ObjectiveFew studies have looked at the predictors of use of home sphygmomanometers among hypertensive patients in low-income countries such as Pakistan. Considering the importance of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM), cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of the usage of all kinds of HBPM devices.MethodThis study was conducted in Karachi during the time period of January-February 2017. Adult patients previously diagnosed with hypertension visiting tertiary care hospitals were selected for the study. Interviews from the individuals were conducted after verbal consent using a pre-coded questionnaire. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences v. 23.0 (SPSS, IBM Corporation, NY, USA). Chi-squared test was applied as the primary statistical test.ResultsMore than half of the participants used a home sphygmomanometer (n=250, 61.7%). The age, level of education, family history of hypertension, compliance to drugs and blood pressure (BP) monitoring, few times a month at clinics were significant determinants of HBPM (P values < 0.001). It was found that more individuals owned a digital sphygmomanometer (n=128, 51.3%) as compared to a manual type (n=122, 48.8%). Moreover, avoiding BP measurement in a noisy environment was the most common precaution taken (n=117, 46.8%).ConclusionThe study showed that around 40% of the hypertensive individuals did not own a sphygmomanometer and less than 25% performed HBPM regularly. General awareness by healthcare professionals can be a possible factor which can increase HBPM.
Background
The efficacy and safety of novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) compared to the current guideline‐recommended vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has not been well established. We pooled evidence from all available studies to assess the risks and benefits of this drug class.
Methods
We queried electronic databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane central) up until January 28th, 2022 for studies comparing NOACs to VKAs in AF patients undergoing TAVR. Results from studies were presented as risk ratios (RR) and pooled using a random‐effects model. Subgroup analysis by study design and meta‐regression analysis were performed to explore heterogeneity.
Results
A total of 12 studies (3 RCTs and 9 observational) containing 12,203 patients (mean age 81.2 years; 50.5% men) were identified and included in the analysis. Pooled analysis revealed no significant difference between NOACs and VKAs in terms of stroke or systemic embolism (RR: 0.78; p = 0.18), major bleeding (RR: 0.84; p = 0.32), intracranial hemorrhage (RR 0.61; p = 0.06), all‐cause mortality (RR: 0.69; p = 0.07), and myocardial infarction (RR: 1.60; p = 0.24) at a mean length of follow‐up of 15.1 months. RCTs and observational studies did not significantly differ across outcomes on subgroup analysis. Meta‐regression analysis found heterogeneity in all‐cause mortality to be significantly explained by percentage of males (coefficient: 0.049, p = 0.007), mean age (coefficient: 0.221, p < 0.001), and CHA2DS2‐VASc score (coefficient: −1.657, p < 0.001).
Conclusions
This meta‐analysis suggests that outcomes with NOACs do not significantly differ compared to VKAs following TAVR in patients with AF.
Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) are guideline-recommended medications for patients with heart failure (HF) that reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization, and improve survival. Evidence from recent clinical trials has indicated that the use of SGLT2is reduces the risk of HF hospitalization in HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The clinical benefit of these two drugs is based on highest level of clinical trial evidence. However, the risk of hyperkalemia limits the usage of MRAs (1). Considering this risk, both the current European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and American Heart Association/ American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) guidelines practice caution and recommend halving the dose and cessation of MRA therapy at serum potassium levels of >5.5 mmol/L and >6.0 mmol/L, respectively (2 – 4). SGLT2is exert diuretic effects and initially impair kidney function in patients. The combination of these two drugs is therefore expected to cause severe exacerbation in hyperkalemia. However, evidence from recent clinical trials has demonstrated that the use of SGLT2i may potentially reduce the rate of hyperkalemia when added to MRA therapy, and thus, can be used to optimize guideline-recommended MRA usage among patients with HF (5 – 7). Data regarding whether the concomitant use of both therapies reduces the risk of precipitating hyperkalemia among patients with HF is unclear. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of baseline MRA therapy on the incidence of hyperkalemia in patients taking SGLT2is.
Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is the provision of ventilatory support to the lungs without the use of an endotracheal airway. It has emerged as an important tool in the treatment of diverse forms of acute respiratory failure. It not only reduces the need for invasive mechanical ventilation and its associated complications, but also reduces the complications associated with stay in the intensive care unit, length of hospital stay, and mortality in selected patients. This descriptive study was conducted on 50 critically ill patients with acute respiratory failure. All patients were subjected to full history taking, complete physical examination, chest and cardiac imaging and laboratory investigations.
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