ObjectiveTo assess the reporting quality of randomised controlled trial (RCT) abstracts on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) healthcare, to evaluate the adherence to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement’s recommendations on minimum abstract information and to identify journal characteristics associated with abstract reporting quality.DesignCross-sectional evaluation of RCT abstracts on AMD healthcare.MethodsA PubMed search was implemented to identify RCT abstracts on AMD healthcare published in the English language between January 2004 and December 2013. Data extraction was performed by two parallel readers independently by means of a documentation format in accordance with the 16 items of the CONSORT checklist for abstracts. The total number of criteria fulfilled by an abstract was derived as primary endpoint of the investigation; incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with unadjusted 95% CI were estimated by means of multiple Poisson regression to identify journal and article characteristics (publication year, multicentre design, structured abstract recommendations, effective sample size, effective abstract word counts and journal impact factor) possibly associated with the total number of fulfilled items.Study characteristics136 of 673 identified abstracts (published in 36 different journals) fulfilled all eligibility criteria.ResultsThe median number of fulfilled items was 7 (95% CI 7 to 8). No abstract reported all 16 recommended items; the maximum total number was 14, the minimum 3 of 16 items. Multivariate analysis only demonstrated the abstracts’ word counts as being significantly associated with a better reporting of abstracts (Poisson regression-based IRR 1.002, 95% CI 1.001 to 1.003).ConclusionsReporting quality of RCT abstracts on AMD investigations showed a considerable potential for improvement to meet the CONSORT abstract reporting recommendations. Furthermore, word counts of abstracts were identified as significantly associated with the overall abstract reporting quality.

ObjectivesAccess to full texts of randomised controlled clinical trials (RCTs) is often limited, so brief summaries of studies play a pivotal role. In 2008, a checklist was provided to ensure the transparency and completeness of abstracts. The aim of this investigation was to estimate adherence to the reporting guidelines of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) criteria for abstracts (CONSORT-A) in RCT publications.Primary endpointAssessment according to the percentage of compliance with the 16 CONSORT-A criteria per study.Materials and methodsThis study is based on a full survey (212 RCT abstracts in dental implantology, PubMed search, publication period 2014–2016, 45 journals, median impact factor: 2.328). In addition to merely documenting ‘adherence’ to criteria, the authors also assessed the ‘complete implementation’ of the requested information where possible. The collection of data was performed independently by two dentists, and a final consensus was reached. The primary endpoint was evaluated by medians and quartiles. Additionally, a Poisson regression was conducted to detect influencing factors.ResultsA median of 50% (Q1–Q3: 44%–63%) was documented for the 16 criteria listed in the CONSORT-A statement. Nine of the 16 criteria were considered in fewer than 50% of the abstracts. ‘Correct implementation’ was achieved for a median of 43% (Q1–Q3: 31%–50%) of the criteria. An additional application of Poisson regression revealed that the number of words used had a locally significant impact on the number of reported CONSORT criteria for abstracts (incidence rate ratio 1.001, 95% CI 1.001 to 1.002).ConclusionTransparent and complete reporting in abstracts appears problematic. A limited word count seems to result in a reduction in necessary information. As current scientific knowledge is often not readily available in the form of publications, abstracts constitute the primary basis for decision making in clinical practice and research. This is why journals should refrain from limiting the number of words too strictly in order to facilitate comprehensive reporting in abstracts.

Background: With the growing number of older people, the number of people in need of long-term care is increasing, too. Official statistics only report on the age-specific prevalence of long-term care. Therefore, there is no data on the age- and sex-specific incidence of the need for care at the population level for Germany available. Methods: Analytical relationships between age-specific prevalence, incidence rate, remission rate, all-cause mortality, and mortality rate ratio are used to estimate the age-specific incidence of long-term care among men and women in 2015. The data is based on the official prevalence data from the nursing care statistics for the years 2011 to 2019 and official mortality rates from the Federal Statistical Office. For Germany, there is no data on the mortality rate ratio of people with and without a need for care, which is why we use two extreme scenarios that were obtained in a systematic literature search to estimate the incidence. Results: The age-specific incidence is about 1 per 1000 person-years (PY) in men and women at the age of 50 and increases exponentially up to the age of 90. Up to about the age of 60, men have a higher incidence rate than women. Thereafter, women have a higher incidence. At the age of 90, women and men have an incidence rate of 145 to 200 and 94 to 153 per 1000 PY, respectively, depending on the scenario. Conclusion: We estimated the age-specific incidence of the need for long-term care for women and men in Germany for the first time. We observed a strong increase, leading to a huge number of people in need of long-term care in higher age groups. It is to be expected that this will result in an increased economic burden and a further increased need for nursing and medical staff.

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Die präklinische Notfallthorakotomie („prehospital resuscitative thoracotomy“, PHRT) ist eine von den aktuellen Reanimationsleitlinien des European Resuscitation Council (ERC) empfohlene, kontrovers diskutierte Maßnahme zur Akutbehandlung des traumatischen Herz-Kreislauf-Stillstands („traumatic cardiac arrest“, TCA). Ziel dieser Arbeit ist das vollständige Abbilden und Zusammenfassen der vorhandenen Literatur mit der zugrunde liegenden Hypothese, dass vorhandene Publikationen die Machbarkeit und das Überleben nach PHRT bei Patienten mit TCA mit gutem neurologischen Outcome zeigen. Methode Es erfolgte eine systematische Literaturrecherche in den Datenbanken PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, SpringerLink und Cochrane. Die Studienauswahl, Datenextraktion und Bewertung des Verzerrungspotenzials wurden unabhängig von 2 Autoren durchgeführt. Als primärer Endpunkt wurde das Outcome der Patienten mit TCA nach präklinischer Notfallthorakotomie gewählt. Ergebnisse Es wurden 4616 Publikationen gesichtet, 21 Veröffentlichungen mit insgesamt 287 Patienten konnten eingeschlossen werden. Für eine detaillierte deskriptive Analyse eigneten sich 15 Publikationen mit insgesamt 205 Patienten. Der TCA dieser Patienten war am häufigsten durch eine Perikardtamponade, thorakale Gefäßverletzungen und schwere extrathorakale Mehrfachverletzungen verursacht. In 24 % der Fälle trat ein TCA im Beisein des Notarztes auf. Die „Clamshell“-Thorakotomie (53 %) wurde präklinisch häufiger als die anterolaterale Thorakotomie (47 %) angewandt. 12 % (25/205) der PHRT-Patienten nach TCA verließen lebend das Krankenhaus, 9 % (n = 19/205) mit gutem und 1 % (n = 3/205) mit schlechtem neurologischen Outcome (nach Glasgow Outcome Scale, GOS). Schlussfolgerung Die Prognose des TCA scheint deutlich besser zu sein als lange angenommen. Maßgeblich für den Erfolg von Reanimationsbemühungen beim TCA scheint die unverzügliche, teils invasive Therapie aller reversiblen Ursachen zu sein. Die von der ERC-Reanimationsleitlinien für den TCA empfohlenen Maßnahmen scheinen insbesondere für die Präklinik bisher unzureichend umgesetzt. Eine besondere Kontroverse hinsichtlich der Empfehlungen der Leitlinie besteht zur Frage, ob eine PHRT erfolgreich angewandt werden kann und deren flächendeckende Einführung in Deutschland sinnvoll erscheint. Die vorliegende systematische Übersichtsarbeit unterstreicht trotz Leitlinienempfehlung den Mangel an hochwertiger Evidenz zur PHRT, wobei eine Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeit bis zur Entlassung aus dem Krankenhaus von 12 %, in 75 % davon mit gutem neurologischen Outcome berichtet wird. Das Verzerrungspotenzial der Ergebnisse der einzelnen Publikationen sowie auch dieses Reviews ist hoch. Weitere systematische Forschung im Bereich der präklinischen Traumareanimation ist insbesondere auch zur Akzeptanz der Leitlinienvorgaben erforderlich.

Background: The Icare® PRO rebound tonometer is being promoted as a patient-friendly device for glaucoma detection and monitoring, allowing rapid and accurate intraocular pressure measurement avoiding anaesthesia. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the concordance of Icare® PRO and Goldmann applanation tonometry in glaucoma patients. Methods: The German and English literature research was carried out using PubMed and Cochrane Library between January 2010 and March 2018. Method comparison trials in a paired sample study design were identified. Search criteria were ‘Icare PRO’, ‘Rebound’, ‘Goldmann’ and ‘Applanation’. Adult patients with glaucoma of any aetiology were included. The intraindividual intraocular pressure deviation between Icare® PRO and Goldmann applanation tonometry (mm Hg) served as primary endpoint, parameterized by the reported mean differences. For each study, an asymptotic 95% confidence interval was derived. The overall intraocular pressure meta-difference (Icare® PRO-Goldmann applanation tonometry) and 95% confidence interval were estimated using the random effect model. Result: Of 147 publications, 6 studies (672 eyes) were included after reviewing. Four studies showed an intraocular pressure underestimation by the Icare® PRO, two an overestimation. The meta-difference (Icare® PRO-Goldmann applanation tonometry = −0.14 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval: (−0.43 mm Hg; 0.15 mm Hg)) indicated a non-significant, clinically irrelevant mean deviation (p = 0.335). The devices showed good agreement, but there was a strong heterogeneity between the studies (I² = 77%): two studies presented a significant difference (Icare® PRO-Goldmann applanation tonometry), however, with deviations in opposite directions. Conclusion: Although the manufacturer advertises the Icare® PRO as a ‘tonometer with superior accuracy’, the present review could neither confirm nor deny considerable agreement between Goldmann applanation tonometry and Icare® PRO in glaucomatous patients.