Changes in cardiorespiratory fitness following exercise training prescribed relative to traditional intensity anchors and to physiological thresholds: a systematic review with meta-analysis of individual participant data.

It is unknown whether there are differences in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) response when prescribing intensity relative to traditional (TRAD) anchors or to physiological thresholds (THR). The present meta-analysis sought to compare: a) mean change in VO2max; b) proportion of individuals increasing VO2max beyond a minimum important difference (MID); and c) response variability in VO2max between TRAD and THR. Electronic databases were searched, yielding data for 1544 individuals from 42 studies. Two datasets were created, comprising studies with a control group ('controlled' studies), and without a control group ('non-controlled' studies). A Bayesian approach with multi-level distributional models was used to separately analyse VO2max change scores from the two datasets and inferences were made using Bayes factors (BF). The MID was predefined as one metabolic equivalent (MET; 3.5 mL∙kg-1∙min-1). In controlled studies, mean VO2max change was greater in THR compared to TRAD (4.1 vs 1.8 mL∙kg-1∙min-1, BF>100) with 64% of individuals in THR experiencing an increase in VO2max >MID, compared to 16% of individuals taking part in TRAD. Evidence indicated no difference in standard deviation of change between THR and TRAD (1.5 vs 1.7 mL∙kg-1∙min-1, BF=0.55), and greater variation in exercise groups relative to non-exercising controls (1.9 vs 1.3 mL∙kg-1∙min-1, BF=12.4). In non-controlled studies, mean VO2max change was greater in THR vs TRAD (4.4 vs 3.4 mL∙kg-1∙min-1, BF=35.1) with no difference in standard deviation of change (3.0 vs 3.2 mL∙kg-1∙min-1, BF=0.41). Prescribing exercise intensity using THR approaches elicited superior mean changes in VO2max and increased the likelihood of increasing VO2max beyond the MID compared to TRAD. Future exercise training studies should thus consider the use of THR approaches to prescribe exercise intensity where possible. Analysis comparing interventions with controls suggested the existence of intervention response heterogeneity, however, evidence was not obtained for a difference in response variability between THR and TRAD. Future primary research should be conducted with adequate power to investigate the scope of inter-individual differences in VO2max trainability, and if meaningful, the causative factors

Factors Associated with Revision Surgery after Internal Fixation of Hip Fractures

Background: Femoral neck fractures are associated with high rates of revision surgery after management with internal fixation. Using data from the Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip fractures (FAITH) trial evaluating methods of internal fixation in patients with femoral neck fractures, we investigated associations between baseline and surgical factors and the need for revision surgery to promote healing, relieve pain, treat infection or improve function over 24 months postsurgery. Additionally, we investigated factors associated with (1) hardware removal and (2) implant exchange from cancellous screws (CS) or sliding hip screw (SHS) to total hip arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty, or another internal fixation device. Methods: We identified 15 potential factors a priori that may be associated with revision surgery, 7 with hardware removal, and 14 with implant exchange. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses in our investigation. Results: Factors associated with increased risk of revision surgery included: female sex, [hazard ratio (HR) 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-2.50; P = 0.001], higher body mass index (fo