Effectiveness of Scalp Cooling to Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia in Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced alopecia could cause significant psychological changes, affecting patients' quality of life and their capacity to cope with the disease. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of scalp cooling (SC) to prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia in patients with breast cancer and to compare the use of automated versus nonautomated therapy delivery devices. METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE (through PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov from their inception to October 2022. A meta-analysis was performed to assess the effects of SC to prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia in patients with breast cancer using fixed-effects models to calculate the pooled relative risk (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The 8 included studies showed a 43% reduction in the risk of chemotherapy-induced alopecia (RR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.50-0.64) after the use of SC. Moreover, the use of automated SC devices showed a 47% reduction (RR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.45-0.60) in the risk of chemotherapy-induced alopecia versus a 43% reduction in the risk of chemotherapy-induced alopecia for nonautomated SC devices (RR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.44-0.70). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that SC significantly reduced the risk of chemotherapy-induced alopecia. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Local cold application is a nonpharmacologic therapy that may provide a useful intervention to reduce hair loss and contribute to the psychological well-being of women. Scalp cooling contributes directly to reducing concern about altered body image and to reducing anxiety related to self-concept.

Efficacy of Different Types of Physical Activity Interventions on Exercise Capacity in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A Network Meta-Analysis.

AIM: A network meta-analysis (NMA) was performed to determine the effects on the exercise capacity, measured by the 6 MWT, of patients with COPD of (i) different physical activity interventions and (ii) supervised or unsupervised programs. METHODS: A literature search was carried out from inception to April 2022. Randomized controlled trials of the effectiveness of physical activity on exercise capacity in patients with COPD were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias (RoB 2.0) tool, and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation tool (GRADE) was used to assess the quality of the evidence. A pairwise meta-analysis for direct and indirect effects was carried out. RESULTS: A total of 41 studies were included in this NMA. The highest effects were for urban training pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs (ES, 1.50; 95% CI: 0.46 and 2.55) versus the control group. For supervised and unsupervised PR and home-based PR programs, the highest effects were found for supervised PR (ES, 0.85; 95% CI: 0.46 to 1.23) versus the control group. CONCLUSIONS: PR implemented with urban circuit training should be considered the most effective strategy to improve exercise capacity in patients with COPD. Supervision of the programs improves exercise capacity.

TIC en actividad física y parámetros cardiovasculares en mayores: una revisión / Health technology tools used to increase physical activity and improve cardiovascular parameters in older adults: A review

Introducción: El envejecimiento es una etapa de cambios físicos y psicológicos. La inactividad es uno de los grandes problemas que la generación de adultos mayores presenta, aumentando el riesgo de sarcopenia y de enfermedades crónicas. En los últimos años se ha producido un incremento en el uso de la tecnología, apareciendo las herramientas TIC (acrónimo de tecnología de la información y la comunicación) como intervención para aumentar la actividad física y mejorar los problemas de salud asociados. Objetivo: En esta revisión se evalúa la efectividad de las herramientas TIC para aumentar la actividad física y mejorar los parámetros cardiovasculares en adultos mayores. Metodología: Se incluyeron estudios que usaran herramientas TIC para aumentar los niveles de actividad física en adultos mayores y que evaluaran el efecto de ese aumento en los parámetros cardiovasculares realizando la búsqueda en las principales bases de datos. Resultados: en esta revisión se incluyeron 11 estudios que reportan el uso de una gran variedad de herramientas TIC. A pesar de estas diferencias, se ha demostrado la efectividad de estas intervenciones en el aumento de la actividad física y la reducción de los parámetros cardiovasculares. Discusión: La falta de adhesión de la generación de adultos mayores a la tecnología sería una desventaja, pero se ha demostrado que los adultos mayores jóvenes están más familiarizados con estas y el número de los que las usan va creciendo con el tiempo. Conclusión: Las herramientas TIC muestran efectividad en el aumento de la actividad física en los adultos mayores y en la mejora de los parámetros cardiovasculares.(AU)

Introduction: Ageing is a period of physical and psychological changes. Inactivity is one of the biggest problems among the older adult population increasing the risk of sarcopenia and chronic diseases. Physical activity is an effective intervention to improve health outcomes. In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of technology, with health technology tools (ICT) appearing as an intervention to increase physical activity and improve associated health problems. Objective: In this review, we evaluated the effectiveness of health technology to increase physical activity and to improve cardiovascular parameters in older adults. Methodology: Studies with a great variety of health technology tools to increase physical activity levels, and that evaluated the effect of that increase on cardiovascular parameters were included by searching the main databases. Results: Eleven studies reporting the use of a variety of ICT tools were included in this review. Despite these differences, the effectiveness of health technology tool interventions has been demonstrated in increasing physical activity and reducing cardiovascular parameters. Discussion: The lack of adherence of older adults to health technology would be a disadvantage, but it has been shown that younger older adults are more familiar with health technology tools and the number using them is increasing. Conclusion: Health technology tools show effectiveness in increasing physical activity in older adults and improving cardiovascular parameters.(AU)

Health technology tools used to increase physical activity and improve cardiovascular parameters in older adults: A review.

INTRODUCTION: Ageing is a period of physical and psychological changes. Inactivity is one of the biggest problems among the older adult population increasing the risk of sarcopenia and chronic diseases. Physical activity is an effective intervention to improve health outcomes. In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of technology, with health technology tools (ICT) appearing as an intervention to increase physical activity and improve associated health problems. OBJECTIVE: In this review, we evaluated the effectiveness of health technology to increase physical activity and to improve cardiovascular parameters in older adults. METHODOLOGY: Studies with a great variety of health technology tools to increase physical activity levels, and that evaluated the effect of that increase on cardiovascular parameters were included by searching the main databases. RESULTS: Eleven studies reporting the use of a variety of ICT tools were included in this review. Despite these differences, the effectiveness of health technology tool interventions has been demonstrated in increasing physical activity and reducing cardiovascular parameters. DISCUSSION: The lack of adherence of older adults to health technology would be a disadvantage, but it has been shown that younger older adults are more familiar with health technology tools and the number using them is increasing. CONCLUSION: Health technology tools show effectiveness in increasing physical activity in older adults and improving cardiovascular parameters.

[Suicide related factors in the elderly: A systematic review.] / Factores relacionados con el suicidio en personas mayores: una revisión sistemática.

BACKGROUND: Depression is a disease prevalent in most older people and is negatively associated with suicidal ideation and behaviour in the elderly. The objective of this systematic review was to study the relationship between suicidal behaviour and the associated risk factors that lead older people to commit it. METHODS: We searched systematically in the PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO and CUIDEN database, in addition, we used a search engine, Google Scholar, including studies when they were observational, with population of 60 years or more, whose patients had made any suicide attempt and instead were excluded when the participants were children or adolescents, reported cases of homicide or only reported the methods used in the suicide. The search was not delimited based on filters or time periods. The data is presented based on Odds Ratio, Relative Risk and percentage (%). RESULTS: Eighteen studies were included in this systematic review. Various factors associated with the appearance of suicidal behaviour in the elderly were reported, the following are the most relevant: serious mental disorders (mean OR/RR value of 157.80); depression (mean OR/RR value of 16.53); and previous suicide attempts (average OR/RR value of 12.33). CONCLUSIONS: Pathological, sociodemographic and psychosocial factors related to the ideation and appearance of suicidal behaviour in the elderly have been differentiated.

OBJETIVO: La depresión es una patología prevalente en la mayoría de las personas mayores y que está asociada negativamente con la ideación y la conducta suicida en la tercera edad. El objetivo de esta revisión sistemática fue estudiar la relación entre la conducta suicida y los factores de riesgo asociados que llevan a las personas mayores a cometerlo. METODOS: Se buscó sistemáticamente en las bases de datos PubMed, Web of Science, SciELO y CUIDEN, además, se empleó un buscador, Google Académico, incluyendo los estudios cuando eran observacionales, con población de 60 años o más, cuyos pacientes hubieran realizado algún intento suicida y por el contrario se excluyeron cuando los participantes eran niños o adolescentes, reportaran casos de homicidios o solo reportaran los métodos empleados en el suicidio. No se delimitó la búsqueda en base a filtros ni a periodos de tiempo. Los datos se presentan en base a Odds Ratio, Riesgo Relativo y porcentaje (%). RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 18 estudios en esta revisión sistemática. Se reportaron diversos factores asociados con la aparición de la conducta suicida en las personas mayores, siendo los siguientes los más relevantes: trastornos mentales graves (valor medio OR/RR de 157,80); depresión (valor medio OR/RR de 16,53); e intentos de suicidio previo (valor medio OR/RR de 12,33). CONCLUSIONES: Se han diferenciado factores patológicos, sociodemográficos y psicosociales relacionados con la ideación y la aparición de la conducta suicida en las personas mayores.