Top studies relevant to primary care practice.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize 10 high-quality studies from 2017 that have strong relevance to primary care practice. QUALITY OF EVIDENCE: Study selection involved routine literature surveillance by a group of primary care health professionals. This included screening abstracts of important journals and Evidence Alerts, as well as searching the American College of Physicians Journal Club. MAIN MESSAGE: Topics of the 2017 articles include whether treating subclinical hypothyroidism improves outcomes or symptoms; whether evolocumab reduces cardiovascular disease as well as low-density lipoprotein levels; whether lifestyle interventions reduce medication use in patients with diabetes; whether vitamin D prevents cardiovascular disease, cancer, or upper respiratory tract infections; whether canagliflozin reduces clinical events in patients with diabetes; how corticosteroid injections affect knee osteoarthritis; whether drained abscesses benefit from antibiotic treatment; whether patients with diabetes benefit from bariatric surgery; whether exenatide reduces clinical events in patients with diabetes; and whether tympanostomy tubes affect outcomes in recurrent acute otitis media or chronic otitis media. We provide brief summaries, context where needed, and final recommendations for 10 studies with potential effects on primary care. We also briefly review 5 "runner-up" studies. CONCLUSION: Research from 2017 produced several high-quality studies in diabetes management. These have demonstrated benefit for alternative therapies and offered evidence not previously available. This year's selection of studies also provided information on a variety of conditions and therapies that are, or might become, more common in primary care settings.

Systematic review of systematic reviews for medical cannabinoids: Pain, nausea and vomiting, spasticity, and harms.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of medical cannabinoids on pain, spasticity, and nausea and vomiting, and to identify adverse events. DATA SOURCES: MEDLINE, the Cochrane Database, and the references of included studies were searched. STUDY SELECTION: Systematic reviews with 2 or more randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that focused on medical cannabinoids for pain, spasticity, or nausea and vomiting were included. For adverse events, any meta-analysis for the conditions listed or of adverse events of cannabinoids was included. SYNTHESIS: From 1085 articles, 31 relevant systematic reviews were identified including 23 for pain, 5 for spasticity, 6 for nausea and vomiting, and 12 for adverse events. Meta-analysis of 15 RCTs found more patients taking cannabinoids attained at least a 30% pain reduction: risk ratio (RR) of 1.37 (95% CI 1.14 to 1.64), number needed to treat (NNT) of 11. Sensitivity analysis found study size and duration affected findings (subgroup differences, P ≤ .03), with larger and longer RCTs finding no benefit. Meta-analysis of 4 RCTs found a positive global impression of change in spasticity (RR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.95, NNT = 7). Other results were not consistently statistically significant, but when positive, a 30% or more improvement in spasticity had an NNT of 10. Meta-analysis of 7 RCTs for control of nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy found an RR of 3.60 (95% CI 2.55 to 5.09) with an NNT of 3. Adverse effects caused more patients to stop treatment (number needed to harm [NNH] of 8 to 22). Individual adverse events were very common, including dizziness (NNH = 5), sedation (NNH = 5), confusion (NNH = 15), and dissociation (NNH = 20). "Feeling high" was reported in 35% to 70% of users. The GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) evaluation reduced evidence ratings of benefit to low or very low. CONCLUSION: There is reasonable evidence that cannabinoids improve nausea and vomiting after chemotherapy. They might improve spasticity (primarily in multiple sclerosis). There is some uncertainty about whether cannabinoids improve pain, but if they do, it is neuropathic pain and the benefit is likely small. Adverse effects are very common, meaning benefits would need to be considerable to warrant trials of therapy.

Simplified guideline for prescribing medical cannabinoids in primary care.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a clinical practice guideline for a simplified approach to medical cannabinoid use in primary care; the focus was on primary care application, with a strong emphasis on best available evidence and a promotion of shared, informed decision making. METHODS: The Evidence Review Group performed a detailed systematic review of 4 clinical areas with the best evidence around cannabinoids: pain, nausea and vomiting, spasticity, and adverse events. Nine health professionals (2 generalist family physicians, 2 pain management-focused family physicians, 1 inner-city family physician, 1 neurologist, 1 oncologist, 1 nurse practitioner, and 1 pharmacist) and a patient representative comprised the Prescribing Guideline Committee (PGC), along with 2 nonvoting members (pharmacist project managers). Member selection was based on profession, practice setting, location, and lack of financial conflicts of interest. The guideline process was iterative through content distribution, evidence review, and telephone and online meetings. The PGC directed the Evidence Review Group to address and provide evidence for additional questions as needed. The key recommendations were derived through consensus of the PGC. The guideline was drafted, refined, and distributed to a group of clinicians and patients for feedback, then refined again and finalized by the PGC. RECOMMENDATIONS: Recommendations include limiting medical cannabinoid use in general, but also outline potential restricted use in a small subset of medical conditions for which there is some evidence (neuropathic pain, palliative and end-of-life pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and spasticity due to multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury). Other important considerations regarding prescribing are reviewed in detail, and content is offered to support shared, informed decision making. CONCLUSION: This simplified medical cannabinoid prescribing guideline provides practical recommendations for the use of medical cannabinoids in primary care. All recommendations are intended to assist with, not dictate, decision making in conjunction with patients.

Lignes directrices simplifiées en matière de prescription de cannabinoïdes médicaux en soins de première ligne.

OBJECTIF: Élaborer des lignes directrices de pratique clinique visant à simplifier l'approche à l'emploi de cannabinoïdes à des fins médicales en soins de première ligne; le projet visait l'application en soins de première ligne, en insistant fortement sur les meilleures données probantes disponibles, et la promotion de la prise de décision éclairée et partagée. MÉTHODES: Le Groupe d'examen des données a effectué une revue systématique détaillée de 4 domaines cliniques dotés des meilleures données probantes en matière de cannabinoïdes : douleur, nausées et vomissements, spasticité et événements indésirables. Neuf professionnels de la santé (2 omnipraticiens, 2 médecins de famille spécialisés en gestion de la douleur, 1 médecin de famille en milieu urbain, 1 neurologue, 1 oncologue, 1 infirmière praticienne et 1 pharmacien) et une représentante de patients composaient le Comité des lignes directrices en matière de prescription (CLDP), de même que 2 membres sans droit de vote (pharmaciens gestionnaires de projet). Les membres ont été sélectionnés en fonction de leur profession, et de leur contexte et de leur lieu de pratique, de même qu'en fonction de l'absence d'un conflit d'intérêts de nature financière. Les lignes directrices sont le fruit d'un processus itératif incluant la distribution de contenu, l'examen minutieux des données probantes, et des rencontres téléphoniques et en ligne. Le CLDP a confié au Groupe d'examen des données la responsabilité de répondre aux questions additionnelles et de fournir des données probantes, au besoin. Les principales recommandations découlent d'un consensus au sein du CLDP. Les lignes directrices ont été rédigées, peaufinées et distribuées à un groupe de cliniciens et de patients aux fins de commentaires, puis ont été peaufinées à nouveau et finalisées par le CLDP. RECOMMANDATIONS: Les recommandations consistent à limiter la consommation générale de cannabinoïdes médicaux, mais elles décrivent aussi l'emploi restreint potentiel dans un petit sous-groupe de conditions de santé pour lesquelles des données probantes existent (douleur neuropathique, douleur en soins palliatifs et en fin de vie, nausées et vomissements induits par la chimiothérapie, et spasticité causée par la sclérose en plaques ou une lésion de la moelle épinière). L'article examine en détail d'autres points importants en matière de prescription, et offre du contenu étayant la prise de décision éclairée et partagée. CONCLUSION: Ces lignes directrices simplifiées en matière de prescription de cannabinoïdes médicaux offrent des recommandations pratiques quant à l'emploi de cannabinoïdes en soins de première ligne. Toutes les recommandations visent à contribuer à la prise de décision conjointement avec le patient et non à la dicter.