Integration of healthcare services for HIV and non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: protocol for a scoping review of randomised controlled trials

Introduction
Stand-alone HIV clinics in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have effectively expanded antiretroviral therapy since the 2000s, transforming HIV from a deadly infection into a chronic condition. However, over the past decade, there has been a significant rise in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) globally and in SSA. People living with HIV are at higher risk for some NCDs, including hypertension, diabetes and different cancers. The region’s current healthcare infrastructure is not equipped to address this growing burden. Integrating health services for HIV and NCDs (ie, combining services for HIV with services for hypertension, diabetes, depression and mental health, substance use disorder or cancer) could be one strategy for responding to these challenges. In this scoping review, we aim to identify randomised controlled trials on HIV-NCD integration, assess implemented integration models and measured outcomes and highlight evidence gaps.

Methods and analysis
This scoping review will follow the Arksey and O’Malley (2005) methodological framework. Reporting will be guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. We will conduct a systematic search of the databases OVID Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Global, Africa Index Medicus, including terms related to HIV, NCDs and healthcare integration. Included trials must have been conducted within SSA and have been published in English or French after 1 January 2010. We will not select based on sample size or number of clusters. Both the title and abstract screening and full-text screening will be done in Covidence by at least two reviewers working independently. Data extraction will focus on key variables, including study design, geographical location, integration intervention, measured outcomes and reported findings.

Ethics and dissemination
This scoping review aims to generate new insights from publicly available research. Therefore, ethical approval is not required. Study findings will be shared through discussion with policymakers, implementation science researchers and healthcare providers. The results of this study are intended to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Trial registration
This protocol has been registered with Center for Open Science OSF Registry (DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/RGQSN). The search was conducted on 25 March 2024 and updated on 21 October 2024. The review is expected to be completed by March 2025.

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Exploring the levels of variation, inequality and use of physical activity intervention referrals in England primary care from 2017-2020: a retrospective cohort study

Objectives
In this study, we explore the use of physical activity intervention referrals in primary care in England and compare their use with the rate of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in England from 2017 to 2020. We also explore variation and inequalities in referrals to these interventions in England across the study period.

Design
Retrospective cohort study.

Setting
England primary care via the Royal College of General Practitioners Research Surveillance Centre.

Participants
The Royal College of General Practitioners Research Surveillance Centre, a sentinel network across England covering a population of over 15 000 000 registered patients, was used for data analyses covering the 2017–2020 financial years and including patients with long-term conditions indicating CVD risk factors.

Outcome measures
An existing ontology of primary care codes was used to capture physical activity interventions and a new ontology was designed to cover long-term conditions indicating CVD risk factors. Single factor analysis of variance, paired samples t-test and two-tailed, one proportion z-tests were used to determine the significance of our findings.

Results
We observed statistically significant variation in physical activity intervention referrals for people with CVD risk factors from different ethnic groups and age groups across different regions of England as well as a marked decrease during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interestingly, a significant difference was not seen for different socioeconomic groups or sexes. Across all attributes and time periods (with the exception of the 18–39 group, 2017–2019), we observed a statistically significant underuse of physical activity intervention referrals.

Conclusions
Our findings identified statistically significant variation and underuse of physical activity referrals in primary care in England for individuals at risk of CVD for different population subgroups, especially different ethnicities and age groups, across different regions of England and across time, with the COVID-19 pandemic exerting a significant negative impact on referral rates.

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Protocol for a randomised phase 3 trial evaluating the role of Finasteride in Active Surveillance for men with low and intermediate-risk prostate cancer: the FINESSE Study

Background
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common male malignancy in the western world. Many men (40%) are diagnosed with localised low or intermediate-risk PCa, which is suitable for active surveillance (AS). AS affords careful monitoring to identify changes in otherwise non-life-threatening cancers. While AS reduces overtreatment (and quality of life impact), long-term compliance can be poor, with many men undergoing radical treatment after starting AS.

Methods and analysis
Finasteride in Active Surveillance for men with low and intermediate-risk prostate cancer (FINESSE) is a prospective, open-label, two-arm, phase 3 trial, in which men with low or intermediate PCa are randomised (1:1) to receive AS with or without finasteride (5 mg once a day for 2 years). Randomisation is stratified by age and PCa risk. AS includes regular prostate-specific antigen testing, MRI scans and the offer of repeat biopsy (at 3 years, or if imaging suggests progression). Additional MRI scans and/or biopsies will be performed for biochemical or clinical indications. We aim to recruit 550 men (aged 50 to 75 years) from up to eight sites. Active outpatient follow-up will be for 3–5 years (depending on date recruited), followed by passive registry-based follow-up for up to 10 years. Primary outcome is adherence to AS. Secondary outcomes include rates and type of disease progression, treatments received (for PCa and benign prostatic enlargement), overall and PCa-specific mortality, an understanding of patients/professionals views of this approach and health-related quality of life. An external panel of experts blinded to allocation will review all AS cessation and progression events. Trial pathologist’s and radiologist’s, blinded to allocation, will review representative cases. Analysis is Intention to Treat.

Ethics and dissemination
The study received Health Research Authority and South-Central Oxford Research Ethics Committee (14/12/2021: 21/SC/0349) and CTA/MHRA (29/12/2021: 21304/0274/001–0001) approvals. Results will be made available to providers and researchers via publicly accessible scientific journals.

Trial registration number
ISRCTN16867955

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Hospitalisation from seasonal influenza among persons with type 1 diabetes: a cohort study from the Swedish National Diabetes Register

Objectives
The aim of this study was to investigate the risk of severe influenza resulting in hospitalisation among adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Design
Nationwide cohort study using register data.

Settings
Data from the National Diabetes Register (NDR) linked to the Swedish Patient Register, Statistics Sweden and the Swedish Population Register.

Participants
Persons with T1D in the Swedish NDR n=35 596 and control persons from the Swedish Population Register matched on age, sex and county of residence, n=155 590.

Primary and secondary outcomes
Hospitalisation from seasonal influenza from October 2013 to December 2019. Season-wise incidence and HRs were analysed in the T1D group compared with controls. Secondary outcomes were associations between clinical variables and hospitalisation due to seasonal influenza for persons with T1D.

Results
There were 347 (1.0%) influenza admissions in persons with T1D and 332 (0.2%) in the control group. The overall incidence rate was 16.9/10 000 person-years in the T1D group and 3.6/10 000 person-years for the control group. Persons with T1D had an unadjusted HR 4.7 (95% CI 4.0 to 5.5) for risk of hospitalisation from influenza during the study period and HR 3.4 (95% CI 2.9 to 4.0) when adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic factors and chronic medical conditions at baseline. Within the T1D cohort, individuals hospitalised due to influenza were older, were more often smokers, had lower glomerular filtration rate and more often had a previous history of ischaemic heart disease and stroke.

Conclusions
To our knowledge, this is the first large study to highlight that persons with T1D have a threefold higher risk of hospitalisation due to seasonal influenza compared with matched controls from the general population. It is important for healthcare professionals to acknowledge this excess risk, particularly in older persons with T1D, who have cardiovascular risk factors and reduced kidney function.

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Sangre Por Salud (SPS) Biobank: cohort profile

Purpose
The Sangre Por Salud (SPS) Biobank was established to facilitate biomedical research opportunities for the Latino community by creating an easily accessible prospective cohort for scientists interested in studying health conditions and health disparities in this population.

Participants
Individuals self-identifying as Latino, aged 18–85 years, were prospectively recruited from the primary care Internal Medicine clinic at Mountain Park Health Center in Phoenix, Arizona. After obtaining informed consent, detailed medical history questionnaires were captured, and blood samples were obtained for common laboratory tests. Participants authorised the research team to access their electronic health records for research purposes. In addition, participants had serum, plasma and DNA samples isolated and stored at the Mayo Clinic Arizona Biorepository Laboratory for long-term storage and future access. As part of the study, participants consented and agreed to be contacted for potential participation in future research studies.

Findings to date
3756 participants provided informed consent, of whom 3733 completed all study questionnaires, an oral glucose tolerance test and had blood collected and stored. The SPS cohort is predominantly composed of females (72%), with a median age at time of consent of 42 years. All participants self-identified as Hispanic/Latino, 45% were married, 53% were employed for wages and 60% had less than a high school degree. Around 25% of participants met diagnostic criteria for overweight (BMI 25–29 kg/m2), and 49% met for obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m2). At time of recruitment, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and depression affected 22%, 20% and 13% of the cohort, respectively.

Future plans
We plan to regularly update the participants’ electronic health records and self-reported health data to longitudinal research. Additionally, we plan to obtain a more comprehensive genomic analysis on the entire cohort, ensuring greater research interest and investigation into the underlying genetic factors that contribute to disease susceptibility in this cohort.

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Obstacles and opportunities for care collaboration through the utilisation of a preventive care process for frail older adults: a study protocol for a mixed methods study design

Background
Frail older adults constitute a significant vulnerable group with complex healthcare needs requiring collaboration between various care providers and professions. Despite this requirement, there are considerable knowledge gaps in how to achieve effective collaboration. Preventive measures such as addressing pressure ulcers, falls, malnutrition and poor oral health often receive low priority compared with treating diseases or injuries. This study aims to enhance our understanding of how care collaboration in the preventive care process (PcP) using the Senior alert (SA) register could improve patient safety and equality of care for frail older adults in Sweden.

Methods
This study, conducted over 4 years, employs an explanatory mixed methods design, divided into three phases. The study protocol comprises the two first phases.

Phase 1 (quantitative)
Data from SA (2019–2021) will be analysed to compare municipalities regarding the quality of registration in the PcP. Municipalities with high and low compliance indices will be identified and analysed together with data on demographics, socioeconomics and organisation from Statistics Sweden.

Phase 2 (qualitative)
Focus group interviews will be conducted in residential care units in the municipalities identified in phase 1 with interprofessional teams and older persons/next of kin. Additionally, 30 semi-structured individual interviews with residential care managers and other relevant stakeholders will explore obstacles and opportunities for effective care collaboration.

Discussion
We foresee that the results will contribute to the development of a model for effective PcP and care collaboration that can be used to improve patient safety and quality of care for frail older adults. This model can be tested and upscaled to achieve a more effective and equitable healthcare system.

Ethics and dissemination
The study has been approved by the Swedish ethical review authority. Dissemination plans involve publications, data deposition and engagement with healthcare stakeholders to ensure the practical application of the findings.

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Protocol of the TransformUs Secondary schools program: a type II hybrid implementation-effectiveness trial to increase adolescents physical activity and reduce sedentary time in secondary schools

Introduction
Despite the known health and educational benefits of physical activity and the risks of prolonged sedentary behaviour, only one in 10 adolescents globally meet physical activity guidelines, and three-quarters of the school day is spent sitting. TransformUs, an effective and cost-effective whole-of-school programme for promoting primary school children’s physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour, has been adapted for secondary schools (TransformUs Secondary). The aim of this paper is to describe the protocol for TransformUs Secondary in relation to implementation and scale-up across Australia, and the real-world effectiveness of the intervention on adolescents’ physical activity and sedentary time, as well as sitting time, sleep, well-being and class and school engagement.

Methods and analysis
A type II hybrid implementation-effectiveness trial will be conducted using a mixed-methods design. For the implementation trial, TransformUs Secondary will be disseminated via key organisations nationally (eg, state departments of education) and available to all Australian secondary schools (n=1453). Implementation outcomes will be evaluated using the RE-AIM framework (reach, adoption, implementation and maintenance). Data will be collected at the school and teacher levels via the TransformUs website (website analytics), descriptive quantitative surveys, text messages to teachers and qualitative interviews with teachers, students and representatives from key organisations. Descriptive statistics will summarise quantitative data, with regression analyses examining the associations between implementation strategies and outcomes. Implementation levels will be classified as low, moderate or high based on the extent of intervention delivery. Qualitative data will be thematically analysed.
We will assess effectiveness outcomes in 10 Victorian secondary schools using a pragmatic 1:1 waitlist control design. The target sample is 600 Year 7–10 students (12–16 years). Primary outcomes include adolescents’ physical activity and sedentary time (assessed with accelerometry), and secondary outcomes include health (sleep and well-being), class and school engagement (on-task behaviour assessed via classroom observation and school attendance) and sitting time (assessed with posture monitors). Descriptive analyses will summarise students’ demographics, physical activity, sedentary behaviour and engagement, while mixed models will evaluate intervention effects on these outcomes, adjusted for confounders. Additionally, qualitative data will be thematically analysed using deductive and inductive coding in NVivo.

Ethics and dissemination
These trials were approved by the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (2021–269) and by the following education authorities: Australian Capital Territory Education Directorate (RES 2317), New South Wales Department of Education (2022253), Northern Territory Department of Education (20865), Victoria Department of Education (2023_004712), Queensland Department of Education (550/27/2585), South Australian Department of Education (2022–0019), Tasmanian Department of Education (2022–25), Western Australian Department of Education (D23/1152724), and Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (1232). Results from this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journal articles, scientific conferences, summary reports to students and schools and stakeholder meetings.

Trial registration number
Australian Clinical Trials Registration Registry (ACTRN12622000600741).

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Role of private providers in the implementation of the national health insurance scheme in Zambia: a qualitative study of perceptions and experiences

Introduction
An increasing number of sub-Saharan African countries are implementing national health insurance schemes (NHISs) to support the aspiration of universal health coverage (UHC). A growing body of literature recognises the private sector role in improving NHIS equity in service access, public provider complementarity and overall member satisfaction. Zambia has implemented the NHIS since 2019 as a priority health financing strategy to support UHC. This study provides the first examination of the private sector’s experiences implementing the Zambia NHIS.

Methods
The study uses a qualitative study design and inductively synthesises data from 30 in-depth interviews with the private sector accredited to the Zambia NHIS in one rural and one urban province.

Results
The private sector was motivated by profits and complementarity with public providers regarding service readiness and availability. Providers perceived the accreditation process and fees as standard and affordable. Providers reported increased service utilisation, mainly by the NHIS clients. Senior citizens and the informal sector constituted the majority of users. There were implementation challenges, including delays in preauthorisations, loss of member details and exclusion and restrictions of interventions in the benefits package. Private providers also experienced overcrowding and reduced service quality. Providers perceived the service reimbursement levels as relatively cost-reflective, but some providers shifted models to maximise profits, including inducing demand to defraud the fund. Generally, providers perceived payments as within the agreed timelines, especially for online claims.

Conclusion
The initial scepticism among private providers before the initiation of the NHIS has subsided. The private provider’s experiences with accreditation, service utilisation, claims and reimbursements have been overall positive.

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Comparison of Noncontrast Computed Tomography, Multiphase Computed Tomography Angiography, and Computed Tomography Perfusion to Assess Infarct Growth Rate in Acute Stroke

Stroke, Ahead of Print. BACKGROUND:Infarct growth rate is remarkably heterogeneous in acute ischemic stroke, reflecting diverse clinical-physiological phenotypes. We compared different methods of estimating infarct growth rate in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing thrombectomy using multimodal computed tomography (CT) stroke imaging.METHODS:Secondary analysis of the international ESCAPE-NA1 trial (Efficacy and Safety of Nerinetide for the Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke) which evaluated the effect of nerinetide in patients with large vessel occlusion undergoing thrombectomy. Infarct growth rate was estimated leveraging each component of multimodal stroke CT imaging: (1) 10 minus baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) divided by hours elapsed from symptom onset on noncontrast CT (ASPECTS decay per hour); (2) collateral status on multiphase CT angiography (mCTA), and (3) hypoperfusion intensity ratio on CT perfusion. Patients were dichotomized into intermediate and slow progressors (since fast progressors were likely to be excluded from ESCAPE-NA1 based on trial enrollment criteria) according to median ASPECTS decay, presence of good versus moderate/poor mCTA collaterals, and median hypoperfusion intensity ratio, respectively. Associations between progressor phenotypes and 90-day modified Rankin Scale score were assessed across neuroimaging modalities using adjusted logistic regression analyses.RESULTS:Among 1105 patients enrolled in ESCAPE-NA1 between 2017 and 2019, 619 (56.0%) were assessed for progressor phenotypes using noncontrast CT, 1084 (98.1%) with mCTA, and 415 (37.6%) with CT perfusion. Median ASPECTS decay per hour was 1.05 (interquartile range, 0.05–1.85), 188/1084 (17%) patients had good collateral status on mCTA, and the median hypoperfusion intensity ratio was 0.44 (interquartile range, 0.28–0.59). Intermediate progressors showed worse functional outcomes compared with slow progressors only in CT perfusion strata: adjusted common odds ratio for modified Rankin Scale ordinal shift analysis of 1.69 (95% CI, 1.14–2.49). No significant association between progressor phenotypes and 90-day modified Rankin Scale was seen when the noncontrast CT and the mCTA approaches were used.CONCLUSIONS:Stroke progressor phenotypes based on CT perfusion criteria (using the hypoperfusion intensity ratio approach) were associated with clinical outcomes, while stroke progressor phenotypes based on noncontrast CT (ASPECTS decay) and mCTA (collateral status) criteria were not.

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Self-reported health complaints and healthcare-seeking behaviour among adult people in rural Bangladesh: results from a cross-sectional study

Objectives
This study aims to assess self-reported health complaints and healthcare-seeking behaviours in a rural population of Bangladesh. These factors are crucial for understanding health challenges and designing effective healthcare services in rural areas.

Design
A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to October 2021.

Setting
Four randomly selected administrative districts/regions of Bangladesh.

Participants
A total of 1645 rural participants aged 18 years and older.

Outcome measures
The study assessed the prevalence of self-reported health complaints and healthcare-seeking behaviours.

Results
Among the participants, 66% (1084 out of 1645) reported experiencing health complaints, with 80% seeking care and 20% either not seeking care or opting for self-care. Multivariable analysis revealed that participants with formal occupations (adjusted OR (aOR) = 0.609; 95% CI 0.396 to 0.938; p=0.025), those from the second (aOR=1.742; 95% CI 1.014 to 2.991; p=0.044) and fifth quintiles (aOR=1.210; 95% CI 0.726 to 2.019; p=0.465), with non-communicable disease (NCD) related complaints (aOR=5.299; 95% CI 3.673 to 7.643; p

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Physiotherapists perspectives on the implementation of direct access to physiotherapy services in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Objective
This study investigates Saudi Arabian physiotherapists’ perspectives on direct access to physiotherapy (DAPT) services, focusing on perceived benefits, barriers and implementation in clinical practice.

Methods
A cross-sectional observational study design was used. Data collection occurred between December 2022 and June 2023 via an online structured questionnaire distributed through email and text messages. The DAPT section comprised items on awareness, endorsement, obstacles/barriers to implementation in Saudi Arabia, perceived benefits and expected benefits of various resources to guide evidence-based practice for physiotherapists. This section featured closed-ended questions using a 5-point Likert scale. The study included licensed physiotherapists currently working in Saudi Arabia.

Results
The study included 401 participants, with a nearly equal distribution of 203 males (50.6%) and 198 females (49.4%). The most common age group was 25–34 years, comprising 70.6% of the participants. A significant proportion (61.6%) were aware of DAPT, and 88% acknowledged its potential to reduce delays in care. However, 49.9% had not engaged with relevant literature. The primary barriers to DAPT identified were laws and regulations (mean=3.69, SD=1.21), physician support (mean=3.59, SD=0.99), entry-level education (mean=3.45, SD=1.17), patient beliefs (mean=3.38, SD=1.24), self-confidence (mean=3.35, SD=1.15) and professional autonomy (mean=3.34, SD=1.22).

Conclusion
Physiotherapists in Saudi Arabia demonstrate substantial awareness of direct access. Organisational initiatives and increased awareness are essential to promote direct access. This study highlights that direct patient access to physiotherapists offers significant benefits to patients, healthcare workers and the broader community.

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Oral health surveys of traditional peoples and communities in Brazil: a scope review

Objective
The objective of this review was to map the available evidence on oral health surveys of traditional peoples and communities (TPC) in Brazil, addressing the question, ‘What evidence is available on oral health surveys of traditional peoples and communities in Brazil?’.

Design
Scoping review according to the Scoping Review extension for the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

Data sources
MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase and Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences were searched up until June 2023.

Eligibility criteria
Studies involving individuals from indigenous groups, quilombolas, riverside communities and Romani communities, all included in TPC in Brazil, were included without any age restrictions.

Data extraction and synthesis
Data were extracted by two independent reviewers, and studies were categorised considering the author and year of publication, the traditional group, study type, geographical location, age group, sample size, data collection method and the main oral health condition assessed.

Results
After the searches, 39 studies were included in the review, and 2 studies were manually added. The studies included in the review were published between the years 1968 and 2023. Of the total, 31 studies investigated the oral health condition of indigenous peoples, 7 were studies on quilombola communities and 3 studies focused on riverside communities. No studies on Romani people were found in the search. The majority of studies were located in the Northeast region (n=12) of the country, with dental caries being the main oral health issue assessed (n=13) through clinical examinations (n=25), with a high prevalence observed among TPC (n=11).

Conclusion
This review reveals that in Brazil, studies on the oral health of TPC are ongoing, although they occur in an isolated and independent manner, indicating a considerably high prevalence of oral health problems in these communities.

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Correction: Defining and measuring long COVID fatigue: a scoping review

Thomas B, Pattinson R, Edwards D, et al. Defining and measuring long COVID fatigue: a scoping review. BMJ Open 2024;14:e088530. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024–0 88 530 The authors have identified several copyediting errors in their paper since it was published online. Results In the third paragraph, the eligibility criteria were met by 57 studies; however, the country-wise breakdown was not clearly provided. Additionally, the count for Italy was previously incorrect and has been revised from 8 to 7. The corrected text now reads: ‘Studies spanned 22 countries: Italy (n=7),27 44 54 60 67 71 72 Spain (n=6),30 39 43 57 59 65 UK (n=7),31 48 53 56 61 73 74 USA (n=6),32 35 36 52 75 76 Germany (n=5),28 38 50 63 77 Ireland (n=3),8 47 62 the Netherlands (n=3),51 68 78 Denmark (n=2),26 41 Egypt (n=2),66 79 Brazil (n=2),45 55 Hungary (n=2),40 80 France (n=1),64 India (n=2),37 81 Canada (n=1),9 Poland…

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Fluid balance and clinical outcomes in patients with aortic dissection: a retrospective case-control study based on ICU databases

Objectives
Aortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening condition that requires intensive care and management. This paper explores the role of fluid management in the clinical care of AD patients, which has been unclear despite the substantial existing research that has been conducted on the treatment of AD.

Design
A retrospective case-control study using data for AD patients from public databases.

Setting
Two public intensive care unit (ICU) databases with hospital courses from the USA, Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV critical care dataset and the eICU Collaborative Research Database, with data from 2008 to 2019.

Participants
A total of 751 adult AD patients with detailed fluid management records from two databases were included.

Interventions
The mean 24-hour intake and output were calculated by dividing the total amount of intake and output by the number of days in the ICU, respectively. The mean 24-hour fluid balance was generated by subtracting the output from the intake.

Outcome measures
The relationship between the mean 24-hour fluid management and all-cause in-hospital death was assessed through univariate and multivariable regression analyses.

Results
A positive correlation was found between mean 24-hour fluid intake and in-hospital mortality among AD patients (OR 1.029, 95% CI (1.018, 1.041), p

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Keeping Active with Texting after Stroke (KATS): a single-arm feasibility and acceptability study of a behavioural intervention to promote community-based physical activity after stroke rehabilitation

Objectives
To test the feasibility and acceptability of a text-message-delivered behavioural intervention to promote and maintain physical activity and recovery after stroke rehabilitation.

Design
A single-arm acceptability and feasibility study.

Setting
Community rehabilitation services in two Health Board areas in Scotland.

Participants
People with stroke who could participate in physical activities and use a mobile phone were recruited during rehabilitation and community rehabilitation.

Intervention
Keeping Active with Texting after Stroke (KATS) is an automated text message-delivered intervention informed by behaviour change theory. It delivers a structured sequence of 103 messages over 14 weeks to support the uptake and maintenance of physical activities following stroke rehabilitation.

Outcomes
Data on recruitment, retention and satisfaction were collected. Semistructured interviews explored intervention acceptability. Preintervention and postintervention measures provided preliminary information on step count, functional independence, mental well-being, self-efficacy and quality of life.

Results
18 men and 13 women were recruited; three withdrew before intervention commencement. All 28 participants who received at least one text message completed the study, indicating 100% retention. Median satisfaction score was 23/25 (range 12–25). All but one participant read and responded to texts, indicating good engagement. Effect sizes (Cohen’s d; per cent change) were demonstrated in step count (0.2; 13%), extended activities of daily living (0.24; 8.3%) and mental well-being (0.35; 7%). Participants perceived KATS as acceptable, valuing messages and motivational prompts, but personalised tailoring was desired by some.

Conclusions
Recruitment, retention and outcome measure completion were feasible, and KATS was perceived as acceptable. Findings suggest some modifications of messages and goal-setting processes are required to accommodate participants with diverse physical activity capabilities before a definitive trial. Promising indicators of effects were detected, although interpretation must be cautious because the study was not powered to determine efficacy, and there was no control group. Based on these findings, KATS will be further optimised before evaluating effectiveness in a randomised controlled trial.

Trial registration number and protocol availability
ISRCTN 13704805 https://www.hra.nhs.uk/planning-and-improving-research/application-summaries/research-summaries/keeping-active-with-texting-after-stroke-kats/
Protocol available https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN13704805?q=13704805&filters=&sort=&offset=1&totalResults=1&page=1&pageSize=10

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