Quality of systematic reviews supporting the 2017 ACC/AHA and 2018 ESC/ESH guidelines for the management of hypertension
Conclusion
Methodological and reporting quality of SRs were found to vary considerably. Lack of information on the funding source of included studies, use of a protocol, integration of risk of bias assessments while interpreting findings and reporting of excluded studies were major methodological deficiencies. (Source: Evidence-Based Medicine)
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - March 23, 2022 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Kanukula, R., Dhurjati, R., Vidyasagar, K., Rehana, N., Talari, A., Salam, A., Rodgers, A., Page, M. J. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
SARS-CoV-2 myocarditis: what physicians need to know
Introduction Myocarditis is one of the complications seen with viral infections like parvovirus B19, human herpes virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, adenovirus and enteroviruses. Recent data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 could be a possible aetiological agent for myocarditis in the current pandemic.1 Although we have some understanding of its respiratory manifestations, limited data are available regarding the involvement of the heart with this virus. Myocarditis secondary to SARS-CoV-2 has been reported as one of the causes of increased mortality.1 The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) states ‘in the absence o...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - March 23, 2022 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Khalil, A., Naneishvili, T., Prasad, N., Glancy, J. Tags: General Medicine, COVID-19 EBM opinion and debate Source Type: research
From publication bias to lost in information: why we need a central public portal for clinical trial data
This article outlines the challenges faced in information retrieval for evidence syntheses and provides a proposal for ensuring efficient and complete access to clinical trial records, namely, the establishment of a central, worldwide public portal. Information retrieval for a health technology assessment (HTA) report The aim of information retrieval for evidence syntheses is to identify as many relevant studies and study results as possible; detailed requirements exist for the methods to be applied, including the sources to be searched.1 In 2019, the German HTA agency, the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Ca...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - March 23, 2022 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Wieseler, B., McGauran, N. Tags: Open access EBM opinion and debate Source Type: research
Estimates of the minimal important difference to evaluate the clinical significance of antidepressants in the acute treatment of moderate-to-severe depression
In conclusion, the efficacy of antidepressants in the acute treatment of moderate-to-severe depression consistently fails to exceed the lower bound of the MID estimates for common depression outcome measures. The clinical significance of antidepressants thus remains uncertain and we call for more research on quality of life measures, which are the patients’ most valued outcome domains. (Source: Evidence-Based Medicine)
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - March 23, 2022 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Hengartner, M. P., Plöderl, M. Tags: EBM analysis Source Type: research
Dear doctor, please know that you do not know until I have told you
True patient involvement in treatment decision-making starts with clinicians who tolerate not having ready-made answers, encourage patients to open up and are interested in how living with the diagnosis is for this person. I have spent 15 years investigating to what extent doctors and patients make treatment decisions together. It has always been important to me as a researcher to be as objective as possible. I now realise that this attempt led me to disregard my personal experiences. I was 13 when I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and have now over 30 years of experience with the disease and the role of chronic pat...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - March 23, 2022 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Pieterse, A. H. Tags: Patient voices Source Type: research
Advocating for evidence-informed decisions to make healthcare fit for each person
A year has passed since we have joined the new editorial team of BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM), a journal initially launched in 1995. Since then, great editors have maintained a platform for EBM enthusiasts and advocates. First commentaries and then EBM verdicts critically summarised the latest evidence with important implications for clinical practice. During the last 4 years, the journal incorporated original research and other articles that aimed to promote debate and analysis of the current controversies related to evidence. For this new phase, we invited an international editorial team considering geographical, ge...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - March 23, 2022 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Franco, J. V. A., Dwan, K., Garegnani, L. I., Kunneman, M., Madrid, E., Metzendorf, M.-I., Meza, N., Nunan, D., Richards, G. C., Riganti, P., Veroniki, A. A. Tags: Editorials Source Type: research
Deaths attributed to the use of medications purchased online
This article is part of the Coroners’ Concerns to Prevent Harms series.1 It highlights problems that can arise from using medicines purchased online, exemplified by 16 Prevent Future Death reports relating to 17 individuals. Introduction Coroners in England and Wales have a duty to report deaths that they have investigated when they believe that actions should be taken to prevent similar deaths. They do so in reports to prevent future deaths (PFDs). This paper is one of a series in which we are charting the epidemiological aspects of such deaths. Here we deal with deaths that coroners have attributed to the... (Sourc...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - January 19, 2022 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Aronson, J. K., Ferner, R. E., Richards, G. C. Tags: Coroner's concerns to prevent harm Coroners concerns to prevent harms Source Type: research
Using routine databases to evaluate Electronic Palliative Care Co-ordination Systems (EPaCCS)
This article describes how routine databases can be used to address the current paucity of high-quality evidence; they can be used in a range of study designs, including randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental designs, and may also be able to contribute quality of life or patient-reported outcome measures. (Source: Evidence-Based Medicine)
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - January 19, 2022 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Chu, C. S. Tags: Research methods and reporting Source Type: research
Ten years later: a review of the US 2009 institute of medicine report on conflicts of interest and solutions for further reform
Conflicts of interest (COIs) in healthcare are increasingly discussed in the literature, yet these relationships continue to influence healthcare. Research has consistently shown that financial COIs shape prescribing practices, medical education and guideline recommendations. In 2009, the Institute of Medicine (IOM, now the National Academy of Medicine) published Conflicts of Interest in Medical Research, Practice, and Education—one of the most comprehensive reviews of empirical research on COIs in medicine. Ten years after publication of theIOM’s report, we review the current state of COIs within medicine. We ...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - January 19, 2022 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Torgerson, T., Wayant, C., Cosgrove, L., Akl, E. A., Checketts, J., Dal Re, R., Gill, J., Grover, S. C., Khan, N., Khan, R., Marusic, A., McCoy, M. S., Mitchell, A., Prasad, V., Vassar, M. Tags: Evidence synthesis Source Type: research
Effectiveness of tests to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus, and antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, to inform COVID-19 diagnosis: a rapid systematic review
Conclusions
Evidence is rapidly emerging on the effectiveness of tests for COVID-19 diagnosis and management, but important uncertainties about their effectiveness and most appropriate application remain. Estimates of diagnostic accuracy should be interpreted bearing in mind the absence of a definitive reference standard to diagnose or rule out COVID-19 infection. More evidence is needed about the effectiveness of testing outside of hospital settings and in mild or asymptomatic cases. Implementation of public health strategies centred on COVID-19 testing provides opportunities to explore these important areas of research. ...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - January 19, 2022 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Jarrom, D., Elston, L., Washington, J., Prettyjohns, M., Cann, K., Myles, S., Groves, P. Tags: COVID-19 Evidence synthesis Source Type: research
Transparency of results reporting for depression treatment studies in ClinicalTrials.gov: a cross-sectional study
Conclusions
Required study registration does not always result in transparent outcome reporting. Better compliance with mandated reporting and improved reporting standards would facilitate a more comprehensive representation of depression treatment research. (Source: Evidence-Based Medicine)
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - January 19, 2022 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Schmaling, K. B., Landon, H. S., Nguyen, T. B., Kaplan, R. M. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Patients participation in government-sponsored guidelines in Latin America: a cross-sectional study
Conclusion
Only one quarter of government-sponsored CPGs in the Latin American region incorporated a method for patients’ participation, which varied considerably across the selected countries. These findings highlight the need to improve CPG development methods to systematically incorporate patients’ values and preferences when drafting recommendations. (Source: Evidence-Based Medicine)
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - January 19, 2022 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Garegnani, L. I., Meza, N., Roson-Rodriguez, P., Escobar-Liquitay, C. M., Arancibia, M., Madrid, E., Franco, J. V. A. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Users' Guides to the Medical Literature series on social media (part 2): how to appraise studies using data from platforms
Introduction In the first part of this two article series about health information on social media platforms, we presented a framework for interpreting information directly from the platforms.1 In this article, we present a users’ guide to help clinicians appraise and interpret studies that use data from these platforms. With the increased use of social media for various aspects of health, a parallel increase in the number of published studies that use data derived from social media has emerged.2–4 Such studies may aim to determine the accuracy of health information on platforms or perform a content analysis to...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - January 19, 2022 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: D'Souza, R. S., Daraz, L., Hooten, W. M., Guyatt, G., Murad, M. H. Tags: EBM learning Source Type: research
Users' Guides to the Medical Literature series on social media (part 1): how to interpret healthcare information available on platforms
Introduction This series includes two articles about health information on social media platforms. This is the first article in which we present a framework for clinicians to appraise and interpret data directly derived from these platforms. The second article provides a framework for clinicians to appraise and interpret studies that used such data.1 Social media and network websites, commonly referred to as Web V.2.0, were first introduced in 2004 and have since gained prominence in contemporary culture. In 2017, approximately 70% of Americans used social media platforms to communicate—an increase from 5% in 2005.2 ...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - January 19, 2022 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: D'Souza, R. S., Daraz, L., Hooten, W. M., Guyatt, G., Murad, M. H. Tags: EBM learning Source Type: research
EMAs mishandling of an investigation into suspected serious neurological harms of HPV vaccines
Concern has been raised about whether HPV vaccines might cause serious neurological disorders including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS). The European Medicines Agency (EMA) investigated the issue and declared in 2015 that there is no link between HPV vaccines and serious neurological adverse events. However, the certainty conveyed in EMA’s official report is undermined by a leaked, confidential document that reveals important disagreements among the experts. Furthermore, in its assessments, EMA relied on the data the drug companies had provided to them even t...
Source: Evidence-Based Medicine - January 19, 2022 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Gotzsche, P. C., Jorgensen, K. J. Tags: Open access, General Medicine EBM analysis Source Type: research
