[Clinical outcomes, health-related quality of life, and cost-effectiveness of a 6-month community- based lifestyle program for adults at increased cardiovascular risk in lower Austria].

Aim: To investigate lifestyle intervention effects and cost-effectiveness of a structured 6-month exercise and nutrition program for individuals at high risk for cardiovascular disease.

Methods: Uncontrolled before and after study with assessments at baseline and six months. Adults without existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) but at increased CVD risk were eligible.

Comparative benefits and harms of second-generation antidepressants for treating major depressive disorder: an updated meta-analysis.

Background: Second-generation antidepressants dominate the management of major depressive disorder (MDD), but evidence on the comparative benefits and harms of these agents is contradictory.

Purpose: To compare the benefits and harms of second-generation antidepressants for treating MDD in adults.

Data Sources: English-language studies from PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts from 1980 to August 2011 and reference lists of pertinent review articles and gray literature.

The impact of inclusion criteria in health economic assessments.

The debate surrounding whether the findings of efficacy studies are applicable to real-world treatment situations is ongoing. The issue of lack of applicability due to a lack of clinical heterogeneity could be addressed by employing less restrictive inclusion criteria. Given that health economic assessments based on cost-effectiveness measures are required by many governments and insurance providers, the impact of this choice may be far reaching.

Outcomes and costs of community health worker interventions: a systematic review.

Objectives: We conducted a systematic review on outcomes and costs of community health worker (CHW) interventions. CHWs are increasingly expected to improve health outcomes cost-effectively for the underserved.

Research Design: We searched Medline, Cochrane Collaboration resources, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature for studies conducted in the United States and published in English from 1980 through November 2008.

The effect of study sponsorship on a systematically evaluated body of evidence of head-to-head trials was modest: secondary analysis of a systematic review.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of industry bias in a systematically reviewed body of evidence of head-to-head trials.

Study Design And Setting: We limited our analysis to published head-to-head randomized controlled trials of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) identified in a comparative effectiveness review. Two reviewers independently determined the status of funding for each trial.

A systematic review of outcomes of maternal weight gain according to the Institute of Medicine recommendations: birthweight, fetal growth, and postpartum weight retention.

This systematic review focuses on outcomes of gestational weight gain, specifically birthweight, fetal growth, and postpartum weight retention, for singleton pregnancies with respect to the 1990 Institute of Medicine weight gain recommendations. A total of 35 studies met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. There was strong evidence to support associations between excessive gestational weight gain and increased birthweight and fetal growth (large for gestational age) as well as inadequate gestational weight gain and decreased birthweight and fetal growth (small for gestational age).

Inadequate reporting of trials compromises the applicability of systematic reviews.

Background: Uncertainty about the applicability of controlled trial findings is an increasing concern for clinicians and policy decision makers. This study aimed to determine whether information reported in studies included in systematic reviews was adequate enough to assess their applicability.

Methods: We used the databases of four recently conducted systematic reviews on the comparative efficacy and safety of second-generation antidepressants, inhaled corticosteroids, Alzheimer's drugs, and targeted immune modulators.

Outcomes of community health worker interventions.

Objectives: To conduct a systematic review of the evidence on characteristics of community health workers (CHWs) and CHW interventions, outcomes of such interventions, costs and cost-effectiveness of CHW interventions, and characteristics of CHW training.

Data Sources: We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane Collaboration resources, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature for studies published in English from 1980 through November 2008.

Review Methods: We used standard Evidence-based Practice Center methods of dual review of abstracts, full-text articles, abstractions, quality ratings, and strength of evidence grades.

Comparative benefits and harms of second-generation antidepressants: background paper for the American College of Physicians.

Background: Second-generation antidepressants dominate the management of major depressive disorder, dysthymia, and subsyndromal depression. Evidence on the comparative benefits and harms is still accruing.

Purpose: To compare the benefits and harms of second-generation antidepressants (bupropion, citalopram, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, mirtazapine, nefazodone, paroxetine, sertraline, trazodone, and venlafaxine) for the treatment of depressive disorders in adults.

Meta-analysis of major depressive disorder relapse and recurrence with second-generation antidepressants.

Objective: This meta-analysis reviewed data on the efficacy and effectiveness of second-generation antidepressants for preventing major depression relapse and recurrence during continuation and maintenance phases of treatment, respectively.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts were searched for the period of January 1980 through April 2007 for reviews, randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and observational studies on the topic. Two persons independently reviewed abstracts and full-text articles using a structured data abstraction form to ensure consistency in appraisal and data extraction.

Comparative risk for harms of second-generation antidepressants : a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Evidence indicates that only minor differences in efficacy exist among second-generation antidepressants for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, a comprehensive assessment of both benefits and harms is crucial to evaluate the net benefit.

Objective: To review systematically the comparative harms of second-generation antidepressants for the treatment of MDD in adults by including both experimental and observational evidence.

Outcomes of maternal weight gain.

Objectives: The RTI International-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Evidence-based Practice Center (RTI-UNC EPC) systematically reviewed evidence on outcomes of gestational weight gain and their confounders and effect modifiers, outcomes of weight gain within or outside the 1990 Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines, risks and benefits of weight gain recommendations, and anthropometric measures of weight gain.

Data Sources: We searched MEDLINE Cochrane Collaboration resources, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature, and Embase.

Review Methods: We included studies published in English from 1990 through October 2007.

Treating the physical symptoms of depression with second-generation antidepressants: a systematic review and metaanalysis.

Background: Approximately two-thirds of patients with depression experience physical pain symptoms. Coexisting pain complicates the treatment of depression and is associated with worse depression outcomes.

Objective: The authors reviewed the effect of newer antidepressants on pain in patients with depression.

Management of uterine fibroids: an update of the evidence.

Objectives: The RTI International-University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Evidence-based Practice Center (RTI-UNC EPC) systematically updated evidence on the management of uterine fibroids, specifically incidence and prevalence of fibroids, treatment outcomes, comparisons of treatment, modifiers of outcomes, and costs.

Data Sources: We searched MEDLINE(R), Cochrane Collaboration resources, and Embase.

Review Methods: We included studies published in English from February 2000 through August 2006.

Systematic review: comparative effectiveness and harms of disease-modifying medications for rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: The comparative effectiveness of rheumatoid arthritis therapies is uncertain.

Purpose: To compare the benefits and harms of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for adults with rheumatoid arthritis.

Data Sources: Records limited to the English language and studies of adults were identified by using MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts from 1980 to September 2007.

Biologics for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a systematic review and critical analysis of the evidence.

Biologics are an important therapeutic option for treating patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). In adults, they are associated with rare but severe adverse events such as serious infections and malignancies. We reviewed systematically the evidence on the efficacy and safety of biologics for the treatment of JIA.

The comparative efficacy and safety of biologics for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and metaanalysis.

Objective: Biologics are an important therapeutic option for treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, they are associated with rare but severe adverse events such as serious infections, lymphoma, or chronic heart failure. In addition, dosing regimens and routes of administration differ substantially among biologics.