Random Effects Logistic Regression Models Research Articles

Dengue viremia kinetics and effects on platelet count and clinical outcomes: An analysis of 2340 patients from Vietnam.

Viremia is a critical factor in understanding the pathogenesis of dengue infection, but limited data exist on viremia kinetics. This study aimed to investigate the kinetics of viremia and its effects on subsequent platelet count, severe dengue, and plasma leakage. We pooled data from three studies conducted in Vietnam between 2000 and 2016, involving 2340 dengue patients with daily viremia measurements and platelet counts after symptom onset. Viremia kinetics were assessed using a random effects model that accounted for left-censored data. The effects of viremia on subsequent platelet count and clinical outcomes were examined using a landmark approach with a random effects model and logistic regression model with generalized estimating equations, respectively. The rate of viremia decline was derived from the model of viremia kinetics. Its effect on the clinical outcomes was assessed by logistic regression models. Viremia levels rapidly decreased following symptom onset, with variations observed depending on the infecting serotype. DENV-1 exhibited the highest mean viremia levels during the first 5-6 days, while DENV-4 demonstrated the shortest clearance time. Higher viremia levels were associated with decreased subsequent platelet counts from day 6 onwards. Elevated viremia levels on each illness day increased the risk of developing severe dengue and plasma leakage. However, the effect size decreased with later illness days. A more rapid decline in viremia is associated with a reduced risk of the clinical outcomes. This study provides comprehensive insights into viremia kinetics and its effect on subsequent platelet count and clinical outcomes in dengue patients. Our findings underscore the importance of measuring viremia levels during the early febrile phase for dengue studies and support the use of viremia kinetics as outcome for phase-2 dengue therapeutic trials. Wellcome Trust and European Union Seventh Framework Programme.

The minimal important difference in orthodontic treatment duration: a survey across adult patients.

The minimal important difference (MID) is defined as the smallest difference that the patient perceives as important. Furthermore, the smallest worthwhile effect (SWE) is the important change measured with the benefit-harm trade-off method. The aim of this study was to evaluate the MID in orthodontic treatment duration to inform the decision regarding seeking procedures to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement and reduce treatment duration. We constructed a survey eliciting views of the MID from adult participants from four countries undergoing orthodontic treatment. Ten questions addressed reduction in the treatment duration for both durations 12 and 24 months, and four questions were related to the reduction in treatment duration that the patients would require to undergo surgical or non-surgical adjunctive procedures. We applied a univariable random effects logistic regression model to examine the association between the participants' characteristics and the MID. Then, we fitted a multivariable logistic random effects regression including significant predictors. Four hundred and fifty adults, with a median age of 21 (interquartile range: 19-24), undergoing orthodontic treatment participated in the survey. Of the respondents, 60% considered 15 days as a trivial reduction from 12 months duration of therapy and 70% considered15 daysa trivial reduction from 24 months. Of the respondents, 48% considered the period of 2 months a moderate reduction from 12 months, and 60% considered 2 months a moderate reduction from 24 months. From these results, we inferred that patients considered reductions of approximately 1 month as the MID in the treatment duration for both 12 and 24 months. However, SWE was considerably more than the MID for most of the participants to decide undergoing surgical adjunctive procedures to reduce the time of therapy. The participants required smaller SWE to undergo non-surgical procedurescompared to surgical procedures. The MID in the treatment duration is one month for both treatment durations 12 and 24 months. Patients require a greater SWE than the MID to undergo adjunctive procedures to shorten the duration, particularly for surgical procedures.

Safety profiles of offspring born from early-follicular long-acting GnRH agonist protocol and daily mid-luteal GnRH agonist protocol: a retrospective study

BackgroundThe gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH-a) have been widely used for controlled ovarian stimulation in assisted reproductive technology (ART). The early-follicular long-acting GnRH-a long protocol (EFL) and the luteal phase short-acting GnRH-a long protocol (LPS) are commonly used GnRH agonist protocols. We conducted a retrospective analysis to assess and compare the rates of congenital abnormalities and safety profiles in offspring born from the EFL and LPS protocols.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study to analyze and compare neonatal data from patients who using EFL or LPS protocols at our center between January 1, 2014, and June 30, 2017. The study ultimately included 1810 neonates from 1401 cycles using the EFL protocol and 2700 neonates from 2129 cycles using the LPS protocol.The main outcome measures are gestational age at delivery, birth weight, and congenital anomaly rate.To assess the influence of various factors on congenital abnormalities, a random-effects logistic regression model was employed.ResultsThe EFL and LPS protocols led to similar congenital anomaly rates (1.64% vs. 2.35%, P = 0.149). No significant differences were found between the two groups regarding birth weight and its categories, newborn gender and congenital anomaly rate. The results of the multivariate logistic regression model indicated no association between congenital anomaly and BMI, duration of infertility, treatment protocol, fertilization method, or embryo transfer stage. Compared with singleton pregnancies, the probability of congenital defects in multiple pregnancies was 2.64 times higher (OR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.72–4.05, P < 0.0001). Newborns with congenital defects were born with a lower gestational age compared with full-term pregnancies.ConclusionIn conclusion, the EFL protocol is considered a safe option for ensuring offspring safety, comparable with the LPS protocol; however, multiple pregnancies represent an independent risk factor for congenital abnormalities. This approach can be widely adopted; however, prioritizing single embryo transfers is strongly recommended to minimize the potential risks associated with multiple pregnancies in offspring.

Loss of the "swallow tail sign" on susceptibility-weighted imaging in the diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Loss of dorsolateral nigral hyperintensity (DNH) on iron-sensitive brain MRI is useful for Parkinson's disease detection. DNH loss could also be of diagnostic value in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), an a-synuclein-related pathology. We aim to quantitatively synthesize evidence, investigating the role of MRI, a first-line imaging modality, in early DLB detection and differentiation from other dementias. Our study was conducted according to the PRISMA statement. MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched using the terms like "dementia with Lewy bodies", "dorsolateral nigral hyperintensity", and "MRI". Only English-written peer-reviewed diagnostic accuracy studies were included. We used QUADAS-2 for quality assessment. Our search yielded 363 search results. Three studies were eligible, all with satisfying, high quality. The total population of 227 patients included 63 with DLB and 164 with other diseases (Alzheimer disease, frontotemporal dementia, mild cognitive impairment). Using a univariate random-effects logistic regression model, our meta-analysis resulted in pooled sensitivity, specificity and DOR of 0.82 [0.62; 0.92], 0.79 [0.70; 0.86] and 16.26 ([3.3276; 79.4702], p = 0.0006), respectively, for scans with mixed field strength (1.5 and 3T). Subgroup analysis of 3T scans showed pooled sensitivity, specificity and DOR of 0.82 [0.61; 0.93], 0.82 [0.72; 0.89] and 18.36 ([4.24; 79.46], p < 0.0001), respectively. DNH loss on iron-sensitive MRI might comprise a supportive biomarker for DLB detection, that could augment the value of the DLB diagnostic criteria. Further evaluation using standardized protocols is needed, as well as direct comparison to other supportive and indicative biomarkers.

The occurrence of and factors associated with mental ill-health amongst humanitarian aid workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Humanitarian crises and disasters affect millions of people worldwide. Humanitarian aid workers are civilians or professionals who respond to disasters and provide humanitarian assistance. In doing so, they face several stressors and traumatic exposures. Humanitarian aid workers also face unique challenges associated with working in unfamiliar settings. To determine the occurrence of and factors associated with mental ill-health among humanitarian aid workers. CINAHL plus, Cochrane library, Global Health, Medline, PubMed, Web of Science were searched from 2005-2020. Grey literature was searched on Google Scholar. PRISMA guidelines were followed and after double screening, studies reporting occurrence of mental ill-health were included. Individual narratives and case studies were excluded, as were studies that reported outcomes in non-humanitarian aid workers. Data on occurrence of mental ill-health and associated factors were independently extracted and combined in a narrative summary. A random effects logistic regression model was used for the meta-analysis. Nine studies were included with a total of 3619 participants, reporting on five types of mental ill-health (% occurrence) including psychological distress (6.5%-52.8%); burnout (8.5%-32%); anxiety (3.8%-38.5%); depression (10.4%-39.0%) and post-traumatic stress disorder (0% to 25%). Hazardous drinking of alcohol ranged from 16.2%-50.0%. Meta-analysis reporting OR (95% CI) among humanitarian aid workers, for psychological distress was 0.45 (0.12-1.64); burnout 0.34 (0.27-0.44); anxiety 0.22 (0.10-0.51); depression 0.32 (0.18-0.57) and PTSD 0.11 (0.03-0.39). Associated factors included young age, being female and pre-existing mental ill-health. Mental ill-health is common among humanitarian aid workers, has a negative impact on personal well-being, and on a larger scale reduces the efficacy of humanitarian organisations with delivery of aid and retention of staff. It is imperative that mental ill-health is screened for, detected and treated in humanitarian aid workers, before, during and after their placements. It is essential to implement psychologically protective measures for individuals working in stressful and traumatic crises.

A surge in food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic in a cohort in Mexico City.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only caused tremendous loss of life and health but has also greatly disrupted the world economy. The impact of this disruption has been especially harsh in urban settings of developing countries. We estimated the impact of the pandemic on the occurrence of food insecurity in a cohort of women living in Mexico City, and the socioeconomic characteristics associated with food insecurity severity. We analyzed data longitudinally from 685 women in the Mexico City-based ELEMENT cohort. Food insecurity at the household level was gathered using the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale and measured in-person during 2015 to 2019 before the pandemic and by telephone during 2020-2021, in the midst of the pandemic. Fluctuations in the average of food insecurity as a function of calendar time were modeled using kernel-weighted local polynomial regression. Fixed and random-effects ordinal logistic regression models of food insecurity were fitted, with timing of data collection (pre-pandemic vs. during pandemic) as the main predictor. Food insecurity (at any level) increased from 41.6% during the pre-pandemic period to 53.8% in the pandemic stage. This increase was higher in the combined severe-moderate food insecurity levels: from 1.6% pre-pandemic to 16.8% during the pandemic. The odds of severe food insecurity were 3.4 times higher during the pandemic relative to pre-pandemic levels (p<0.01). Socioeconomic status quintile (Q) was significantly related to food insecurity (Q2 OR = 0.35 p<0.1, Q3 OR = 0.48 p = 0.014, Q4 OR = 0.24 p<0.01, and Q5 OR = 0.17 p<0.01), as well as lack of access to social security (OR = 1.69, p = 0.01), and schooling (OR = 0.37, p<0.01). Food insecurity increased in Mexico City households in the ELEMENT cohort as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These results contribute to the body of evidence suggesting that governments should implement well-designed, focalized programs in the context of economic crisis such as the one caused by COVID-19 to prevent families from the expected adverse health and well-being consequences associated to food insecurity, especially for the most vulnerable.

Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound screening for fetal structural abnormalities during the first and second trimester of pregnancy in low-risk and unselected populations.

Prenatal ultrasound is widely used to screen for structural anomalies before birth. While this is traditionally done in the second trimester, there is an increasing use of first-trimester ultrasound for early detection of lethal and certain severe structural anomalies. To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound in detecting fetal structural anomalies before 14 and 24 weeks' gestation in low-risk and unselected pregnant women and to compare the current two main prenatal screening approaches: a single second-trimester scan (single-stage screening) and a first- and second-trimester scan combined (two-stage screening) in terms of anomaly detection before 24 weeks' gestation. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science), Social Sciences Citation Index (Web of Science), Arts & Humanities Citation Index and Emerging Sources Citation Index (Web of Science) from 1 January 1997 to 22 July 2022. We limited our search to studies published after 1997 and excluded animal studies, reviews and case reports. No further restrictions were applied. We also screened reference lists and citing articles of each of the included studies. Studies were eligible if they included low-risk or unselected pregnant women undergoing a first- and/or second-trimester fetal anomaly scan, conducted at 11 to 14 or 18 to 24 weeks' gestation, respectively. The reference standard was detection of anomalies at birth or postmortem. Two review authors independently undertook study selection, quality assessment (QUADAS-2), data extraction and evaluation of the certainty of evidence (GRADE approach). We used univariate random-effects logistic regression models for the meta-analysis of sensitivity and specificity. Eighty-seven studies covering 7,057,859 fetuses (including 25,202 with structural anomalies) were included. No study was deemed low risk across all QUADAS-2 domains. Main methodological concerns included risk of bias in the reference standard domain and risk of partial verification. Applicability concerns were common in studies evaluating first-trimester scans and two-stage screening in terms of patient selection due to frequent recruitment from single tertiary centres without exclusion of referrals. We reported ultrasound accuracy for fetal structural anomalies overall, by severity, affected organ system and for 46 specific anomalies. Detection rates varied widely across categories, with the highest estimates of sensitivity for thoracic and abdominal wall anomalies and the lowest for gastrointestinal anomalies across all tests. The summary sensitivity of a first-trimester scan was 37.5% for detection of structural anomalies overall (95% confidence interval (CI) 31.1 to 44.3; low-certainty evidence) and 91.3% for lethal anomalies (95% CI 83.9 to 95.5; moderate-certainty evidence), with an overall specificity of 99.9% (95% CI 99.9 to 100; low-certainty evidence). Two-stage screening had a combined sensitivity of 83.8% (95% CI 74.7 to 90.1; low-certainty evidence), while single-stage screening had a sensitivity of 50.5% (95% CI 38.5 to 62.4; very low-certainty evidence). The specificity of two-stage screening was 99.9% (95% CI 99.7 to 100; low-certainty evidence) and for single-stage screening, it was 99.8% (95% CI 99.2 to 100; moderate-certainty evidence). Indirect comparisons suggested superiority of two-stage screening across all analyses regarding sensitivity, with no significant difference in specificity. However, the certainty of the evidence is very low due to the absence of direct comparisons. A first-trimester scan has the potential to detect lethal and certain severe anomalies with high accuracy before 14 weeks' gestation, despite its limited overall sensitivity. Conversely, two-stage screening shows high accuracy in detecting most fetal structural anomalies before 24 weeks' gestation with high sensitivity and specificity. In a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 fetuses, the first-trimester scan is expected to correctly identify 113 out of 124 fetuses with lethal anomalies (91.3%) and 665 out of 1776 fetuses with any anomaly (37.5%). However, 79 false-positive diagnoses are anticipated among 98,224 fetuses (0.08%). Two-stage screening is expected to correctly identify 1448 out of 1776 cases of structural anomalies overall (83.8%), with 118 false positives (0.1%). In contrast, single-stage screening is expected to correctly identify 896 out of 1776 cases before 24 weeks' gestation (50.5%), with 205 false-positive diagnoses (0.2%). This represents a difference of 592 fewer correct identifications and 88 more false positives compared to two-stage screening. However, it is crucial to acknowledge the uncertainty surrounding the additional benefits of two-stage versus single-stage screening, as there are no studies directly comparing them. Moreover, the evidence supporting the accuracy of first-trimester ultrasound and two-stage screening approaches primarily originates from studies conducted in single tertiary care facilities, which restricts the generalisability of the results of this meta-analysis to the broader population.

Predictors of accessing seasonal malaria chemoprevention medicines through non-door-to-door distribution in Nigeria

BackgroundIn Nigeria, seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) is typically administered door-to-door to children under five by community medicine distributors during high transmission seasons. While door-to-door distribution (DDD) is exclusively employed in Nigeria as part of standard operating procedures of SMC programmes, some households access SMC through non-DDD channels, such as fixed-point distributions, health facilities, and private purchase. However, analysis of access to SMC medicines through non-DDD has been limited, with little evidence of its outcomes on adherence to the three-day complete course of SMC medicines and caregiver actions in the event of adverse reactions to SMC medicines.MethodsData were obtained from SMC end-of-round coverage surveys conducted in Nigeria in 2021 and 2022, including 25,278 households for the analysis. The proportion of households accessing SMC medicine through non-DDD and the distribution of various non-DDD sources of SMC medicines were described. Multivariate random-effects logistic regression models were performed to identify predictors of accessing SMC medicines through non-DDD. The associations between non-DDD, and caregiver-reporting of adherence to complete administration of SMC medicines and caregiver actions in the event of adverse reactions to SMC medicines were also assessed.ResultsLess than 2% (314/24003) of households accessed SMC medicines through non-DDD in the states surveyed. Over 60% of non-DDD access was via health facility personnel and community medicine distributors from different locations. Variables associated with non-DDD access included heads of household being born in the local state (OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.90), households residing in the study state since the first cycle of the SMC round (OR = 0.39, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.88), households with high wealth index (OR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.82), and caregivers hearing about date of SMC delivery in the previous cycle (OR = 0.18, 95%CI 0.14 to 0.24). Furthermore, non-DDD was associated with reduced SMC adherence and higher caregiver non-reporting of adverse reactions to SMC medicines in children compared with DDD.ConclusionThis study provides evidence on the characteristics of households accessing SMC medicines through non-DDD and its potential negative outcomes on adherence to SMC medicine and adverse reaction reporting, underscoring potential implementation issues that may arise if non-DDD delivery models are adopted in SMC, particularly in places where DDD had been firstly used.

Modeling the impact of driving aggression on lane change performance Measures: Steering compensatory Behavior, lane change execution duration and crash probability

The current study aimed to investigate the influence of driving aggression on lane change behavior. Drivers belonging to three levels of aggressive driving styles (aggressive, moderately aggressive, and non-aggressive) participated in lane change experiments, and 232 lane change maneuvers were recorded. Steering behavior during lane change maneuvers was investigated using three steering performance measures, including the standard deviations of steering angle, steering reversal rates, and maximum steering swerve. Three separate generalized estimating equation models were developed to analyze the effects of aggressive driving behavior on the standard deviation of steering angle, steering reversal rates, and maximum steering swerve. A Weibull accelerated failure time model with clustered heterogeneity was developed to analyze the effect of aggressive driving behavior on lane change execution duration. Additionally, to model the crash probability during lane change, a random effects logistic regression model was developed. The findings indicate that aggressive and moderately aggressive drivers completed lane changes 59% and 38% faster, respectively, compared to non-aggressive drivers. This implies a propensity for aggressive and moderately aggressive drivers to execute lane changes more swiftly than non-aggressive drivers. Aggressive drivers increased their standard deviation of steering angle, steering reversal rates, and maximum steering swerves by 180%, 60%, and 62%, respectively, compared to non-aggressive drivers. This implies that aggressive drivers engaged in extreme steering behavior as a compensatory measure for their reckless driving in order to avoid a collision during lane change maneuvering. However, despite their vigorous compensatory steering behavior, the crash rate (number of crashes observed) increased by 5.10 and 2.83 times for aggressive and moderately aggressive drivers, respectively, compared to non-aggressive drivers. The findings have implications for developing driving assistance systems and lane change simulation models.

Obstetric Interventions Among Native and Migrant Women: The (Over)use of Episiotomy in Portugal.

Objective: Episiotomy, defined as the incision of the perineum to enlarge the vaginal opening during childbirth, is one of the most commonly performed surgical interventions in the world. We aimed to determine if migrant status is associated with episiotomy, and if individual characteristics mediate this association. Methods: We analyzed data from the Bambino study, a national, prospective cohort of migrant and native women giving birth at a public hospital in mainland Portugal between 2017 and 2019. We included all women with vaginal delivery. The association between migrant status and episiotomy was assessed using multivariable multilevel random-effect logistic regression models. We used path analysis to quantify the direct, indirect and total effects of migrant status on episiotomy. Results: Among 3,583 women with spontaneous delivery, migrant parturients had decreased odds of episiotomy, especially those born in Africa, compared to native Portuguese women. Conversely, with instrumental delivery, migrant women had higher odds of episiotomy. Disparities in episiotomy were largely explained by maternity units' factors, and little by maternal and fetal characteristics. Conclusion: Our results suggest non-medically justified differential episiotomy use during childbirth and highlight the importance of developing evidence-based recommendations for episiotomy use in a country with a high frequency of medical interventions during delivery.

Human Papillomavirus-Attributable Head and Neck Cancers in India-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Head and neck cancer accounts for about one third of the global burden in India. Mucosal high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) has been hypothesized as a contributory risk factor for head and neck cancer (HNC) but its prevalence in Indian patients is not well established. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of HPV in HNC in India and their attributable fraction by considering the biomarkers of carcinogenesis, p16, and HPV E6/E7 mRNA. A systematic literature search was done in Medline via PubMed, Embase, Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, and Cochrane to identify studies on HPV and HNC in the Indian population, published between January 1990 and October 2022. Fifty-four eligible studies were identified and relevant clinical information was collected. Meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the pooled prevalence of HPV DNA, p16INK4a, and E6/E7 mRNA percent positivity by random-effect logistic regression model using Metapreg, STATA 18. Thirty-four high-quality studies were taken for meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of HPV in HNC was 20% (95% CI, 12 to 32) with a high level of heterogeneity (I2 = 90.79%). The proportion of HPV in oropharyngeal cancer (OPC; 22% [95% CI, 13 to 34]) and laryngeal cancer (LC; 29% [95% CI, 17 to 46]) was higher than in oral cancer (OC; 16% [95% CI, 8 to 30]). The HPV-attributable fraction of OPC, considering the E6/E7 mRNA and p16 positivity, was 12.54% and 9.68%, respectively, almost similar to LC (11.6% and 9.57%), while it was much lower in OC (3.36% and 4%). The HPV-attributable fraction is considerably lower for OC, suggesting a negligible causative role of HPV in OC. A significant proportion of OPC and LC are attributed to HPV; however, their exact causative role is unclear because of the presence of other known risk factors.

Diffusion of medications for opioid use disorder treatment in jail settings: a convergent mixed methods study of jail staff perspectives

BackgroundImplementation of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in jails varies by facility and across states. Organizational climate, including staff attitudes toward change and exposure to education, can influence perceptions of innovations like MOUD in jails. Using a mixed methods design, we aimed to understand the association between organizational climate and jail staff perceptions of MOUD.MethodsJail staff (n = 111) who operate MOUD programs in 6 Massachusetts jails completed surveys that included the Organizational Readiness for Implementing Change (ORIC) survey. Random effects logistic regression models assessed associations between organizational climate and several outcomes of perceived MOUD efficacy, acceptability, and knowledge, while controlling for covariates. Jail staff (N = 61) participated in qualitative interviews and focus groups focused on organizational climate and knowledge diffusion, which we analyzed using inductive and deductive methods.ResultsThe results indicate that organizational change readiness on the ORIC was associated with positive perceptions of MOUD, and educational resources facilitated MOUD implementation. Greater ORIC was associated with higher perception of methadone as highly acceptable for jail populations (Odds ratio [OR] 2.3, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.2 to 4.4), and high knowledge of methadone (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1 to 4.9), with similar magnitude of effects for buprenorphine. High levels of training for jail staff on methadone and buprenorphine were also associated with higher knowledge of these medications (Methadone: OR 7.2, 95% CI 2.2 to 23.2; Buprenorphine: OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.2 to 9.5). Qualitative results point towards the importance of organizational climate and elucidate educational strategies to improve staff perceptions of MOUD.ConclusionResults underscore the importance of organizational climate for successful implementation of jail MOUD programs and provide support for medication-specific educational resources as a facilitator of successful MOUD implementation in jail settings. Findings highlight implementation strategies that may improve jail staff perceptions of MOUD.

Neuropsychiatric Adverse Effects of Synthetic Glucocorticoids: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Synthetic glucocorticoids are widely used to treat patients with a broad range of diseases. While efficacious, glucocorticoids can be accompanied by neuropsychiatric adverse effects. This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses and quantifies the proportion of different neuropsychiatric adverse effects in patients using synthetic glucocorticoids. Six electronic databases were searched to identify potentially relevant studies. Randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and cross-sectional studies assessing psychiatric side effects of glucocorticoids measured with validated questionnaires were eligible. Risk of bias was assessed with RoB 2, ROBINS-I, and AXIS appraisal tool. For proportions of neuropsychiatric outcomes, we pooled proportions, and when possible, differences in questionnaire scores between glucocorticoid users and nonusers were expressed as standardized mean differences (SMD). Data were pooled in a random-effects logistic regression model. We included 49 studies with heterogeneity in study populations, type, dose, and duration of glucocorticoids. For glucocorticoid users, meta-analysis showed a proportion of 22% for depression (95% CI, 14%-33%), 11% for mania (2%-46%), 8% for anxiety (2%-25%), 16% for delirium (6%-36%), and 52% for behavioral changes (42%-61%). Questionnaire scores for depression (SMD of 0.80 [95% CI 0.35-1.26]), and mania (0.78 [0.14-1.42]) were higher than in controls, indicating more depressive and manic symptoms following glucocorticoid use. The heterogeneity of glucocorticoid use is reflected in the available studies. Despite this heterogeneity, the proportion of neuropsychiatric adverse effects in glucocorticoid users is high. The most substantial associations with glucocorticoid use were found for depression and mania. Upon starting glucocorticoid treatment, awareness of possible psychiatric side effects is essential. More structured studies on incidence and potential pathways of neuropsychiatric side effects of prescribed glucocorticoids are clearly needed.

Evaluating the Impact of Maternal Exposure to Ozone on Twin Fetal Growth in China.

Unlike singletons, twins require attention not only to the birth weight of the fetuses but also to discordance (i.e., the differences between weights) because twin growth discordance is a significant factor contributing to perinatal mortality and morbidity in twin pregnancies. However, the impact of maternal air pollution exposure on twin growth discordance has rarely been investigated. We examined the association of long-term ozone exposure during preconception and pregnancy with the birth weight of twins and twin growth discordance among 35,795 twins from the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project between January 2010 and December 2019. Linear mixed-effect models and random-effect logistic regression models were used to examine the associations of ozone exposure with the birth weight-related outcomes (i.e., birth weight of twins and within-pair birth weight difference) and risk of twin growth discordance, respectively, after adjustment for demographic characteristics and lifestyle. We found that an interquartile range (IQR) increase (15 μg/m3) in ozone exposure during the entire pregnancy was associated with a reduction (-28.96g, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -46.37, -11.56) in the total birth weight of twins, and ozone had a more pronounced impact on the birth weight of the smaller fetuses (-18.28 g, 95% CI: -27.22, -9.34) compared to the larger fetuses (-9.88 g, 95% CI: -18.84, -0.92) in twin pregnancies. An IQR increase in ozone exposure during the entire pregnancy was associated with a significant increase (8.41 g, 95% CI: 4.13, 12.69) in the within-pair birth weight difference; the odds ratio (OR) of twin growth discordance related to ozone exposure increased by 9% (OR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.18). However, no consistently significant associations were observed for ozone exposure during prepregnancy. Male-male twin pairs and those who were born prematurely appeared to be more susceptible to ozone exposure than their counterparts. Long-term ozone exposure during pregnancy was associated with twin growth discordance, and our findings provide reference data for future studies.

The Clinical Picture of Castleman Disease: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis of Almost 2000 Patients

Background: Castleman disease (CD) encompasses a spectrum of rare disorders with characteristic histopathological features, including unicentric (UCD), idiopathic multicentric (iMCD) and cases that are associated with the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8+ MCD). As treatment options for each type of CD vary, it is important to be able to distinguish their clinical presentation from their subtypes and determine the correct diagnosis. To our knowledge, there are no major review articles summarising the clinical features of different CD subtypes. The aim of this study was to describe and compare the clinical presentation of different CD subtypes reported in the literature. Methods: We performed a systematic review of publications reporting ≥5 cases of CD between 1995 and 2021, following the PRISMA guidelines. Publications were cross-checked by study location, data collection period and investigators to identify duplicated patients. Where a patient may have been included in &amp;gt;1 study, the publication with the fewest patients or least symptom data was excluded. For each subtype of CD within each study, we extracted data on demographics, clinical symptoms and laboratory parameters as stated in the international consensus diagnostic criteria for iMCD. We estimated the mean percentage of patients meeting each diagnostic criterion for each CD subtype using meta-analyses conducted with random-effects logistic regression models. Results: We analysed 32 studies with 1998 patients from 16 countries, including 559 UCD, 1023 iMCD and 416 HHV8+ MCD cases. There was a predominance of males not only in HHV8+ MCD (88.5% males) but also in iMCD (59.1% males). Patients with UCD tended to be younger than patients with iMCD and HHV8+ MCD. Most patients with iMCD (91.8%) and UCD (84.7%) were of Asian ethnicity. Only 58 patients (6.4%) with iMCD were White. In contrast, almost all patients with HHV8+ MCD (93.7%) were White or Black/African American. Many symptoms and laboratory abnormalities occurred at similar rates in patients with iMCD and HHV8+ MCD (Table 1). There were no significant differences in laboratory findings between patients with iMCD and HHV8+ MCD. However, compared with patients with HHV8+ MCD, patients with iMCD had significantly lower rates of constitutional symptoms (46.6% vs 98.6%, p=0.038) and splenomegaly (48.2% vs 89.2%, p=0.031). In contrast, renal dysfunction seemed to appear more commonly in iMCD (36.9% vs 17.4%, not statistically significant). Patients with UCD had significantly lower rates of laboratory abnormalities vs those with iMCD and HHV8+ MCD (p&amp;lt;0.05 for all parameters listed in Table 1). Except for cutaneous findings, patients with UCD had significantly lower rates of symptoms than patients with either iMCD or HHV8+ MCD (p&amp;lt;0.05 for all non-cutaneous parameters in Table 1). However, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), anaemia and hypergammaglobulinaemia occurred in almost 20% of patients with UCD and pulmonary findings were observed in 15.3% of cases. We identified five additional publications including 88 paediatric patients with UCD. Paediatric patients with UCD had more signs of systemic inflammation than adult UCD patients. Elevated CRP was reported in 45.1% (95% CI 20.9-71.8, n=50) of paediatric UCD patients (vs 19.7% of adults [95% CI 11.2-30.9]). Constitutional symptoms were reported in 44.4% (95% CI 21.5-69.2, n=18) of patients - significantly higher than the rate reported in adult patients with UCD (4.5%, 95% CI 1.6-12.3; p=0.0005). Conclusions: This systematic review complements the diagnosis and management guidelines for iMCD and UCD and provides a detailed description of the clinical presentation of HHV8+ MCD. We found several distinct differences between iMCD and HHV8+ MCD, probably reflecting the heterogeneity of the underlying pathomechanisms and/or different comorbidity burdens of these CD subtypes. We confirmed that systemic symptoms may be present in up to 20% of patients with UCD. Whether these cases represent a distinct entity and whether intermediate CD cases require systemic therapy beyond surgery remains to be elucidated.

The Relationship Between Patient Experience Special Care Measures and Joint Commission Accreditation Standards Compliance

Accreditation evaluates healthcare organization quality of care and patient safety processes, but the influence of this activity on the patient experience is not well understood. This study was designed to explore the relationship between accreditation survey scoring and patient experience of care using a subset of The Joint Commission (TJC) accreditation standards that are conceptually aligned with the Home Health Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HHCAHPS) Special Care Issues composite. This was an observational study that used 2018 to 2019 CMS HHCAHPS data and TJC survey findings for 1464 accredited HHAs. The presence or absence of Requirements for Improvement (RFIs) indicating observed noncompliance and the Survey Analysis for Evaluating Risk (SAFER) score were used as independent variables in the analysis. Dependent variables included 3 HHCAHPS composite measures and 2 global rating measures. Data were analyzed using 2 sets of random effects logistic regression models. We found that an increase in RFIs scored on an HHA survey was associated with lower HHCAHPS score on all measures. When the frequency of RFIs and SAFER scores increased, there was a corresponding decline in HHCAHPS ratings, suggesting that patient experience ratings can potentially identify quality of care issues, when experience questions and quality concepts are sufficiently aligned. Adherence to Joint Commission accreditation standards may positively influence some aspects of the patient experience of care. While causality remains uncertain, accreditation appears to play a role in contributing to these outcomes.

Change in Hospital Risk-standardized Stroke Mortality Performance With and Without the Passive Surveillance Stroke Severity Score

Background: Adjustment for baseline stroke severity is necessary for accurate assessment of hospital performance. We evaluated whether adjusting for the Passive Surveillance Stroke SeVerity (PaSSV) score, a measure of stroke severity derived using administrative data, changed hospital-specific estimated 30-day risk-standardized mortality rate (RSMR) after stroke. Methods: We used linked administrative data to identify adults who were hospitalized with ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage across 157 hospitals in Ontario, Canada between 2014 and 2019. We fitted a random effects logistic regression model using Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods to estimate hospital-specific 30-day RSMR and 95% credible intervals with adjustment for age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index, and stroke type. In a separate model, we additionally adjusted for stroke severity using PaSSV. Hospitals were defined as low-performing, average-performing, or high-performing depending on whether the RSMR and 95% credible interval were above, overlapping, or below the cohort’s crude mortality rate. Results: We identified 65,082 patients [48.0% were female, the median age (25th,75th percentiles) was 76 years (65,84), and 86.4% had an ischemic stroke]. The crude 30-day all-cause mortality rate was 14.1%. The inclusion of PaSSV in the model reclassified 18.5% (n=29) of the hospitals. Of the 143 hospitals initially classified as average-performing, after adjustment for PaSSV, 20 were reclassified as high-performing and 8 were reclassified as low-performing. Of the 4 hospitals initially classified as low-performing, 1 was reclassified as high-performing. All 10 hospitals initially classified as high-performing remained unchanged. Conclusion: PaSSV may be useful for risk-adjusting mortality when comparing hospital performance. External validation of our findings in other jurisdictions is needed.

Abstract 407: The Efficacy and Frequency of Early Left Heart Catheterization After Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Over That Last Decade

Background: The efficacy of early coronary intervention after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) from out of hospital cardiac arrest, (OHCA) is debated. A recent review of the Wayne County, (Mi) CARES dataset from 2014-18 noted that early LHC maintained the strongest correlation to survival to discharge with good neurological outcome, for all-cause OHCA. Though the overall rate of LHC remained relatively stable, there was a sizable reduction in early LHC and a comparable increase in late LHC in those with CPC 1 and 2 at discharge [ 12 ] Our objective is to utilize the national CARES data to analyze the effect of early LHC on survival with good neurological outcome and to describe the frequency and timing of LHC in OHCA. Methods: This observational study included patients enrolled in the national CARES registry from 2013-21. For the outcome of LHC by year, chi square analysis was performed. Outcome was cerebral performance category, (CPC) (good &lt;3 vs. poor &gt; 3) at hospital discharge. A propensity score (PS) model was constructed using variables predictive of LHC and good outcome to determine probability of LHC. The PS was then used in an inverse weighted random effects logistic regression model to determine the independent effect of early LHC on outcome. Results: 132,758 individual cases were identified. Median age was 60.3 years (s.d. 16.6), 61.8% were male. Early coronary angiography was performed in 26,999 (20.3%) patients. Patients who underwent early angiography often had shockable rhythms (78.% vs 34%), suffered the OHCA in a public location (36.9% vs 26.1%%), and were witnessed cardiac arrests (80% vs 48%). For the full model the odds ratio for a good outcome after early LHC was 2.54 (95% CI 2.36 - 2.73). Only initial shockable rhythm was more predictive of a good outcome with an OR of 3.9. The proportion undergoing early catheterization declined from 27.6 % to 17.3% from 2013 to 2021; p &lt; 0.0001), though the overall catheterization rate remained the same. Conclusion: In patients with OHCA, early left heart catheterization retains a strong association with good neurological outcome at hospital discharge. The use of early left heart catheterization has declined significantly over the last 9 years.

Sex-Specific Obesity and Cardiometabolic Disease Risks in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Meta-Analysis Involving 3 916 276 Individuals.

There is limited knowledge about the disparities between the sexes in obesity prevalence and associated cardiovascular complications in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess sex-specific disparities in the prevalence of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases in LMICs, the burden in women, and variations by region, country's income status, setting, and time. We searched major databases from inception to March 2023. Two independent reviewers selected the studies, assessed their quality, and extracted data. We used DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models to obtain pooled estimates of odds ratios and 95% CI for the association between sex and obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, and multilevel random-effects logistic regression models to estimate the prevalence of relevant outcomes (PROSPERO CRD42019132609). We included 345 studies (3 916 276 individuals). The odds of obesity were 2.72-fold higher in women than men (OR 2.72; 95% CI, 2.54-2.91). The sex-specific disparities varied by region, with the greatest disparities in Sub-Saharan Africa (OR 3.91; 95% CI, 3.49-4.39). Among women in LMICs, 23% (95% CI, 21%-25%) had obesity, 27% (95% CI, 24%-29%) had hypertension, and 7% (95% CI, 6%-9%) had type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes in women varied by region, country's income, and setting, with the highest prevalence in the Middle East and North Africa, upper-middle-income countries and urban settings. The odds of hypertension (OR 2.41; 95% CI, 1.89-3.08) and type 2 diabetes (OR 2.65; 95% CI, 1.76-3.98) were doubled in women with vs without obesity. There is an urgent need for a women-centred and region-stratified approach to tackle obesity awareness, treatment, and prevention in women in LMICs.

An HIV prevention intervention helps immigrants open up about transactional sex. The Makasi study

Abstract Background Transactional sex is known to be an exposure factor for HIV acquisition among immigrants in France. We analysed the factors associated with the increase in the proportion of transactional sex among African immigrant men and women living in precarious situations in the greater Paris area. Methods Data were collected in the Makasi research project. Participants were recruited in public places based on their precarious situations, they were randomised into two groups (intervention and control) followed during six months between 2019 and 2021. We described the levels of transactional sex at each follow-up time (0, 3, 6 months) and used random-effects logistic regression models to analyse factors associated with the evolution of transactional sex participants. Results The majority of participants were men (76.5% (470/614)) and almost half of them arrived in France in two years prior to inclusion (49.8%). Transactional sex increased in both study groups: at inclusion, 1% of men in the control group and 0% in the intervention group reported having had transactional sex. At the six-month follow-up, 15% and 8% of men in the control and intervention groups respectively reported transactional sex. Among women, 7% in the control group and 8% in the intervention group reported transactional sex at baseline. They were 27% and 24% respectively to report transactional sex at the six-month follow-up in each group. We find that exposure to the intervention liberate the speech about transactional sex, especially among men. Conclusions Our results suggest that the proportion of transactional sex seems to be important among immigrants in precarious situations, especially among men, and that the empowerment intervention facilitated participants’ openness about their sexual activities. These results suggest that the social hardships and structural barriers faced by immigrants in precarious situations limit the effect of HIV prevention interventions in this population. Key messages • Social hardships experienced by immigrants must be addressed to reduce their exposure to HIV. • An empowerment-based outreach intervention facilitated participants’ openness about transactional sex.