Pooled Sample Size Research Articles

Prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in individuals with psychosis and bipolar disorder in South Asia: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Suicidal ideation and attempts are growing public health concerns globally. Evidence from high-income countries suggests that individuals with psychosis and bipolar disorder are at increased risk of suicidal ideation and attempts, but there is a scarcity of evidence from South Asia. To estimate the prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts in individuals with psychosis and bipolar disorder in South Asia. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, four databases (PsycINFO, Web of Science, EMBASE and Medline) were searched until December 2022. Pooled prevalence was estimated with random-effects models. Heterogeneity was quantified with the I2-statistic. The pooled sample size across the 21 studies was 3745 participants, 1941 (51.8%) of which were male. The pooled prevalence of suicide attempts in South Asian people with either psychosis or bipolar disorder was 22% (95% CI 17-27; n = 15). The pooled prevalence of suicidal ideation with psychosis or bipolar disorder combined was 38% (95% CI 27-51; n = 10). Meta-regression, subgroup and sensitivity analysis showed that the pooled prevalence estimates for both suicide attempt and ideation remained unaffected by variations in critical appraisal ratings and study designs. Only one study reported data on suicide-related deaths. One in four individuals diagnosed with psychosis or bipolar disorder have reported suicide attempts, whereas up to one in three have experienced suicidal ideation. These findings underscore the urgent need for clinicians to regularly assess and monitor suicidal ideation and attempts among individuals with these disorders in South Asia.

Low-Dose Aspirin for the Prevention of Superimposed Preeclampsia in Women With Chronic Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Women with chronic hypertension are at increased risk for the development of preeclampsia during pregnancy. Low-dose aspirin treatment has been studied in the context of preeclampsia prevention, but there have been conflicting results among different populations. Some reasons for this are heterogeneous treatment regimens including timing, dosage, and even target outcomes. Among populations where there are limited data on the effect of low-dose aspirin on preeclampsia are women with chronic hypertension. This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis designed to analyze the use of low-dose aspirin during pregnancy and to assess whether the treatment reduces the risk of superimposed preeclampsia in women with chronic hypertension. It also aimed to secondarily assess related outcomes such as small for gestational age (SGA), preterm birth, and perinatal mortality. Systematic searches and assessment isolated 9 articles for final analysis. Six of these were randomized controlled trials, and 3 were retrospective cohort studies. Four studies focused on populations of only women with chronic hypertension, and the others included women with several different risk factors for preeclampsia. The retrospective studies and one of the randomized controlled trials compared aspirin treatment with no treatment, and the others compared with a placebo group; all studies used a dose of aspirin between 60 and 150 mg daily. No studies were excluded from the analysis based on risk of bias, as none were determined to be “critical” or “high” risk, although risk of bias was determined to be a contributing factor to low-quality data. Final analysis included a pooled sample size of 1078 individuals with chronic hypertension on low-dose aspirin, compared with 1072 women with chronic hypertension in control groups. This analysis did not find a decreased odds of superimposed preeclampsia in either randomized controlled trials (odds ratio [OR], 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55–1.25) or observational studies (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.78–1.87). No significant differences were found with aspirin treatment, possibly due to risk of bias, heterogeneity, and imprecision. These findings held true when analyzed based on the timing of aspirin treatment induction (before or after 20 weeks' gestation), still finding no difference in the rate of superimposed preeclampsia. Low-dose aspirin treatment did reduce the odds of preterm birth according to a pooled analysis of 2 randomized controlled trials (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.45–0.89). However, neither SGA nor perinatal mortality was shown to be significantly different in a pooled analysis of the studies that reported this outcome. Although these findings did not show statistical significance in reduction of preeclampsia in women with chronic hypertension due to aspirin treatment, the data are suggestive of benefit; many individuals in each study were lost to follow-up, and thus, the results of the analysis are different than they might have been with greater retention. The results from the observational studies show that low-dose aspirin treatment may statistically increase the likelihood of superimposed preeclampsia, but there is a high level of uncertainty associated with these results. They add to the conflicting findings previously present on this topic; more research is necessary with larger and less heterogeneous samples to clarify the association. The findings from this study contradict previous results in samples that include individuals with a variety of risk factors for preeclampsia, but they are consistent with previous research including only individuals with chronic hypertension. This study was limited by the quality of evidence due to heterogeneity and bias but should prompt further research regarding low-dose aspirin treatment in populations with chronic hypertension.

Pediatric traumatic brain injury as a risk factor for psychosis and psychotic symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Psychosis is one of the most disabling psychiatric disorders. Pediatric traumatic brain injury (pTBI) has been cited as a developmental risk factor for psychosis, however this association has never been assessed meta-analytically. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between pTBI and subsequent psychotic disorders/symptoms was performed. The study was pre-registered (CRD42022360772) adopting a random-effects model to estimate meta-analytic odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) using the Paule-Mandel estimator. Subgroup (study location, study design, psychotic disorder v. subthreshold symptoms, assessment type, and adult v. adolescent onset) and meta-regression (quality of evidence) analyses were also performed. The robustness of findings was assessed through sensitivity analyses. The meta-analysis is available online as a computational notebook with an open dataset. We identified 10 relevant studies and eight were included in the meta-analysis. Based on a pooled sample size of 479686, the pooled OR for the association between pTBI and psychosis outcomes was 1.80 (95% CI 1.11-2.95). There were no subgroup effects and no outliers. Both psychotic disorder and subthreshold symptoms were associated with pTBI. The overall association remained robust after removal of low-quality studies, however the OR reduced to 1.43 (95% CI 1.04-1.98). A leave-one-out sensitivity analysis showed the association was robust to removal of all but one study which changed the estimate to marginally non-significant. We report cautious meta-analytic evidence for a positive association between pTBI and future psychosis. New evidence will be key in determining long-term reliability of this finding.

The Value of Progression-Free Survival at Three Years as a Primary Endpoint for Studies on Radiotherapy in Patients with Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: Individual Patient Data and Validation From 27 Randomized Trials

A traditional endpoint for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) clinical trials is overall survival (OS) with five years of follow-up. At present, many clinical trials evaluating concurrent chemoradiotherapy combined with immunotherapy for LACC are underway in worldwide. The use of a shorter-term endpoint could significantly speed the translation of research findings into practice. The primary hypothesis was that PFS with three years of follow-up (PFS36) is an appropriate primary endpoint to replace OS with five years of follow-up (5-year OS). The primary hypothesis was developed from our individual data, was further investigated using phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and then externally validated by phase II trials and retrospective studies up to 2022. Correlation analysis at the treatment-arm level was performed between 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year PFS rates and 5-year OS, using the Pearson correlation coefficient r in weighted linear regression, with weight equal to patient size. The MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed databases, together with the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, were searched from January 1, 1999, to February 2, 2023. Articles eligible for inclusion contained complete survival data. A total of 613 patients with histologically confirmed, FIGO 2009 stage IB-IVA cervical cancer who underwent radiotherapy at our institute from January 2010 to December 2013 were eligible. Individual patient data were pooled to explore the correlation between PFS and the OS trend. The recurrence rates for years 1 through 5 were 12.9%, 7.3%, 3%, 2.3%, and 1.8%, respectively. The median recurrence time was 13 months and the median time from recurrence to death was 12.2 months. Within all the recurrence, 47.3% of recurrences occurred during the first year, 71.4% in the first two years, and 85% in the first three years. Patients who did not achieve PFS36 had a 5-year OS rate of 30.3%. In contrast, a 5-year OS rate of 98.2% was observed in patients who achieved PFS36. Further data were extracted from 27 RCTs on locally advanced cervical cancer. The trials included 57 arms, with a pooled sample size of 7,692 patients. Formal measures of surrogacy were satisfied. Quality control was performed, where studies with a high risk of bias were excluded. In trial-level surrogacy, PFS36 (r2, 0.778) was associated with 5-year OS. The correlation between PFS36 and OS was externally validated using independent phase II trials and retrospective data. In total, 23 studies representing 5,174 patients were included. PFS36 (r2, 0.719) was found to be associated with OS. The patients who achieved PFS36 had excellent outcomes, whereas patients that experienced earlier progression had poor survival. A significant correlation was found between PFS36 and 5-year OS in clinical trials on patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. These results suggest that PFS36 is an appropriate endpoint for LACC clinical trials of radiotherapy-based regimens.

Conservative versus early surgical treatment in the management of pyogenic spondylodiscitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Spondylodiscitis is the commonest spine infection, and pyogenic spondylodiscitis is the most common subtype. Whilst antibiotic therapy is the mainstay of treatment, some advocate that early surgery can improve mortality, relapse rates, and length of stay. Given that the condition carries a high mortality rate of up to 20%, the most effective treatment must be identified. We aimed to compare the mortality, relapse rate, and length of hospital stay of conservative versus early surgical treatment of pyogenic spondylodiscitis. All major databases were searched for original studies, which were evaluated using a qualitative synthesis, meta-analyses, influence, and regression analyses. The meta-analysis, with an overall pooled sample size of 10,954 patients from 21 studies, found that the pooled mortality among the early surgery patient subgroup was 8% versus 13% for patients treated conservatively. The mean proportion of relapse/failure among the early surgery subgroup was 15% versus 21% for the conservative treatment subgroup. Further, it concluded that early surgical treatment, when compared to conservative management, is associated with a 40% and 39% risk reduction in relapse/failure rate and mortality rate, respectively, and a 7.75 days per patient reduction in length of hospital stay (p < 0.01). The meta-analysis demonstrated that early surgical intervention consistently significantly outperforms conservative management in relapse/failure and mortality rates, and length of stay, in patients with pyogenic spondylodiscitis.

Comparison of Early and Long-Term Mortality in Patients With Reduced and Preserved Ejection Fraction Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this study was to compare early and long-term mortality in patients with reduced and preserved ejection fraction (EF) undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).This meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines.Two investigators independently conducted a systematic and comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus from inception to July 15, 2023, using the search terms "reduced ejection fraction," "preserved ejection fraction," "coronary artery bypass surgery," and "mortality." Boolean operators (AND, OR) were used with medical subject heading (MeSH) terms to refine the search. The reference lists of all included articles were manually searched to identify potentially relevant studies. We restricted our search to studies published in the English language.The outcomes assessed in this meta-analysis included short-term mortality (including in-hospital and 30-day mortality) and long-term mortality. A total of five studies were included in this meta-analysis.The pooled sample size is 94,399 participants. Pooled analysis showed thatthe risk of early mortality was significantly higher in patients with reduced EF compared to patients with preserved EF (risk ratio, RR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.50 to 3.06). The pooled analysis also reported that late mortality was significantly higher in patients with reduced EF compared to patients with preserved EF (RR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.35 to 2.08).The pooled analysis ofstudies demonstrated a significantly higher rate of both early and late mortality in patients with reduced EF, emphasizing the importance of EF assessment in risk stratification for CABG patients.

Effect of Liraglutide on Cardiac Function in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of liraglutide on cardiac function in individuals with type 2 diabetes. The present meta-analysis aimed to identify studies testing liraglutide in individuals with type 2 diabetes. We included observational and randomized controlled trials comparing liraglutide with placebo or any other drug alone or in combination with other drugs. A comprehensive search was carried out using online databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library to find relevant studies from inception to June 30, 2023, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Key terms used to search for relevant studies included "liraglutide," "cardiac function," and "type 2 diabetes," along with their synonyms and Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms. The outcomes assessed in the present meta-analysis included diastolic cardiac function and systolic cardiac function. For diastolic cardiac function, we assessed the E to A (E/A) ratio and the E to Ea (E/Ea) ratio. To assess the impact of liraglutide on systolic function, we assessed stroke volume in mL, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in %, cardiac output in L/min, and cardiac index in L/min/m². A total of seven studies were included, with a pooled sample size of 307 individuals (160 in the liraglutide group and 147 in the control group). The results indicated that liraglutide significantly reduced the E/A ratio (mean difference [MD]: -0.22, 95% CI: -0.38 to -0.06, p-value: 0.008) and E/Ea ratio (MD: -0.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): -1.39 to -0.12, p-value: 0.02, suggesting a potential clinical benefit on ventricular diastolic function. However, there was no significant impact on LVEF (MD: 0.46, 95% CI: -3.13 to 4.05, p-value: 0.80), cardiac output (MD: 0.05, 95% CI: -0.39 to 0.49), cardiac index (MD: 0.07, 95% CI: -0.18 to 0.32), and stroke volume (MD: -5.34, 95% CI: -14.81 to 4.12), indicating that liraglutide did not improve systolic function.

P-009 Impact of organophosphate pesticide exposure on human semen quality and circulating testosterone: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Study question Does exposure to organophosphate pesticides (OP pesticides) alter human semen quality and circulating testosterone levels? Summary answer Exposure to OP pesticides reduced sperm count, concentration, total and progressive motility, and normal sperm morphology, possibly via a testosterone-independent mechanism. What is known already OP pesticides have been associated with a decline in semen quality, although there are still considerable arguments about the magnitude of the association. Also, human data on semen quality and male reproductive hormones in association with OP pesticide exposure is limited and inconsistent. Study design, size, duration This study provides a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impacts of OP pesticide on semen quality and male reproductive hormones. Participants/materials, setting, methods This study was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Following a pre-defined strategic protocol, 1, 001 studies were screened and 9 articles were identified as eligible for this study. Two of the studies were from China, and one each from Japan, Peru, France, Mexico, Malaysia, Venezuela, and Iran. Two of the studies did not specify the types of OP pesticide used, while the remaining 7 did. Main results and the role of chance A total of 766 male subjects (349 exposed to OP pesticide and 417 unexposed controls) were included in the meta-analysis. There was no significant difference in the ejaculate volume, seminal fluid volume, sperm multiple anomaly index, and leukocytes levels of the OP-exposed subjects compared to the control. In addition, OP pesticide exposure did not significantly affect serum concentrations of FSH, LH, and testosterone in subjects who were exposed to OP pesticide compared to their unexposed counterparts. However, we found a significant reduction in the sperm count, sperm concentration, progressive sperm motility, total sperm motility, and normal sperm morphology of OP pesticide-exposed subjects compared to the unexposed subjects. However, after subtype and sensitivity analyses, exposure to OP pesticide did not significantly reduce sperm count. In addition, after sensitivity analysis, OP pesticide exposure did not significantly alter progressive sperm motility. Limitations, reasons for caution The non-inclusion of non-English publications in this study and the scarcity of well-designed studies to be included might have limited the pooled sample size and inadequately explored the impacts of OP. Also, the included studies are from a few countries, which may not necessarily be a good global representative. Wider implications of the findings The present comprehensive meta-analysis clearly demonstrates that exposure to OP pesticide causes reduced sperm count, concentration, total and progressive motility, and normal sperm morphology, possibly via a testosterone-independent mechanism. These findings strengthen existing evidence in the literature on the negative impacts OP pesticide exposure on semen quality. Trial registration number Not applicable

Ticagrelor Versus Clopidogrel in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome and on Dialysis: A Meta-Analysis.

This study aims to compare the safety and efficacy of clopidogrel and ticagrelor in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and undergoing dialysis.This study was conducted per the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A comprehensive search was performed using electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science, to identify relevant studies comparing clopidogrel and ticagrelor in patients undergoing dialysis. To ensure the inclusion of all relevant articles, a combination of the following keywords, along with medical subject heading(MeSH) terms, was used: "clopidogrel," "ticagrelor," "acute coronary syndrome," and "dialysis."The primary endpoint of this meta-analysis was the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), which consisted of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and revascularization. The secondary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The occurrence of any bleeding events (including major and nonmajor bleeding events) and major bleeding events was chosen as the safety endpoints. A total of four studies were included in the pooled analysis.The pooled sample size was 5,417 patients, including 892 in the ticagrelor group and4525 in the clopidogrel group.The findings indicate that ticagrelor, compared to clopidogrel, is associated with a significantly higher risk of MACEs, all-cause death, and major bleeding events.The findings suggest that clopidogrel may be a better choice for individuals with ACS undergoing dialysis due to its lower risk of MACE, all-cause death, and major bleeding events compared to ticagrelor.

Association between the beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, all-cause mortality and length of hospitalization in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

To establish an association between beta-blockers (BBs), calcium channel blockers (CCBs), all-cause mortality, and hospitalization in patients with Heart failure with preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF). The present meta-analysis has been performed as per the guidelines of (PRISMA). An inclusive literature search was made without any limitations on language using the electronic databases Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed up to November 2022. The outcomes evaluated in this meta-analysis involved all-cause mortality and hospitalization due to heart failure. The number of patients with HFpEF and their positive outcomes was extracted and analyzed using RevMan software. In total, 10 articles were included in the present meta-analysis, with a pooled sample size of 12 940 HFpEF patients. In comparison with placebo, both BB and CCB substantially reduced the risk of all-cause mortality and hospitalization. However, BB are more effective because they provide a significant reduction in all-cause mortality (risk ratio (RR) = 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.43-0.83; p = .002] and hospitalization (RR = 0.54; 95% CI = 0.37-0.80; p = .002) as compared with CCB with a risk ratio of all-cause mortality (RR = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.60-0.98; p = .03) and hospitalization (RR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.44-0.90; p < .00001). A random-effects model was used because of high heterogeneity between the studies (I2 > 70%). The current meta-analysis suggests that BBs were more beneficial than CCB in reducing all-cause mortality and hospitalization duration in patients with HFpEF.

The value of progression-free survival at three years as a primary endpoint for studies on radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer: Individual patient data from Chinese National Cancer Center and validation from 27 global randomized trials.

5534 Background: A traditional endpoint for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) clinical trials is overall survival with five years of follow-up (5-year OS). The use of a shorter-term endpoint could significantly speed the translation of research findings into practice. The primary hypothesis was that PFS with three years of follow-up (PFS36) is an appropriate primary endpoint to replace 5-year OS. Methods: The primary hypothesis was developed from our individual data, was further investigated using phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and then externally validated by phase II trials and retrospective studies up to 2022. Correlation analysis at the treatment-arm level was performed between 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year PFS rates and 5-year OS. Correlation analysis was performed using the Pearson correlation coefficient r in weighted linear regression, with weight equal to patient size. The MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed databases, together with the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, were searched from January 1, 1999, to February 2, 2023. Articles eligible for inclusion contained complete survival data. Results: A total of 613 patients with histologically confirmed, FIGO 2009 stage IB–IVA cervical cancer who underwent radiotherapy at our institute from January 2010 to December 2013 were eligible. Individual patient data were pooled to explore the correlation between PFS and the OS trend. The recurrence rates for years 1 through 5 were 12.9%, 7.3%, 3%, 2.3%, and 1.8%, respectively. The median recurrence time was 13 months and the median time from recurrence to death was 12.2 months. Within all the recurrence, 47.3% of recurrences occurred during the first year, 71.4% in the first two years, and 85% in the first three years. Patients who did not achieve PFS36 had a 5-year OS rate of 30.3%. In contrast, a 5-year OS rate of 98.2% was observed in patients who achieved PFS36. Further data were extracted from 27 randomized phase III trials on LACC. The trials included 57 arms, with a pooled sample size of 7,692 patients. In trial-level surrogacy, PFS36 (r2, 0.778) was associated with 5-year OS. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated reasonable overall consistency. The correlation between PFS36 and OS was externally validated using independent phase II trials and retrospective data. In total, 23 studies representing 5,174 patients were included. PFS (r2, 0.719) was found to be associated with 5-year OS. Conclusions: A significant correlation was found between PFS36 and 5-year OS in clinical trials on patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. This correlation was found both within patients and across trials. These results suggest that PFS36 is an appropriate endpoint for LACC trials of radiotherapy-based regimens.

A meta-analytic review of the effectiveness of psychological treatment of functional/dissociative seizures on non-seizure outcomes in adults.

Psychological therapies are considered the treatment of choice for functional/dissociative seizures (FDSs). Although most previous studies have focused on seizure persistence or frequency, it has been argued that well-being or health-related quality of life outcomes may actually be more meaningful. This study contributes by summarizing and meta-analyzing non-seizure outcomes to quantify the effectiveness of psychological treatment in this patient group. A pre-registered systematic search identified treatment studies (e.g., cohort studies, controlled trials) in FDSs. Data from these studies were synthesized using multi-variate random-effects meta-analysis. Moderators of treatment effect were examined using treatment characteristics, sample characteristics, and risk of bias. A total of 171 non-seizure outcomes across 32 studies with a pooled sample size of N = 898 yielded a pooled effect-size of d = .51 (moderate effect size). The outcome domain assessed and the type of psychological treatment were significant moderators of reported outcomes. Greater rates of improvement were demonstrated for outcomes assessing general functioning. Behavioral treatments emerged as particularly effective interventions. Psychological interventions are associated with clinical improvements across a broad array of non-seizure outcomes, over and above seizure frequency, in adults with FDSs.

Geographic variation in the association between Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Papillary thyroid carcinoma, a meta-analysis.

The association between papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) remains a matter of debate. Several genetic and environmental factors have been found to influence this association. Because of the variation in these factors among different populations, we conducted a country- and region-based meta-analysis to examine whether the geographic area influences this association. We searched PubMed and Web of Science databases for original articles that investigated the association between HT and PTC from February 1955 to February 28, 2023. The included studies were stratified according to their country and region of origin. Various subgroup analyses were conducted. The primary outcome was the pooled relative risk (RR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) for each region and country. Forty-six studies including a total of 93,970 participants met our inclusion criteria. They originated from 16 countries distributed in five regions. Significant variation was found among countries but not among regions. Upon analysis of all 46 included studies, countries were classified based on their RR and its 95% CI. Excluding countries with pooled sample sizes <500, Sri Lanka (RR 4.23, 95% CI 2.91-6.14), Poland (RR 3.16, 95% CI 2.79-3.57) and Japan (2.68, 2.14-3.36) showed the strongest association between HT and PTC while Greece (RR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00-1.13), Spain (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.23-2.11), and Jordan (0.62, 0.32-1.32) showed no significant association. Our findings revealed a variation in the association between HT and PTC among countries but not among regions. The country-to-country variation could be due to certain genetic and/or environmental factors subject to geographic variation that influence this association. These findings may help guide health policies aiming to mitigate the risk of PTC in the HT population by helping identify high-risk and low-risk countries.

Early sedation with dexmedetomidine in post‐operative adult intensive care unit patients

AbstractBackgroundDelirium is a leading healthcare concern in adult Intensive Care Units (ICU) and has a reported prevalence of up to 80%. Although individual studies report that early sedation with dexmedetomidine in post‐operative patients including its nocturnal administration can improve sleep quality and reduction in ICU delirium, these have not been synthesized in a systematic review.AimThe aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of early administration of dexmedetomidine infusion in the prevention of delirium, reduction in agitation, and improved sleep quality among post‐operative adults in ICU.Study DesignA systematic search was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE, together with a search for grey literature. Two authors independently screened the search results, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias (ROB). Data were meta‐analysed using RevMan 5.4 software. A simplified Cochrane approach was used in this review.ResultsFive randomized controlled trials with 2173 participants were included. ROB was assessed with the five studies included in this review. Of the five included studies, two were identified as having components with a high ROB; one study reporting high ROB in the domain of other biases, and the other study in the domains of allocation concealment as well as in the domains of blinding of participants and personnel. All other studies and domains were either low or unclear ROB. The result indicated that the incidence of delirium was reduced among the dexmedetomidine group (RR: 0.08, 95% CI −0.15 to −0.01, 3 studies, 1045 patients) when compared with those who received other medications. There was no difference in agitation (RR: 0.85, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.44, 2 studies, 779 patients), and although better sleep was associated with the dexmedetomidine group, no data focusing on the sleep quality was reported.ConclusionThe pooled result of this systematic review indicated a reduction in the incidence of delirium among ventilated patients who received early administration of dexmedetomidine post‐operatively. Although pooled sample sizes are relatively high, each outcome is based on one or two studies of primarily low or unclear ROB. Further research is warranted to determine the potential benefit of dexmedetomidine on agitation and sleep quality.Relevance to clinical practiceThe findings from this study support the use of light sedation, such as dexmedetomidine as recommended in the Society of Critical Care Medicine's guidelines.

Burden of Malnutrition among Under-five Children and Elderly Population in Southern India

Background: Malnutrition remains a leading cause of infant mortality, primarily in low- and middle-income nations such as India. Aim: Based on the existing literature, our systematic review and meta-analysis sought to determine the prevalence of malnutrition among children and the elderly in Southern India. Methods: In accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis guidelines, independent researchers searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science for studies on malnutrition among children and the elderly in Southern India. We estimated the pooled prevalence with confidence intervals (CIs) of 95% using a random-effects model. Results: Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. There were 11,452 children and 1108 elderly population participants included in the review. Thirteen studies reported the prevalence of undernutrition and the pooled number of samples was 8417. The proportion of underweight in under-five children was 41% (95% CI: 36%–46%). Thirteen studies reported wasting, and the pooled sample size was 9789. The pooled proportion of wasting was 25% (95% CI: 20%–31%). Fourteen studies reported stunting, and the pooled sample size was 10,112. The pooled proportion of stunting was 33% among children. Four studies reported malnourishment or undernutrition among the elderly population in southern India. The pooled sample size was 1108 and the pooled proportion of malnourishment among the elderly population was 12% (95% CI: 1%–22%). Conclusion: Combating child malnutrition in India requires public health interventions for cases of mild malnutrition and vulnerable populations, regional strategy implementation and evaluation, investigations on overweight, obesity, and its causes, and socioeconomic development.

Colchicine in the Management of Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Meta-analysis.

Colchicine, thought to exert its effect via reduction of inflammation, has recently been studied in patients following acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We performed a meta-analysis of all available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in this high-risk cohort, evaluating efficacy and safety. MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, clinical trial registries, and select conference proceedings were searched for RCTs comparing colchicine to placebo in patients following ACS. The primary outcome was trial-defined major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Secondary endpoints included stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), all-cause and cardiovascular death, and urgent revascularization. Analysis was performed at the longest available clinical follow-up. Two RCTs with a pooled sample size of 5540 patients with 2778 (50.1%) receiving colchicine and 2762 (49.9%) placebo were included. In order to maximize consistency, composite efficacy endpoints between trials were modified. Compared to placebo, patients receiving colchicine had reduction in study-defined composite endpoint (5.5% vs. 7.6%) OR 0.67 (95% CI 0.46-0.98, p = 0.04, I2 = 46%). Similarly, there was a significant reduction in cerebrovascular accidents (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.14-0.69, p = 0.004, I2 = 0%) and repeat revascularization OR 0.36 (95% CI 0.14-0.90, p = 0.03, I2 = 54%). There was no difference between cardiovascular death (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.52-1.62, p = 0.78, I2 = 0%), non-cardiovascular death OR 1.27 (95% CI 0.72-2.24, p = 0.41, I2 = 0%), MI at longest available follow-up OR 0.89 (95% CI 0.67-1.17, p = 0.39, I2 = 0%) or resuscitated cardiac arrest OR 0.88 (95% CI 0.32-2.43, p = 0.81, I2 = 0%) in those receiving colchicine. These data suggest colchicine, in addition to guideline-directed medical therapy following acute coronary syndrome reduces MACE, cerebrovascular accidents, and rates of urgent revascularization at 2 years of follow-up.

PS-P07-7: IMPACT OF INORGANIC NITRATE ON ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION IN ADULTS A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIALS AND META ANALYSIS

Aim: Inorganic nitrate which is found in green leafy vegetables and beetroot reduces blood pressure via the nitrate-nitrite-NO pathway and may have other benefits such as improved endothelial function. It is assumed that endothelial dysfunction is key risk factor for CVDs. Therefore, in this systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluated the impact of inorganic nitrate supplementation on endothelial function. Design and method: MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched by two independent authors up to November 2021. We included randomised controlled trials that test oral administration of dietary/non-dietary inorganic nitrate versus a control, adult male and female subjects with/without health conditions, measuring endothelial function by flow mediated dilatation (FMD) as an outcome. Risk and quality assessments were performed using a Cochrane risk of bias score and standardised mean differences of the outcomes were pooled using a random-effects model. Results: 3,521 studies were identified after a database search, of which 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled sample size was 362 and the number of participants per trial ranged from 10 to 65. Eight studies were acute, four studies were chronic and most of them included healthy participant arms (n = 12) with (n = 4) focusing on unhealthy populations. The mean difference in %FMD for nitrate versus the control was 1.57% (95% CI: 0.76–2.37), p = 0.01; high heterogeneity (I2 = 98.3%) was observed (Figure 1). Subgroup analyses were performed in terms of, nitrate amount (&lt; more or less than 600 mg), type of intervention (dietary or non-dietary), participants health status (healthy and unhealthy), and study duration (acute or chronic). All sub-analysis still showed significant increases in %FMD. In acute studies, FMD response was higher (2.13% (95% CI: 0.87–3.40), p &lt; 0.01, I2 = 98.5%) than chronic studies (0.90% (95% CI: 0.48–1.31), p &lt; 0.01, I2 = 68.6%). Only one study showed low risk of bias; the other studies were classified as “some concern” due to a lack of information about randomisation and lack of pre-specified analysis plans. Conclusions: The meta-analysis provides evidence that inorganic nitrate improves FMD response and may be a useful strategy for preventing further CVD. Change in 1.5% of FMD as seen in this review could results in a reduction in CVD risk of ∼15%. However, due to the high heterogeneity of the results, further studies are needed to build a robust evidence base to inform dietary recommendations.

Pharmacological interventions for the treatment of disordered and problem gambling.

Pharmacological interventions for the treatment of disordered and problem gambling.

Lower Extremity Nerve Decompression for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background:Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a leading cause of morbidity. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the efficacy of lower extremity nerve decompression in reducing DPN symptoms and complications.Methods:A database search was performed using Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Articles addressing surgical decompression of lower limb peripheral nerves in patients with diabetes were screened for inclusion. Two independent reviewers undertook the assessment. Methodological quality measures were the Cochrane risk of bias and Newcastle-Ottawa scale.Results:The pooled sample size from 21 studies was 2169 patients. Meta-analysis of 16 observational studies showed significant improvement in the visual analog scale (VAS) (P < 0.00001) and two-point discrimination (P = 0.003), with strong reliability. Decompression of the tarsal tunnel region had the highest improvement in VAS [MD, 6.50 (95% CI, 3.56–9.44)]. A significant low-risk ratio (RR) of ulcer development and lower limb amputation was detected (P < 0.00001). Lowest RR of ulcer development was detected with tarsal tunnel release [RR, 0.04 (95% CI, 0.00–0.48)]. Improvements in VAS, two-point discrimination, and nerve conduction velocity were nonsignificant in the meta-analysis of five randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The RCT analysis was limited to only two studies for each outcome.Conclusions:Meta-analysis of observational studies highlights the efficacy of lower extremity nerve decompression in reducing DPN symptoms, ulcerations, and amputations. Releasing the tibial nerve in the tarsal tunnel region was the most effective observed procedure. Nevertheless, high-quality RCTs are required to support the utility of this intervention in DPN.

The Efficacy of Various Pharmacological Agents on Long-Term Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials.

The beneficial impacts of various drugs on long-term outcomes in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) have been a matter of controversy. The aim of this meta-analysis was to systematically review randomized control trials (RCTs) involving patients with heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and identify the effects of various treatment options [angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, beta-blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers, and aldosterone receptor blockers] on all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and hospitalization due to cardiovascular reasons. The current meta-analysis has been conducted as per the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was performed without any restrictions on language by using the electronic databases Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and PubMed up to July 20, 2022. The outcomes assessed in this meta-analysis included all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and hospitalization due to cardiovascular reasons. Overall, 10 articles were included in the current meta-analysis with a pooled sample size of 13,336 patients with HFpEF. In comparison to the placebo, among all four pharmacological agents, beta-blockers were the only agent that decreased the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular outcomes. On the other hand, a significant reduction in hospitalization due to cardiac-related reasons was reported in patients on ACE inhibitors as compared to placebo. No other pharmacological agent had an impact on hospitalization due to cardiac-related reasons. The current meta-analysis indicates the possible benefits of beta-blockers in HFpEF in terms of reducing cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality.