scholarly journals Identifying dietary differences between Scotland and England: a rapid review of the literature

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (14) ◽  
pp. 2459-2477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Chambers ◽  
Karen L Barton ◽  
Viviana Albani ◽  
Annie S Anderson ◽  
Wendy L Wrieden

AbstractObjectiveRates of premature mortality have been higher in Scotland than in England since the 1970s. Given the known association of diet with chronic disease, the study objective was to identify and synthesise evidence on current and historical differences in food and nutrient intakes in Scotland and England.DesignA rapid review of the peer-reviewed and grey literature was carried out. After an initial scoping search, Medline, CINAHL, Embase and Web of Science were searched. Relevant grey literature was also included. Inclusion criteria were: any date; measures of dietary intake; representative populations; cross-sectional or observational cohort studies; and English-language publications. Study quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-sectional Studies. A narrative synthesis of extracted information was conducted.ResultsFifty publications and reports were included in the review. Results indicated that children and adults in Scotland had lower intakes of vegetables and vitamins compared with those living in England. Higher intakes of salt in Scotland were also identified. Data were limited by small Scottish samples, difficulty in finding England-level data, lack of statistical testing and adjustment for key confounders.ConclusionsFurther investigation of adequately powered and analysed surveys is required to examine more fully dietary differences between Scotland and England. This would provide greater insight into potential causes of excess mortality in Scotland compared with England and suitable policy recommendations to address these inequalities.

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2123
Author(s):  
Daniela Pollakova ◽  
Aikaterini Andreadi ◽  
Francesca Pacifici ◽  
David Della-Morte ◽  
Davide Lauro ◽  
...  

A protective effect of vegan diets on health outcomes has been observed in previous studies, but its impact on diabetes is still debated. The aim of this review is to assess the relationship between vegan diets and the risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) along with its effect on glycemic control and diabetes-related complications. In accordance with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta–Analyses) guidelines, Pubmed and Cochrane library databases were systematically searched for all relevant studies. Seven observational and eight randomized controlled (RCTs) studies were included. The methodological quality of studies was assessed using the National Institutes of Health quality assessment tool for observational cohort and cross-sectional studies and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for RCTs. We found that a vegan diet is associated with lower T2D prevalence or incidence and in T2D patients decreases high glucose values and improves glucose homeostasis, as reported from the majority of included studies. This approach seems to be comparable to other recommended healthful eating models, but as it may have potential adverse effects associated with the long-term exclusion of some nutrients, appropriate nutritional planning and surveillance are recommended, particularly in specific groups of diabetic patients such as frail elderly, adolescents, and pregnant or breastfeeding women.


BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e018701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Fuentes Pacheco ◽  
Gabriela Carrillo Balam ◽  
Daryll Archibald ◽  
Elizabeth Grant ◽  
Valeria Skafida

IntroductionObesity is a global pandemic that affects all socioeconomic strata, however, the highest figures have been observed in the most disadvantaged social groups. Evidence from the USA and Canada showed that specific urban settings encourage obesogenic behaviour in the population living and/or working there. We aim to examine the evidence on the association between local food environments and obesity in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.MethodsSix databases from 1990 to 2017 will be searched: MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Scopus, The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA) and Web of Science. Grey literature will also be sought by searching Opengrey Europe, The Grey Literature Report and relevant government websites. Additional studies will be retrieved from the reference lists of the selected articles. It will include cohort, longitudinal, case study and cross-sectional studies that have assessed the relationship between local food environments and obesity in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand regardless of sex, age and ethnicity of the population. Two researchers will independently select the studies and extract the data. Data items will incorporate: author names, title, study design, year of study, year exposure data collected, country, city, urban/rural, age range, study exclusions, special characteristics of study populations, aims, working definitions of food environments and food outlets, exposure and methods of data collection, outcomes and key findings. A narrative synthesis and a summary of the results will be produced separately for children and adults, according to the type of food exposure–outcome. All the selected studies will be assessed using The Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies.Ethics and disseminationThis study will be based on published literature, and therefore ethical approval has not been sought. Our findings will be presented at relevant national and international scientific conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal.


Author(s):  
Laura O'Byrne ◽  
Safi Alqatari ◽  
Gillian Maher ◽  
Aoife O'Sullivan ◽  
Ali Khashan ◽  
...  

Background: Biologic medications, specifically the TNF-α inhibitors, have become increasingly prevalent in the treatment of chronic inflammatory disease (CID) in pregnancy. Objective: To determine pregnancy outcomes in women with CID exposed to biologics during pregnancy. Search strategy: PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched through January 1998-July 2021. Selection criteria: Peer reviewed, English language cohort, case-control, cross-sectional studies, and case series which contained original data. Data collection and analysis: Two authors independently conducted data extraction and assessed study quality. A meta-analysis of proportions using a random-effects model was used to pool outcomes. Linear regression analysis was used to compare the mean of proportions of outcomes across exposure groups using the ‘treated’ group as the reference category. All studies were evaluated using an appropriate quality assessment tool described by McDonald et al. Main Results: 35 studies, 11172 pregnancies, were eligible for inclusion. Analysis showed pooled proportions for congenital malformations: treated 4%(95% CI 0.03-0.4) vs disease matched 4%(0.03-0.05).Preterm delivery treated 12%(0.10-0.14) vs disease matched 10%(0.09-0.12) Severe neonatal infection: treated 5%(0.03-0.07) vs disease matched 5%(0.02-0.07) Low birth weight: treated 10%(0.07-0.12) vs disease matched 8%(0.07-0.09) The pooled Miscarriage: treated 13%(0.10-0.15) vs disease matched 8%(0.04-0.11) Pre-eclampsia; treated 1%(0.01-0.02) vs disease matched 1%(0.00-0.01). No statistical differences in proportions were observed. Conclusion: We demonstrated comparable pregnancy outcomes in pregnancies exposed to biologics, disease matched controls and CID free pregnancies. Overall, women receiving biologics in pregnancy may be reassured regarding their safety.


Author(s):  
Sarah Tinitali ◽  
Kelly-Ann Bowles ◽  
Jennifer L. Keating ◽  
Terry Haines

Objective In this review, we determine if there is evidence to demonstrate a relationship between occupational driving posture and low back pain. Background The burden of low back pain is increasing. An understanding of this relationship is required to enable the development of recommendations for clinicians and policy-makers for the driving industry. Method Five databases were searched up to March 12, 2018. Study quality was assessed using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies, followed by a GRADE analysis to consider the evidence as a whole. A narrative, critical synthesis was completed that considered the methods by which driving posture and low back pain were measured and analyzed. Results There were 653 articles identified, with seven eligible for review. Four articles identified an association between occupational driving posture and low back pain, yet this was based on the use of measurement tools lacking validity. Although a relationship may exist, the specific driving postures associated with low back pain and the strength of this relationship have not been confirmed. Conclusion: Future research needs to employ validated and reliable, real-time qualitative methods for measuring occupational driving posture to advance our understanding of this relationship. Application Clinical and policy recommendations regarding driving posture and low back pain should be used with caution, as they are guided by evidence incorporating bias. Future studies are required to confirm the specific postures assumed while occupational driving and their relationship with low back pain, before recommendations can be made.


Hypertension ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 76 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed N Rahman ◽  
Daniel J Cao ◽  
Thomas F Monaghan ◽  
Viktor X Flores ◽  
Matthew W Moy ◽  
...  

Introduction: The association between nocturia and hypertension has been widely reported, yet remains poorly characterized, precluding a more refined understanding of blood pressure as it relates to the clinical urology setting. We synthesized current evidence on the relationship between nocturia and hypertension as a function of nocturia severity, age, sex, race, and diuretic use. Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases for studies published up to May 2020. Random effects meta-analyses were performed to identify the pooled odds ratio (OR) for nocturia given the presence of hypertension. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed to identify differences across demographic factors. We applied the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies to evaluate the quality of evidence. Results: Of 1530 identified studies, 23 met the criteria for inclusion. The overall pooled OR for the association of hypertension with nocturia was 1.26 (95% CI 1.22-1.29, p<0.001). Pooled estimates were 1.21 (1.16-1.25, p<0.001) and 1.31 (1.26-1.36, p<0.001) using a 1- and 2-void cutoff for nocturia, respectively (p<0.001 between cutoffs). The association was stronger in females compared to males (1.41 [1.29-1.53] vs. 1.26 [1.20-1.32], p<0.001), and in African-American (1.56 [1.25-1.94]) and Asian (1.28 [1.24-1.32]) versus Caucasian populations (1.16 [1.09-1.24]) (p<0.05for both). Age and diuretic use had no observable effect on the association between nocturia and hypertension. Conclusions: There exists an increased odds of nocturia in hypertensive individuals. This association is stronger following a higher nocturia cutoff, in females, and in some racial subgroups, but unrelated to age and diuretic utilization.


2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 717-730 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Li ◽  
C. D'Arcy ◽  
X. Meng

BackgroundLiterature supports a strong relationship between childhood maltreatment and mental illness but most studies reviewed are cross-sectional and/or use recall to assess maltreatment and are thus prone to temporality and recall bias. Research on the potential prospective impact of maltreatment reduction on the incidence of psychiatric disorders is scarce.MethodElectronic databases and grey literature from 1990 to 2014 were searched for English-language cohort studies with criteria for depression and/or anxiety and non-recall measurement of childhood maltreatment. Systematic review with meta-analysis synthesized the results. Study quality, heterogeneity, and publication bias were examined. Initial screening of titles and abstracts resulted in 199 papers being reviewed. Eight high-quality articles met eligibility criteria. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) estimated potential preventive impact.ResultsThe pooled odds ratio (OR) between any type of maltreatment and depression was 2.03 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37–3.01] and 2.70 (95% CI 2.10–3.47) for anxiety. For specific types of maltreatment and depression or anxiety disorders, the ORs were: physical abuse (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.25–3.19), sexual abuse (OR 2.66, 95% CI 1.88–3.75), and neglect (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.35–2.23). PAFs suggest that over one-half of global depression and anxiety cases are potentially attributable to self-reported childhood maltreatment. A 10–25% reduction in maltreatment could potentially prevent 31.4–80.3 million depression and anxiety cases worldwide.ConclusionThis review provides robust evidence of childhood maltreatment increasing the risk for depression and anxiety, and reinforces the need for effective programs and policies to reduce its occurrence.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 23-53
Author(s):  
Natasha Cordeiro dos Santos ◽  
Neila Silva Soares ◽  
Jorge Luis Motta dos Anjos ◽  
Bruno Souza de Matos ◽  
Daiane Barros Carvalho

Objetivo: Realizar uma revisão sistemática sobre os testes funcionais validados em diferentes perfis de indivíduos hospitalizados e não hospitalizados e avaliar as evidências psicométricas para confiabilidade e validade. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática. Foram utilizadas as bases de dados EMBASE, MEDLINE, Lilacs e SciELO com as palavras-chave Functional Tests (Walk Test, Gait Speed Test, Chair Stand Test, Timed Up And Go, Step Test),Validation Studies as Topic e sinônimos. Foram incluídos estudos de validação de testes funcionais em indivíduos hospitalizados ou não hospitalizados que utilizaram os critérios de validade e/ou confiabilidade e relacionaram os testes a diferentes variáveis. Esses artigos poderiam ser observacionais longitudinais ou de corte transversal ou estudos de validação que utilizaram dados de ensaios clínicos. Foram excluídos os artigos que não apresentaram características importantes da amostra e a descrição do teste. Resultados: A pesquisa resultou em 36.150 artigos, e 89 foram incluídos. Os estudos foram organizados em tabelas com informações como autor, ano; critérios de validação; amostra; teste; variáveis associadas; resultados. A qualidade dos artigos foi avaliada por meio da Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Conclusão: Os testes funcionais são válidos e confiáveis para a avaliação de indivíduos hospitalizados e não hospitalizados, estando associados à força muscular, capacidade de caminhar, controle postural, atividades de vida diária, risco de quedas, hospitalização e mortalidade.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 452-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Tan ◽  
Hui Jin Toh ◽  
Lai Kiow Sim ◽  
James Alvin Low

BACKGROUND: The current screening tools for depression can be tedious to administer, especially in the elderly population with hearing impairment and/or limited proficiency in English language. OBJECTIVES: To look at the feasibility of using emoticon as a screening and assessment tool for depression in the elderly. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHOD: A total of 77 elderly patients completed the study from June 2014 to August 2015 in a general geriatric outpatient clinic of an acute care hospital in Singapore. Patients rated their mood using an emoticon scale, which ranges from 1 ( most happy face) to 7 ( most sad face). Depression was assessed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV) criteria as the gold standard. Sensitivity and specificity for depression were calculated for the cutoff scores from 1 to 7 on the emoticon scale. RESULTS: The sensitivity percentages were low across all cutoff scores. The specificity was more than 90% for the cutoff score of 5 and above on the emoticon scale. However, all the patients who had depression diagnosed using the DSM-IV criteria did not have emoticon scores of 5 and above. CONCLUSIONS: The emoticon scale was easy to use, but its effectiveness in the screening of depression in the elderly needs to be explored further. The inability to use the emoticon scale as a tool may be the lack of measurements in the other domains of the DSM-IV criteria (sleep, energy, appetite, etc.), rather than failure of the emoticon scale to assess mood.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (27_suppl) ◽  
pp. 209-209
Author(s):  
Petra Grendarova ◽  
Demetra Hariklea Yannitsos ◽  
Marcus Vaska ◽  
Lisa Catherine Barbera

209 Background: Patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) gather information directly from patients and capture their perspectives on their health care. Deficiencies identified by PREMs can lead to quality improvement (QI) interventions. The purpose of this review was to identify published and unpublished evidence on initiatives aimed to improve patient experience, to identify their areas of application and their overall impact on patient experience. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review using MEDLINE (Ovid), EBM Reviews, HealthStar, PsycINFO, PubMed, PubMed Central, CINAHL, MEDLINE (Ebsco), Psychology & Behavioral Sciences, TRIP Database, EMBASE and Web of Science databases and several sources of grey literature. Inclusion criteria required the studies to evaluate an intervention or a systematic change aimed to improve patient experience and measured by a specific PREM. The search was limited to English language reports published between 1998 and 2018. Of the initial 780 articles, 318 were included in abstract reviews. 304 abstracts were excluded leaving 44 records for full text review. Results: 21 records were included in the final analysis (20 journal articles and 1 web report). Publication dates ranged between 2007 and 2018 in the USA, UK, Norway, Denmark, Belgium and Bangladesh. There were 8 QI initiatives, 6 randomized studies, 1 non-randomized trial, 3 mixed methods, 2 repeated cross-sectional studies and 1 national patient experience model. Areas of focus included hospital care, surgery, internal medicine, primary care and oncology. Nine studies had programmatic interventions and 12 had specific interventions. All specific interventions reported positive effects. Outcomes were variable in programmatic interventions, including 5 studies reporting positive effects, 3 neutral and 1 mixed effects. Conclusions: The effect of specific interventions aimed to improve patient experience is positive. There is limited data on the effect of programmatic initiatives and the factors that drive the improvement in patient experience. Such initiatives are needed to understand their impact on patient experience and person-centered care.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000881
Author(s):  
Merkineh Markos ◽  
Biruktawit Kefyalew ◽  
Hana Belay Tesfaye

IntroductionBlindness refers to a lack of vision and/or defined as presenting visual acuity worse than 3/60 in the better eye. Its highest proportion has been conforming to the developing countries such as Ethiopia. So, timely information is crucial to design strategies. However, the study on the magnitude of blindness in Ethiopia was outdated, that means it was conducted in 2005–2006. Therefore, this protocol has been proposed to estimate the pooled prevalence of blindness in Ethiopia to provide up-to-date, comprehensive evidence on this theme.Methods and analysisThe following databases will be used to search articles: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar and retrieving references. Standard data extraction approach will be employed and presented using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale quality assessment tool will be used to evaluate the quality of studies. Analysis will be held using STATA V.11. Funnel plot and Egger’s regression test will be applied to check for the potential sources of bias. Heterogeneity among the studies will be tested using Higgins method in which I² statistics will be calculated and compared with the standard. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis will be done to identify the potential sources of heterogeneity. Cross-sectional and survey studies conducted in Ethiopia and published in English language will be included.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval and consent are not required. On completion, the result will be submitted to a reputable peer-reviewed journal.Trial registration numberCRD42021268448.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document