scholarly journals Downsides of face masks and possible mitigation strategies: a systematic review and meta-analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina Bakhit ◽  
Natalia Krzyzaniak ◽  
Anna Mae Scott ◽  
Justin Clark ◽  
Paul Glasziou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Observational Studies ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Risk Compensation ◽  
Clinical Registries ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
New Research

AbstractObjectiveTo identify, appraise, and synthesise studies evaluating the downsides of wearing facemasks in any setting. We also discuss potential strategies to mitigate these downsides.MethodsPubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, EuropePMC were searched (inception-18/5/2020), and clinical registries were searched via CENTRAL. We also did forward-backward citation search of the included studies. We included randomised controlled trials and observational studies comparing facemask use to any active intervention or to control. Two author pairs independently screened articles for inclusion, extracted data and assessed the quality of included studies. The primary outcomes were compliance, discomforts, harms, and adverse events of wearing facemasks.FindingsWe screened 5471 articles, including 37 (40 references); 11 were meta-analysed. For mask wear adherence, 47% more people wore facemasks in the facemask group compared to control; adherence was significantly higher (26%) in the surgical/medical mask group than in N95/P2 group. The largest number of studies reported on the discomfort and irritation outcome (20-studies); fewest reported on the misuse of masks, and none reported on mask contamination or risk compensation behaviour. Risk of bias was generally high for blinding of participants and personnel and low for attrition and reporting biases.ConclusionThere are insufficient data to quantify all of the adverse effects that might reduce the acceptability, adherence, and effectiveness of face masks. New research on facemasks should assess and report the harms and downsides. Urgent research is also needed on methods and designs to mitigate the downsides of facemask wearing, particularly the assessment of alternatives such as face shields.

Treating depression with physical activity in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 1068-1083 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. P. Bailey ◽  
S. E. Hetrick ◽  
S. Rosenbaum ◽  
R. Purcell ◽  
A. G. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Treatment Effect ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomised Controlled

AbstractWe aimed to establish the treatment effect of physical activity for depression in young people through meta-analysis. Four databases were searched to September 2016 for randomised controlled trials of physical activity interventions for adolescents and young adults, 12–25 years, experiencing a diagnosis or threshold symptoms of depression. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate the standardised mean difference (SMD) between physical activity and control conditions. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression investigated potential treatment effect modifiers. Acceptability was estimated using dropout. Trials were assessed against risk of bias domains and overall quality of evidence was assessed using GRADE criteria. Seventeen trials were eligible and 16 provided data from 771 participants showing a large effect of physical activity on depression symptoms compared to controls (SMD = −0.82, 95% CI = −1.02 to −0.61, p < 0.05, I2 = 38%). The effect remained robust in trials with clinical samples (k = 5, SMD = −0.72, 95% CI = −1.15 to −0.30), and in trials using attention/activity placebo controls (k = 7, SMD = −0.82, 95% CI = −1.05 to −0.59). Dropout was 11% across physical activity arms and equivalent in controls (k = 12, RD = −0.01, 95% CI = −0.04 to 0.03, p = 0.70). However, the quality of RCT-level evidence contributing to the primary analysis was downgraded two levels to LOW (trial-level risk of bias, suspected publication bias), suggesting uncertainty in the size of effect and caution in its interpretation. While physical activity appears to be a promising and acceptable intervention for adolescents and young adults experiencing depression, robust clinical effectiveness trials that minimise risk of bias are required to increase confidence in the current finding. The specific intervention characteristics required to improve depression remain unclear, however best candidates given current evidence may include, but are not limited to, supervised, aerobic-based activity of moderate-to-vigorous intensity, engaged in multiple times per week over eight or more weeks. Further research is needed. (Registration: PROSPERO-CRD 42015024388).

scholarly journals Efficacy and safety of Boswellia containing formulations for the treatment of osteoarthritis: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZHIQIANG WANG ◽  
Ambrish Singh ◽  
Salman Hussain ◽  
Pablo Molina Garcia ◽  
Benny Samuel Eathakkattu Antony
Keyword(s):  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Joint Disease ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Pharmacological Management ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Review Manager

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic joint disease with limited pharmacological management options. Boswellia extracts (BE) or formulations containing BE are generally considered as safe and offers a modest efficacy for the treatment of OA. Although previous systematic reviews have assessed the efficacy of BE in OA, these reviews had excluded trials assessing various formulations containing BE and excluded various combinations of BE. Hence, this study aims to systematically review the evidence from RCTs assessing the efficacy and safety of both BE and formulations containing BE for the treatment of OA. Biomedical databases such as PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar will be searched to identify the RCTs of BE or formulations containing BE in patients with OA (hand, knee, hip, or any other OA). Cochrane risk of bias tool will be used to assess the quality of included studies. Review Manager 5 (Rev Man) and STATA Version 16 will be used to conduct the statistical analysis.

scholarly journals Acupuncture for Vascular Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials

2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 368-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huijuan Cao ◽  
Yuyi Wang ◽  
Dennis Chang ◽  
Li Zhou ◽  
Jianping Liu
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Vascular Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
State Examination

Background Vascular mild cognitive impairment (VMCI) is the most common type of vascular cognitive impairment induced by cerebrovascular disease. No effective medicines are currently available for VMCI. Objective To assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for VMCI. Methods Seven electronic databases were searched for randomised controlled trials which investigated the effects of acupuncture compared with no treatment, placebo or conventional therapies on cognitive function or other clinical outcomes in patients with VMCI. The quality of the trials selected was evaluated according to the ‘risk of bias’ assessment provided by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. RevMan V.5.1 software was employed for data analysis. Results Twelve trials with 691 participants were included. The methodological quality of all included trials was unclear and/or they had a high risk of bias. Meta-analysis showed acupuncture in conjunction with other therapies could significantly improve Mini-Mental State Examination scores (mean difference 1.99, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.88, random model, p<0.0001, 6 trials). No included trials mentioned any adverse events of the treatment. Conclusions The current clinical evidence is not of sufficient quality for wider application of acupuncture to be recommended for the treatment of VMCI, and further large, rigorously designed trials are warranted.

scholarly journals Efficacy and safety of turmeric extracts in knee osteoarthritis: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiqiang Wang ◽  
Ambrish Singh ◽  
Benny Antony
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Knee Osteoarthritis ◽  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Knee Oa ◽  
Randomised Controlled

AbstractTurmeric extracts have been used as a remedy for treating arthritis in traditional medicine. Recent years have witnessed the rise of different extracts from turmeric and randomised clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy and safety of these extracts for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA). This planned systematic review and meta-analysis aims to assess the efficacy and safety of turmeric extracts for the treatment of knee OA. Biomedical databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Embase will be searched for RCTs reporting safety and efficacy of turmeric extracts for the treatment of knee OA. Cochrane risk of bias tool will be used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies, and a meta-analysis will be performed to pool the effect estimates.

scholarly journals Downsides of face masks and possible mitigation strategies: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. e044364
Author(s):  
Mina Bakhit ◽  
Natalia Krzyzaniak ◽  
Anna Mae Scott ◽  
Justin Clark ◽  
Paul Glasziou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Clinical Registries ◽  
The Face ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
New Research

ObjectiveTo identify, appraise and synthesise studies evaluating the downsides of wearing face masks in any setting. We also discuss potential strategies to mitigate these downsides.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesPubMed, Embase, CENTRAL and EuropePMC were searched (inception–18 May 2020), and clinical registries were searched via CENTRAL. We also did a forward–backward citation search of the included studies.Inclusion criteriaWe included randomised controlled trials and observational studies comparing face mask use to any active intervention or to control.Data extraction and analysisTwo author pairs independently screened articles for inclusion, extracted data and assessed the quality of included studies. The primary outcomes were compliance, discomforts, harms and adverse events of wearing face masks.ResultsWe screened 5471 articles, including 37 (40 references); 11 were meta-analysed. For mask wear adherence, 47% (95% CI 25% to 68%, p<0.0001), more people wore face masks in the face mask group compared with control; adherence was significantly higher (26%, 95% CI 8% to 46%, p<0.01) in the surgical/medical mask group than in N95/P2 group. The largest number of studies reported on the discomfort and irritation outcome (20 studies); fewest reported on the misuse of masks, and none reported on mask contamination or risk compensation behaviour. Risk of bias was generally high for blinding of participants and personnel and low for attrition and reporting biases.ConclusionsThere are insufficient data to quantify all of the adverse effects that might reduce the acceptability, adherence and effectiveness of face masks. New research on face masks should assess and report the harms and downsides. Urgent research is also needed on methods and designs to mitigate the downsides of face mask wearing, particularly the assessment of possible alternatives.Systematic review registrationOpen Science Framework website https://osf.io/sa6kf/ (timestamp 20-05-2020).

scholarly journals Ivermectin for the prevention of COVID-19: addressing potential bias and medical fraud

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Hill ◽  
Manya Mirchandani ◽  
Leah Ellis ◽  
Victoria Pilkington
Keyword(s):  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Quality Of Data ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Post Hoc

Abstract Background Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug being investigated in clinical trials for the prevention of COVID-19. However, there are concerns about the quality of some of these trials. Objectives To conduct a meta-analysis with randomised controlled trials of ivermectin for the prevention of COVID-19, while controlling for the quality of data. Methods We conducted a sub-group analysis based on the quality of randomised controlled trials evaluating ivermectin for the prevention of COVID-19. Quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias measures (RoB 2) and additional checks on raw data, where possible. Results Four studies were included in the meta-analysis. One was rated as being potentially fraudulent, two as having a high risk of bias and one as having some concerns for bias. Ivermectin did not have a significant effect on preventing RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 infection. Ivermectin had a significant effect on preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infection in one trial with some concerns of bias, but this result was based on post-hoc analysis of a multi-arm study. Conclusions This meta-analysis demonstrates that the currently available randomised trials evaluating ivermectin for the prevention of COVID-19 are insufficient and of poor quality.

scholarly journals Tocilizumab and mortality in hospitalised patients with covid-19. A systematic review comparing randomised trials with observational studies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bélène Podmore ◽  
Nawab Qizilbash ◽  
Alessandra Lacetera ◽  
Itziar Ubillos ◽  
Kirsty Andresen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Hospital Mortality ◽  
Observational Studies ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Significant Heterogeneity ◽  
Moderate Risk ◽  
Randomised Controlled

Objective: To summarise and compare evidence from randomised controlled trials and observational studies of the effect of tocilizumab on in-hospital mortality in patients with covid-19. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources: Searches conducted in Embase and PubMed from July 2020 until 1 March 2021. Study Selection: Observational studies and randomised controlled trials (RCTs) assessing in-hospital mortality in patients receiving tocilizumab compared with standard care or placebo. Data extraction: The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality at 30 days. The risk of bias in observational studies was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool. A fixed effect meta-analysis was used to combine relative risks, with random effects and risk of bias as a sensitivity analysis. Results: Of 5,792 publications screened for inclusion, eight RCTs and 35 observational studies were identified. The RCTs showed an overall relative risk reduction in in-hospital mortality at 30 days of 0.86 (95% CI 0.78 to 0.96) with no statistically significant heterogeneity. 23 of the observational studies had a severe risk of bias, 10 of which did not adjust for potential confounders. The 10 observational studies with moderate risk of bias reported a larger reduction in mortality at 30-days (relative risk 0.72, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.81) but with significant heterogeneity (P<0.01). Conclusion: This meta-analysis provides strong evidence from RCTs that tocilizumab reduces the risk of mortality in hospitalised covid-19 patients. Observational studies with moderate risk of bias exaggerated the benefits on mortality two-fold and showed heterogeneity. Collectively observational studies provide a less reliable evidence base for evaluating treatments for covid-19.

scholarly journals Antibiotic therapy for pelvic inflammatory disease: an abridged version of a Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

2018 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo F Savaris ◽  
Daniele G Fuhrich ◽  
Rui V Duarte ◽  
Sebastian Franik ◽  
Jonathan D C Ross
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease ◽  
Inflammatory Disease ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Quality Of Evidence ◽  
Randomised Controlled

ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness and safety of antibiotic regimens used to treat pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).DesignThis is a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Risk of bias was assessed using the criteria outlined in the Cochrane guidelines. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation.Data sourcesEight electronic databases were searched from date of inception up to July 2016. Database searches were complemented by screening of reference lists of relevant studies, trial registers, conference proceeding abstracts and grey literature.Eligibility criteriaRCTs comparing the use of antibiotics with placebo or other antibiotics for the treatment of PID in women of reproductive age, either as inpatient or outpatient treatment.ResultsWe included 37 RCTs (6348 women). The quality of evidence ranged from very low to high, the main limitations being serious risk of bias (due to poor reporting of study methods and lack of blinding), serious inconsistency and serious imprecision. There was no clear evidence of a difference in the rates of cure for mild-moderate or for severe PID for the comparisons of azithromycin versus doxycycline, quinolone versus cephalosporin, nitroimidazole versus no use of nitroimidazole, clindamycin plus aminoglycoside versus quinolone, or clindamycin plus aminoglycoside versus cephalosporin. No clear evidence of a difference between regimens in antibiotic-related adverse events leading to discontinuation of therapy was observed.ConclusionsWe found no conclusive evidence that one regimen of antibiotics was safer or more effective than any other for the treatment of PID, and there was no clear evidence for the use of nitroimidazoles (metronidazole) compared with the use of other drugs with activity against anaerobes. More evidence is needed to assess treatments for women with PID, particularly comparing regimens with or without the addition of nitroimidazoles and the efficacy of azithromycin compared with doxycycline.

scholarly journals Effects of traditional Chinese exercise on cardiac rehabilitation after percutaneous coronary intervention: study protocol for network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e023096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuanjin Luo ◽  
Junmao Wen ◽  
Weipeng Sun ◽  
Ting Li ◽  
Xiaojiang Yu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Tai Chi ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Coronary Intervention ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Percutaneous Coronary ◽  
Randomised Controlled

IntroductionCoronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of death worldwide. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been shown to reduce mortality in patients with CHD. However, there are still recurrences of cardiovascular events after PCI. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in patients with established CHD is associated with reductions in cardiovascular mortality and hospital admissions, as well as improved quality of life. More and more clinical trials suggest that traditional Chinese exercise (TCE) plays a positive role in patients post-PCI. The primary purposes of the current study are to conduct a network meta-analysis of randomised trials to determine the effects of TCE in patients after PCI, and to separately compare the effects of tai chi, baduanjin and yijinjing on CR after PCI.Methods and analysisStudies will be retrieved from the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data, Chinese BioMedical Database and Chinese Science and Technology Periodicals Database, from inception to December 2018. We will include randomised controlled trials that are related to the effects of TCE therapies in patients after PCI. The primary outcomes will be all-cause mortality, revascularisations, health-related quality of life and hospitalisations. Two reviewers will independently select eligible articles. For each included article, two reviewers will independently extract the data and assess the risk of bias by using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Bayesian network meta-analyses will be conducted to pool all treatment effects. The ranking probabilities for the optimal intervention of various treatments (tai chi, baduanjin or yijinjing) will be estimated by the mean ranks and surface under the cumulative ranking curve. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation System will be used to assess the quality of evidence.Ethics and disseminationThe results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications. They will provide consolidated evidence to inform clinicians on the potential functions of TCE in CR, and to provide reliable evidence for the application of TCE.Trial registration numberCRD42018088415.

scholarly journals The methodological quality of individual participant data meta-analysis on intervention effects: systematic review

BMJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. n736
Author(s):  
Huan Wang ◽  
Yancong Chen ◽  
Yali Lin ◽  
Julius Abesig ◽  
Irene XY Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Individual Participant ◽  
Randomised Controlled ◽  
Meta Analyses

Abstract Objective To assess the methodological quality of individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis and to identify areas for improvement. Design Systematic review. Data sources Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Systematic reviews with IPD meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials on intervention effects published in English. Results 323 IPD meta-analyses covering 21 clinical areas and published between 1991 and 2019 were included: 270 (84%) were non-Cochrane reviews and 269 (84%) were published in journals with a high impact factor (top quarter). The IPD meta-analyses showed low compliance in using a satisfactory technique to assess the risk of bias of the included randomised controlled trials (43%, 95% confidence interval 38% to 48%), accounting for risk of bias when interpreting results (40%, 34% to 45%), providing a list of excluded studies with justifications (32%, 27% to 37%), establishing an a priori protocol (31%, 26% to 36%), prespecifying methods for assessing both the overall effects (44%, 39% to 50%) and the participant-intervention interactions (31%, 26% to 36%), assessing and considering the potential of publication bias (31%, 26% to 36%), and conducting a comprehensive literature search (19%, 15% to 23%). Up to 126 (39%) IPD meta-analyses failed to obtain IPD from 90% or more of eligible participants or trials, among which only 60 (48%) provided reasons and 21 (17%) undertook certain strategies to account for the unavailable IPD. Conclusions The methodological quality of IPD meta-analyses is unsatisfactory. Future IPD meta-analyses need to establish an a priori protocol with prespecified data syntheses plan, comprehensively search the literature, critically appraise included randomised controlled trials with appropriate technique, account for risk of bias during data analyses and interpretation, and account for unavailable IPD.

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