[Impact of systolic blood pressure on visit-to-visit blood pressure variability in middle-aged and elderly people].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the impact of systolic blood pressure (SBP) on visit-to-visit blood pressure variability (BPV) in middle-aged and elderly people. METHODS: Visit-to-visit BPV was determined in 5440 workers in the Kailuan study cohort from 2006 to 2007. The subjects were ≥ 40 years-old and had no history of stroke, transient ischemic attack or myocardial infarction. Participants were divided into five groups according to different levels of SBP. Linear regression was used to analyze the related factors which might affect BPV. RESULTS: Mean systolic BPV of all subjects was 10.35 mm Hg [coefficient of variation (CV 7.96%)]. The mean systolic BPV of males was 10.54 mm Hg (CV 7.90%) while the mean SBPV of females was 10.06 mm Hg (CV 7.90%). The BPV of males was significant higher than that of females (P < 0.001). CV of SBP was similar between males and females. Furthermore, higher SBP was associated with higher BPV. There were significant differences in BPV between different groups with different levels of SBP (P < 0.001). Linear regression analysis demonstrated that SBP, age, gender, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) were affecting factors of BPV. Twenty mm Hg SBP increase was linked with 2.02 mm Hg BPV increase and 0.388%CV increase. Age increase of 1 year was associated with 0.044 mm Hg BPV increase and 0.029% CV increase. CONCLUSION: SBP, age, gender and hsCRP are important factors affecting BPV in middle-aged and elderly people. Higher SBP is closely related to greater BPV in this cohort.

[The effect of an optimized resuscitation strategy on prognosis of patients with septic shock: a systematic review].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the treatment effect of an optimized resuscitation strategy on prognosis of patients with septic shock. METHODS: A systematic review of MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CBM, CNKI and other sources using a comprehensive strategy was conducted. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock were included. The patients were randomized into treatment group and control group. Preplanned subgroup analysis required studies to be categorized based on early (goal-directed therapy accomplished within 6-24 hours) vs. late (initiated after 24 hours or unknown time of resuscitation implementation). Two authors independently extracted data and assessed study quality using standardized methods. Consensus was reached by conference. The Cochrance Collaboration's software RevMan 5.0 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Eleven studies were included in the final analysis, providing a sample of 2066 patients. The combined results demonstrated a decrease in mortality [odds ratio (OR) = 0.63, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 0.48-0.84, P = 0.002]; however, there was statistically significant heterogeneity [P = 0.01, I(2) = 55%]. Among the early optimal resuscitation studies (n = 8) there was minimal heterogeneity [P = 0.44, I(2) = 0%] and a significant decrease in mortality (OR = 0.53, 95%CI 0.42-0.66, P < 0.00001) and incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS, OR = 0.61, 95%CI 0.43-0.85, P = 0.004). For the late resuscitation studies (n = 3), there was statistically significant difference [P = 0.05, I (2)=66%], and there was no significant effect on mortality (OR = 0.89, 95%CI 0.52-1.54, P = 0.68) and incidence of MODS (OR = 0.43, 95%CI 0.17-1.08, P = 0.07). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis found that the application of an early optimal resuscitation strategy to patients with septic shock imparts a significant reduction in mortality and incidence of MODS.

[Influence of albumin as a resuscitation fluid on the prognosis of patients with sepsis: a Meta-analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of albumin as a resuscitation fluid with other fluids in lowering the mortality of patients with sepsis. METHODS: By searching MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Registration of Controlled Trials databases, the metaRegister of Controlled Trials, the Medical Editors Trial Amnesty Register, and retrieval of the randomized controlled trial (RCT) literature to compare the result of resuscitation using albumin-containing fluid and other fluids. The study population included adult patients who were diagnosed to have sepsis, and the patients with sepsis who were studied as subgroup. The RevMan 5.0 software was used for Meta-analysis, and the main outcome was the mortality of the hospitalized patients. RESULTS: In the 14 RCTs, 1729 patients received the albumin-containing fluid resuscitation or resuscitation with other fluids. It was found that the patients with sepsis were the only research objects in five studies, and in other nine studies patients with sepsis were studied as subgroup. P = 0.98, I (2)=0%, i.e. no heterogenicity, and the fixed effect model was used for combining results. There was no evident difference between the group of patients with sepsis resuscitated by albumin-containing fluids and other fluids [odds ratio (OR) was 0.87, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 0.71-1.07, P = 0.18]. The pooled OR of resuscitation using high concentration albumin solution (20%) was 1.11, 95%CI 0.71-1.73, P = 0.65, the pooled OR of resuscitation using low concentration albumin solution (4%, 5%) was 0.82, 95%CI 0.65-1.03, P = 0.09. Resuscitation with different concentration of albumin-containing fluids was identical with the whole research results. After rejecting six articles of Boldt and other authors, and also saline versus albumin fluid evaluation (SAFE) study, the sensitivity analysis of the study was performed in order to check whether the data produced decisive significance to the whole research results or not. The whole results did not change after their rejection(Boldt studies were rejected:OR 0.82, 95%CI 0.65-1.02, P = 0.08; SAFE study was rejected: OR 1.05, 95%CI 0.71-1.55, P = 0.82). Therefore the analysis results were satisfactory. CONCLUSION: The Meta-analysis shows that by using albumin-containing fluids for resuscitation can not lower the mortality of sepsis as compared with other fluids.

[The effect of neuromuscular blocking agents on prognosis of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: a meta analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of neuromuscular blocking agent (NMBA) on prognosis of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: PubMed database, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Excepta Media, CBM, CNKI and other sources were used for retrieving the pertinent literature. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on NMBA treating ARDS patients were enrolled. The Cochrance Collaboration's software RevMan 5.0 was used for data analysis. Two authors independently extracted data and assessed study quality using standardized instruments. RESULTS: Three studies were included in the final analysis, providing a sample of 431 patients. The combined results demonstrated a decrease in 28 days mortality [Peto odds ratio (OR) =0.57, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 0.37-0.88, P=0.01] and lower incidence of barotrauma (OR=0.42, 95%CI 0.20-0.91,P=0.003) after NMBA treatment for patients with ARDS as compared with control group. The incidence of acquired neuromyopathy was similar between NMBA group and control group (OR=1.20, 95%CI 0.67-2.14, P=0.54). As compared with the control group at 48 hours, there was no statistical difference in ventilator parameters including total positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP, OR=0.09, 95%CI -0.50-0.68, P=0.77) and plateau pressure (Pplat, OR=0.62, 95%CI -0.32-1.57, P=0.20). There was no heterogeneity (P>0.1, I (2)<50%). At 120 hours after NMBA treatment, the total PEEP was significantly lower than that of control group (OR=-1.22, 95%CI -2.39 to -0.04, P=0.04), and the difference in Pplat showed statistical difference compared with the control group (OR=-2.61, 95%CI -4.50 to -0.73, P=0.007). CONCLUSION: Early administration of NMBA for ARDS patients results in a significant reduction in 28 days mortality, and it improves outcome.