Depression in the Iranian Elderly: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Depression can lead to increased medical costs, impaired individual and social functioning, nonadherence to therapeutic proceeding, and even suicide and ultimately affect quality of life. It is important to know the extent of its prevalence for successful planning in this regard. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of depression in the Iranian elderly. This systematic review and meta-analysis study was done through Medline via PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, ProQuest, SID, Embase, and Magiran with determined keywords. Screening was done on the basis of relevance to the purpose of the study, titles, abstracts, full text, and inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality of the articles was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa standard scale. After primary and secondary screening, 30 articles were finally included in the study. According to the 30 articles reviewed, the prevalence of depression in the Iranian elderly was 52 percent based on the random-effects model (CI 95%: 46–58). According to the results of the present study, depression in the Iranian elderly was moderate to high. Therefore, more exact assessment in terms of depression screening in elderly people seems necessary. Coherent and systematic programs, including psychosocial empowerment counselling for the elderly and workshops for their families, are also needed. Researchers can also use the results of this study for future research.

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Astrocyte Biomarkers in Alzheimer Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Neurology ◽

10.1212/wnl.0000000000012109 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000012109

Author(s):

Bruna Bellaver ◽

João Pedro Ferrari-Souza ◽

Lucas Uglione da Ros ◽

Stephen F Carter ◽

Elena Rodriguez-Vieitez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Effect Sizes ◽

Significant Progress ◽

Exclusion Criteria ◽

Mao B ◽

Positron Emission ◽

Registration Number ◽

Mean Differences

Objective:To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether fluid and imaging astrocyte biomarkers are altered in Alzheimer's disease (AD).Methods:PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for articles reporting fluid or imaging astrocyte biomarkers in AD. Pooled effect sizes were determined with mean differences (SMD) using the Hedge’s G method with random-effects to determine biomarker performance. Adapted questions from QUADAS-2 were applied for quality assessment. A protocol for this study has been previously registered in PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42020192304).Results:The initial search identified 1,425 articles. After exclusion criteria were applied, 33 articles (a total of 3,204 individuals) measuring levels of GFAP, S100B, YKL-40 and AQP4 in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), as well as MAO-B, indexed by positron emission tomography 11C-deuterium-L-deprenyl ([11C]-DED), were included. GFAP (SMD = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.71-1.18) and YKL-40 (SMD = 0.76; CI 95% = 0.63-0.89) levels in the CSF, S100B levels in the blood (SMD = 2.91; CI 95% = 1.01-4.8) were found significantly increased in AD patients.Conclusions:Despite significant progress, applications of astrocyte biomarkers in AD remain in their early days. The meta-analysis demonstrated that astrocyte biomarkers are consistently altered in AD and supports further investigation for their inclusion in the AD clinical research framework for observational and interventional studies.

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The effectiveness of serious games in improving memory among elderly people with cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.35202 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Alaa Abd-alrazaq ◽

Dari Alhuwail ◽

Eiman Al-Jafar ◽

Arfan Ahmed ◽

Shuja Mohd Reagu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Working Memory ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Verbal Memory ◽

Serious Games ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

The Elderly ◽

Quality Of Evidence ◽

Meta Analyses

BACKGROUND Memory, one of the main cognitive functions, is known to decline by age. Serious games have been used for improving memory among the elderly. The effectiveness of serious games in improving memory has been investigated by several systematic reviews; however, they are limited by design and methodological weaknesses. OBJECTIVE This study aims to assess the effectiveness of serious games in improving memory among the elderly with cognitive impairment. METHODS A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was carried out. The search sources included searching 8 databases, screening reference lists of the included studies and relevant reviews, and checking studies that cited the included studies. Two reviewers independently carried out the study selection, data extraction, risk of bias assessment, and quality of evidence appraisal. Extracted data were synthesized using a narrative approach and a statistical approach (i.e., meta-analysis), as appropriate. RESULTS Out of 466 citations retrieved, 18 studies met the eligibility criteria of this review. Of those, 15 RCTs were eventually included in 10 meta-analyses. We found that serious games are more effective than no or passive interventions in improving non-verbal memory (P=0.002) and working memory (P=0.02), but not verbal memory (P=0.13). The review also showed that serious games are more effective than conventional exercises in improving verbal memory (P=0.004), but not for non-verbal memory (P=0.12) and working memory (P=0.49). Serious games were as effective as conventional cognitive activities in improving verbal memory (P=0.07), non-verbal memory (P=0.94), and working memory (P=0.08) among the elderly with cognitive impairment. Lastly, the effect of adaptive serious games on working memory was comparable to non-adaptive serious games (P=0.08). CONCLUSIONS Serious games have the potential to improve verbal, non-verbal, and working memory among elderly people with cognitive impairment. However, our findings should be interpreted cautiously given that most meta-analyses were based on a few studies (≤3) and judged to have a low quality of evidence. Therefore, serious games should be offered as supplemental to existing proven and safe interventions, rather than a complete substitute until further, more robust evidence is available. Future studies should investigate the short and long-term effects of serious games on memory and other cognitive abilities among people from different age groups with or without cognitive impairment.

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Microplastic contamination of salt intended for human consumption: a systematic review and meta-analysis

SN Applied Sciences ◽

10.1007/s42452-020-03749-0 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (12) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Evangelos Danopoulos ◽

Lauren Jenner ◽

Maureen Twiddy ◽

Jeanette M. Rotchell

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Future Research ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Research Findings ◽

Human Health Effects ◽

Potential Human Health

Abstract Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging contaminant ubiquitous in the environment. There is growing concern regarding potential human health effects, a major human exposure route being dietary uptake. We have undertaken a systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis to identify all relevant research on MP contamination of salt intended for human consumption. Three thousand nine hundred and nineteen papers were identified, with ten fitting the inclusion criteria. A search of the databases MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science, from launch date to September 2020, was conducted. MP contamination of salt varied significantly between four origins, sea salt 0–1674 MPs/kg, lake salt 8–462 MPs/kg, rock and well salt 0–204 MPs/kg. The majority of samples were found to be contaminated by MPs. Corresponding potential human exposures are estimated to be 0–6110 MPs per year (for all origins), confirming salt as a carrier of MPs. A bespoke risk of bias (RoB) assessment tool was used to appraise the quality of the studies, with studies demonstrating moderate to low RoB. These results suggest that a series of recurring issues need to be addressed in future research regarding sampling, analysis and reporting to improve confidence in research findings.

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Relationship between cognition and frailty in elderly: A systematic review

Dementia & Neuropsychologia ◽

10.1590/1980-57642015dn92000005 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 110-119 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Allan Gustavo Brigola ◽

Estefani Serafim Rossetti ◽

Bruna Rodrigues dos Santos ◽

Anita Liberalesso Neri ◽

Marisa Silvana Zazzetta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Search Strategy ◽

Web Of Science ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Cognitive Domains ◽

The Subject ◽

The Relationship

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between cognition and frailty in the elderly. METHODS: A systematic review on the currently existing literature concerning the subject was carried out. The search strategy included LILACS, SCOPUS, SciELO, PsycINFO, PubMed and Web of Science databases. RESULTS: A total of 19 studies were selected for review, from which 10 (52.6%) were cross-sectional and 9 (47.4%) longitudinal, and the majority Brazilian. All of the studies established a link between cognition and frailty. There was a relationship between components of frailty and the cognitive domains. Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), dementia and mortality were all evidenced in the relationship between frailty and cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION: The theory remains limited, but results show the variables that appear to be linked to cognition and frailty in elderly. This data can help in implementing actions to improve the quality of life among elderly.

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Anxiety disorders and risk of stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.11.004 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 102-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

M. Pérez-Piñar ◽

L. Ayerbe ◽

E. González ◽

R. Mathur ◽

Q. Foguet-Boreu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Anxiety Disorders ◽

Critical Appraisal ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Significant Heterogeneity ◽

Explanatory Factors ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Severe Anxiety

AbstractBackgroundAnxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem worldwide. However, the evidence on the association between anxiety disorders and risk of stroke is limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis presents a critical appraisal and summary of the available evidence on the association between anxiety disorders and risk of stroke.MethodsCohort studies reporting risk of stroke among patients with anxiety disorders were searched in PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, and the Web of Science, from database inception to June 2016. The quality of the studies was assessed using standard criteria. A meta-analysis was undertaken to obtain pooled estimates of the risk of stroke among patients with anxiety disorders.ResultsEight studies, including 950,759 patients, from the 11,764 references initially identified, were included in this review. A significantly increased risk of stroke for patients with anxiety disorders was observed, with an overall hazard ratio: 1.24 (1.09–1.41), P = 0.001. No significant heterogeneity between studies was detected and the funnel plot suggested that publication bias was unlikely. Limited evidence suggests that the risk of stroke is increased shortly after the diagnosis of anxiety and that risk of stroke may be higher for patients with severe anxiety.ConclusionsAnxiety disorders are a very prevalent modifiable condition associated with risk of stroke increased by 24%. This evidence could inform the development of interventions for the management of anxiety and the prevention of stroke. Further studies on the risk of stroke in patients with anxiety, and the explanatory factors for this association, are required.

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Tolerability of Duloxetine in the Elderly and in Young Adults: A Protocol and Preliminary Results of a Systematic Review and Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis of Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trials.

10.21203/rs.3.rs-148334/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jean-Charles Roy ◽

Chloé Rousseau ◽

Alexis Jutel ◽

Florian Naudet ◽

Gabriel Robert

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Adverse Events ◽

Elderly Population ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

The Elderly ◽

Search Term ◽

Individual Participant Data ◽

Younger Adults ◽

Individual Participant

Abstract BackgroundDuloxetine is an antidepressant that benefits from a wide range of approval in the elderly population, while its safety for use in the elderly population, compared to younger adults, is not clearly assessed. This protocol outlines a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis comparing the tolerability of duloxetine between elderly and younger adults. MethodsOnly randomised controlled clinical trials, comparing duloxetine to placebo, will be included in this meta-analysis. The studies will be selected if participants were adults of less and more than 65 years old, in conditions of use of duloxetine approved by the European Medical Agency (EMA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The primary outcome will be the rate ratio of serious adverse events under duloxetine compared to placebo, between participants at least 65 years old and younger adults. Second, the number of any adverse events, clinical efficacy and quality of life will be compared between elderly and younger adults under both interventions. The quality of evidence in the tolerability of duloxetine will be assessed using the GRADE system. A two-step random effect meta-analysis will be conducted. Preliminary searches and formal screening of search results against eligibility criteria on have been completed using predefined search term on electronic databases. DiscussionThis study represents the first meta-analysis investigating the safety of duloxetine in the elderly population across all conditions approved by European and American regulatory authorities. The results from this meta-analysis are intended to help prescribers to provide better care for the elderly population.Systematic review registrationThe protocol has been registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; registration number: CRD42019130488).

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Evaluation of benefits and harms of surgical treatments for post-radical prostatectomy urinary incontinence: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.19484.1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 1155

Author(s):

Roselyne Choiniere ◽

Patrick O. Richard ◽

Melanie Morin ◽

Le-Mai Tu ◽

Gordon H. Guyatt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Decision Making ◽

Urinary Incontinence ◽

Radical Prostatectomy ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Future Research ◽

Control Group ◽

Bulking Agents

Background: Post-radical prostatectomy urinary incontinence (PPI) is a frequent and feared complication that can affect approximately 25% of patients. Between 1 and 10% of patients suffering from PPI will require surgery. The effectiveness of the available surgical interventions has only been compared in a few randomized controlled trials and the available reviews have important limitations regarding both benefits and harms that make them insufficient to inform decision-making. The aim of the study is to provide systematic summaries of benefits and harms of contemporary surgical treatment options for PPI through systematic review and meta-analysis using GRADE methodology and reporting in accord with the PRISMA-P statement. Methods: Studies pertaining to bulking agents, male synthetic slings, compressive balloon systems (ProACT) or artificial urinary sphincters (AUS) used for the treatment of patients suffering from PPI will be included. A systematic search will be conducted using the OVID and PubMED platforms in MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane databases, and reference lists of relevant reviews and guidelines. Trained independent reviewers will conduct study selection and data extraction. Outcomes will include the number of pads used per day, the 24-h pad weight test, the Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) and the Incontinence Quality of Life (IQOL) as possible benefits and the reoperations, the Clavien-Dindo complications and the other reported adverse events as the harms. When possible, pooled analyses will be completed. Risk of bias will be assessed using the CLARITY tools and a new tool for the before-and-after studies without a control group. Finally, study heterogeneity will be assessed, publication bias will be evaluated with funnel plots and quality of evidence rated for each outcome. Discussion: Our study will address patient-important outcomes and will be useful in clinical decision-making as well as identifying key elements for future research. Study registration: PROSPERO: CRD42018073923 05/12/2018

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Effective maNagement of Depression among Patients witH cANCEr (ENHANCE): A Protocol for a Hybrid Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of Interventions for Depressive Symptoms.

10.21203/rs.3.rs-1128439/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Maria Margareta Pertl ◽

Perez ◽

Sonya Collier ◽

Emer Guinan ◽

Garret Monahan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Relative Effectiveness ◽

Future Research ◽

Controlled Trials ◽

Systematic Review Methodology ◽

Patients With Cancer

Abstract Background: Depression is common among patients with cancer and is associated with lower treatment participation, lower satisfaction with care, poorer quality of life, greater symptom burden, and higher healthcare costs. Various types of interventions (e.g., pharmacological, psychotherapy) are used for the treatment of depression. However, evidence for these among patients with cancer is limited. Furthermore, the relative effectiveness and acceptability of different approaches is unknown because a direct comparison between all available treatments has not been carried out. We will address this by conducting a network meta-analysis (NMA) of interventions for depression among people with cancer using a hybrid overview of reviews and systematic review methodology. Methods: We will search for and extract data from systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of depression interventions for patients with cancer from inception, before performing a supplemental search for more recent RCTs. We will include RCTs comparing pharmacological, psychotherapy, exercise, combination therapy, collaborative care, or complementary and alternative medicine interventions with pill placebo, no treatment, waitlist, treatment as usual, or minimal treatment control groups, or directly in head-to-head trials, among adults who have a current or previous diagnosis of cancer and elevated depressive symptoms (scores above a cut-off on validated scales or meeting diagnostic criteria). Our primary outcomes will be change in depressive symptoms (standardised mean difference) and intervention acceptability (% who withdrew). Our secondary outcomes will be 6-month change in depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life, adverse events and mortality. We will independently screen for eligibility, extract data, and assess risk of bias using the RoB2 tool. We will use frequentist random-effects multivariate NMA in Stata, Rankograms and surface under the cumulative ranking curves to synthesize evidence and obtain a ranking of intervention groups. We will explore heterogeneity and inconsistency using local and global measures and evaluate the credibility of results using the Confidence in NEtwork Meta-Analysis (CINeMA) framework.Discussion: Our findings will provide the best available evidence for managing depression among patients with cancer. Such information will help to inform clinical guidelines, evidence-based treatment decisions and future research by identifying gaps in the current literature. Systematic review registration: Submitted to PROSPERO (record number: 290145), awaiting registration

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Environmental, Social and Economic Sustainability Indicators Applied to Food Services: A Systematic Review

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12051804 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 1804 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Dayanne Maynard ◽

Mayara Vidigal ◽

Priscila Farage ◽

Renata Zandonadi ◽

Eduardo Nakano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Social Indicators ◽

Sustainability Indicators ◽

Economic Sustainability ◽

Food Services ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Specific Search

Sustainability is the integration of actions focused on three pillars: environmental, social, and economical. Implementing sustainable development ranges from the pursuit of quality of life, and from environmental balance to break with the current pattern of development. Therefore, the objective of this work was to understand and analyze the sustainability indicators implemented in the production of meals in food services. The authors developed specific search strategies for Scopus, Web of Science, Pubmed, Lilacs, Google Scholar, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global to perform the systematic review. The authors evaluated the methodological quality of the included studies using the Meta-analysis Statistical Assessment and Review Instrument (MASTARI). A total of 31 cross-sectional studies were analyzed. Twenty four (77.41%) of the studies had activities that covered the three indicators (environmental, social, and economic); 22.59% (n = 7) used two indicators in which 12.90% (n = 4) presented environmental and economic indicators and 9.67% (n = 3) with environmental and social indicators. This research indicates that the studies in food services are seeking to insert indicators that cover the three pillars of sustainable meal production. It is worth mentioning that in the literature, many works encompasses the importance of sustainability, but few explore which indicators are most applied or detail their implementation in food services. More studies are needed to estimate better the indicators being applied in food services.

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