Introduction: HIV-associated cryptococcal, TB and pneumococcal meningitis are the leading causes of adult meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis with the primary aim of estimating mortality from major causes of adult meningitis in routine care settings, and to contrast this with outcomes from clinical trial settings.
Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library for published clinical trials (defined as randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) or investigator-managed prospective cohorts) and observational studies that evaluated outcomes of adult meningitis in SSA from 1 January 1990 through 15 September 2019. We performed random effects modelling to estimate pooled mortality, both in clinical trial and routine care settings. Outcomes were stratified as short-term (in-hospital or two weeks), medium-term (up to 10 weeks) and long-term (up to six months).
Results And Discussion: Seventy-nine studies met inclusion criteria. In routine care settings, pooled short-term mortality from cryptococcal meningitis was 44% (95% confidence interval (95% CI):39% to 49%, 40 studies), which did not differ between amphotericin (either alone or with fluconazole) and fluconazole-based induction regimens, and was twofold higher than pooled mortality in clinical trials using amphotericin based treatment (21% (95% CI:17% to 25%), 17 studies). Pooled short-term mortality of TB meningitis was 46% (95% CI: 33% to 59%, 11 studies, all routine care). For pneumococcal meningitis, pooled short-term mortality was 54% in routine care settings (95% CI:44% to 64%, nine studies), with similar mortality reported in two included randomized-controlled trials. Few studies evaluated long-term outcomes.
Conclusions: Mortality rates from HIV-associated meningitis in SSA are very high under routine care conditions. Better strategies are needed to reduce mortality from HIV-associated meningitis in the region.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jia2.25416 | DOI Listing |
Cureus
December 2024
Emergency, Hospital de Braga, Braga, PRT.
Pericardial effusion refers to the accumulation of fluid within the pericardial sac, the double-layered membrane surrounding the heart. It can be caused by various medical conditions and may lead to serious complications if not diagnosed and managed promptly. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has emerged as a valuable tool in the clinical evaluation of pericardial effusions, offering real-time visualization and aiding in the assessment of its size, characteristics, and potential hemodynamic impact.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransplant Direct
February 2025
Department of Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA.
Background: As the burden of chronic liver disease and the demand for liver transplants (LT) grows, understanding the interplay between access to care and patient outcomes is increasingly important. In this study, we explored patient characteristics and transplant outcomes in patients undergoing LT evaluations, with a focus on identifying risk factors for expedited LT evaluation.
Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent LT evaluation for deceased donor LT between October 2017 and July 2021.
Can J Pain
January 2025
Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Background: Health care providers often struggle to treat patients with chronic pain. One potential solution is to facilitate access to programs and tools that develop patients' skills and confidence in managing their own care.
Aims: This study aimed to describe the uptake of the Chronic Pain Self-Management Program (CPSMP) in Eastern Ontario and evaluate the effectiveness of the program in the acquisition of knowledge, confidence, and skills required to manage chronic pain, as measured by the Patient Activation Measure (PAM).
BMJ Oncol
October 2023
Translational and Clinical Research, Newcastle University Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
BMJ Oncol
September 2023
Department of Health Services Research & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Objective: Although adjuvant trastuzumab-based treatment (TBT) improves survival for patients with HER2-positive early invasive breast cancer (EIBC), risk of toxicity grows as patient age increases. We examined use of TBT and associated severe acute toxicity event (SATE) rates to understand the real-world impact.
Methods And Analysis: Women (50+ years), newly diagnosed with HER2-positive EIBC in England, 2014-2019, were identified from Cancer Registry data, linked to the Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy dataset for TBT information.
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