Longitudinal Outcomes of Children Exposed to Opioids In-utero: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to summarize evidence of long-term outcomes of children, 2 years and older, exposed to opioids in-utero. DESIGN: This was a systematic review. Studies were identified by searching the following electronic databases: PubMed, EBSCO HOST/Medline, and Web of Science. Articles were published between 1979 and 2019. METHODS: This systematic review was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Two sets of two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed study quality according to National Institutes of Health quality assessment tools. RESULTS: Forty-three articles met inclusion criteria. Synthesis of articles identified trends toward worse outcomes for children with in-utero opioid exposure in all areas, most notably related to academic success, behavior, cognition, hospitalizations, and vision. CONCLUSIONS: Findings reinforce the necessity of continued research in this area with improved study design. Despite limitations in the current body of evidence, findings from this review are vital knowledge for clinicians, because children exposed to opioids in-utero are clearly vulnerable to a wide variety of suboptimal health and developmental outcomes. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Recognition of all outcomes across childhood associated with in-utero opioid exposure will inform improved identification and interventions tailored to the most pressing needs of affected children. Despite the need for continued research, there is sufficient evidence to necessitate close, individualized follow-up throughout childhood.

The Rate of Adherence to Antiarthritis Medications and Associated Factors among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Literature Review and Metaanalysis.

OBJECTIVE: Reported adherence in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) varies widely (10.5-98.5%). Variability may result in part from different methods used to measure adherence. Our aims were to quantify adherence to antiarthritis medications for each method and to identify variability and associated factors. METHODS: The systematic literature review examined PubMed, the Cochrane central database, and article reference lists from 1970 to November 2014. Papers with medication adherence data (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, steroids, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs) in adult patients with RA or data on associated factors were included. Adherence rate was recorded for each method. Random-effect metaanalysis estimated adherence for different evaluation methods. RESULTS: Adherence rate was 66% (95% CI 0.58-0.75). There were no differences in adherence among different measurement methods (interview, questionnaires, etc.). Regression analysis showed that adherence decreases during followup. Among 100 possible factors potentially effecting adherence, 7 adherence-associated factors were found in at least 2 different studies. These were the use of infliximab compared with etanercept or methotrexate (MTX), use of MTX compared to sulfasalazine or to etanercept, belief in the necessity of the medications, older age, and white race. CONCLUSION: Overall adherence rate was 66%. We suggest that readers appraise adherence studies according to the medications evaluated, the validity of the method, and the scales and cutpoints.