Systematic Reviews & Meta-analysis
Meta-Analysis: Comparative Efficacy of Inhaled Medications for COPD
5 Nov, 2018 | 11:48h | UTC
Systematic Review: Epidemiology, Presentation, and Management of Meckel’s Diverticulum
5 Nov, 2018 | 11:47h | UTC
Systematic Review: Stress Fractures of the Elbow in the Throwing Athlete
5 Nov, 2018 | 11:44h | UTC
Systematic Review: Prophylactic Antibiotic Therapy for COPD
2 Nov, 2018 | 03:36h | UTCProphylactic antibiotic therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – Cochrane Library (free)
Summary: Preventative antibiotic therapy for people with COPD – Cochrane Library (free)
“Use of continuous and intermittent prophylactic antibiotics results in a clinically significant benefit in reducing exacerbations in COPD patients.”
Meta-Analysis: Cannabinoids for the Treatment of Chronic Noncancer Pain Conditions
2 Nov, 2018 | 03:29h | UTC“It seems unlikely that cannabinoids are highly effective medicines for chronic noncancer pain conditions.”
Systematic Review: Prokinetics for Functional Dyspepsia
26 Oct, 2018 | 01:36h | UTCProkinetics for functional dyspepsia – Cochrane Library (free)
Summary: Medications which promote stomach movement to relieve upper abdominal discomfort that does not have a specific cause – Cochrane Library (free)
“we are unable to say whether prokinetics are effective for the treatment of functional dyspepsia.”
Systematic Review: Calcium Supplementation During Pregnancy for Preventing Hypertensive Disorders and Related Problems
16 Oct, 2018 | 23:41h | UTCCalcium supplementation during pregnancy for preventing hypertensive disorders and related problems – Cochrane Library (free for a limited period)
Summary: Calcium supplementation during pregnancy for preventing blood pressure disorders and related problems – Cochrane Library (free)
Systematic Review: Progestogen for Preventing Miscarriage
16 Oct, 2018 | 23:30h | UTCProgestogen for preventing miscarriage in women with recurrent miscarriage of unclear etiology – Cochrane Library (free for a limited period)
Summary: Progestogen for preventing miscarriage – Cochrane Library (free)
Systematic Review: Effectiveness of Strategies to Improve Health-Care Provider Practices in Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries
16 Oct, 2018 | 23:24h | UTC
Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews: Incidence, Causes, and Consequences of Preventable Adverse Drug Reactions Occurring in Inpatients
16 Oct, 2018 | 21:31h | UTC
Meta-Analysis: Effect of Antidepressants and Psychological Therapies in Irritable Bowel Syndrome
16 Oct, 2018 | 21:23h | UTCEffect of Antidepressants and Psychological Therapies in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis – The American Journal of Gastroenterology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: Antidepressants and psychological therapies reduce IBS symptoms, meta-analysis finds – ACP Gastroenterology (free) AND Antidepressants, psychotherapy may help ease irritable bowel syndrome – Reuters (free)
Systematic Review: Non‐Clinical Interventions for Reducing Unnecessary Caesarean Section
11 Oct, 2018 | 21:36h | UTCNon‐clinical interventions for reducing unnecessary caesarean section – Cochrane Library (free for a limited period)
Summary: Non-clinical interventions for reducing unnecessary caesarean section (free)
Systematic Review: Pelvic Floor Muscle Training For Urinary Incontinence in Women
11 Oct, 2018 | 21:35h | UTCPelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women – Cochrane Library (free)
“Based on the data available, we can be confident that pelvic floor muscle training can cure or improve symptoms of stress urinary incontinence and all other types of urinary incontinence”
Meta-Analysis: Association of Levels of Physical Activity With Risk of Parkinson Disease
11 Oct, 2018 | 20:02h | UTCCommentaries: Physical Activity and Parkinson Disease Risk: An Intriguing Link – JAMA Network Open (free) AND Physical Activity Could Reduce Risk of Parkinson disease, esp. in Men – MedicalResearch.com (free)
Meta-Analysis: Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Musculoskeletal Health
5 Oct, 2018 | 02:44h | UTCEffects of vitamin D supplementation on musculoskeletal health: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis – The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology: Vitamin D supplementation in adults does not prevent fractures, falls or improve bone mineral density – The Lancet (free) AND Vitamin D supplements don’t help bone health, major study concludes – The Guardian (free) AND Millions of Americans take vitamin D. Most should just stop – VOX (free)
Related: Vitamin D, the Sunshine Supplement, Has Shadowy Money Behind It (free commentaries and NICE Guideline) AND Vitamin D Not Linked to Fracture Risk (free study and commentaries)
Sytematic Review: Antidepressant Withdrawal Effects
5 Oct, 2018 | 02:06h | UTCA systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects: Are guidelines evidence-based? – Addictive Behaviours (free PDF)
Commentaries: Antidepressant withdrawal ‘hits millions’ – BBC (free) AND Antidepressant withdrawal symptoms severe, says new report – The Guardian (free)
Related: Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome (free review and NYT article)
Meta-Analysis: Treating Subclinical Hypothyroidism is Not Associated with Quality of Life and Thyroid-Related Symptoms
5 Oct, 2018 | 02:18h | UTCAssociation of Thyroid Hormone Therapy With Quality of Life and Thyroid-Related Symptoms in Patients With Subclinical Hypothyroidism: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis – JAMA (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Most Patients With Subclinical Hypothyroidism May Not Require Thyroid Medication – MedicalResearch.com (free) AND Hormone Tx May Not Benefit Subclinical Hypothyroidism – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Treating Subclinical Hypothyroidism Is of Little Benefit – Medscape (free registration required)
Meta-Analysis: Effects of Coenzyme Q10 on Statin‐Induced Myopathy
5 Oct, 2018 | 01:27h | UTCCommentary: Coenzyme Q10 reduces statin-induced myopathy symptoms – Univadis (free registration required)
Systematic Review: Modifying the Consistency of Food and Fluids for Swallowing Difficulties in Dementia
28 Sep, 2018 | 00:57h | UTCModifying the consistency of food and fluids for swallowing difficulties in dementia – Cochrane Library (free for a limited period)
Summary: Modifying the consistency of food and fluids for swallowing difficulties in dementia (free)
“We are uncertain about the immediate and long-term effects of modifying the consistency of fluid for swallowing difficulties in dementia”
Meta-Analysis: The Preventable Proportion of Healthcare-associated Infections
21 Sep, 2018 | 02:01h | UTCThe preventable proportion of healthcare-associated infections 2005–2016: Systematic review and meta-analysis – Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: Even the best healthcare facilities can do more to prevent infections – Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (free)
“Multifaceted tactics for infection control reduce healthcare-associated infections 35-55 percent”
Meta-Analysis: Efficacy and Safety of Short‐term Dual Antiplatelet Therapy (≤ 6 Months) after PCI for Acute Coronary Syndrome
20 Sep, 2018 | 19:44h | UTC
Systematic Review: Prevalence of Burnout Among Physicians
20 Sep, 2018 | 19:41h | UTCPrevalence of Burnout Among Physicians: A Systematic Review – JAMA (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Doctors Today May Be Miserable, But Are They ‘Burnt Out’? – NPR (free) AND Physician burnout taking center stage – Reuters (free) AND Burnout Found to Be Common Among U.S. Resident Physicians – Psychiatric News Alert (free)
Related: Why Physician Burnout Is Endemic, and How Health Care Must Respond – NEJM Catalyst (free) AND Counting the costs: U.S. hospitals feeling the pain of physician burnout – Reuters (free) AND To Care Is Human — Collectively Confronting the Clinician-Burnout Crisis – New England Journal of Medicine (free) AND Beyond Burnout — Redesigning Care to Restore Meaning and Sanity for Physicians (free) AND The Burnout Crisis in American Medicine – The Atlantic (free) AND To Combat Physician Burnout and Improve Care, Fix the Electronic Health Record (free commentaries)
Meta-Analysis: Treatments of Primary Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Skin
20 Sep, 2018 | 19:26h | UTC
Systematic Review: Pharmacist Services for Non‐hospitalised Patients
14 Sep, 2018 | 01:38h | UTCPharmacist services for non‐hospitalised patients – Cochrane Library (free)
Summary: Can services delivered by pharmacists improve patient health? – Cochrane Library (free)
Commentaries: Pharmacists play vital role in improving patient health shows biggest review of evidence to date – University of Bath (free) AND Community pharmacy can significantly improve care in long-term conditions, large-scale analysis finds – The Pharmaceutical Journal (free)
Meta-Analysis: Association Between Physician Burnout and Patient Safety, Professionalism, and Patient Satisfaction
6 Sep, 2018 | 02:43h | UTCAssociation Between Physician Burnout and Patient Safety, Professionalism, and Patient Satisfaction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis – JAMA Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Physician Burnout Poses Risks to Patient Safety – Psychiatric News Alert (free) AND Burnout in doctors doubles risk of patient safety incidents, study finds – Pulse (free)