Methodological challenges using routine clinical care data for real-world evidence: a rapid review utilizing a systematic literature search and focus group discussion.

Background: The integration of real-world evidence (RWE) from real-world data (RWD) in clinical research is crucial for bridging the gap between clinical trial results and real-world outcomes. Analyzing routinely collected data to generate clinical evidence faces methodological concerns like confounding and bias, similar to prospectively documented observational studies. This study focuses on additional limitations frequently reported in the literature, providing an overview of the challenges and biases inherent to analyzing routine clinical care data, including health claims data (hereafter: routine data).

Predicting the risk of intensive care unit admission in patients with COVID-19 presenting in the emergency room: Development and evaluation of the CROSS score.

Background: Existing risk evaluation tools underperform in predicting intensive care unit (ICU) admission for patients with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to develop and evaluate an accurate and calculator-free clinical tool for predicting ICU admission at emergency room (ER) presentation.

Methods: Data from patients with COVID-19 in a nationwide German cohort (March 2020-January 2023) were analyzed.

Developing a Charlson Comorbidity Index for the American Indian Population Using the Epidemiologic Data from the Strong Heart Study.

Background: The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) is a frequently used mortality predictor based on a scoring system for the number and type of patient comorbidities health researchers have used since the late 1980s. The initial purpose of the CCI was to classify comorbid conditions, which could alter the risk of patient mortality within a 1-year time frame. However, the CCI may not accurately reflect risk among American Indians because they are a small proportion of the US population and possibly lack representation in the original patient cohort.

Response of the ductus arteriosus to acetaminophen or indomethacin in extremely low birth weight infants.

Objective: Acetaminophen and indomethacin are used for medical management of a patent ductus arteriosus. This study compared the efficacy of these agents in ELBW infants.

Study Design: This was a retrospective study of all courses of indomethacin and acetaminophen.

Regional differences in three-dimensional fiber organization, smooth muscle cell phenotype, and contractility in the pregnant mouse cervix.

The orientation and function of smooth muscle in the cervix may contribute to the important biomechanical properties that change during pregnancy. Thus, this study examined the three-dimensional structure, smooth muscle phenotype, and mechanical and contractile functions of the upper and lower cervix of nongravid (not pregnant) and gravid (pregnant) mice. In gravid cervix, we uncovered region-specific changes in the structure and organization of fiber tracts.