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European Journal of Cardio-thoracic... Oct 2023Literature is scarce on the management of patients using direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) undergoing elective, urgent and emergency surgery. Therefore, we summarize... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Literature is scarce on the management of patients using direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) undergoing elective, urgent and emergency surgery. Therefore, we summarize the current evidence and provide literature-based recommendations for the management of patients on DOACs in the perioperative phase.
METHODS
A general literature review was conducted on the pharmacology of DOACs and for recommendations on the management of cardiac surgical patients on DOACs. Additionally, we performed a systematic review for studies on the use of direct DOAC reversal agents in the emergency cardiac surgical setting.
RESULTS
When surgery is elective, the DOAC cessation strategy is relatively straightforward and should be adapted to the renal function. The same approach applies to urgent cases, but additional DOAC activity drug level monitoring tests may be useful. In emergency cases, idarucizumab can be safely administered to patients on dabigatran in any of the perioperative phases. However, andexanet alfa, which is not registered for perioperative use, should not be administered in the preoperative phase to reverse the effect of factor Xa inhibitors, as it may induce temporary heparin resistance. Finally, the administration of (activated) prothrombin complex concentrate may be considered in all patients on DOACs, and such concentrates are generally readily available.
CONCLUSIONS
DOACs offer several advantages over vitamin K antagonists, but care must be taken in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Although elective and urgent cases can be managed relatively straightforwardly, the management of emergency cases requires particular attention.
Topics: Humans; Administration, Oral; Anticoagulants; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Dabigatran; Hemorrhage; Heparin
PubMed: 37812245
DOI: 10.1093/ejcts/ezad340 -
Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2012) Oct 2023Portal hypertension, a major complication of chronic liver disease, often leads to life-threatening variceal bleeding, managed effectively with vasoactive drugs like... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Portal hypertension, a major complication of chronic liver disease, often leads to life-threatening variceal bleeding, managed effectively with vasoactive drugs like terlipressin. However, the most optimal method of terlipressin administration, continuous versus intermittent infusion, remains a subject of debate, necessitating this systematic review and meta-analysis for evidence-based decision-making in managing this critical condition.
METHODS
This systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to the PRISMA standards and explored multiple databases until 6 April 2023, such as MEDLINE through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL. Independent reviewers selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that met specific inclusion criteria. After assessing study quality and extracting necessary data, statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager (RevMan), with results presented as risk ratios (RR) or mean differences.
RESULTS
Five RCTs (=395 patients) were included. The continuous terlipressin group had a significantly lower risk of rebleeding (RR=0.43, =0.0004) and treatment failure (RR=0.22, =0.02) and fewer total adverse effects (RR=0.52, <0.00001) compared to the intermittent group. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in mean arterial pressure (=0.26), length of hospital stays (=0.78), and mortality rates (=0.65).
CONCLUSION
This study provides robust evidence suggesting that continuous terlipressin infusion may be superior to intermittent infusions in reducing the risk of rebleeding, treatment failure, and adverse effects in patients with portal hypertension. However, further large-scale, high-quality RCTs are required to confirm these findings and to investigate the potential benefits of continuous terlipressin infusion on mortality and hospital stays.
PubMed: 37811089
DOI: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000001261 -
BMC Medical Informatics and Decision... Oct 2023Depression and anxiety can cause social, behavioral, occupational, and functional impairments if not controlled and managed. Mobile-based self-care applications can play...
BACKGROUND AND AIM
Depression and anxiety can cause social, behavioral, occupational, and functional impairments if not controlled and managed. Mobile-based self-care applications can play an essential and effective role in controlling and reducing the effects of anxiety disorders and depression. The aim of this study was to design and develop a mobile-based self-care application for patients with depression and anxiety disorders with the goal of enhancing their mental health and overall well-being.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this study we designed a mobile-based application for self -management of depression and anxiety disorders. In order to design this application, first the education- informational needs and capabilities were identified through a systematic review. Then, according to 20 patients with depression and anxiety, this education-informational needs and application capabilities were approved. In the next step, the application was designed.
RESULTS
In the first step, 80 education-information needs and capabilities were identified. Finally, in the second step, of 80 education- informational needs and capabilities, 68 needs and capabilities with a mean greater than and equal to 3.75 (75%) were considered in application design. Disease control and management, drug management, nutrition and diet management, recording clinical records, communicating with physicians and other patients, reminding appointments, how to improve lifestyle, quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption, educational content, sedation instructions, introducing health care centers for depression and anxiety treatment and recording activities, personal goals and habits in a diary were the most important features of this application.
CONCLUSION
The designed application can encourage patients with depression and stress to perform self-care processes and access necessary information without searching the Internet.
Topics: Humans; Depression; Self Care; Anxiety Disorders; Anxiety; Mental Health; Mobile Applications
PubMed: 37784042
DOI: 10.1186/s12911-023-02308-y -
BMC Health Services Research Sep 2023e-Health has played a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic in primary health care. e-Health is the cost-effective and secure use of Information and Communication...
BACKGROUND
e-Health has played a crucial role during the COVID-19 pandemic in primary health care. e-Health is the cost-effective and secure use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to support health and health-related fields. Various stakeholders worldwide use ICTs, including individuals, non-profit organizations, health practitioners, and governments. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, ICT has improved the quality of healthcare, the exchange of information, training of healthcare professionals and patients, and facilitated the relationship between patients and healthcare providers. This study systematically reviews the literature on ICT-based automatic and remote monitoring methods, as well as different ICT techniques used in the care of COVID-19-infected patients.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this systematic literature review is to identify the e-Health methods, associated ICTs, method implementation strategies, information collection techniques, advantages, and disadvantages of remote and automatic patient monitoring and care in COVID-19 pandemic.
METHODS
The search included primary studies that were published between January 2020 and June 2022 in scientific and electronic databases, such as EBSCOhost, Scopus, ACM, Nature, SpringerLink, IEEE Xplore, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, JMIR, Web of Science, Science Direct, and PubMed. In this review, the findings from the included publications are presented and elaborated according to the identified research questions. Evidence-based systematic reviews and meta-analyses were conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. Additionally, we improved the review process using the Rayyan tool and the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA). Among the eligibility criteria were methodological rigor, conceptual clarity, and useful implementation of ICTs in e-Health for remote and automatic monitoring of COVID-19 patients.
RESULTS
Our initial search identified 664 potential studies; 102 were assessed for eligibility in the pre-final stage and 65 articles were used in the final review with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The review identified the following eHealth methods-Telemedicine, Mobile Health (mHealth), and Telehealth. The associated ICTs are Wearable Body Sensors, Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms, Internet-of-Things, or Internet-of-Medical-Things (IoT or IoMT), Biometric Monitoring Technologies (BioMeTs), and Bluetooth-enabled (BLE) home health monitoring devices. Spatial or positional data, personal and individual health, and wellness data, including vital signs, symptoms, biomedical images and signals, and lifestyle data are examples of information that is managed by ICTs. Different AI and IoT methods have opened new possibilities for automatic and remote patient monitoring with associated advantages and weaknesses. Our findings were represented in a structured manner using a semantic knowledge graph (e.g., ontology model).
CONCLUSIONS
Various e-Health methods, related remote monitoring technologies, different approaches, information categories, the adoption of ICT tools for an automatic remote patient monitoring (RPM), advantages and limitations of RMTs in the COVID-19 case are discussed in this review. The use of e-Health during the COVID-19 pandemic illustrates the constraints and possibilities of using ICTs. ICTs are not merely an external tool to achieve definite remote and automatic health monitoring goals; instead, they are embedded in contexts. Therefore, the importance of the mutual design process between ICT and society during the global health crisis has been observed from a social informatics perspective. A global health crisis can be observed as an information crisis (e.g., insufficient information, unreliable information, and inaccessible information); however, this review shows the influence of ICTs on COVID-19 patients' health monitoring and related information collection techniques.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Pandemics; Artificial Intelligence; Delivery of Health Care; Monitoring, Physiologic
PubMed: 37777722
DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-10047-z -
Systematic Reviews Sep 2023Delirium commonly occurs in hospitalized adults. Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can co-occur with delirium,...
BACKGROUND
Delirium commonly occurs in hospitalized adults. Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can co-occur with delirium, and can be recognized and managed by clinicians using recommendations found in methodological guiding statements called Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs). The specific aims of this review were to: [1] synthesize CPG recommendations for the diagnosis and management of anxiety, depression, and PTSD in adults with delirium in acute care; and [2] identify recent published literature in addition to those identified and reported in a 2017 review on delirium CPG recommendations and quality.
METHODS
MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and 21 sites on the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies listed in the Health Grey Matters Lite tool were searched from inception to February 12, 2021. Selected CPGs focused on delirium in acute care, were endorsed by an international scientific society or governmental organization, and contained at least one recommendation for the diagnosis or management of delirium. Two reviewers independently extracted data in duplicate and independently assessed CPG quality using the AGREE-II tool. Narrative synthesis of CPG recommendations was conducted.
RESULTS
Title and abstract screening was completed on 7611 records. Full-text review was performed on 197 CPGs. The final review included 27 CPGs of which 7 (26%) provided recommendations for anxiety (4/7, 57%), depression (5/7, 71%), and PTSD (1/7, 14%) in delirium. Twenty CPGs provided recommendations for delirium only (e.g., assess patient regularly, avoid use of benzodiazepines). Recommendations for the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders with delirium included using evidence-based diagnostic criteria and standardized screening tools. Recommendations for the management of psychiatric disorders with delirium included pharmacological (e.g., anxiolytics, antidepressants) and non-pharmacological interventions (e.g., promoting patient orientation using clocks). Guideline quality varied: the lowest was Applicability (mean = 36%); the highest Clarity of Presentation (mean = 76%).
CONCLUSIONS
There are few available evidence-based CPGs to facilitate appropriate diagnosis and management of anxiety, depression, and PTSD in patients with delirium in acute care. Future guideline developers should incorporate evidence-based recommendations on the diagnosis and management of these psychiatric disorders in delirium.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
Registration number: PROSPERO (CRD42021237056).
Topics: Humans; Adult; Depression; Canada; Anxiety Disorders; Anxiety; Delirium
PubMed: 37749654
DOI: 10.1186/s13643-023-02339-6 -
Journal of Physiotherapy Oct 2023What is the diagnostic and surgical triage concordance between advanced practice physiotherapists (APPTs) and physicians? What is the clinical efficacy of advanced...
QUESTIONS
What is the diagnostic and surgical triage concordance between advanced practice physiotherapists (APPTs) and physicians? What is the clinical efficacy of advanced practice physiotherapy care compared with usual medical care?
DESIGN
Systematic review with meta-analyses.
LITERATURE SEARCH
Medline, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL and CINAHL were searched up to March 2022.
STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA
Concordance studies on diagnostic or surgical triage between APPTs and physicians and randomised controlled trials comparing the clinical efficacy of an advanced practice physiotherapy (APP) model of care compared with usual medical care for participants with musculoskeletal disorders.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Meta-analyses were performed for concordance and clinical outcomes. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) was used to evaluate the certainty of evidence.
RESULTS
Nineteen concordance studies (n = 1,745) and six randomised trials (n = 1,960) were included. Based on moderate-certainty evidence, the pooled Kappa for diagnostic concordance between APPTs and physicians was 0.76 (95% CI 0.68 to 0.85, n = 1,108). Based on high-certainty evidence, the pooled Kappa for surgical triage concordance was 0.71 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.78, n = 1,128). Based on moderate-certainty evidence, APP care resulted in a comparable or greater reduction in pain (MD -0.92 out of 10, 95% CI -1.75 to -0.10, n = 494) when compared with usual medical care at medium-term follow-up. Based on low-certainty evidence, APP care resulted in a comparable or greater reduction in disability (SMD -0.31, 95% CI -0.67 to 0.04, n = 535) when compared with usual medical care at medium-term follow-up.
CONCLUSION
Concordance between APPTs and physicians is probably good to very good for diagnosis and good to very good for surgical triage of musculoskeletal disorders. Patients with musculoskeletal disorders managed in an APP model of care probably report comparable or greater pain and disability reductions when compared with usual medical care.
REGISTRATION
CRD42022320950.
PubMed: 37714771
DOI: 10.1016/j.jphys.2023.08.005 -
Pain Reports Sep 2023Chronic wounds adversely affect quality of life. Pain is associated with chronic wounds, and its impact can vary according to wound aetiology, condition, and patient... (Review)
Review
Chronic wounds adversely affect quality of life. Pain is associated with chronic wounds, and its impact can vary according to wound aetiology, condition, and patient factors. This systematic review examined the effectiveness of topical interventions in the management chronic wound-related pain guided by PRISMA recommendations of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) where pain reduction is the primary outcome. Inclusion criteria were adults (older than 18 years) with chronic venous, arterial, diabetic, or pressure ulcers where pain has been managed through topical administration of pharmacological/nonpharmacological agents. Searches were conducted in Ovid Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, EBSCOhost, CINAHL, CENTRAL, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Studies were screened for eligibility; risk of bias and data were extracted by 2 independent assessors. Searches retrieved 10,327 titles and abstracts (7760 after deduplication). Nine full texts (1323 participants) examining ibuprofen (n = 4), morphine (n = 2), BWD + PHMB [polihexanide-containing biocellulose wound dressing] (n = 1), and EMLA (n = 2) were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. Meta-analysis was not possible, but initial exploration suggests improved outcomes (reduced pain) for ibuprofen when compared with controls. Two studies involving morphine showed conflicting findings. Included studies often had small samples, and considering confounding factors (eg, comorbidities), the results should be interpreted with caution. Review of included studies suggests that topical interventions may provide pain relief in individuals with chronic wounds. Further adequately powered RCTs are recommended to assess the efficacy of topical interventions for the management of chronic wound-related pain.
PubMed: 37711431
DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000001073 -
Cureus Jul 2023Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a preventable complication of diabetes; however, it is a serious one if not early recognized and properly managed as it can lead to visual... (Review)
Review
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a preventable complication of diabetes; however, it is a serious one if not early recognized and properly managed as it can lead to visual impairment. This review aimed to summarize the prevalence and determinants of DR among type 2 diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia. Eligible articles for this systematic review were quantitative observational studies that were English-published between 2015 and 2021, peer-reviewed, and conducted on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The studies were obtained by searching PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library Database, and Google Scholar. The risk of bias was assessed using the National Institutes of Health quality assessment tool for observational cohort and cross-sectional studies. Out of 16 preliminary studies, 12 were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review. One study was a chart review, one was a prospective study, and the remaining were cross-sectional studies. Regarding the study tool, retinopathy was diagnosed by an ophthalmologist using fundus photography and/or slit-lamp examination in most of the studies (n=7). However, some studies reported obtaining data from patient interviews and medical files (n=4). Concerning the outcome, an overall high prevalence of DR (ranging between 6.25% and 88.1%) and some significant associated risk factors were determined, including longer duration of diabetes, older age, poor blood pressure control, poor glycemic control, and physical inactivity. Most studies showed moderate overall quality. In conclusion, DR is a common complication of type 2 diabetes in Saudi Arabia. Some avoidable risk factors are identified, through which the doctors can identify patients at high risk of DR through early screening and can, thus, initiate prompt treatment to reduce the risk of vision deterioration.
PubMed: 37663987
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42771 -
Viruses Aug 2023Antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) have revolutionized the management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, significantly improved patient outcomes, and reduced... (Review)
Review
Antiretroviral therapies (ARTs) have revolutionized the management of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, significantly improved patient outcomes, and reduced the mortality rate and incidence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, despite the remarkable efficacy of ART, virologic failure remains a challenge in the long-term management of HIV-infected individuals. Virologic failure refers to the persistent detectable viral load in patients receiving ART, indicating an incomplete suppression of HIV replication. It can occur due to various factors, including poor medication adherence, drug resistance, suboptimal drug concentrations, drug interactions, and viral factors such as the emergence of drug-resistant strains. In recent years, extensive efforts have been made to understand and address virologic failure in order to optimize treatment outcomes. Strategies to prevent and manage virologic failure include improving treatment adherence through patient education, counselling, and supportive interventions. In addition, the regular monitoring of viral load and resistance testing enables the early detection of treatment failure and facilitates timely adjustments in ART regimens. Thus, the development of novel antiretroviral agents with improved potency, tolerability, and resistance profiles offers new options for patients experiencing virologic failure. However, new treatment options would also face virologic failure if not managed appropriately. A solution to virologic failure requires a comprehensive approach that combines individualized patient care, robust monitoring, and access to a range of antiretroviral drugs.
Topics: Humans; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; HIV Infections; Anti-Retroviral Agents; Medication Adherence; Treatment Failure
PubMed: 37632074
DOI: 10.3390/v15081732 -
Global Heart 2023Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) reduces mortality and morbidity in coronary heart disease (CHD); however, patients show a lack of adherence to CR. Alternatively, telehealth... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) reduces mortality and morbidity in coronary heart disease (CHD); however, patients show a lack of adherence to CR. Alternatively, telehealth interventions have shown promising results for improving target outcomes in CR. This study aimed to review the effect of smartphone-based CR on the functional capacity of CHD patients. A literature search was performed using PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library on 21 March, 2022 to find randomised controlled trials on smartphone usage in CR to improve functional capacity. Outcomes included maximal oxygen consumption (VO max), a 6-min walk test (6-MWT), quality of life, smoking cessation, and modifiable risk factors. Eleven trials recruiting CHD patients were reviewed. Wearable devices connected to smartphone- or chat-based applications were commonly used for CR delivery. Most trials managed to provide exercise prescriptions, education on medication adherence and controlling risk factors, and psychosocial counselling through the intervention. Functional capacity improved significantly following smartphone-based CR in CHD patients compared to control groups, as measured by VO max and 6-MWT; patients were more likely to quit smoking. Compared to traditional care, smartphones that delivered CR to CHD patients demonstrate superior outcomes regarding increasing functional capacity. There is no significant improvement on lipid profile, blood pressure, HbA1C, body mass index, and quality of life. It can be used either alone or as an adjunct. Ultimately, the patients' preferences and circumstances should be considered.
Topics: Humans; Cardiac Rehabilitation; Smartphone; Quality of Life; Coronary Disease; Medication Adherence
PubMed: 37577291
DOI: 10.5334/gh.1253