Category: Statistics

Rehabil Psychol. 2024 Aug 22. doi: 10.1037/rep0000570. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: The current study examined the psychometric properties of common mental health questionnaires among women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) with and without brain injuries due to IPV and evaluated whether women with and without IPV-related brain injuries differed in depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity.

RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN: Women survivors of IPV with and without IPV-related brain injuries were recruited online through Prolific (N = 205, M = 39.8 ± 11.9 years old, 83.9% non-Hispanic White, 42.4% college-educated). They completed the eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and PTSD Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (fifth edition) (PCL-5). Model fit and internal consistency were estimated for each scale. Groups were compared on mental health symptom severity, with and without controlling for age, education, and IPV severity.

RESULTS: Both one-factor and multifactor models showed excellent fit for all scales. PHQ-8 (ω = .91), GAD-7 (ω = .94), and PCL-5 total scores (ω = .95) had strong reliability, and all subscale scores had acceptable-to-strong reliability (ω range = .79-.94). Women with IPV-related brain injuries reported greater physical IPV severity, higher rates of depression, and higher somatic anxiety and PTSD symptom severity. No group differences in mental health symptoms were significant after controlling for IPV severity.

CONCLUSIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The PHQ-8, GAD-7, and PCL-5 showed evidence for reliability and validity among women survivors of IPV. Women with IPV-related brain injuries had higher PTSD symptom severity, attributable to greater physical violence exposure in general. Brain injury screening among survivors appears warranted for women with extensive physical IPV experiences. Interventions addressing PTSD, violence prevention, and brain injury recovery may best serve this population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

PMID:39172371 | DOI:10.1037/rep0000570

Clin Drug Investig. 2024 Aug 22. doi: 10.1007/s40261-024-01368-w. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Plaque psoriasis is commonly treated topically with glucocorticoids and vitamin D derivatives. However, potential side effects such as skin atrophy underscore the need for safe and effective alternative topical therapies. Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada approved roflumilast 0.3% cream as an option for treating this disease. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of topical roflumilast 0.3% compared with vehicle for plaque psoriasis.

METHODS: PubMed, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to 1 May 2024, assessing the outcomes of Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) or body-IGA success (clear or almost clear status plus an at least 2-grade improvement from baseline), Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)-50, PASI-75, PASI-90, intertriginous-IGA success (clear or almost clear status on the intertriginous-IGA plus an at least 2-grade improvement from baseline), and adverse events (AEs). Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager, R software, and RStudio. Heterogeneity was determined using the Cochran Q test and I² statistics.

RESULTS: Four RCTs were included, comprising a total of 1403 patients, of whom 885 (63.1%) received topical roflumilast 0.3% and 518 (36.9%) received vehicle. At week 8, the achievement of IGA or body-IGA success was significantly higher among those treated with topical roflumilast than in the vehicle group [relative risk (RR) 5.07; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.55-7.23; p < 0.01]. Similar findings were observed at week 8 for PASI-50 (RR 2.73; 95% CI 2.27-3.29; p < 0.01), PASI-75 (RR 4.48; 95% CI 2.26-8.89; p < 0.01), and PASI-90 (RR 5.61; 95% CI 2.57-12.25; p < 0.01). Corresponding outcomes were found at weeks 2, 4, and 6. Additionally, a higher percentage of patients treated with topical roflumilast 0.3% once daily achieved intertriginous-IGA success, compared with those receiving vehicle, at week 8 (71.9% versus 20.5%; RR 3.32; 95% CI 2.11-5.22; p < 0.01), with similar findings at weeks 2, 4, and 6. While a significant difference was observed in the overall incidence of AEs between the topical roflumilast and vehicle groups, there was no difference in treatment-related AEs, serious AEs, or AEs leading to study discontinuation.

CONCLUSION: These findings support the superiority of topical roflumilast 0.3% over vehicle and suggest its use as a valuable asset for the treatment of plaque psoriasis.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), CRD42023456494.

PMID:39172296 | DOI:10.1007/s40261-024-01368-w

Clin Rheumatol. 2024 Aug 22. doi: 10.1007/s10067-024-07116-x. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVES: Among people with or without hand osteoarthritis, we aimed to identify characteristics of people (e.g., age and gender) with marginal erosions (MEs). We also examined changes in MEs during 48 months. We described radiographic severity and progression among joints with MEs, changes in MEs, or central erosions (CEs).

DESIGN: We studied participants from the Osteoarthritis Initiative with baseline and 48-month hand radiographs. A radiologist and rheumatologist evaluated the radiographs for disease severity (Kellgren-Lawrence grades) and erosions (central or marginal), respectively. We used descriptive statistics to characterize participants and calculated frequencies at the joint level.

RESULTS: Of the 3558 participants, 89 had a ME at baseline. People with MEs were more often male, older, and ever (former and current) smokers than those without a ME. There was no difference in inflammatory biomarkers or the presence of hand pain between individuals with and without a baseline ME. Almost all hands had only one ME (80%), whereas only 50% of individuals with CEs had only one CE at baseline. Compared to CEs, MEs appeared more frequently in joints without osteoarthritis (54% vs. < 1%). Approximately 18% of joints with an ME progressed in Kellgren-Lawrence grade versus 4% without ME. Among the joints with an ME at baseline, 10% resolved by 48 months. Less than 0.1% of joints developed a new ME.

CONCLUSION: MEs appear to be distinct from CEs. MEs are predominantly present in males, isolated to one specific joint without osteoarthritis within a hand, and possibly predictive of radiographic progression. Key Points • Marginal erosions appear to be distinct from central erosions. • Most marginal erosions occur in joints without radiographic osteoarthritis. • Radiographic progression but not hand pain is more common in joints with a marginal erosion than without one.

PMID:39172292 | DOI:10.1007/s10067-024-07116-x

Curr HIV Res. 2024 Aug 20. doi: 10.2174/011570162X292489240812065510. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy among women infected with HIV is classified as a high-risk pregnancy. While previous research has indicated an elevated likelihood of preterm birth, low birth weight, and early gestational age in infants born to mothers with HIV, the correlation between maternal HIV infection and different neonatal results remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the impact of maternal HIV infection on after-birth neonatal outcomes using machine learning (ML) and statistical methods.

METHODS: A case-control study is conducted through a three-stage process: Initially, the outcomes among newborns from HIV-positive mothers are identified through a combination of literature review and expert survey. Subsequently, data are paired at a 1:2 ratio based on gestational age with infants from HIV-positive mothers (n=48) compared to HIV-negative mothers (n=96) as the control group. Finally, various feature selection techniques are applied to identify outcomes that exhibit significant differences between the two groups.

RESULTS: The statistical analysis showed that the rate of addiction among HIV-positive mothers is higher than that of the HIV-negative group. The need for mechanical ventilation and duration of ventilator-assisted breathing in infants born to HIV-positive mothers are significantly higher than in infants born to HIV-negative mothers. Moreover, based on feature selection methods, increasing the need for mechanical ventilation and reducing surfactant administration were two important outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS: To investigate the impact of maternal HIV infection on neonatal outcomes, various statistical and machine learning-based feature selection techniques were implemented, and the results showed that the presented methods can be utilized to examine the potential impacts of different diseases contracted by the mother on the infant.

PMID:39171478 | DOI:10.2174/011570162X292489240812065510

Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2024 Aug 20. doi: 10.2174/0118715303288685240808073238. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

It is widely recognized that a strong correlation exists between metabolic diseases and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Based on bibliometric statistics, the overall number of Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis in relation to metabolic diseases and CKD has increased since 2005. In recent years, this topic has emerged as a significant area of research interest. In clinical studies, RCTs are often limited due to the intricate causal interplay between metabolic diseases and CKD, which makes it difficult to ascertain the precise etiology of these conditions definitively. In MR studies, genetic variation is incorporated as an instrumental variable (IV). They elucidate the possible causal relationships between associated risk factors and disease risks by including individual innate genetic markers. It is widely believed that MR avoids confounding and can reverse effects to the greatest extent possible. As an increasingly popular technology in the medical field, MR studies have become a popular technology in causal relationships investigation, particularly in epidemiological etiology studies. At present, MR has been widely used for the investigation of medical etiologies, drug development, and decision-making in public health. The article aims to offer insights into the causal relationship between metabolic diseases and CKD, as well as strategies for prevention and treatment, through a summary of MR-related research on these conditions.

PMID:39171476 | DOI:10.2174/0118715303288685240808073238

JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2024 Aug 21;10:e43173. doi: 10.2196/43173.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing implementation of control measures caused widespread societal disruption. These disruptions may also have affected community transmission and seasonal circulation patterns of endemic respiratory viruses.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19-related disruption on influenza-related emergency hospital admissions and deaths in Wales in the first 2 years of the pandemic.

METHODS: A descriptive analysis of influenza activity was conducted using anonymized pathology, hospitalization, and mortality data from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank in Wales. The annual incidence of emergency hospitalizations and deaths with influenza-specific diagnosis codes between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2021, was estimated. Case definitions of emergency hospitalization and death required laboratory confirmation with a polymerase chain reaction test. Trends of admissions and deaths were analyzed monthly and yearly. We conducted 2 sensitivity analyses by extending case definitions to include acute respiratory illnesses with a positive influenza test and by limiting admissions to those with influenza as the primary diagnosis. We also examined yearly influenza testing trends to understand changes in testing behavior during the pandemic.

RESULTS: We studied a population of 3,235,883 Welsh residents in 2020 with a median age of 42.5 (IQR 22.9-61.0) years. Influenza testing in Wales increased notably in the last 2 months of 2020, and particularly in 2021 to 39,720 per 100,000 people, compared to the prepandemic levels (1343 in 2019). The percentage of influenza admissions matched to an influenza polymerase chain reaction test increased from 74.8% (1890/2526) in 2019 to 85.2% (98/115) in 2021. However, admissions with a positive test per 100,000 population decreased from 17.0 in 2019 to 2.7 and 0.6 in 2020 and 2021, respectively. Similarly, deaths due to influenza with a positive influenza test per 100,000 population decreased from 0.4 in 2019 to 0.0 in 2020 and 2021. Sensitivity analyses showed similar patterns of decreasing influenza admissions and deaths in the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS: Nonpharmaceutical interventions to control COVID-19 were associated with a substantial reduction in the transmission of the influenza virus, with associated substantial reductions in hospital cases and deaths observed. Beyond the pandemic context, consideration should be given to the role of nonpharmaceutical community-driven interventions to reduce the burden of influenza.

PMID:39171430 | DOI:10.2196/43173

Circ Heart Fail. 2024 Aug 22:e011749. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.123.011749. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Chloride plays a crucial role in renal salt sensing. This study investigates whether serum chloride is associated with clinical outcomes and decongestive response to acetazolamide in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

METHODS: This post hoc analysis includes all 519 patients from the ADVOR trial (Acetazolamide in Decompensated Heart Failure With Volume Overload), randomized to intravenous acetazolamide or matching placebo on top of intravenous loop diuretics. The impact of baseline serum chloride on the main trial end points and the treatment effect of acetazolamide was assessed, as was the evolution of serum chloride under decongestive treatment.

RESULTS: Hypochloremia (<96 mmol/L) and hyperchloremia (>106 mmol/L) were present in 80 (15%) and 53 (10%), respectively, at baseline. Hypochloremia was associated with significantly slower decongestion, a longer length of hospital stay, and increased risk of all-cause mortality and heart failure readmissions. Acetazolamide increased the odds of successful decongestion and reduced length of stay irrespectively of baseline serum chloride levels. No statistically significant interaction between serum chloride levels and the effect of acetazolamide on death or heart failure readmissions was observed. The placebo group exhibited a progressive decline in serum chloride, which was effectively prevented by acetazolamide (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Hypochloremia is associated with diuretic resistance and worse clinical outcomes. Add-on acetazolamide therapy improves decongestion across the entire range of serum chloride and prevents the drop in chloride levels caused by loop diuretic monotherapy.

REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03505788.

PMID:39171394 | DOI:10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.123.011749

Age Ageing. 2024 Aug 6;53(8):afae187. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afae187.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Recurrent falls are observed frequently among older people, and they are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to verify sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of World Guidelines for Falls Prevention and Management (WGFPM) falls risk stratification algorithm using data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI).

METHODS: Participants aged between 40 and 80 years were stratified as ‘low risk’, ‘intermediate risk’ or ‘high risk’ as per WGFPM stratification. Data from the OAI cohort study were used, a multi-centre, longitudinal, observational study focusing primarily on knee osteoarthritis. The assessment of the outcome was carried out at baseline and during the follow-up visit at 24 months. Data about sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were reported.

RESULTS: Totally, 4796 participants were initially included. Participants were aged a mean of 61.4 years (SD = 9.1) and were predominantly women (58.0%). The population was divided into three groups: low risk (n = 3266; 82%), intermediate risk (n = 25; 0.6%) and high risk (n = 690; 17.3%). WGFPM algorithm applied to OAI, excluding the intermediate-risk group, produced a sensitivity score of 33.7% and specificity of 89.9% for predicting one or more falls, with an accuracy of 72.4%.

CONCLUSION: In our study, WGFPM risk assessment algorithm successfully distinguished older people at greater risk of falling using the opportunistic case finding method with a good specificity, but limited sensitivity, of WGFPM falls risk stratification algorithm.

PMID:39171386 | DOI:10.1093/ageing/afae187

J Pediatr Orthop. 2024 Aug 22. doi: 10.1097/BPO.0000000000002792. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: While the implementation of enhanced recovery after surgery protocols and improvements in pain control have decreased the length of stay (LOS) after scoliosis surgery, adolescents are typically hospitalized for several days after posterior spinal instrumented fusion (PSF). The purpose of this study was to determine whether next-day discharge after PSF for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) had an equivalent safety profile compared with longer LOS. The secondary purpose was to examine perioperative factors associated with next-day discharge.

METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of all patients who underwent PSF for AIS at a single institution from 2017 to 2022. We compared patients based on postoperative LOS with an early discharge group consisting of those who were discharged on the first postoperative day 1 (POD1; n = 40) and a standard discharge group consisting of those who were discharged after POD1 (n = 71). We documented preoperative variables, including patient demographics and curve characteristics, intraoperative variables, including levels fused, implant density, operative time, and blood loss, and postoperative variables, including emergency department (ED) visits within 30 days and hospital readmissions within 90 days.

RESULTS: One hundred eleven patients were included with a mean curve magnitude of 67 degrees. Forty patients (36%) were discharged on POD1. There were one (3%) ED visit and 2 (5%) readmissions in the early discharge group and 3 (4%) ED visits and 2 (3%) readmissions in the standard discharge group (P = 0.64 and 0.55, respectively). Patients in whom intravenous methadone was used intraoperatively were more likely to discharge POD1 (P = 0.02). There were no other significant differences in perioperative variables between the two groups including: BMI, distance from home to hospital, magnitude of main curve, curve flexibility, number of levels fused, estimated blood loss, implant density, operative time, or postoperative pain scores.

CONCLUSIONS: Next-day discharge after PSF for AIS has an equivalent safety profile compared with longer LOS. Over one-third of patients were discharged on POD1, and there was no statistically significant difference in ED visits or hospital readmissions between the groups. Patients in whom intravenous methadone was used intraoperatively were more likely to discharge POD1.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In a retrospective study of posterior spinal fusions for AIS, we found no increase in ED visits or hospital readmissions for those discharged the next day.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

PMID:39171367 | DOI:10.1097/BPO.0000000000002792

Orthop Surg. 2024 Aug 22. doi: 10.1111/os.14178. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Previous cementless total knee arthroplasty (TKA) designs faced challenges with insufficient initial fixation on tibial side, resulting in inferior functional outcomes and survival rates. The Zoned Trabecular Bone Cementless Knee is a novel implant designed for cementless TKA which aims to achieve excellent initial fixation, promoting effective osseointegration. The aim of this research was to compare the early clinical and radiographic results of this cementless TKA with cemented TKA.

METHODS: Between September 2021 and April 2022, 64 patients (64 knees) were recruited in this prospective randomized controlled trial to receive either cementless 3D-printed trabecular metal TKA or a cemented posterior stabilized TKA. Preoperative and postoperative clinical evaluations, including the range of motion (ROM), Knee Society Score (KSS), and the Reduced Western Ontario and MacMaster Universities Score (WOMAC), were conducted and analyzed for comparison. Radiographs and computed tomography scans were utilized to assess the initial fixation. The complications between the two groups were also recorded and compared. Continuous data were analyzed for significance using independent-samples t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test and categorical data were analyzed using chi-squared or Fisher’s exact test.

RESULTS: Both groups demonstrated significant enhancement at 12 months follow-up in the ROM compared with baseline (ROM: 94.7 ± 23.4 vs. 113.1 ± 12.3 in cementless group and 96.5 ± 14.7 vs. 111.0 ± 12.8 in cemented group, p < 0.05). However, no statistical differences were observed between the two groups in postoperative ROM, KSS, or WOMAC score. The radiographs and computed tomography scans showed similar results, including radiolucent lines and osteolysis in either femoral or tibial. Additionally, there was no statistical difference in the overall complication rate between the two groups. Notably, one patient in the cementless TKA group required revision for periprosthetic infection as the end point.

CONCLUSIONS: This novel 3D-printed trabecular metal cementless TKA achieved comparable clinical outcomes and initial fixation to cemented TKA in early stage. Longer-term examination is necessary to validate these results.

PMID:39171362 | DOI:10.1111/os.14178