Publications by authors named "Asita de Silva"

Introduction: Accurately predicting a patient's prognosis is an important component of decision-making in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We aimed to determine clinicians' ability to predict survival, functional recovery, and return to premorbid activities in patients with ICH.

Methods: Pre-specified secondary analysis of the third intensive care bundle with blood pressure reduction in acute cerebral hemorrhage trial (INTERACT3), an international, multicenter, stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial.

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Background: Single-pill combinations (SPCs) of three low-dose antihypertensive drugs can improve hypertension control but are not widely available. A key issue for any combination product is the contribution of each component to efficacy and tolerability. This trial compared a new triple SPC called GMRx2, containing telmisartan, amlodipine, and indapamide, with dual combinations of components for efficacy and safety.

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Article Synopsis
  • A clinical trial tested a new single-pill combination of low-dose medications (telmisartan, amlodipine, and indapamide) to treat hypertension, comparing two doses against a placebo over four weeks.
  • Results showed significant reductions in home systolic blood pressure (SBP) for both medication doses compared to placebo, with reductions of -7.3 mm Hg and -8.2 mm Hg, respectively, and a notable increase in blood pressure control rates among those taking the medications.
  • Safety observations indicated low treatment discontinuation rates, with the ¼ dose showing only 1.6% discontinuations due to adverse effects, while the ½ dose had a 5
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Background: While previously considered a transient condition, with no lasting adverse impact, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is now a well-established risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The risk of developing T2DM appears to be particularly high in the first few years after childbirth, providing a compelling case for early intervention. This review provides an up-to-date systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of interventions to reduce incidence of T2DM in women with a recent history of GDM.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial evaluated the impact of alirocumab, a drug that targets cholesterol, compared to a placebo on major cardiovascular events in patients with recent acute coronary syndrome, involving over 18,000 participants.
  • - Results showed that while both men and women experienced significant reductions in cholesterol levels and cardiovascular events with alirocumab, women had higher initial cholesterol and lipoprotein(a) levels and more co-morbidities.
  • - The study concluded that alirocumab improves cardiovascular outcomes post-acute coronary syndrome for both sexes, especially in individuals with higher baseline levels of lipoprotein(a).
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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to create prediction models to identify women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) who are at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM) after giving birth.
  • Using data from 1,299 women in the LIVING study, the researchers developed two models—one for during pregnancy and one for after birth—based on glucose tests, medical history, and biometric data.
  • The models showed strong predictive ability, with the antenatal model achieving an AUC of 0.76 and the postnatal model an AUC of 0.85, indicating they can effectively identify women at risk for T2DM; however, further validation is necessary before they can be widely used.
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Objectives: To explore associations between type and number of abnormal glucose values on antenatal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with postpartum diabetes in South Asian women diagnosed with gestational diabetes (GDM) using International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups criteria.

Methods: This post-hoc evaluation of the Lifestyle Intervention IN Gestational Diabetes (LIVING) study, a randomized controlled trial, was conducted among women with GDM in the index pregnancy, across 19 centers in Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka. Postpartum diabetes (outcome) was defined on OGTT, using American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria.

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Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease in South Asia. The authors aimed to assess the cross-country differences in 24-h ambulatory, daytime, and nighttime systolic blood pressure (SBP) among rural population with uncontrolled clinic hypertension in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The authors studied patients with uncontrolled clinic hypertension (clinic BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg) who underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) during the baseline assessment as part of a community-based trial.

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Two recent large trials showed the potential of single pill combinations (SPCs) with ≥3 low-dose components among people with hypertension who were untreated or receiving monotherapy. In both trials, these 'hypertension polypills' were superior to usual care, achieving >80% BP control without increasing withdrawal due to side effects. However, there are no such products available for prescribers.

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Background: Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is a potential therapeutic approach to improve cognition in Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to its properties as a ketogenic agent and antioxidative characteristics.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of VCO on cognition in people with AD and to determine the impact of apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 genotype on cognitive outcomes.

Methods: Participants of this double-blind placebo-controlled trial (SLCTR/2015/018, 15.

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Aim: To study, the incidence and risk factors for postpartum diabetes (DM), in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) from South Asia (Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka), followed for nearly two years after delivery.

Methods: Women with prior GDM diagnosed using IADPSG criteria were invited at 19 centres across Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka for an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) following childbirth, and were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. The glycaemic category (outcome) was defined from an OGTT based on American Diabetes Association criteria.

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Article Synopsis
  • Early control of high blood pressure is crucial in treating acute intracerebral hemorrhage, and the study aimed to evaluate a comprehensive care bundle to improve patient outcomes in various hospitals globally.
  • The research was conducted in nine low- and middle-income countries and one high-income country using a randomized controlled trial design, focusing on hospitals without existing effective protocols for treating this condition.
  • The care bundle emphasized rapid blood pressure reduction, glucose management, and other key interventions for patients presenting with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage within six hours of symptom onset.
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Importance: Low-dose combination (LDC) antihypertensives consisting of 3 or 4 blood pressure (BP)-lowering drugs have emerged as a potentially important therapy for the initial management of hypertension.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of LDC therapies for the management of hypertension.

Data Sources: PubMed and Medline were searched from date of inception until September 2022.

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Background: COBRA-BPS (Control of Blood Pressure and Risk Attenuation-Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka), a multicomponent, community health-worker (CHW)-led hypertension management program, has been shown to be effective in rural communities in South Asia. This paper presents the acceptability of COBRA-BPS multicomponent intervention among the key stakeholders.

Methods: We conducted post-implementation interviews of 87 stakeholder including 23 community health workers (CHWs), 19 physicians and 45 patients in 15 rural communities randomized to COBRA-BPS multicomponent intervention in in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

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Background: Spatial repellents (SRs) have been widely used for prevention of mosquito bites, but their efficacy in reducing Aedes-borne viruses (ABV) has not been tested rigorously at large scale in Asia. To address this knowledge gap, a trial to evaluate the efficacy of Mosquito Shield™, a transfluthrin SR, was developed in Gampaha District of Sri Lanka across three Medical Officer of Health areas; i.e.

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We investigated whether diabetes mellitus (DM) affects the efficacy of a low-dose triple combination pill and usual care among people with mild-moderate hypertension. TRIUMPH (TRIple pill vs Usual care Management for Patients with mild-to-moderate Hypertension) was a randomised controlled open-label trial of patients requiring initiation or escalation of antihypertensive therapy. Patients were randomised to a once-daily low-dose triple combination polypill (telmisartan-20mg/amlodipine-2.

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Importance: Cumulative exposure to high blood pressure (BP) is an adverse prognostic marker. Assessments of BP control over time, such as time at target, have been developed but assessments of the effects of BP-lowering interventions on such measures are lacking.

Objective: To evaluate whether low-dose triple combination antihypertensive therapy was associated with greater rates of time at target compared with usual care.

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Importance: Women with recent gestational diabetes (GDM) have increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Objective: To investigate whether a resource-appropriate and context-appropriate lifestyle intervention could prevent glycemic deterioration among women with recent GDM in South Asia.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This randomized, participant-unblinded controlled trial investigated a 12-month lifestyle intervention vs usual care at 19 urban hospitals in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

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Background: Patients who suffer intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are at very high risk of recurrent ICH and other serious cardiovascular events. A single-pill combination (SPC) of blood pressure (BP) lowering drugs offers a potentially powerful but simple strategy to optimize secondary prevention.

Objectives: The Triple Therapy Prevention of Recurrent Intracerebral Disease Events Trial (TRIDENT) aims to determine the effects of a novel SPC "Triple Pill," three generic antihypertensive drugs with demonstrated efficacy and complementary mechanisms of action at half standard dose (telmisartan 20 mg, amlodipine 2.

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Background: Early intensive blood pressure (BP) lowering remains the most promising treatment for acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), despite discordant results between clinical trials and potential variation in the treatment effects by approach to control BP. As the third in a series of clinical trials on this topic, the INTEnsive care bundle with blood pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral hemorrhage Trial (INTERACT3) aims to determine the effectiveness of a goal-directed care bundle protocol of early physiological control (intensive BP lowering, glycemic control, and pyrexia treatment) and reversal of anticoagulation, in acute ICH.

Methods: INTERACT3 is a pragmatic, international, multicenter, stepped-wedge (4 phases/3 steps), cluster-randomized controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of a multifaceted care package in adult (age ≥ 18 years) patients (target 8360) with acute ICH (< 6 h of onset) recruited from 110 hospitals (average of 19 consecutive patients per phase) in low- and middle-income countries.

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Background: Inadequate treatment of hypertension is a widespread problem, especially in South Asian countries where cardiovascular disease mortality rates are high. We aimed to explore the effect of a multicomponent intervention (MCI) on antihypertensive medication intensification among rural South Asians with hypertension.

Methods: A post hoc analysis of a 2-year cluster-randomized controlled trial including 2,645 hypertensives aged ≥40 years from 30 rural communities, 10 each, in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

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Background: COBRA-BPS (Control of Blood Pressure and Risk Attenuation-Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka), a multi-component hypertension management programme that is led by community health workers, has been shown to be efficacious at reducing systolic blood pressure in rural communities in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. In this study, we aimed to assess the budget required to scale up the programme and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios.

Methods: In a cluster-randomised trial of COBRA-BPS, individuals aged 40 years or older with hypertension who lived in 30 rural communities in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka were deemed eligible for inclusion.

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Background And Aim: Melatonin is used to treat sleep disturbances (SDs). The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of low-dose melatonin for SDs in early-stage cirrhosis.

Methods: In a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over clinical trial, patients with early-stage (Child-Turcotte-Pugh [CTP] class A or B) cirrhosis with SDs, without hepatic encephalopathy, were randomized to placebo or 3 mg of melatonin for 2 weeks.

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Importance: Fixed-dose combination (FDC) therapies are being increasingly recommended for initial or early management of patients with hypertension, as they reduce treatment complexity and potentially reduce therapeutic inertia.

Objective: To investigate the association of antihypertensive triple drug FDC therapy with therapeutic inertia and prescribing patterns compared with usual care.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A post hoc analysis of the Triple Pill vs Usual Care Management for Patients With Mild-to-Moderate Hypertension (TRIUMPH) study, a randomized clinical trial of 700 patients with hypertension, was conducted.

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