Meta-Analysis as Topic

ABC

Original Article

Extent of Left Atrial Ablation Lesions and Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence after Catheter Ablation – A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Eduardo Thadeu de Oliveira Correia et al. Letícia Mara dos Santos Barbetta Evandro Tinoco Mesquita

Abstract

Background:

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is known to induce atrial remodeling, which promotes fibrosis related to arrhythmogenesis. Accordingly, since scars induced by catheter ablation (CA) can reduce unablated fibrotic areas, greater extent of left atrial (LA) scarring may be associated with less AF recurrence after CA.

Objectives:

This study aims to investigate, through systematic review and meta-analysis, whether the amount of LA scarring, seen on late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging, is associated with less AF recurrence after CA.

Methods:

The recommendations of the MOOSE guideline were followed. Database search was conducted in PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (comentário 1) until January 2019 (comentário 2). Two authors performed screening, data extraction, and quality evaluation. All studies were graded as good quality. A funnel plot was generated, showing no publication bias. Statistical significance was defined as p value < 0.05.

Results:

Eight observational studies were included in the systematic review, four of which were included in the meta-analysis. Six of the eight studies included in the systematic review showed that greater extension of LA scarring is associated with less AF recurrence after CA. Meta-analysis showed that greater extension of LA scarring is associated with less AF recurrence (SMD = 0.52; 95% CI 0.27 – 0.76; p < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

Greater extension of LA scarring is possibly associated with less AF recurrence after CA. Randomized studies that explore ablation methods based on this association are fundamental.

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IJCS

Original Article

Physical Activity and Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation – Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Daniel Carlos Garlipp et al. Raphael Boesche Guimaraes Simone Louise Savaris Clovis Froemming Junior … Oscar Dutra Tiago Luiz Luz Leiria

Abstract

Background:

The relationship between exercise and atrial fibrillation (AF) is controversial.

Objectives:

To analyze the effects of physical activity on the incidence of atrial fibrillation using systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods:

Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that relate physical exercise and atrial fibrillation. The following databases were searched: PubMed, BVS Saúde and Cochrane. The following descriptors were used: “atrial fibrillation”, “exercise”, “physical activity” and “exercise therapy”. All prospective, retrospective, cross-sectional and cohort studies were investigated. All statistical analyzes were provided using Review Manager 5.3 to provide the mean difference (MD) and relative risk (RR) ratio with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The statistical method of heterogeneity index was used to assess heterogeneity. Level of significance was 5%.

Results:

Combined analysis of 11 studies totaling 276,323 participants aged between 12 and 90 years did not suggest a significant increase in AF in individuals submitted to physical exercise (RR = 0.914, 95% CI = 0.833-1.003, heterogeneity: p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Physical exercise, lato sensu, without stratification by intensity, sex or age does not seem to be associated with an increase of atrial fibrillation.

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ABC

Original Article

Association Between Increased Levels of Cystatin C and the Development of Cardiovascular Events or Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Caroline Fuchs Einwoegerer et al. Caroline Pereira Domingueti

Abstract

Background:

Cystatin C seems promising for evaluating the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality.

Objective:

To evaluate the association between high levels of cystatin C and the development of cardiovascular events or mortality.

Methods:

The articles were selected in the Medline/PubMed, Web of Science, and Scielo databases. The eligibility criteria were prospective cohort observational trials that assessed the association of high serum levels of cystatin C with the development of cardiovascular events or mortality in individuals with normal renal function. Only studies that evaluated the mortality outcome compared the fourth with the first quartile of cystatin C and performed multivariate Cox’s proportional hazard regression analysis were included in the meta-analysis. A p value < 0,05 was considered significant.

Results:

Among the 647 articles found, 12 were included in the systematic review and two in the meta-analysis. The risk of development of adverse outcomes was assessed by eight studies using the hazard ratio. Among them, six studies found an increased risk of cardiovascular events or mortality. The multivariate regression analysis was performed by six studies, and the risk of developing adverse outcomes remained significant after the analysis in four of these studies. The result of the meta-analysis [HR = 2.28 (1.70-3.05), p < 0.001] indicated that there is a significant association between high levels of cystatin C and the risk of mortality in individuals with normal renal function.

Conclusion:

There is a significant association between high levels of cystatin C and the development of cardiovascular events or mortality in individuals with normal renal function.

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Review Article

High-Intensity Interval Training in Heart Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Raphael José Perrier-Melo et al. Fernando Augusto Marinho dos Santos Figueira Guilherme Veiga Guimarães Manoel da Cunha Costa

Abstract

Heart transplantation (HTx) is considered an efficient and gold-standard procedure for patients with end-stage heart failure. After surgery, patients have lower aerobic power (VO₂max) and compensatory hemodynamic responses. The aim of the present study was to assess through a systematic review with meta-analysis whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) can provide benefits for those parameters. This is a systematic review with meta-analysis, which searched the databases and data portals PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct and Wiley until December 2016 (pairs). The following terms and descriptors were used: “heart recipient” OR “heart transplant recipient” OR ”heart transplant” OR “cardiac transplant” OR “heart graft”. Descriptors via DeCS and Mesh were: “heart transplantation’’ OR “cardiac transplantation”. The words used in combination (AND) were: “exercise training” OR “interval training” OR “high intensity interval training” OR “high intensity training” OR “anaerobic training” OR “intermittent training” OR “sprint training”. The initial search identified 1064 studies. Then, only those studies assessing the influence of HIIT on the post-HTx period were added, resulting in three studies analyzed. The significance level adopted was 0.05. Heart transplant recipients showed significant improvement in VO₂peak, heart rate and peak blood pressure in 8 to 12 weeks of intervention.

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IJCS

Original Article

Overview with Meta-analysis of Systematic Reviews of the Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography in the Emergency Department

Irlaneide da Silva Tavares et al. Carlos José Oliveira de Matos Marco Antonio Prado Nunes Antonio Carlos Sobral Sousa … Divaldo Pereira de Lyra Júnior Joselina Luzia Menezes Oliveira

Abstract

Background:

The high prevalence of CAD, as well as your impact on health expenditure and the various treatment options to reduce morbidity and mortality related to CAD, comes to develop a diagnostic tool precis and with important findings in the Emergency Department.

Objetive:

To conduct an overview with meta-analysis to compile evidence from multiple systematic reviews (SR) on the diagnostic and prognostic value of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) to assess acute chest pain in the emergency department (ED).

Methods:

We included SR of primary studies that evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic value of CCTA ≥ 64 channels in the ED. The studies were conducted in patients at low and intermediate risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). Quality assessment was performed using PRISMA and approved reviews that scored ≥ 80%. Two authors independently extracted data using a standardized form. Spearman correlation test, Chi-square test, Cochran’s Q test or Higgins and Thompson statistical I² were used. For meta-analysis, “mada” package statistical software R Core Team, 2015, was used. The significance level adopted was 95%.

Results:

Four reviews were eligible for inclusion in this overview, resulting in 13 articles after applying the exclusion criteria, and only 10 of these were used for meta-analysis, adding up to a total of 4831 patients (mean age, 54 ± 6 years; 51% male), of whom 46% were hypertensive, 32% had dyslipidemia, 13% had diabetes and 26% had a family history of premature CAD. In the meta-analysis, 9 studies defined CCTA positive in the presence of luminal lesions ≥ 50%, while 1 study defined it as luminal lesions ≥ 70%. Sensitivity ranged from 77% to 98%, and specificity, from 73% to 100%. The univariate analysis showed homogeneity of diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) [Q = 8.5 (df = 9), p = 0.48 and I² = 0%]. The pooled mean DOR for CCTA in primary analyses was 4.33 (95% CI: 3.47 – 5.18). The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.982 (95% CI: 0.967 – 0.999). There was no death, 29 (0.6%) infarcts, 92 (1.9%) revascularizations and 312 (6.4%) invasive coronary angiographies. The diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome occurred in 7.3% of the 1655 patients included in the meta-analysis.

Conclusions:

The use of CCTA as a tool for stratification of patients at low or intermediate cardiovascular risk, who are in the ED with chest pain, has high accuracy, safety, reduces length of hospital stay and probably the costs, producing an early diagnosis and more effective decision making. (Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2017; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

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