Author conflict of interest appears to be prevalent among psychiatric clinical trials and to be associated with a greater likelihood of reporting a drug to be superior to placebo.

Summary Background Lifestyle interventions are first‐line therapy for non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Aims To examine the prevalence of NAFLD among participants of the University of Michigan Metabolic Fitness (MetFit) Programme and to assess the impact of this programme on weight, metabolic and liver‐related parameters among patients with and without NAFLD. Methods Adults who completed the programme between 2008 and 2016 were included. Clinical and laboratory data were collected at enrolment, and at 12 and 24 weeks. NAFLD was defined based on liver biopsy, imaging or clinical diagnosis. Results The cohort (N = 403; 253 12‐week, 150 24‐week) consisted primarily of middle‐aged (median 54 years) white (88%) men (63%) with severe obesity (median BMI 37.4). 47.6% met criteria for NAFLD. At baseline, NAFLD patients were younger (52 vs 55 years), had higher weights and more metabolic derangements (higher fasting insulin and triglyceride, lower high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol). At programme completion, 30% achieved weight reduction ≥5%, 62% resolution of hypertriglyceridaemia, 33% resolution of low HDL, 27% resolution of impaired fasting glucose and 43% normalisation of alanine aminotransferase. Endpoints were unaffected by NAFLD. Longer programme duration (OR 6.7, 95% CI 3.6‐12.3) and white race (OR 3.83, 95% CI 1.04‐1.76) were independent predictors of ≥5% weight loss. Conclusions Nearly half of the patients referred to a structured lifestyle programme for metabolic syndrome had NAFLD. Although baseline metabolic derangements were more pronounced among NAFLD patients, the programme was equally efficacious in achieving weight loss and resolving metabolic syndrome components. Programme duration was the most important predictor of response.

BackgroundAlthough guidelines recommend statins with a high level of evidence for 4 primary prevention benefit groups, prescribing disparities still exist. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of race on statin prescribing for primary prevention.Methods and ResultsA retrospective cohort analysis of patients within a large academic health system was performed to investigate statin prescribing among primary prevention groups. The statin benefits groups were patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, with an low‐density lipoprotein ≥190 mg/dL, or with an atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) 10‐year risk ≥7.5%. Statin prescribing was 20% in the ASCVD ≥7.5% group, followed by 37.8% in the low‐density lipoprotein ≥190 mg/dL group and 40.5% in the diabetes mellitus group. Blacks were less likely to be prescribed a statin compared with whites in the diabetes mellitus (odds ratio, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.49–0.82; P=0.001) and ASCVD ≥7.5% groups (odds ratio, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.26–0.54; P<0.0001). Blacks 60 to 69 years of age (odds ratio, 7.97; 95% CI, 3.14–20.2; P=0.003) and 70 to 79 years of age (odds ratio, 4.21; 95% CI, 1.81–9.79; P=0.008) were more likely to be prescribed a statin compared with blacks <60 years of age in the ASCVD ≥7.5% group.ConclusionsBlacks are less likely to be prescribed statins in diabetes mellitus and ASCVD ≥7.5% groups compared with whites. Younger blacks with ASCVD risk ≥7.5% are less likely to be prescribed statins compared with older blacks. Future research should focus on tailored interventions to address statin prescribing disparities in blacks.

BackgroundThe metabolic syndrome (MetS) is highly prevalent and associated with higher risk of diabetes and cardiovascular events. Exercise programs have been shown to improve components of MetS, but the optimal design of a structured exercise program for treatment of the MetS remains unclear.PurposeTo assess the impact of different exercise programs on the MetS and its components.MethodsMEDLINE via PubMed and Embase was searched. Randomized controlled trials of supervised exercise alone and in combination with nutrition programs compared with usual care in adults with the MetS were selected. Two authors independently reviewed articles to select eligible studies and performed data abstraction. Eight studies representing 1218 patients were included. The participants had a median age of 51, median BMI of 29 kg/m2, and were 55% male. Mean weight loss increased with program duration. For combination programs, the mean weight loss was −2.6 kg, −3.7 kg, and −6.5 kg for 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. The components of the MetS most frequently statistically significantly improved were waist circumference (6/6 studies), blood pressure (4/6 studies), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3/6 studies).LimitationsStudies did not include long-term follow-up post program completion to evaluate persistence of benefit. It is unknown whether the same results would be found in an older, more obese population.ConclusionSupervised exercise programs yield significant resolution of components of the MetS, particularly in reducing waist circumference. Longer program duration and frequent interval sessions appear to have highest benefit and thus may help reduce cardiovascular risk and diabetes associated with the MetS.

End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and heart failure (HF) often coexist and must be managed simultaneously. Multidisciplinary collaboration between nephrology and cardiology is critical when treating patients with such complicated physiology. There is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to the evaluation of patients with new left ventricular systolic dysfunction, and diagnostic testing should be adapted to an individual's risk factors. Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) for systolic heart failure should be employed in these patients. While limited randomized data exist, observational data and post hoc analyses suggest that GDMT, including renin angiotensin aldosterone system inhibitors, is associated with improved cardiovascular outcomes and can be safely initiated at low doses with close monitoring of kidney function in this population. Volume status is typically managed through ultrafiltration, so close communication between cardiology and nephrology is necessary to achieve a patient's optimal dry weight and mitigate intradialytic hypotension.Patient education and engagement regarding sodium and fluid restriction is crucial, and symptom burden should be reassessed following changes to the dialysis regimen.