (CRD42021246277). Studies published between January 2010 to 2022 were obtained from six academic databases and included if they evaluated apps that offered breathlessness education and personalised feedback. Outcomes of interest included change in breathlessness and quality of life. Additionally, quality assessment was conducted on apps addressing breathlessness publicly available from Google Play, iOS app store, and regulatory agency libraries.
RESULTS
A total of 2774 records were screened and 16 studies included in the systematic review. Disease groups addressed were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, fibrotic lung disease, lung cancer, and heart failure. Use of mobile apps was found to result in clinical benefit especially when utilised for longer periods of time. For publicly available apps, a total of 776 apps were screened and 6 apps included. The mean quality rating using the Mobile App Rating Scale was 3.43 out of 5. Most apps were found to have good functionality and aesthetics; however, they were lacking in their quality of information and engagement.
CONCLUSION
This review suggests that apps may provide clinical benefit to patients with breathlessness and can support clinical practice. However, few of those researched are available for public use and those accessible publicly were lacking in quality and compliance with m-Health best practices.
Topics: Dyspnea; Humans; Mobile Applications; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Quality of Life; Self-Management
PubMed: 36037561
DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2022.106947 -
British Journal of Anaesthesia Nov 2022Individualised positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) may optimise pulmonary compliance, thereby potentially mitigating lung injury. This meta-analysis aimed to... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Individualised positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) may optimise pulmonary compliance, thereby potentially mitigating lung injury. This meta-analysis aimed to determine the impact of individualised PEEP vs fixed PEEP during abdominal surgery on postoperative pulmonary outcomes.
METHODS
Medical databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure) were searched for RCTs comparing fixed vs individualised PEEP. The composite primary outcome of pulmonary complications comprised hypoxaemia, atelectasis, pneumonia, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Secondary outcomes included oxygenation (PO/FiO) and systemic inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 [IL-6] and club cell protein-16 [CC16]). We calculated risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence interval (CI) using DerSimonian and Laird random effects models. Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was applied.
RESULTS
Ten RCTs (n=1117 patients) met the criteria for inclusion, with six reporting the primary endpoint. Individualised PEEP reduced the incidence of overall pulmonary complications (141/412 [34.2%]) compared with 183/415 (44.1%) receiving fixed PEEP (RR 0.69 [95% CI: 0.51-0.93]; P=0.016; I=43%). Risk-of-bias analysis did not alter these findings. Individualised PEEP reduced postoperative hypoxaemia (74/392 [18.9%]) compared with 110/395 (27.8%) participants receiving fixed PEEP (RR 0.68 [0.52-0.88]; P=0.003; I=0%) but not postoperative atelectasis (RR 0.93 [0.81-1.07]; P=0.297; I=0%). Individualised PEEP resulted in higher PO/FiO (MD 20.8 mm Hg [4.6-36.9]; P=0.012; I=80%) and reduced systemic inflammation (lower plasma IL-6 [MD -6.8 pg ml; -11.9 to -1.7]; P=0.009; I=6%; and CC16 levels [MD -6.2 ng ml; -8.8 to -3.5]; P<0.001; I=0%) at the end of surgery.
CONCLUSIONS
Individualised PEEP may reduce pulmonary complications, improve oxygenation, and reduce systemic inflammation after abdominal surgery.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
CRD42021277973.
Topics: Humans; Interleukin-6; Positive-Pressure Respiration; Pulmonary Atelectasis; Hypoxia; Inflammation
PubMed: 36031417
DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2022.07.009