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1.
2018 Guidelines for the management of dyslipidemia.
Rhee, EJ, Kim, HC, Kim, JH, Lee, EY, Kim, BJ, Kim, EM, Song, Y, Lim, JH, Kim, HJ, Choi, S, et al
The Korean journal of internal medicine. 2019;(4):723-771
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2.
Concordant Evidence-Based Interventions in Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Guidelines.
Smith, SMS, Chaudhary, K, Blackstock, F
Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention. 2019;(1):9-18
Abstract
Chronic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) contribute to a significant burden to patients and many experience a reduction in physical functioning, psychological health, and quality of life. The sentinel symptom for COPD and CVD is breathlessness. Rehabilitation programs have been proven to reduce disease symptoms and increase levels of physical and psychological wellness. Pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation programs have been recommended in international and national guidelines for managing COPD and CVD. Given that these programs seek to reduce breathlessness and improve the physical and psychological functioning of people with COPD and CVD, this review examines the concordant evidence-based interventions in rehabilitation guidelines. The findings of this review indicate that there was concordance in the program design, location of programs, types of health professionals involved in program delivery, assessments of patient at commencement and completion of program, and the delivery of educational topics with minor deviations that were related to disease-specific topics. Apart from disease-specific recommendations, the main divergence from rehabilitation guidelines was found to be dietary screening, inspiratory muscle training, and psychological assessments in evidence-based recommendations for cardiac and pulmonary programs.
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3.
Sunscreen photoprotection and vitamin D status.
Passeron, T, Bouillon, R, Callender, V, Cestari, T, Diepgen, TL, Green, AC, van der Pols, JC, Bernard, BA, Ly, F, Bernerd, F, et al
The British journal of dermatology. 2019;(5):916-931
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Free full text
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Global concern about vitamin D deficiency has fuelled debates on photoprotection and the importance of solar exposure to meet vitamin D requirements. OBJECTIVES To review the published evidence to reach a consensus on the influence of photoprotection by sunscreens on vitamin D status, considering other relevant factors. METHODS An international panel of 13 experts in endocrinology, dermatology, photobiology, epidemiology and biological anthropology reviewed the literature prior to a 1-day meeting in June 2017, during which the evidence was discussed. Methods of assessment and determining factors of vitamin D status, and public health perspectives were examined and consequences of sun exposure and the effects of photoprotection were assessed. RESULTS A serum level of ≥ 50 nmol L-1 25(OH)D is a target for all individuals. Broad-spectrum sunscreens that prevent erythema are unlikely to compromise vitamin D status in healthy populations. Vitamin D screening should be restricted to those at risk of hypovitaminosis, such as patients with photosensitivity disorders, who require rigorous photoprotection. Screening and supplementation are advised for this group. CONCLUSIONS Sunscreen use for daily and recreational photoprotection does not compromise vitamin D synthesis, even when applied under optimal conditions. What's already known about this topic? Knowledge of the relationship between solar exposure behaviour, sunscreen use and vitamin D is important for public health but there is confusion about optimal vitamin D status and the safest way to achieve this. Practical recommendations on the potential impact of daily and/or recreational sunscreens on vitamin D status are lacking for healthy people. What does this study add? Judicious use of daily broad-spectrum sunscreens with high ultraviolet (UV) A protection will not compromise vitamin D status in healthy people. However, photoprotection strategies for patients with photosensitivity disorders that include high sun-protection factor sunscreens with high UVA protection, along with protective clothing and shade-seeking behaviour are likely to compromise vitamin D status. Screening for vitamin D status and supplementation are recommended in patients with photosensitivity disorders.
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4.
Opportunities for improving use of evidence-based therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Gao, Y, Peterson, E, Pagidipati, N
Clinical cardiology. 2019;(11):1063-1070
Abstract
Evidence-based therapy that target hyperlipidemia, hypertension, smoking cessation, and weight loss have demonstrated significant benefits in reducing cardiovascular risks and related events. Although the benefit of intensively lowering blood glucose is unclear, newer antidiabetic drugs (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors) have shown cardiovascular benefits in addition to their antihyperglycemic effect. Yet, studies suggest that recent use of evidence-based therapy and management of cardiovascular risk among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains largely suboptimal. The following narrative review first identifies barriers to translating research evidence to clinical practice at the levels of provider, health system, patient, and cost. Then it synthesizes previous implementation strategies that addressed multifaceted barriers and attempted to improve care for patients with T2D and CVD. In conclusion, team-based care coordination, reminding systems in combination to pharmacist consultation and patient education, provider education compatible with clinical workflow, and coupled incentives between providers and patients appeared to be effective in reducing cardiovascular risks for patients with T2D and CVD, though the scalability and long-term clinical effect of these strategies as well as the possibility of interventions involving payers and health systems remain uncertain.
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5.
Paediatric migraine: evidence-based management and future directions.
Orr, SL, Kabbouche, MA, O'Brien, HL, Kacperski, J, Powers, SW, Hershey, AD
Nature reviews. Neurology. 2018;(9):515-527
Abstract
Migraine is prevalent in children and adolescents and constitutes an important cause of disability in this population. Early, effective treatment of paediatric migraine is likely to result in improved outcomes. Findings from the past few years suggest that a biopsychosocial approach that uses interdisciplinary multimodal care is most effective for treatment of migraine in the paediatric population. Key elements of this management include effective and timely acute pharmacological interventions (such as NSAIDs and/or triptans), education of patients regarding self-management techniques, and psychological interventions such as biofeedback, relaxation and cognitive-behavioural therapy. The efficacy of current pharmacological or nutraceutical interventions for migraine prevention in children and adolescents is unclear, although reported placebo response patterns suggest that the effect of pill-taking behaviour is positive. As such, clinicians can consider adding a preventive intervention that involves a daily pill-taking behaviour to evidence-based non-pharmacological first-line preventive interventions (such as cognitive-behavioural therapy). More rigorous research is needed to delineate the role of pharmacological and nutraceutical interventions, the mechanisms of the clinically relevant placebo response, and interventions that enhance this response for migraine prevention in this population. Given the prevalence of migraine, cost-effective and efficacious strategies are needed for the large-scale delivery of interdisciplinary multimodal paediatric migraine care.
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6.
Fitting the right non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant to the right patient with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: an evidence-based choice.
Li, YG, Pastori, D, Lip, GYH
Annals of medicine. 2018;(4):288-302
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent arrhythmia and is associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke (IS) and systemic embolism (SE). Stroke prevention is a key element for the overall management of AF patients. The non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs), such as dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban, are at least as effective as warfarin in reducing IS/SE with a lower rate of major bleeding. Various analyses from the large Phase III randomized trials demonstrated different efficacy and safety of NOACs in specific subgroups of patients. The randomized trials are supplemented by effectiveness and safety data from real-world observational cohorts following the availability of these drugs for use in everyday clinical practice. Given the clinical heterogeneity of AF patients, the available data from trials and real-world studies allow us to fit the right NOAC to the particular patient's characteristics, with the aim of optimizing outcomes for the individual patient. This review article aims to provide a summary of the evidence on the performance of NOACs in AF patients with specific clinical characteristics. Evidence-based suggestions are presented to provide a simple and viable strategy for clinicians for the choice of a particular NOAC. KEY MESSAGE Given the different performance of the new-oral anticoagulants in patients with the different clinical situation, evidence-based choice of fitting the right new-oral anticoagulants to the patients is provided in this review article.
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7.
Challenges in comparing the non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants for atrial fibrillation-related stroke prevention.
Camm, AJ, Fox, KAA, Peterson, E
Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology. 2018;(1):1-11
Abstract
The aim of this review is to provide context for meta-analyses interpreting data from phase III stroke prevention studies of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Differences between the four phase III NOAC stroke prevention studies in patients with NVAF (ROCKET AF, ARISTOTLE, RE-LY, and ENGAGE AF), their potential impact on outcomes, and inter-study differences were evaluated, as well as the potential role of real-world evidence in evaluating NOACs in this setting. Study design differences included blinding strategy, dose-reduction options, and transition from blinded treatment to standard of care. There were small but relevant variations in the definition of AF used (RE-LY used the least precise definition); patient risk profiles (ROCKET AF patients had the highest risk); the primary safety outcome (a composite of major bleeding and clinically relevant non-major bleeding events in ROCKET AF vs. major bleeding in the others); and the definitions of stroke, major bleeding, and clinically relevant non-major bleeding events. In real-world studies, methodological variations and biases are amplified, making cross-study comparisons and meta-analyses problematic. Because of these methodological differences, meta-analyses of phase III studies need to be robust, and if outcomes of the reference (warfarin-treated) arms differ significantly, the basis of the meta-analysis is not strong. These key issues need to be taken into consideration for direct comparisons across studies, and for the interpretation of meta-analytic data.
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8.
Lipid-Lowering Therapies: Risks in Women and Evidence-Based Options.
Shah, T, Virani, SS
Texas Heart Institute journal. 2018;(4):238-239
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9.
Diabetic macular oedema: evidence-based treatment recommendations for Asian countries.
Cheung, GC, Yoon, YH, Chen, LJ, Chen, SJ, George, TM, Lai, TY, Park, KH, Tahija, SG, Uy, HS, Wong, TY
Clinical & experimental ophthalmology. 2018;(1):75-86
Abstract
Diabetic macular oedema is the most common cause of diabetic retinopathy-induced vision loss. Efficacy of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in diabetic macular oedema has been demonstrated in randomized controlled trials. An Asian-specific guideline for diabetic macular oedema treatment is needed as patients in Asia tend to present with far more advanced disease than seen elsewhere in the world. Previous reviews of diabetic macular oedema management lacked a broader assessment of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment choices and newer trials. Recent clinical trial data allow head-to-head comparisons between the different anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents and treatment regimens. This review aims to summarize the clinical evidence related to various treatment regimens for clinicians, with a focus on anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapies, and to provide guidance on the treatment of diabetic macular oedema in Asian patients.
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10.
Evidence-based guidelines for fall prevention in Korea.
Kim, KI, Jung, HK, Kim, CO, Kim, SK, Cho, HH, Kim, DY, Ha, YC, Hwang, SH, Won, CW, Lim, JY, et al
The Korean journal of internal medicine. 2017;(1):199-210
Abstract
Falls and fall-related injuries are common in older populations and have negative effects on quality of life and independence. Falling is also associated with increased morbidity, mortality, nursing home admission, and medical costs. Korea has experienced an extreme demographic shift with its population aging at the fastest pace among developed countries, so it is important to assess fall risks and develop interventions for high-risk populations. Guidelines for the prevention of falls were first developed by the Korean Association of Internal Medicine and the Korean Geriatrics Society. These guidelines were developed through an adaptation process as an evidence-based method; four guidelines were retrieved via systematic review and the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II process, and seven recommendations were developed based on the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation framework. Because falls are the result of various factors, the guidelines include a multidimensional assessment and multimodal strategy. The guidelines were developed for primary physicians as well as patients and the general population. They provide detailed recommendations and concrete measures to assess risk and prevent falls among older people.