scholarly journals Characterising long COVID: a living systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (9) ◽  
pp. e005427
Author(s):  
Melina Michelen ◽  
Lakshmi Manoharan ◽  
Natalie Elkheir ◽  
Vincent Cheng ◽  
Andrew Dagens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Registration Number ◽  
At Risk Populations ◽  
Meta Analyses

BackgroundWhile it is now apparent clinical sequelae (long COVID) may persist after acute COVID-19, their nature, frequency and aetiology are poorly characterised. This study aims to regularly synthesise evidence on long COVID characteristics, to help inform clinical management, rehabilitation strategies and interventional studies to improve long-term outcomes.MethodsA living systematic review. Medline, CINAHL (EBSCO), Global Health (Ovid), WHO Global Research on COVID-19 database, LitCovid and Google Scholar were searched till 17 March 2021. Studies including at least 100 people with confirmed or clinically suspected COVID-19 at 12 weeks or more post onset were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the tool produced by Hoy et al. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics and meta-analyses to estimate prevalence.ResultsA total of 39 studies were included: 32 cohort, 6 cross-sectional and 1 case–control. Most showed high or moderate risk of bias. None were set in low-income countries and few included children. Studies reported on 10 951 people (48% female) in 12 countries. Most included previously hospitalised people (78%, 8520/10 951). The longest mean follow-up time was 221.7 (SD: 10.9) days post COVID-19 onset. Over 60 physical and psychological signs and symptoms with wide prevalence were reported, most commonly weakness (41%; 95% CI 25% to 59%), general malaise (33%; 95% CI 15% to 57%), fatigue (31%; 95% CI 24% to 39%), concentration impairment (26%; 95% CI 21% to 32%) and breathlessness (25%; 95% CI 18% to 34%). 37% (95% CI 18% to 60%) of patients reported reduced quality of life; 26% (10/39) of studies presented evidence of reduced pulmonary function.ConclusionLong COVID is a complex condition with prolonged heterogeneous symptoms. The nature of studies precludes a precise case definition or risk evaluation. There is an urgent need for prospective, robust, standardised, controlled studies into aetiology, risk factors and biomarkers to characterise long COVID in different at-risk populations and settings.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020211131.

scholarly journals Performance of custom made videolaryngoscope for endotracheal intubation: A systematic review

PLoS ONE ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. e0261863
Author(s):  
Pawan Kumar Hamal ◽  
Rupesh Kumar Yadav ◽  
Pragya Malla
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Endotracheal Intubation ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Laryngoscopic View ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Airway Injury ◽  
Custom Made

Introduction Videolaryngoscope is regarded as the standard of care for airway management in well-resourced setups however the technology is largely inaccessible and costly in middle and low-income countries. An improvised and cost-effective form of customized videolaryngoscope was proposed and studied for patient care in underprivileged areas however there were no distinct conclusions on its performances. Method The study follows PRISMA guidelines for systematic review and the protocol in International Prospective Register for Systematic Reviews. The primary aim was to assess the first attempt success of customized videolaryngoscope for endotracheal intubation. The secondary objective was to evaluate the number of attempts, laryngoscopic view in terms of Cormack Lehane score and Percentage of glottic opening, use of external laryngeal maneuver and stylet and, the airway injuries after the endotracheal intubation. Result Five studies were analyzed for risk of bias using the National Institute of Health Quality Assessment Tool for cross-sectional studies. Most of the studies had a poor to a fair level of evidence with only one study with a good level of evidence. Certainty of evidence was “very low” for all eligible studies when graded using the Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach for systematic review. Conclusions The certainty of the evidence regarding performance of custom-made videolaryngoscope compared to conventional laryngoscope was very low and the study was performed in small numbers with fair to the poor risk of bias. It was difficult to establish and do further analysis regarding whether the customized form of videolaryngoscope will improve the first attempt success rate for tracheal intubation, reduce the number of attempts, improve the laryngoscopic view, require fewer external aids and reduce the incidences of airway injury with the given low-grade evidence. Some properly conducted randomised clinical trials will be required to further analyze the outcome and make the strong recommendations.

scholarly journals Is There Association Between Stress and Bruxism? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victória dos Santos Chemelo ◽  
Yago Gecy de Sousa Né ◽  
Deborah Ribeiro Frazão ◽  
Renata Duarte de Souza-Rodrigues ◽  
Nathalia Carolina Fernandes Fagundes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Fixed Effect Model ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Assessment Development ◽  
Effect Model ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Meta Analyses

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate a possible association between stress and bruxism in humans. This study was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines under the code CRD42020188862, and the searches were performed on the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, LILACS, OpenGrey, and Google Scholar. This systematic review evaluated observational studies in adult humans with and without stress to verify the association between bruxism and the presence of stress. The risk of bias was evaluated through the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies. In quantitative analysis, the Odds Ratio (OR) and their 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated through a fixed-effect model. Furthermore, a summary of the overall strength of evidence was presented using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). A total of 1,458 studies were identified, and six were included in this systematic review. Two studies included were classified with a low risk of bias, and the others were classified with a moderate risk of bias. In three articles, a meta-analysis was performed and showed an association between these two factors (OR 2.07 [1.51, 2.83], p < 0.00001, I2 = 45%). Besides that, a low certainty of the evidence was detected among this association. Stressed individuals show a higher chance of presenting bruxism when compared to healthy individuals. Despite the low heterogeneity found in the quantitative analysis among the articles reporting an association between stress and bruxism, further studies with similar methods are necessary to understand this relationship better.

scholarly journals Clinical assessment of micronutrient deficiencies among children (1- 5 years) enrolled in anganwadis of old Hubli slums, Karnataka, India

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rana Sarvar ◽  
D. D. Bant
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin A ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Childhood Mortality ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Micronutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity

Background: Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals required in small amounts that are essential to our health, development, and growth.  As tiny as the amounts are, however, the consequences of their absence are severe. Iodine, vitamin A and iron are most important in global public health terms; their lack represents a major threat to the health and development, particularly children and pregnant women in low-income countries. The objectives were to clinically evaluate micronutrient deficiencies among children aged 1-5 years enrolled in anganwadi’s of old Hubli.Methods:A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out on 100 children enrolled in the anganwadis of Hubli slums for signs and symptoms of micronutrient deficiency.Results: Pallor was found in 78% children and delayed developmental milestones in 20% followed by delayed eruption of teeth in 17%. Among the studied group 37% had dry hair and dry skin. Vitamin A, B, C, D deficiency was seen in 1%, 29%, 14%, 38% respectively.Conclusions:The study concludes micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent among preschool children more so in with higher birth order having partial immunization. This appeals effective implementation of national health programmes, which can play a crucial role in addressing the hidden hunger. Correcting micronutrient deficiencies can significantly reduce childhood mortality and morbidity.

scholarly journals Fever control interventions versus placebo, sham or no intervention in adults: a protocol for a systematic review with meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e032389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naqash Sethi ◽  
Arushma Imran Naqash ◽  
Niklas Nielsen ◽  
Janus Christian Jakobsen
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Sequential Analysis ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Trial Sequential Analysis ◽  
Control Intervention ◽  
Registration Number ◽  
Meta Analyses

IntroductionFever is an integral part of the inflammatory response and has therefore likely a physiological role in fighting infections. Nevertheless, whether fever in itself is beneficial or harmful in adults is unknown. This protocol for a systematic review aims at identifying the beneficial and harmful effects of fever control interventions in adults.Methods and analysisThis protocol for a systematic review was conducted following the recommendations of Cochrane, GRADE and the eight-step assessment suggested by Jakobsen and colleagues for better validation of meta-analytical results in systematic reviews. We plan to include all relevant randomised clinical trials comparing any fever control intervention with placebo, sham or no intervention in adults. We plan to search CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, BIOSIS, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection to identify relevant trials. Any eligible trial will be assessed and classified as either at high risk of bias or low risk of bias, and our primary conclusions will be based on trials at low risk of bias. We will perform our meta-analyses of the extracted data using Review Manager 5.3 and Trial Sequential Analysis. For all our outcomes, we will create a ‘Summary of Findings’ table based on GRADE assessments of the certainty of the evidence.Ethics and disseminationNo formal approval or review of ethics is required for this systematic review as individual patient data will not be included. This systematic review has the potential to highlight (1) whether one should believe fever to be beneficial, harmful or neither in adults; (2) the existing knowledge gaps on this topic; and (3) whether the recommendations from guidelines and daily clinical practice are correct. These results will be disseminated through publication in a leading peer-reviewed journal.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019134006

scholarly journals Global incidence of surgical site infection after appendectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e034266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Celestin Danwang ◽  
Jean Joel Bigna ◽  
Joel Noutakdie Tochie ◽  
Aimé Mbonda ◽  
Clarence Mvalo Mbanga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Surgical Site Infection ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Random Effect Model ◽  
Open Appendectomy ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Site Infection

BackgroundAlthough surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most studied healthcare-associated infections, the global burden of SSI after appendectomy remains unknown.ObjectiveWe estimated the incidence of SSI after appendectomy at global and regional levels.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.ParticipantsAppendectomy patients.Data sourcesEMBASE, PubMed and Web of Science were searched, with no language restrictions, to identify observational studies and clinical trials published between 1 January 2000 and 30 December 2018 and reporting on the incidence of SSI after appendectomy. A random-effect model meta-analysis served to obtain the pooled incidence of SSI after appendectomy.ResultsIn total, 226 studies (729 434 participants from 49 countries) were included in the meta-analysis. With regard to methodological quality, 59 (26.1%) studies had low risk of bias, 147 (65.0%) had moderate risk of bias and 20 (8.8%) had high risk of bias. We found an overall incidence of SSI of 7.0 per 100 appendectomies (95% prediction interval: 1.0–17.6), varying from 0 to 37.4 per 100 appendectomies. A subgroup analysis to identify sources of heterogeneity showed that the incidence varied from 5.8 in Europe to 12.6 per 100 appendectomies in Africa (p<0.0001). The incidence of SSI after appendectomy increased when the level of income decreased, from 6.2 in high-income countries to 11.1 per 100 appendectomies in low-income countries (p=0.015). Open appendectomy (11.0 per 100 surgical procedures) was found to have a higher incidence of SSI compared with laparoscopy (4.6 per 100 appendectomies) (p=0.0002).ConclusionThis study suggests a high burden of SSI after appendectomy in some regions (especially Africa) and in low-income countries. Strategies are needed to implement and disseminate the WHO guidelines to decrease the burden of SSI after appendectomy in these regions.Prospero registration numberCRD42017075257.

scholarly journals Conference equity in global health: a systematic review of factors impacting LMIC representation at global health conferences

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e003455
Author(s):  
Lotta Velin ◽  
Jean-Wilguens Lartigue ◽  
Samantha Ann Johnson ◽  
Anudari Zorigtbaatar ◽  
Ulrick Sidney Kanmounye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Professional Growth ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Health Conferences ◽  
Conference Attendance ◽  
Meta Analyses

IntroductionGlobal health conferences are important platforms for knowledge exchange, decision-making and personal and professional growth for attendees. Neocolonial patterns in global health at large and recent opinion reports indicate that stakeholders from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) may be under-represented at such conferences. This study aims to describe the factors that impact LMIC representation at global health conferences.MethodsA systematic review of articles reporting factors determining global health conference attendance was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Articles presenting conference demographics and data on the barriers and/or facilitators to attendance were included. Articles were screened at title and abstract level by four independent reviewers. Eligible articles were read in full text, analysed and evaluated with a risk of bias assessment.ResultsAmong 8765 articles screened, 46 articles met inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis yielded two themes: ‘barriers to conference attendance’ and ‘facilitators to conference attendance’. In total, 112 conferences with 254 601 attendees were described, of which 4% of the conferences were hosted in low-income countries. Of the 98 302 conference attendees, for whom affiliation was disclosed, 38 167 (39%) were from LMICs.Conclusion‘Conference inequity’ is common in global health, with LMIC attendees under-represented at global health conferences. LMIC attendance is limited by systemic barriers including high travel costs, visa restrictions and lower acceptance rates for research presentations. This may be mitigated by relocating conferences to visa-friendly countries, providing travel scholarships and developing mentorship programmes to enable LMIC researchers to participate in global conferences.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Spin in the Abstracts of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Focused on the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: Cross-Sectional Analysis

10.2196/16978 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. e16978 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Ottwell ◽  
Taylor C Rogers ◽  
J Michael Anderson ◽  
Austin Johnson ◽  
Matt Vassar
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Acne Vulgaris ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Selective Reporting ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Bias Assessment ◽  
Meta Analyses

Background Spin is the misrepresentation of study findings, which may positively or negatively influence the reader’s interpretation of the results. Little is known regarding the prevalence of spin in abstracts of systematic reviews, specifically systematic reviews pertaining to the management and treatment of acne vulgaris. Objective The primary objective of this study was to characterize and determine the frequency of the most severe forms of spin in systematic review abstracts and to evaluate whether various study characteristics were associated with spin. Methods Using a cross-sectional study design, we searched PubMed and EMBASE for systematic reviews focusing on the management and treatment of acne vulgaris. Our search returned 316 studies, of which 36 were included in our final sample. To be included, each systematic review must have addressed either pharmacologic or nonpharmacologic treatment of acne vulgaris. These studies were screened, and data were extracted in duplicate by two blinded investigators. We analyzed systematic review abstracts for the nine most severe types of spin. Results Spin was present in 31% (11/36) of abstracts. A total of 12 examples of spin were identified in the 11 abstracts containing spin, with one abstract containing two instances of spin. The most common type of spin, selective reporting of or overemphasis on efficacy outcomes or analysis favoring the beneficial effect of the experimental intervention, was identified five times (5/12, 42%). A total of 44% (16/36) of studies did not report a risk of bias assessment. Of the 11 abstracts containing spin, six abstracts (55%) had not reported a risk of bias assessment or performed a risk of bias assessment but did not discuss it. Spin in abstracts was not significantly associated with a specific intervention type, funding source, or journal impact factor. Conclusions Spin is present in the abstracts of systematic reviews and meta-analyses covering the treatment of acne vulgaris. This paper raises awareness of spin in abstracts and emphasizes the importance of its recognition, which may lead to fewer incidences of spin in future studies.

scholarly journals Hajdu–Cheney Syndrome: A Systematic Review of the Literature

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (17) ◽  
pp. 6174
Author(s):  
Jonathan Cortés-Martín ◽  
Lourdes Díaz-Rodríguez ◽  
Beatriz Piqueras-Sola ◽  
Raquel Rodríguez-Blanque ◽  
Antonio Bermejo-Fernández ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Autosomal Dominant ◽  
Clinical Signs ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Dominant Inheritance ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Registration Number ◽  
Bibliographic Search ◽  
Clinical Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Meta Analyses

Hajdu–Cheney syndrome (HCS) is a rare genetic disease that causes acroosteolysis and generalized osteoporosis, accompanied by a series of developmental skeletal disorders and multiple clinical and radiological manifestations. It has an autosomal dominant inheritance, although there are several sporadic non-hereditary cases. The gene that has been associated with Hajdu-Cheney syndrome is NOTCH2. The described phenotype and clinical signs and symptoms are many, varied, and evolve over time. As few as 50 cases of this disease, for which there is currently no curative treatment, have been reported to date. The main objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the results obtained in research regarding Hajdu–Cheney Syndrome. The findings are reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and were registered on the web PROSPERO under the registration number CRD42020164377. A bibliographic search was carried out using the online databases Orphanet, PubMed, and Scielo; articles from other open access sources were also considered. Finally, 76 articles were included, and after their analysis, we have obtained a series of hypotheses as results that will support further studies on this matter.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Spin in the Abstracts of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Focused on the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: Cross-Sectional Analysis (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Ottwell ◽  
Taylor C Rogers ◽  
J Michael Anderson ◽  
Austin Johnson ◽  
Matt Vassar
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Acne Vulgaris ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Risk Of Bias ◽  
Selective Reporting ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Bias Assessment ◽  
Meta Analyses

BACKGROUND Spin is the misrepresentation of study findings, which may positively or negatively influence the reader’s interpretation of the results. Little is known regarding the prevalence of spin in abstracts of systematic reviews, specifically systematic reviews pertaining to the management and treatment of acne vulgaris. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of this study was to characterize and determine the frequency of the most severe forms of spin in systematic review abstracts and to evaluate whether various study characteristics were associated with spin. METHODS Using a cross-sectional study design, we searched PubMed and EMBASE for systematic reviews focusing on the management and treatment of acne vulgaris. Our search returned 316 studies, of which 36 were included in our final sample. To be included, each systematic review must have addressed either pharmacologic or nonpharmacologic treatment of acne vulgaris. These studies were screened, and data were extracted in duplicate by two blinded investigators. We analyzed systematic review abstracts for the nine most severe types of spin. RESULTS Spin was present in 31% (11/36) of abstracts. A total of 12 examples of spin were identified in the 11 abstracts containing spin, with one abstract containing two instances of spin. The most common type of spin, <i>selective reporting of or overemphasis on efficacy outcomes or analysis favoring the beneficial effect of the experimental intervention,</i> was identified five times (5/12, 42%). A total of 44% (16/36) of studies did not report a risk of bias assessment. Of the 11 abstracts containing spin, six abstracts (55%) had not reported a risk of bias assessment or performed a risk of bias assessment but did not discuss it. Spin in abstracts was not significantly associated with a specific intervention type, funding source, or journal impact factor. CONCLUSIONS Spin is present in the abstracts of systematic reviews and meta-analyses covering the treatment of acne vulgaris. This paper raises awareness of spin in abstracts and emphasizes the importance of its recognition, which may lead to fewer incidences of spin in future studies.

Assessment of knowledge and practice of vaccination of dogs against rabies by dog owners in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Audu Onyemocho ◽  
Agwa Moses ◽  
Aboh Kisani ◽  
Omole Namben Victoria ◽  
Anejo-Okopi Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Life Time ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Educational Status ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Bivariate Analysis ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Knowledge And Practice ◽  
Dog Owners ◽  
The Relationship

Objective: Rabies, one of the oldest and fatal infectious diseases known to human race, is transmitted by infected dogs. The global target of zero dog-mediated rabies human deaths has been set for 2030; however, the realization of this goal poses challenges in most low-income countries where rabies is endemic due to weak surveillance. Dogs have been increasingly deployed for domestic uses over the years, especially for security purposes. This study assessed the assessment of knowledge and practice of vaccination of dogs against rabies by dog owners. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional community-based study was employed to study 400 dog owners in Makurdi metropolis through multistage sampling techniques. Sighting of valid dog vaccination card was used as criteria for current vaccination. Bivariate analysis was carried out to establish the relationship between the respondent knowledge of rabies and dog vaccination with significant value set at P < 0.05. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 31 (Â ± 0.8) years, majority of them had tertiary and secondary education (40.0% and 39.0%, respectively), 26.0% were traders, and 50.0% were married. Overall, 73.0% of the respondents had good knowledge score, 61.0% had seen at least a rabid dog in their life time, and 74.0% have a history of dog vaccination, but evidence of up to date vaccination of dogs by owners was seen in only 18.0% of all the vaccination cards sighted. The relationship between the educational status of the respondents, their knowledge score, and their dog vaccination was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Knowledge of rabies among dog owners in Makurdi was good, but the practice of dog vaccination was poor. Educational status was a good predictor of practice. Awareness campaign on dog vaccination should be strengthened and adequate measures should be put in place at the veterinary hospitals in Makurdi for vaccination of dogs.

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