Effect of catheter ablation versus medical therapy on mental health and quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and mental health is well-documented, but the relative benefits of catheter ablation versus medical therapy on mental health and quality of life are not clearly understood. This study assesses the impact of these interventions on AF patients' mental health and quality of life. METHODS: Through a systematic review of PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing catheter ablation to medical therapy for AF were analyzed. The study focused on a range of outcomes, particularly mental health and quality of life, measured by tools including the SF-36 mental component, HADS, SF-36 physical component, and AFEQT scores, among others. Analyses were stratified by AF type (paroxysmal versus persistent) and synthesized using random or fixed-effects models to calculate mean differences (MDs) or standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: From 24 RCTs totaling 6,353 patients (51.4% receiving catheter ablation, 71.1% male, average age 59), catheter ablation was found to significantly improve mental health (SMD 0.34; 95% CI 0.05-0.63; p = 0.02) and quality of life as indicated by PCS SF-36 (MD 2.64; 95% CI 1.06-4.26; p < 0.01) and AFEQT scores (MD 6.24; 95% CI 4.43-8.05; p < 0.01), with no significant difference in outcomes between AF subtypes. CONCLUSION: Catheter ablation offers significant improvements in mental health and quality of life over medical therapy for AF patients, demonstrating its efficacy across different types of AF.

Tight Versus Liberal Blood Glucose Control in Patients With Diabetes in the ICU: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Introduction: Glycemia is an important factor among critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). There is conflicting evidence on the preferred strategy of blood glucose control among patients with diabetes in the ICU. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis comparing tight with liberal blood glucose in critically ill patients with diabetes in the ICU. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing tight versus liberal blood glucose control in critically ill patients with diabetes from inception to December 2023. We pooled odds-ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) with a random-effects model for binary endpoints. We used the Review Manager 5.17 and R version 4.3.2 for statistical analyses. Risk of bias assessment was performed with the Cochrane tool for randomized trials (RoB2). Results: Eight RCTs with 4474 patients were included. There was no statistically significant difference in all-cause mortality (OR 1.11; 95% CI 0.95-1.28; P = .18; I² = 0%) between a tight and liberal blood glucose control. RoB2 identified all studies at low risk of bias and funnel plot suggested no evidence of publication bias. Conclusion: In patients with diabetes in the ICU, there was no statistically significant difference in all-cause mortality between a tight and liberal blood glucose control. PROSPERO registration: CRD42023485032.

Catheter ablation versus medical therapy for atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND The benefit of catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare catheter ablation and medical therapy (antiarrhythmics for rhythm or rate control) in patients with AF and HFpEF. METHODS We searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Central. Outcomes were the composite endpoints of death or heart failure (HF) hospitalization, all-cause-death, cardiovascular death, all-cause-rehospitalization and HF hospitalization. Statistical analysis was performed using the R program (version 4.3.2). Heterogeneity was assessed with I2 statistics. RESULTS We included 20,257 patients from 8 studies. Of those, 3 were derived from RCTs, either through post-hoc analysis or subgroup analysis, and 5 were observational studies. The median follow-up ranged from 24.6 to 61.2 months. As compared to medical therapy, catheter ablation was associated with a statistically significant lower risk of death or HF hospitalization (HR 0.62; 95% CI 0.47 - 0.83; p=0.001; I2 =66%), all-cause-death (HR 0.68; 95% CI 0.46 - 0.99; p=0.047; I2 =61%), cardiovascular death (HR 0.42; 95% CI 0.21 - 0.84; p=0.014; I2 =22%) and HF hospitalization (HR 0.43; 95% CI 0.23 - 0.82; p=0.011; I2 =87%). CONCLUSION In this meta-analysis, catheter ablation was associated with lower risk of the all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, HF hospitalization and all-cause-rehospitalization in comparison to medical of patients with AF and HFpEF.

Catheter ablation versus medical therapy for atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare catheter ablation and medical therapy (antiarrhythmics for rhythm or rate control) in patients with AF and HFpEF. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Outcomes were the composite end points of death or heart failure (HF) hospitalization, all-cause death, cardiovascular death, all-cause rehospitalization, and HF hospitalization. Statistical analysis was performed using R statistical software, version 4.3.2 (R Foundation for Statistical Computing). Heterogeneity was assessed with I2 statistics. RESULTS: We included 20,257 patients from 8 studies. Of those, 3 were derived from RCTs, either through post hoc analysis or subgroup analysis, and 5 were observational studies. The median follow-up ranged from 24.6 to 61.2 months. Compared with medical therapy, catheter ablation was associated with a statistically significant lower risk of death or HF hospitalization (hazard ratio [HR] 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47-0.83; P = .001; I2 = 66%), all-cause death (HR 0.68; 95% CI 0.46-0.99; P = .047; I2 = 61%), cardiovascular death (HR 0.42; 95% CI 0.21-0.84; P = .014; I2 = 22%), and HF hospitalization (HR 0.43; 95% CI 0.23-0.82; P = .011; I2 = 87%). CONCLUSION: In this meta-analysis, catheter ablation was associated with a lower risk of all-cause death, cardiovascular death, HF hospitalization, and all-cause rehospitalization in comparison to medical therapy in patients with AF and HFpEF.

Os impactos da comunicação inadequada na relação médico-paciente / The impacts of inadequate communication on the physician-patient relation

Resumo: Introdução: Como um componente substancial na relação médico-paciente, a comunicação pode ser determinante na construção da hipótese diagnóstica e na adesão ao tratamento por parte do paciente, e, por isso, há a necessidade de compreender os fatores que influenciam no processo comunicativo e descrever a efetividade dele. Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os impactos da comunicação inadequada na relação médico-paciente. Método: Vinte e três pacientes voluntários com a maioridade atingida preencheram questionários de informações socioeconômicas, uso da linguagem e impressões da consulta médica. O médico preencheu um questionário sobre a experiência da consulta. Resultado: Os resultados indicaram que os pacientes apresentaram alguma dificuldade em comunicar ao médico o que sentiam, e, de modo complementar, os médicos, em 20% dos casos, tiveram algum grau de dificuldade de chegar à hipótese diagnóstica a partir do relato do paciente, o que se relaciona com a linguagem pouco descritiva utilizada pela maior parte dos pacientes. Conclusão: Dada a necessidade da qualidade da comunicação entre o médico e o paciente, conhecer os fatores que impactam o processo comunicativo é o primeiro passo para a garantia de um atendimento eficaz com autonomia do paciente e maior adesão ao plano terapêutico.

Abstract: Introduction: As a substantial component of the doctor-patient relationship, communication can be crucial in the construction of a diagnostic hypothesis and patient adherence to treatment. It is therefore necessary to understand the factors that influence the communicative process and describe the effectiveness of the communication. Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the impacts of inadequate communication in the doctor-patient relationship. Method: Twenty-three voluntary patients of legal age completed questionnaires on socioeconomic information, language use, and impressions of the medical consultation. The doctor filled out a questionnaire regarding their experience of the consultation. Result: The results indicated that patients experienced some difficulty in communicating their feelings to the doctor, and furthermore, in 20% of cases, doctors encountered some degree of difficulty in reaching a diagnostic hypothesis based on the patient's report, which is related to the predominantly non-descriptive language used by most patients. Conclusion: Given the need for high quality communication between the doctor and the patient, understanding the factors that impact the communicative process is the first step towards ensuring effective care with patient autonomy and improved adherence to the treatment plan.