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Frontiers in Nutrition 2022The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of probiotics and glucose-lowering drugs (thiazolidinedione [TZD], glucagon-like...
Comparative analysis of the efficacies of probiotic supplementation and glucose-lowering drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of probiotics and glucose-lowering drugs (thiazolidinedione [TZD], glucagon-like pep-tide-1 receptor agonists [GLP-1 RA], dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors, and sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors [SGLT-2i]) in patients with type 2 diabetes from randomized con-trolled trials (RCTs). The PubMed, Web of science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched on the treatment effects of probiotics and glucose-lowering drugs on glycemia, lipids, and blood pressure metabolism published between Jan 2015 and April 2021. We performed meta-analyses using the random-effects model. We included 25 RCTs (2,843 participants). Overall, GLP-1RA, SGLT-2i, and TZD significantly reduce fasting blood sugar (FBS) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), whereas GLP-1 RA increased the risk of hypoglycaemia. Multispecies probiotics decrease FBS, total cholesterol (TC), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP). Moreover, subgroup analyses indicated that participants aged >55 years, BMI ≥30 kg/m, longer duration of intervention, and subjects from Eastern countries, showed significantly higher reduction in FBS and HbA1c, TC, TG and SBP. This meta-analysis revealed that including multiple probiotic rather than glucose-lowering drugs might be more beneficial regarding T2D prevention who suffering from simultaneously hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension.
PubMed: 35923194
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.825897 -
The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Feb 2011Hypercholesterolaemia, characterised by raised blood cholesterol levels, is not a disease itself but a metabolic derangement that often contributes to many diseases,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Hypercholesterolaemia, characterised by raised blood cholesterol levels, is not a disease itself but a metabolic derangement that often contributes to many diseases, notably cardiovascular disease. In most cases, elevated cholesterol levels are associated with high-fat diet, especially saturated fat, coupled with an inactive lifestyle. Less commonly, raised cholesterol may be related to an inherited disorder, familial hypercholesterolaemia. This systematic review is only concerned with acquired hypercholesterolaemia.
OBJECTIVES
To assess the effects of low-fat diets for acquired hypercholesterolaemia and to investigate the incidence of adverse effects from low-fat dietary interventions. We planned to compare the relative effectiveness of low-fat diets with calorie-restricted diets for acquired hypercholesterolaemia. We also wanted to look into the relative effectiveness of low-fat diets and pharmacological interventions for acquired hypercholesterolaemia.
SEARCH STRATEGY
Studies were obtained from computerised searches of The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE and databases of ongoing trials. Date of last search was February 2010.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Otherwise healthy adults (equal to or greater than 18 years) with acquired (not familial) hypercholesterolaemia. We defined hypercholesterolaemia as either total cholesterol greater than 5.2 mmol/L, LDL-cholesterol greater than 3.0 mmol/L, HDL-cholesterol less than 1.0 mmol/L or a combination thereof, although investigators' definitions were also accepted. We wanted to include any low-fat dietary intervention, like low-fat and low-saturated fat diets, intended to lower serum total and LDL-cholesterol or to raise HDL-cholesterol. A low-fat diet was considered as a fat calorie intake less than 20% of the total calories. The minimum duration of the intervention had to be six months. We excluded studies in unhealthy people.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two authors were planned to independently assess risk of bias and extract data.
MAIN RESULTS
No study met our inclusion criteria.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
Well designed, adequately powered randomised controlled trials investigating patient-relevant outcomes of low-fat diets for otherwise healthy people with hypercholesterolaemia are required.
Topics: Adult; Diet, Fat-Restricted; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia
PubMed: 21328303
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007957.pub2 -
Clinical Cardiology Jul 2009Epidemiologic data suggest that omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish oil reduce cardiovascular disease. The clinical benefit of dietary fish oil supplementation in... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Epidemiologic data suggest that omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish oil reduce cardiovascular disease. The clinical benefit of dietary fish oil supplementation in preventing cardiovascular events in both high and low risk patients is unclear.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether dietary supplements of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) decrease cardiovascular events across a spectrum of patients.
DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and citation review of relevant primary and review articles.
STUDY SELECTION
Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials that evaluated clinical cardiovascular end points (cardiovascular death, sudden death, and nonfatal cardiovascular events) and all-cause mortality in patients randomized to EPA/DHA or placebo. We only included studies that used dietary supplements of EPA/DHA which were administered for at least 1 year.
DATA EXTRACTION
Data were abstracted on study design, study size, type and dose of omega-3 supplement, cardiovascular events, all-cause mortality, and duration of follow-up. Studies were grouped according to the risk of cardiovascular events (high risk and moderate risk). Meta-analytic techniques were used to analyze the data.
DATA SYNTHESIS
We identified 11 studies that included a total of 39 044 patients. The studies included patients after recent myocardial infarction, those with an implanted cardioverter defibrillator, and patients with heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, and hypercholesterolemia. The average dose of EPA/DHA was 1.8 +/- 1.2 g/day and the mean duration of follow-up was 2.2 +/- 1.2 years. Dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular deaths (odds ratio [OR]: 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79-0.95, p = 0.002), sudden cardiac death (OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.76-0.99, p = 0.04), all-cause mortality (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.85-0.99, p = 0.02), and nonfatal cardiovascular events (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.85-0.99, p = 0.02). The mortality benefit was largely due to the studies which enrolled high risk patients, while the reduction in nonfatal cardiovascular events was noted in the moderate risk patients (secondary prevention only). Meta-regression failed to demonstrate a relationship between the daily dose of omega-3 fatty acid and clinical outcome.
CONCLUSIONS
Dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids should be considered in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events.
Topics: Cardiovascular Diseases; Dietary Supplements; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Evidence-Based Medicine; Humans; Odds Ratio; Prospective Studies; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Secondary Prevention; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 19609891
DOI: 10.1002/clc.20604 -
Journal of the American Medical... Sep 2022Electronic health record-based clinical decision support (CDS) has the potential to improve health outcomes. This systematic review investigates the design,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
Electronic health record-based clinical decision support (CDS) has the potential to improve health outcomes. This systematic review investigates the design, effectiveness, and economic outcomes of CDS targeting several common chronic diseases.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
We conducted a search in PubMed (Medline), EBSCOHOST (CINAHL, APA PsychInfo, EconLit), and Web of Science. We limited the search to studies from 2011 to 2021. Studies were included if the CDS was electronic health record-based and targeted one or more of the following chronic diseases: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. Studies with effectiveness or economic outcomes were considered for inclusion, and a meta-analysis was conducted.
RESULTS
The review included 76 studies with effectiveness outcomes and 9 with economic outcomes. Of the effectiveness studies, 63% described a positive outcome that favored the CDS intervention group. However, meta-analysis demonstrated that effect sizes were heterogenous and small, with limited clinical and statistical significance. Of the economic studies, most full economic evaluations (n = 5) used a modeled analysis approach. Cost-effectiveness of CDS varied widely between studies, with an estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio ranging between USD$2192 to USD$151 955 per QALY.
CONCLUSION
We summarize contemporary chronic disease CDS designs and evaluation results. The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness results for CDS interventions are highly heterogeneous, likely due to differences in implementation context and evaluation methodology. Improved quality of reporting, particularly from modeled economic evaluations, would assist decision makers to better interpret and utilize results from these primary research studies.
REGISTRATION
PROSPERO (CRD42020203716).
Topics: Chronic Disease; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Decision Support Systems, Clinical; Humans
PubMed: 35818299
DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocac110 -
Acta Bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis Dec 2022The term early-onset dementia (EOD) encompasses several forms of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by symptom onset before 65 years and leading to severe impact...
BACKGROUND AND AIM
The term early-onset dementia (EOD) encompasses several forms of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by symptom onset before 65 years and leading to severe impact on subjects already in working activities, as well as on their family and caregivers. Despite the increasing incidence, the etiology is still unknown, with possible association of environmental factors, although the evidence is still scarce. In this review, we aimed to assess how several environmental and lifestyle factors may be associated with the onset of this disease.
METHODS
We conducted a literature search in PubMed and EMBASE databases up to May 6, 2022, to retrieve epidemiological studies evaluating the effect of environmental and lifestyle factors on EOD risk.
RESULTS
We eventually included 22 studies, ten with cohort and twelve with case-control design. Traumatic injury, especially on the head/brain, some cardiovascular diseases such as atrial fibrillation and stroke, metabolic diseases including diabetes and hypercholesterolemia, and alcohol consumption have been identified as potential risk factors for EOD. Conversely, playing leisure activities including sports (without trauma), higher educational attainment and higher adherence to Mediterranean DASH-Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet appeared to be protective for EOD.
CONCLUSIONS
The literature on environmental risk factors for EOD has been considerably growing in recent years. Overall, it supports an association between some environmental and lifestyle factors with disease risk. However, additional high-quality research is required to confirm these relations and its causal nature (www.actabiomedica.it).
Topics: Humans; Risk Factors; Life Style; Dementia
PubMed: 36533768
DOI: 10.23750/abm.v93i6.13279 -
Journal of Managed Care & Specialty... Jun 2016The proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors are a new class of cholesterol-lowering medications that provide significant reductions in lipids... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors are a new class of cholesterol-lowering medications that provide significant reductions in lipids but at a large cost relative to statins. With 2 such drugs now on the market, alirocumab and evolocumab, comparing the evidence base for these drugs is necessary for informed decision making.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the benefits and harms of the PCSK9 inhibitors alirocumab and evolocumab.
METHODS
The databases Ovid MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, and ClinicalTrials.gov were used to search for randomized controlled trials of alirocumab or evolocumab with any relevant comparator reporting health outcomes, lipid outcomes, or harms through September 2015, and information was requested from manufacturers. Results were reviewed according to standard review methods.
RESULTS
The database searches revealed 17 fair- and good-quality trials; however, none had primary health outcomes or directly compared PCSK9 inhibitors. Alirocumab (75 mg to 150 mg subcutaneously every 2 weeks) resulted in significantly greater reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; -8% to -67%) at 12-24 weeks in patients with (a) heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and (b) patients at high or varied cardiovascular (CV) risk who were not at LDL-C goals with statin therapy. The highest strength evidence was for patients with high CV risk not at LDL-C goals. Alirocumab also resulted in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increases of 6%-12%. Low- and moderate-strength evidence for adjudicated CV events at 52-78 weeks for a priori analyses indicated no benefit. Low- and moderate-strength evidence also found no differences in harms except possibly slightly more injection-site reactions. Evolocumab (120 mg subcutaneously every 2 weeks to 420 mg every 4 weeks) resulted in significantly greater reductions in LDL-C (-32% to -71%) at 12-52 weeks in patients with heterozygous or homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, patients intolerant of statins, and patients with varied CV risk not at LDL-C goal with statin therapy. The highest strength evidence was for heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and patients not at LDL-C goals. Moderate-strength evidence showed HDL-C increases in the range of 4.5%-6.8%. Harms were not different between groups, except possibly slightly greater overall adverse event reporting. Evidence on adjudicated CV outcomes was insufficient to draw conclusions because of sparseness of events, study limitations, and inability to assess consistency of findings.
CONCLUSIONS
Alirocumab and evolocumab have evidence of large improvements in lipid levels. The strength of the evidence is greater for alirocumab than evolocumab in patients with high CV risk who were not at LDL-C target goals, while evidence for evolocumab is stronger in patients with heterogeneous familial hypercholesterolemia and patients with varied CV risk who were not at LDL-C target goals. Evidence on adjudicated CV outcomes for a priori analyses is unable to show benefit for alirocumab and is insufficient to draw conclusions for evolocumab. Important questions remain about the comparative effects on long-term health outcomes.
DISCLOSURES
This project was funded by The Drug Effectiveness Review Project. Project participants reviewed the manuscript but had no role in conducting the work or writing the manuscript. Any comments received from the participants during the course of the review were taken at the discretion of the authors independently. All authors had access to the data and a role in writing the manuscript. McDonagh, Peterson, and Holzhammer declare no conflict of interest or financial interest in any therapy discussed in this article. Fazio declares receiving compensation from Sanofi for a presentation on his science to a group of their advisors and has served as a consultant to MSD, BASF, NHP, Sanofi, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, and Kowa. Study concept and design were primarily contributed by McDonagh, along with Peterson and Holzhammer, with assistance from Fazio. Holzhammer took the lead in data collection, with assistance from McDonagh and Peterson. Data interpretation was performed by McDonagh, Peterson, and Fazio. The manuscript was written by McDonagh, Peterson, and Fazio, with assistance from Holzhammer, and revised by all the authors.
Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Enzyme Inhibitors; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; PCSK9 Inhibitors; Proprotein Convertase 9; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 27231792
DOI: 10.18553/jmcp.2016.22.6.641 -
JMIR Cardio Feb 2021The use of mobile health (mHealth) interventions, including smartphone apps, for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has demonstrated mixed results for... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The use of mobile health (mHealth) interventions, including smartphone apps, for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has demonstrated mixed results for obesity, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and hypertension management. A major factor attributing to the variation in mHealth study results may be mHealth user engagement.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review aims to determine if user engagement with smartphone apps for the prevention and management of CVD is associated with improved CVD health behavior change and risk factor outcomes.
METHODS
We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase databases from 2007 to 2020. Studies were eligible if they assessed whether user engagement with a smartphone app used by an individual to manage his or her CVD risk factors was associated with the CVD health behavior change or risk factor outcomes. For eligible studies, data were extracted on study and sample characteristics, intervention description, app user engagement measures, and the relationship between app user engagement and the CVD risk factor outcomes. App user engagement was operationalized as general usage (eg, number of log-ins or usage days per week) or self-monitoring within the app (eg, total number of entries made in the app). The quality of the studies was assessed.
RESULTS
Of the 24 included studies, 17 used a randomized controlled trial design, 4 used a retrospective analysis, and 3 used a single-arm pre- and posttest design. Sample sizes ranged from 55 to 324,649 adults, with 19 studies recruiting participants from a community setting. Most of the studies assessed weight loss interventions, with 6 addressing additional CVD risk factors, including diabetes, sleep, stress, and alcohol consumption. Most of the studies that assessed the relationship between user engagement and reduction in weight (9/13, 69%), BMI (3/4, 75%), body fat percentage (1/2, 50%), waist circumference (2/3, 67%), and hemoglobin A (3/5, 60%) found statistically significant results, indicating that greater app user engagement was associated with better outcomes. Of 5 studies, 3 (60%) found a statistically significant relationship between higher user engagement and an increase in objectively measured physical activity. The studies assessing the relationship between user engagement and dietary and diabetes self-care behaviors, blood pressure, and lipid panel components did not find statistically significant results.
CONCLUSIONS
Increased app user engagement for prevention and management of CVD may be associated with improved weight and BMI; however, only a few studies assessed other outcomes, limiting the evidence beyond this. Additional studies are needed to assess user engagement with smartphone apps targeting other important CVD risk factors, including dietary behaviors, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and hypertension. Further research is needed to assess mHealth user engagement in both inpatient and outpatient settings to determine the effect of integrating mHealth interventions into the existing clinical workflow and on CVD outcomes.
PubMed: 33533730
DOI: 10.2196/18834 -
Archives of Cardiovascular Diseases May 2023Myocardial infarction is rare in children, teenagers and young adults (aged<20 years). The most common aetiologies identified include Kawasaki disease, familial... (Review)
Review
Myocardial infarction is rare in children, teenagers and young adults (aged<20 years). The most common aetiologies identified include Kawasaki disease, familial hypercholesterolaemia, collagen vascular disease-induced coronary arteritis, substance abuse (cocaine, glue sniffing), trauma, complications of congenital heart disease surgery, genetic disorders (such as progeria), coronary artery embolism, occult malignancy and several other rare conditions. Nephrotic syndrome is a very rare cause of myocardial infarction, but it is probably underestimated. The purpose of this review was to determine the current state of knowledge on acute coronary syndrome related to nephrotic syndrome. We thus performed a comprehensive structured literature search of the Medline database for articles published between January 1st, 1969 and December 31st, 2021. Myocardial infarction in young adults can be broadly divided into two groups: cases of angiographically normal coronary arteries; and cases of coronary artery disease of varying aetiology. There are several possible mechanisms underlying the association between acute coronary syndrome and nephrotic syndrome: (1) coronary thrombosis related to hypercoagulability and/or platelet hyperactivity; (2) atherosclerosis related to hyperlipidaemia; and (3) drug treatment. All of these mechanisms must be evaluated systematically in the acute phase of disease because they evolve rapidly with the treatment of nephrotic syndrome. In this review, we propose a decision algorithm for the management of acute coronary syndrome in the context of nephrotic syndrome. The final part of the review presents the short- and medium-term therapeutic strategies available. Thromboembolism related to nephrotic syndrome is a rare non-atherosclerotic cause of acute coronary syndrome, and prospective studies are needed to evaluate a systematic approach with personalized therapeutic strategies.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Young Adult; Child; Acute Coronary Syndrome; Nephrotic Syndrome; Myocardial Infarction; Coronary Artery Disease; Atherosclerosis
PubMed: 37088677
DOI: 10.1016/j.acvd.2023.03.002 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2022Previous studies have demonstrated that diabetes is often accompanied with lower magnesium status. However, practical details regarding the influences of magnesium...
Effects of magnesium supplementation on improving hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension in type 2 diabetes: A pooled analysis of 24 randomized controlled trials.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have demonstrated that diabetes is often accompanied with lower magnesium status. However, practical details regarding the influences of magnesium intervention on hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension in type 2 diabetes (T2D) need to be further investigated.
METHODS
Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and PubMed were searched for relevant literatures published through April 30, 2022, and high-quality data were pooled to evaluate the effects of magnesium supplementation on glycemic, circulating lipids, and blood pressure control in T2D, and to explore the associated practical details.
RESULTS
Pooled analyses of 24 randomized controlled trials with 1,325 T2D individuals revealed that subjects who received magnesium supplementation had statistically significant reductions in fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, with WMD values of -0.20 mM (95% CI: -0.30, -0.09), -0.22% (95% CI: -0.41, -0.03), -7.69 mmHg (95% CI: -11.71, -3.66) and -2.71 mmHg (95% CI: -4.02, -1.40), respectively. Detailed subgroup analyses demonstrated that health status of participants including age, body mass index, country, duration of disease, baseline magnesium level and baseline glycemic control condition as well as magnesium formulation, dosage and duration of intervention influenced the effects of magnesium addition. Dose-effect analysis showed that 279 mg/d for 116 d, 429 mg/d for 88 d and 300 mg/d for 120 d are the average optimal dosages and durations for improving glycemic, circulating lipids, and blood pressure controls, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Our findings provide clinically relevant information on the adjuvant therapy of magnesium for improving hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension in T2D.
PubMed: 36741996
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1020327 -
Atherosclerosis Dec 2021Cascade testing in relatives of index cases is the most cost-effective approach to identifying people with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH); however, it is currently... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Cascade testing in relatives of index cases is the most cost-effective approach to identifying people with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH); however, it is currently unclear which strategy to contact relatives would be the most effective. A systematic review was performed to quantify the effectiveness of different strategies in cascade testing of FH.
METHODS
Comprehensive searches of three electronic databases and grey literature sources were done (from inception to May 2020). Screening, data extraction and assessments of methodological quality were made independently by two reviewers. Meta-analyses of proportions were performed using random effects models. Effect measures are reported as percentages with 95% confidence intervals.
RESULTS
24 non-comparative studies were included, of which 11 used a direct, 8 used an indirect, and 5 used a combination of both direct and indirect cascade strategies. The median number of new relatives with FH per known index case was approximately 1. The combination strategy resulted in the largest yields of relatives tested for FH out of those contacted (40%, 95% CI 37%-42%, 1 study) and relatives responding to testing out of those contacted (54%, 1 study); however, the direct strategy had the largest yield of index cases participating in cascade testing out of those with FH confirmed (94%, 8 studies) compared to other strategies (p ≤ 0.01 for all comparisons).
CONCLUSIONS
Evidence is limited; however, a combination strategy, which allows the index case to decide on method of contacting relatives, appears to lead to better yields compared to using the direct or indirect strategy.
Topics: Cost-Benefit Analysis; Genetic Testing; Humans; Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II; Mass Screening
PubMed: 34753031
DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2021.09.014