The number one spot in our top 10 monthly most-read chart has been taken by Erviti et al’s reanalysis of the mortality data from the FOURIER trial on cardiovascular outcomes of evolocumab in patients with cardiovascular disease. This is the articles first month in the charts. This month we have two new entries into the top 10 most-read in January and eight articles retaining their place.
Increased mortality on evolocumab treated patients with cardiovascular disease
Erviti et al compared mortality data from the primary results publication and Clinical Study Report. The original trial (Sabatine et al 2017) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigating evolocumab treatment for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The original trial reported patients in the intervention arm had reduced the risk of cardiovascular events. In this reanalysis the authors observed 11 more deaths from myocardial infarction in the evolocumab group (36 vs 25) and 3 less deaths in the placebo group (27 vs 30, respectively). In this re-adjudication a non-significantly higher risk of cardiovascular mortality was observed with evolocuma treatment. The authors suggest there should be greater caution when prescribing evolocumab for patients with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Obesity over time is linked with increased risk of frailty in later life
Uchai and their colleagues performed a prospective cohort study on community-dwelling adults in Norway. The study used data from the Tromsø study on 2340 women and 2169 men aged over 45 from 1994–1995 (Tromsø4) and 2015–2016 (Tromsø7), with additional BMI (Body Mass Index) and WC (Waist Circumference) measurements in 2001 (Tromsø5) and 2007–2008 (Tromsø6). This provided data on participants with a baseline age of 52 years and a 21 year follow up. Frailty was defined using low grip strength, slow walking speed, exhaustion, unintentional weight loss and low physical activity. The authors found participants with a high BMI and WC were twice as likely to present with physical pre-frailty and frailty in later life.
| Rank* | Author(s) | Title |
| 1 | Erviti et al. | Restoring mortality data in the FOURIER cardiovascular outcomes trial of evolocumab in patients with cardiovascular disease: a reanalysis based on regulatory data |
| 2 | Uchai et al. | Body mass index, waist circumference and pre-frailty/frailty: the Tromso study 1994-2016 |
| 3 | Huang et al. | Efficacy of probiotics in the management of halitosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
| 4 | Hundie et al. | Ethiopian womens sexual experiences and coping strategies for sexual problems after gynaecological cancer treatment: a qualitative study |
| 5 | Sun et al. | Association of sleep behaviour and pattern with the risk of glaucoma: a prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank |
| 6 | Yang et al. | Acupuncture for low back and/or pelvic pain during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials |
| 7 | van der Meulen et al. | Association between use of systemic and inhaled glucocorticoids and changes in brain volume and white matter microstructure: a cross-sectional study using data from the UK Biobank |
| 8 | Kiely et al. | Effect of social prescribing link workers on health outcomes and costs for adults in primary care and community settings: a systematic review |
| 9 | Burns et al. | Systematic review and meta-analysis to examine intrapartum interventions, and maternal and neonatal outcomes following immersion in water during labour and waterbirth |
| 10 | Eccles et al. | Variant connective tissue (joint hypermobility) and its relevance to depression and anxiety in adolescents: a cohort-based case-control study |