A cross sectional study on prevalence and etiology of syncope in Tehran

Recurrent syncope of obscure etiology, particularly in those with structural heart diseases, is associated with higher mortality rates. There are insufficient and conflicting data on prevalence and etiology of syncope in the urban Middle Eastern population. Evaluating the etiologic basis of syncope can be an effective step in prevention of morbidities and sudden cardiac death in susceptible populations. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence and etiology of syncope in an outpatient cardiology clinic in Tehran the capital of Iran. In this cross sectional study data was collected from patients' records whose first visits were from March 2006 to September 2007 and had undergone thorough examination for syncope (ECG, Holter monitoring, echocardiography, Tilt table testing, Electrophysiological study). All efforts were done to determine underlying heart diseases, physical exam and test abnormalities, final diagnosis and treatment in all selected patients. Overall prevalence of syncope was estimated to be 9. The age-specific prevalence rates were 5-14 years: 4.14, 15-44 years: 44.8, 45-64 years: 31, 65 years and Older: 20. The most frequently identified cause (60) was neurally-mediated (vasovagal) syncope. Mean age of patients was 44.9 years with a minimum of 5 years and maximum of 85 years. In our study, coronary heart disease had a high prevalence among participants (12.4). Syncope is a common clinical problem. In this study prevalence rates peaked in 15-44 years age group. Considering that recurrent syncope is often disabling and may cause injury and the fact that heart diseases are more common in people affected by syncope, especial cautions should be taken while evaluating this group of patients. © 2013 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) prediction rules in identifying high risk children with mild traumatic brain injury

Purpose: Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) traumatic brain injury (TBI) prognostic rules is a scoring system for prediction of the need for computed tomography (CT) scanning in children with mild TBI. However, its validation has not been assessed in developing countries. Therefore, the present study was designed to assess the value of PECARN rule in identification of children with clinically important TBI (ciTBI). Method: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 594 children (mean age: 7.9 ± 5.3 years; 79.3 boys) with mild TBI brought to emergency ward of two healthcare centers in Tehran, Iran were assessed. PECARN checklist was filled for all patients and children were divided to three groups of low, intermediate and high risks. Patients were followed for 2 weeks by phone to assess their ciTBI status. At the end, discrimination power, calibration and overall performance of PECARN rule were assessed. Results: PECARN had a sensitivity and specificity of 92.3 and 40.6, respectively, in predicting ciTBI in children under 2 years and 100.0 and 57.8, respectively, in individuals between the ages of 2 and 18. PECARN rule had a proper calibration in prediction of ciTBI and CT scan findings. Brier score (overall performance) of PECARN rule in predicting ciTBI in children under 2 and 2�18 years were 1.5 and 1.2, respectively. Conclusion: PECARN prediction rule has a proper validity in the prediction of ciTBI. Therefor it can be used for screening and identification of high risk children with mild TBI. © 2017, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany

Comparison of Outcomes with Midodrine and Fludrocortisone for Objective Recurrence in Treating Syncope (COMFORTS trial): Rationale and design for a multi-center randomized controlled trial

Background: The cornerstone of the treatment of vasovagal syncope (VVS) is lifestyle modifications; however, some patients incur life-disturbing attacks despite compliance with these treatments which underscores the importance of pharmacological interventions. Methods: In this open-label multi-center randomized controlled trial, we are going to randomize 1375 patients with VVS who had �2 syncopal episodes in the last year into three parallel arms with a 2:2:1 ratio to receive midodrine, fludrocortisone, or no medication. All patients will be recommended to drink 2 to 3 liters of fluids per day, consume 10 grams of NaCl per day, and practice counter-pressure maneuvers. In medication arms, patients will start on 5 mg of midodrine TDS or 0.05 mg of fludrocortisone BD. After one week the dosage will be up-titrated to midodrine 30 mg/day and fludrocortisone 0.2 mg/day. Patient tolerance will be the principal guide to dosage adjustments. We will follow-up the patients on 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after randomization. The primary outcome is the time to first syncopal episode. Secondary outcomes include the recurrence rate of VVS, time interval between first and second episodes, changes in quality of life (QoL), and major and minor adverse drug reactions. QoL will be examined by the 36-Item Short Form Survey questionnaire at enrollment and 12 months after randomization. Conclusion: The COMFORTS trial is the first study that aims to make a head-to-head comparison between midodrine and fludrocortisone, against a background of lifestyle modifications for preventing recurrences of VVS and improving QoL in patients with VVS. © 2021 Elsevier Inc

Performance of physiology scoring systems in prediction of in-hospital mortality of traumatic children: A prospective observational study

Background: This study is designed to compare the value of four physiologic scoring systems of rapid acute physiology score (RAPS), rapid emergency medicine score (REMS), Worthing physiology scoring system (WPSS) and revised trauma score (RTS) in predicting the in-hospital mortality of traumatic children brought to the emergency department. Method: We used the data gathered from six healthcare centers across Iran between the April-October 2016. Included patients were all children with trauma. Patients were assessed and followed until discharge. Moreover, patients were divided to two groups of died and alive, and discriminatory power and general calibration of models in prediction of in-hospital mortality were compared. Results: Data was gathered from 814 children (average age of 11.65 +/- 5.36 years, 74.32 boys). Highest measured area under the curve was for RAPS and REMS with 0.986 and 0.986, respectively. Areas under the curve of WPSS and RTS were 0.920 and 0.949, respectively (p = 0.02). Sensitivity and specificity of RAPS were 100.0 and 95.05, respectively. These amounts for REMS were 100.0 and 94.04, respectively. Two models of RTS and WPSS had the same sensitivity of 84.62. Specificity of these two was 98.22 and 96.95, respectively. Three models of RAPS, REMS and RTS had proper calibrations in predicting mortality; however, it seems that WPSS overestimates the mortality in high risk patients. Conclusion: As calculations of RAPS is easier than REMS and their proper calibrations, it seems that RAPS is the best physiologic model in predicting in-hospital mortality and classifying in traumatic children based on severity of injury. However, further validation of the recommended score is essential before implementing them into routine clinical practice

Sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitors and atrial fibrillation : A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose co-transporter (SGLT) inhibitors reduce cardiovascular outcomes including mortality in several populations; however, their effect on atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF) remains unclear. Our objective was to determine whether SGLT inhibitors reduce AF and whether a history of AF modifies the effect of SGLT inhibitors on the composite of heart failure hospitalization or cardiovascular death. METHODS AND RESULTS: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL to March 2021. Pairs of reviewers identified randomized controlled trials that compared an SGLT inhibitor with placebo or no therapy. We pooled data using RevMan 5.4.1, assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane tool, and determined the overall quality of evidence using Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation. Thirty-one eligible trials reported on AF events (75 279 participants, mean age 62 years, 35.0% women). Moderate quality evidence supported a lower risk of serious AF events with SGLT inhibitors (1.1% versus 1.5%; risk ratio 0.75 [95% CI, 0.66–0.86]; I2=0%). A similar reduction in total AF events was also noted with SGLT inhibitors. Three trials reported on heart failure hospitalization/cardiovascular death stratified by a baseline history of AF (18 832 participants, mean age 66 years, 38.1% women); in patients with a history of AF, SGLT inhibitors resulted in a lower risk in the composite of heart failure hospitalization or cardiovascular death (hazard ratio, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.57–0.85]; I2=0%)—similar to the effect estimate for patients without AF, P value for interaction: 1.00. CONCLUSIONS: SGLT inhibitors may reduce AF events and likely reduce heart failure hospitalization/cardiovascular death to a similar extent in patients with and without AF