Prevalence of Anemia among Children and Adolescents of Bangladesh: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The prevalence of anemia is high among children and adolescents in low- and middle-income countries because of undernutrition resulting from their poor socioeconomic status and lack of knowledge on proper nutrition. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the prevalence of anemia among children and adolescents aged between 6 months and 19 years in Bangladesh. Databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched to identify the studies that reported the prevalence of anemia among children and adolescents.

The Prevalence of Gene Mutations in Patients with --Negative Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPN): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Multiple recurrent somatic mutations have recently been identified in association with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). This meta-analysis aims to assess the pooled prevalence of gene mutations among patients with MPN. Six databases (PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Web of Science and Embase) were searched for relevant studies from inception till September 2020, without language restrictions.

Nationwide dispensing of cardioprotective medications during the first year following acute coronary syndrome (ANZACS-QI 56).

Aim: A number of evidence-based medications are recommended following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), including statins, antithrombotics (antiplatelet and/or anticoagulants), a beta-blocker and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ACE-I/ARB). This study aimed to describe the dispensing of the cardioprotective medications in the first year following an ACS hospitalisation in New Zealand and how this varies according to age, sex and type of coronary intervention.

Method: National hospitalisation data was used to identify all New Zealand residents aged 35-79 years who were discharged from hospital in the years 2013/14 with a primary discharge diagnosis of ACS.

Impact of human papillomavirus vaccination on rates of abnormal cervical cytology and histology in young New Zealand women.

Aim: Determine the impact of quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination on abnormal cervical cytology and histology rates in young New Zealand women.

Methods: Retrospective population-based cohort study of women born 1990-1994, with a cervical cytology or histology recorded when aged 20-24 between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2015. Data was obtained through linking the National Immunisation Register and National Cervical Screening Programme Register.

Feasibility and reliability of clinical coding surveillance for the routine monitoring of adverse drug events in New Zealand hospitals.

Aim: To explore the feasibility and reliability of Clinical Coding Surveillance (CCS) for the routine monitoring of Adverse Drug Events (ADE) and describe the characteristics of harm identified through this approach in a large district health board (DHB).

Method: All hospital admissions at Waitemata DHB from 2015 to 2016 with an ADE-related ICD10-AM code of Y40-Y59, X40-X49 or T36-T50 were extracted from clinical coded data. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, statistical process control and Pareto charts.

Clinical and Health System Determinants of Venous Thromboembolism Event Rates After Hip Arthroplasty: An International Comparison.

Background: Routinely collected hospital data provide increasing opportunities to assess the performance of health care systems. Several factors may, however, influence performance measures and their interpretation between countries.

Objective: We compared the occurrence of in-hospital venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients undergoing hip replacement across 5 countries and explored factors that could explain differences across these countries.

A review of cervical cancer occurrences in New Zealand 2008-2012.

Background: A review of the screening histories of women/wahine diagnosed with cervical cancer was undertaken to assess where the screening pathway can be improved.

Methods: Women diagnosed with confirmed or possible cervical cancer during 1 January 2008-31 December 2012 were identified from the National Cancer Registry (NCR) records. Screening histories for these women were obtained from the National Cervical Screening Programme (NCSP) Register along with pathology and cytology reports and staging information.

Follow-up strategies for patients treated for non-metastatic colorectal cancer.

Background: It is common clinical practice to follow patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) for several years following their curative surgery or adjuvant therapy, or both. Despite this widespread practice, there is considerable controversy about how often patients should be seen, what tests should be performed, and whether these varying strategies have any significant impact on patient outcomes. This is the second update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2002 and first updated in 2007.

Does the diameter of abdominal aortic aneurysm influence late survival following abdominal aortic aneurysm repair? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Studies reporting the influence of preoperative abdominal aortic aneurysm diameter on late survival following abdominal aortic aneurysm repair have not been consistent.

Aim: To report the influence of abdominal aortic aneurysm diameter on overall long-term survival following abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Methods: Embase, Medline and the Cochrane electronic databases were searched to identify articles reporting the influence of abdominal aortic aneurysm diameter on late survival following open aneurysm repair and endovascular aneurysm repair published up to April 2015.

Management of Modifiable Vascular Risk Factors Improves Late Survival following Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The main determinants of survival following abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair are preexisting risk factors rather than the method of repair chosen. The main aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the effect of modifiable risk factors on late survival following AAA repair.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched to identify all relevant articles reporting the influence of modifiable risk factors on long-term survival (≥1 year) following elective open aneurysm repair and endovascular aneurysm repair.

Laparoscopic Lavage in the Management of Hinchey Grade III Diverticulitis: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To compare the outcomes of laparoscopic lavage and sigmoid resection in perforated diverticulitis with purulent peritonitis.

Background: Peritonitis secondary to perforated diverticulitis has conventionally been managed by resection and stoma formation. Case series have suggested that patients can be safely managed with laparoscopic lavage, resulting in reduced mortality and stoma formation.

Fraction size in radiation therapy for breast conservation in early breast cancer.

Background: Shortening the duration of radiation therapy would benefit women with early breast cancer treated with breast conserving surgery. It may also improve access to radiation therapy by improving efficiency in radiation oncology departments globally. This can only happen if the shorter treatment is as effective and safe as conventional radiation therapy.

Monitoring and evaluating surgical care: defining perioperative mortality rate and standardising data collection.

Background: Case volume per 100 000 population and perioperative mortality rate (POMR) are key indicators to monitor and strengthen surgical services. However, comparisons of POMR have been restricted by absence of standardised approaches to when it is measured, the ideal denominator, need for risk adjustment, and whether data are available. We aimed to address these issues and recommend a minimum dataset by analysing four large mixed surgical datasets, two from well-resourced settings with sophisticated electronic patient information systems and two from resource-limited settings where clinicians maintain locally developed databases.

The role of facility-based surgical services in addressing the national burden of disease in New Zealand: an index of surgical incidence based on country-specific disease prevalence.

Background: Surgery is a crucial component of health systems, yet its actual contribution has been difficult to define. We aimed to link use of national hospital service with national epidemiological surveillance data to describe the use of surgical procedures in the management of a broad spectrum of conditions.

Methods: We compiled Australian Modification-International Classification of Diseases-10 codes from the New Zealand National Minimum Dataset, 2008-11.

Sequential population study of the impact of earthquakes on the emotional and behavioural well-being of 4-year-olds in Canterbury, New Zealand.

Aim: Exposure to a large natural disaster can lead to behavioural disturbances, developmental delay and anxiety among young children. Although most children are resilient, some will develop mental health problems. Major earthquakes occurred in Canterbury, New Zealand, in September 2010 and February 2011.

The role of facility-based surgical services in addressing the national burden of disease in New Zealand: An index of surgical incidence based on country-specific disease prevalence.

Background: Surgery is a crucial component of health systems, yet its contribution has been difficult to define. We linked national hospital service utilization with national epidemiologic data to describe the use of surgical procedures in the management of a broad spectrum of conditions.

Methods: We compiled International Classification of Diseases-10-Australian Modification codes from the New Zealand National Minimum Dataset, 2008-2011.

Toward a standard approach to measurement and reporting of perioperative mortality rate as a global indicator for surgery.

Introduction: The proportion of patients who die during or after surgery, otherwise known as the perioperative mortality rate (POMR), is a credible indicator of the safety and quality of operative care. Its accuracy and usefulness as a metric, however, particularly one that enables valid comparisons over time or between jurisdictions, has been limited by lack of a standardized approach to measurement and calculation, poor understanding of when in relation to surgery it is best measured, and whether risk-adjustment is needed. Our aim was to evaluate the value of POMR as a global surgery metric by addressing these issues using 4, large, mixed, surgical datasets that represent high-, middle-, and low-income countries.

Estimated need for surgery worldwide based on prevalence of diseases: a modelling strategy for the WHO Global Health Estimate.

Background: Surgery is a foundational component of health-care systems. However, previous efforts to integrate surgical services into global health initiatives do not reflect the scope of surgical need and many health systems do not provide essential interventions. We estimate the minimum global volume of surgical need to address prevalent diseases in 21 epidemiological regions from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 (GBD).

Primary health care access and ambulatory sensitive hospitalizations in New Zealand.

Ambulatory sensitive hospitalizations (ASH) are those thought to be preventable by timely and effective primary health care. Better access to primary health care has been associated with lower ASH rates. Funding increases to primary health care in New Zealand beginning in 2001 led to an improvement in access.

Can patient safety indicators monitor medical and surgical care at New Zealand public hospitals?

Introduction: Increasing interest has focused on the safety of hospital care. The AusPSIs are a set of indicators developed from Australian administrative data to reliably identify inpatient adverse events in hospitals. The main aim of this study was to explore the application of the AHRQ/AusPSIs to New Zealand administrative hospital data related to medical and surgical care.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the role of routine colonic evaluation after radiologically confirmed acute diverticulitis.

Objective: To determine the yield of colorectal cancer at routine colonic evaluation after radiologically proven acute diverticulitis.

Background: Acute diverticulitis accounts for 152,000 hospitalizations in the United States alone. Current guidelines recommend routine colonic evaluation after acute diverticulitis to confirm the diagnosis and exclude malignancy.

The mismeasurement of quality by readmission rate: how blunt is too blunt an instrument?: a quantitative bias analysis.

Background: The rate of readmission is widely used as a measure of hospital quality of care, often with funding implications for outlying facilities.

Objectives: This study explored the plausibility of readmission as a proxy for health care quality with quantitative bias analysis and the application of a structural Directed Acyclic Graph framework. It applies this paradigm to observed ethnic differences in the odds of readmission in a sample of New Zealand hospital patients.

Efficiency, effectiveness, equity (E3). Evaluating hospital performance in three dimensions.

There are well-established frameworks for comparing the performance of health systems cross-nationally on multiple dimensions. A sub-set of such comprehensive schema is taken up by criteria specifically applied to health service delivery, including hospital performance. We focus on evaluating hospital performance, using the New Zealand public hospital sector over the period 2001-2009 as a pragmatic and illustrative case study for cross-national application.

Ethnic disparities in the quality of hospital care in New Zealand, as measured by 30-day rate of unplanned readmission/death.

Objective: To compare the quality of hospital care for New Zealand (NZ) Māori and NZ European adult patients, using the rate of unplanned readmission or death within 30 days of discharge as an indicator of quality.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: NZ public hospitals.

Impact of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis on female fertility: meta-analysis and systematic review.

Purpose: The aim of this review is to determine the effect of ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) on female fertility in ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), the mechanisms of this effect, strategies for prevention and management of infertility post-IPAA.

Methods: This paper is a systematic literature review of all articles investigating IPAA and fertility from 1966 onwards that were found searching the Medline and Embase databases. Meta-analysis was performed on relevant studies.