US Surveillance of Acute Ischemic Stroke Patient Characteristics, Care Quality, and Outcomes for 2019

Stroke, Ahead of Print. BACKGROUND:The United States lacks a timely and accurate nationwide surveillance system for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We use the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke registry to apply poststratification survey weights to generate national assessment of AIS epidemiology, hospital care quality, and in-hospital outcomes.METHODS:Clinical data from the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke registry were weighted using a Bayesian interpolation method anchored to observations from the national inpatient sample. To generate a US stroke forecast for 2019, we linearized time trend estimates from the national inpatient sample to project anticipated AIS hospital volume, distribution, and race/ethnicity characteristics for the year 2019. Primary measures of AIS epidemiology and clinical care included patient and hospital characteristics, stroke severity, vital and laboratory measures, treatment interventions, performance measures, disposition, and clinical outcomes at discharge.RESULTS:We estimate 552 476 patients with AIS were admitted in 2019 to US hospitals. Median age was 71 (interquartile range, 60–81), 48.8% female. Atrial fibrillation was diagnosed in 22.6%, 30.2% had prior stroke/transient ischemic attack, and 36.4% had diabetes. At baseline, 46.4% of patients with AIS were taking antiplatelet agents, 19.2% anticoagulants, and 46.3% cholesterol-reducers. Mortality was 4.4%, and only 52.3% were able to ambulate independently at discharge. Performance nationally on AIS achievement measures were generally higher than 95% for all measures but the use of thrombolytics within 3 hours of early stroke presentations (81.9%). Additional quality measures had lower rates of receipt: dysphagia screening (84.9%), early thrombolytics by 4.5 hours (79.7%), and statin therapy (80.6%).CONCLUSIONS:We provide timely, reliable, and actionable US national AIS surveillance using Bayesian interpolation poststratification weights. These data may facilitate more targeted quality improvement efforts, resource allocation, and national policies to improve AIS care and outcomes.

Leggi
Luglio 2022

Randomised trials in maternal and perinatal health in low and middle-income countries from 2010 to 2019: a systematic scoping review

Objectives
To identify and map all trials in maternal health conducted in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) over the 10-year period from 2010 to 2019, to identify geographical and thematic trends, as well as comparing to global causes of maternal death and preidentified priority areas.

Design
Systematic scoping review.

Primary and secondary outcome measures
Extracted data included location, study characteristics and whether trials corresponded to causes of mortality and identified research priority topics.

Results
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials database, a combined registry of trials from multiple sources. Our search identified 7269 articles, 874 of which were included for analysis. Between 2010 and 2019, maternal health trials conducted in LMICs more than doubled (50–114). Trials were conducted in 61 countries—231 trials (26.4%) were conducted in Iran. Only 225 trials (25.7%) were aligned with a cause of maternal mortality. Within these trials, pre-existing medical conditions, embolism, obstructed labour and sepsis were all under-represented when compared with number of maternal deaths globally. Large numbers of studies were conducted on priority topics such as labour and delivery, obstetric haemorrhage and antenatal care. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, diabetes and health systems and policy—despite being high-priority topics—had relatively few trials.

Conclusion
Despite trials conducted in LMICs increasing from 2010 to 2019, there were significant gaps in geographical distribution, alignment with causes of maternal mortality and known research priority topics. The research gaps identified provide guidance and insight for future research conduct in low-resource settings.

Trial registration number
10.17605/OSF.IO/QUJP5.

Leggi
Luglio 2022

Correlates of late initiation and underutilisation of the recommended eight or more antenatal care visits among women of reproductive age: insights from the 2019 Ghana Malaria Indicator Survey

Objective
This study assessed the correlates of late initiation and underutilisation of the WHO’s recommended eight or more antenatal care visits among women in Ghana.

Design
We analysed secondary data from 2163 women in the 2019 Ghana Malaria Indicator Survey, which collected data on malaria and antenatal care indicators among women of reproductive age across the previous 10 regions of Ghana.

Setting and participants
Women of reproductive age across the 10 regions of Ghana.

Main outcome measures
Late initiation and underutilisation of the recommended eight or more antenatal care visits among women of reproductive age.

Results
About half (49%) of the participants were between the ages of 25 and 34 years; mean (±SD)=30 (±7.10). The majority (57%) of the participants obtained less than eight antenatal care visits, while 32% initiated antenatal care visits after the first trimester. The significant factors associated with the late initiation of antenatal care visits were age, region and parity (p

Leggi
Luglio 2022

Global burden of musculoskeletal disorders and attributable factors in 204 countries and territories: a secondary analysis of the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study

Objective
To evaluate the global burden of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders, as well as the five common conditions, and their relevant risk factors from 1990 to 2019.

Design
Data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 were used in this study.

Setting and participants
Individuals of all ages and genders from 204 countries and territories in 21 regions.

Main outcome measures
The outcomes were the numbers and age-standardised rates (ASRs) of incident cases, deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of MSK disorders. The average annual percent changes (AAPCs) in the ASRs were calculated using joinpoint regression analysis to estimate the trends.

Results
There were 322.75 million incident cases, 117.54 thousand deaths and 150.08 million DALYs of MSK disorders in 2019. The age-standardised incidence rate and age-standardised DALY rate in 2019 (incidence: AAPC=–0.32, 95% CI –0.34 to –0.31; DALYs: AAPC=–0.05, 95% CI –0.06 to –0.04) were lower than those in 1990. However, the age-standardised death rate showed a stable trend (AAPC 0.05, 95% CI –0.05 to 0.15) from 1990 to 2019. The peak age of onset and DALYs of MSK disorders was 50–54 years in 2019. The burden of MSK disorders in females was much higher than that in males (1.29 times more incident cases, 2.24 times more deaths and 1.45 times more DALYs in females than in males). A significant negative correlation was observed between the AAPCs in the ASRs and the Sociodemographic Index (SDI) score. Occupational risk exhibited the highest contribution to MSK disorders, and tobacco use and high body mass index were also major risk factors.

Conclusions
This study demonstrates that the burden of MSK disorders tends to be lower in high-SDI regions than in lower-SDI regions. Strengthening the effectiveness of preventive measures against occupational risks may reduce the burden of MSK disorders.

Leggi
Giugno 2022

Global prevalence, treatment and outcome of tuberculosis and COVID-19 coinfection: a systematic review and meta-analysis (from November 2019 to March 2021)

Introduction
The COVID-19 outbreak poses a significant threat to the patients with tuberculosis (TB). TB and COVID-19 (TB–COVID) coinfection means the disease caused by both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Currently, the prevalence status, treatment and outcomes of the coinfection are poorly characterised. We aimed to systematically review the evidence on this topic and provide comprehensive information to guide the control and treatment of TB–COVID coinfection.

Methods
An extensive screening was conducted using six electronic databases to search eligible studies from 1 November 2019 to 19 March 2021. Prevalence rate, treatment and outcomes of TB–COVID coinfection were extracted. Random-effects models were used to calculate mean fatality rates of coinfection with 95% CIs. The risks of bias were assessed with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Study Reporting Prevalence Data and JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Report. A meta-analysis was conducted for subgroups on in-hospital fatality rate.

Results
Forty-two studies were included into the analysis (35 case reports and 7 retrospective cohort studies). Nineteen countries reported coinfected patients, including high and low TB prevalence countries. The only study revealing prevalence rate came from West Cape Province, South Africa (people aged above 20 years, 0.04% until 1 June 2020 and 0.06% until 9 June 2020). The treatment regimens for coinfected patients were highly heterogeneous. The mean overall and in-hospital fatality rates of coinfection were 13.9% (95% CI: 1.6% to 26.2%) and 17.5% (95% CI: 8.9% to 26.0%). The mean in-hospital fatality rates for high-income countries (Italy and Argentina) and low/middle-income countries (LMICs) (India, Philippines, South Africa) were 6.5% (95% CI: –0.8% to ~13.9%) and 22.5% (95% CI: 19.0% to ~26.0%).

Conclusion
TB–COVID coinfection is common globally, and the coinfected patients suffer from higher fatality risk than patients with normal COVID-19. Outcomes shared significant differences between high-income countries and LMICs.

PROSPERO registration number
CRD42021253660.

Leggi
Giugno 2022

Incidence of acute lower respiratory tract disease hospitalisations, including pneumonia, among adults in Bristol, UK, 2019, estimated using both a prospective and retrospective methodology

Objectives
To determine the disease burden of acute lower respiratory tract disease (aLRTD) and its subsets (pneumonia, lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and heart failure) in hospitalised adults in Bristol, UK.

Setting
Single-centre, secondary care hospital, Bristol, UK.

Design
We estimated aLRTD hospitalisations incidence in adults (≥18 years) in Bristol, UK, using two approaches. First, retrospective International Classification of Diseases 10th revision (ICD-10) code analysis (first five positions/hospitalisation) identified aLRTD events over a 12-month period (March 2018 to February 2019). Second, during a 21-day prospective review (19 August 2019 to 9 September 2019), aLRTD admissions were identified, categorised by diagnosis and subsequently annualised. Hospital catchment denominators were calculated using linked general practice and hospitalisation data, with each practice’s denominator contribution calculated based on practice population and per cent of the practices’ hospitalisations admitted to the study hospital.

Participants
Prospective review: 1322 adults screened; 410 identified with aLRTD. Retrospective review: 7727 adult admissions.

Primary and secondary outcome measures
The incidence of aLRTD and its subsets in the adult population of Southmead Hospital, Bristol UK.

Results
Based on ICD-10 code analysis, annual incidences per 100 000 population were: aLRTD, 1901; pneumonia, 591; LRTI, 739; heart failure, 402. aLRTD incidence was highest among those ≥65 years: 65–74 (3684 per 100 000 adults), 75–84 (6962 per 100 000 adults) and ≥85 (11 430 per 100 000 adults). During the prospective review, 410/1322 (31%) hospitalised adults had aLRTD signs/symptoms and annualised incidences closely replicated retrospective analysis results.

Conclusions
The aLRTD disease burden was high, increasing sharply with age. The aLRTD incidence is probably higher than estimated previously due to criteria specifying respiratory-specific symptoms or radiological change, usage of only the first diagnosis code and mismatch between case count sources and population denominators. This may have significant consequences for healthcare planning, including usage of current and future vaccinations against respiratory infection.

Leggi
Giugno 2022

Planned, ongoing and completed tuberculosis treatment trials in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa: a 2019 cross-sectional descriptive analysis

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a deadly challenge globally and Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) are among the countries with the highest TB burden. The objective of this study is to identify and describe ongoing, planned and completed TB trials conducted in the BRICS countries registered in WHO-International Clinical Trial Registry Platform (WHO-ICTRP); to report selective outcome reporting by comparing primary outcomes in published trials with their prespecified outcomes in registry records and to evaluate the time to publication.
Methods and analysis
We searched the WHO-ICTRP portal (20 January 2019) and the Russian Federation Registry (30 March 2019) to identify TB trials conducted in BRICS countries. We included only registered clinical trials conducted wholly in BRICS countries or with at least one recruitment centre in one of the BRICS countries that were investigating TB treatment.

Results
The search of the WHO-ICTRP yielded 408 trials and additional 32 trials were identified from the Russian registry. Of those, 253 were included in the analysis. We found that 77 trials were multicountry trials, followed by trials in China (55), India (53), South Africa (34), Russia (23) and Brazil (11). 163 trials were registered prospectively, 69 retrospectively and 21 trials had no registration status. Most trials (207) evaluated TB treatment, followed by 29 behaviour change interventions, 13 nutritional supplementation, 4 surgical treatment and 2 assessing rehabilitation. Based on ICJME recommendation of publishing 12 months after completion of trial, we found that 156 trials were completed 12 or more months by date and 101 trials had publications. Thirty-one of the 101 trials with publication had evidence of selective outcome reporting. The median time to publication was 25 months (IQR 15–37) from the time of anticipated end date stated in the registry.

Conclusion
TB trials conducted in BRICS countries are collaborative, mostly drug treatment oriented, potentially affecting policies. Selective outcome reporting remains a problem both for prospectively and retrospectively registered trials, only small fraction of which gets to publication.

Leggi
Giugno 2022

Body mass index, proteinuria and total lymphocyte counts in predicting treatment responses among ART naïve individuals with HIV initiated on antiretroviral treatment in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 2019: a cohort study

Objectives
To explore the potential use of body mass index (BMI), proteinuria and total lymphocyte count changes in predicting immunological and virological response in individuals with HIV initiated on antiretroviral treatment (ART).

Design
Prospective cohort study.

Setting
Three urban HIV care and treatment centres in Dar es Salaam.

Participants
Individuals with HIV initiating ART.

Outcome measures
HIV viral load ≥1000 copies/mL (viral non-suppression) at 6 months after ART initiation.

Results
Of 215 (out of 220 enrolled) participants who returned for evaluation at 6 months, 147 (66.8%) were women. At 6 months of follow-up, 89.4% (76/85) of participants with sustained weight gain were virally suppressed compared with 31.8% (7/22) with sustained loss, p

Leggi
Giugno 2022