Top 10 most read in January: energy drinks; cannabis for medical use; and COVID-19 vaccination in Brazil

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Welcome to our ‘Most Read’ blog where we highlight the articles that have resonated the most with our readers. This month we have several new entries spanning a diverse array of topics, from energy drink consumption to tobacco use to COVID-19 vaccination.

Energy drink consumption and sleep parameters in college and university students

In this cross-sectional study, Kaldenbach et al. investigated the frequency of energy drink (ED) consumption, and the association between ED consumption and selected sleep characteristics and parameters in Norwegian college and university students. In a sample of 53,226 young adults, 4.7% of men and 3.3% of women reported consuming EDs daily. They also found that frequency of ED consumption was inversely associated with sleep duration and sleep efficiency, while a direct association was observed with the frequency of ED consumption and sleep patterns (e.g. sleep onset latency and wake after sleep onset) across sexes. Even small amounts of EDs were associated with poorer sleep outcomes. However, the authors acknowledge that the study relied on self-reported frequency of ED consumption, which can be susceptible to both recall bias and social desirability bias.

Cannabis for medical use versus opioids for chronic non-cancer pain

Jeddi et al. conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials to evaluate the comparative benefits and harms of opioids and cannabis for medical use for chronic non-cancer pain. Of 20,012 citations identified, 90 studies from 89 publications proved eligible for review. They found that moderate certainty evidence showed that opioids provide small improvements in pain, physical functioning and sleep quality versus placebo; while low-to-moderate certainty evidence supported similar effects for cannabis versus placebo. Overall, neither was more effective than placebo for role, social or emotional functioning (all high-to-moderate certainty evidence). Although, the majority of the outcomes were informed by indirect evidence because the authors only found one trial directly comparing both interventions for chronic pain.

The Brazilian COVID-19 vaccination campaign

Using data retrieved from the Brazilian Ministry of Health databases (published between 17 January 2021 and 6 September 2021), Li et al. conducted a cross-sectional study to characterise the inequality in two-dose vaccination by sociodemographic groups across Brazil. They found that vaccination inequality persists between states, age and demographic groups despite increasing uptake. For example, vaccination coverage was higher in the wealthier South and Southeast, and men, people of colour and low-income groups were more likely to be only partially vaccinated due to missing or delaying a second dose.

Below are the top ten most-read papers in BMJ Open during January 2024:

*Most read figures are based on pdf downloads and full text views. Abstract views are excluded.
Rank* Author(s) Title
1 Kaldenbach et al. Energy drink consumption and sleep parameters in college and university students: a national cross-sectional study
2 Dusin et al. Evidence-based practice models and frameworks in the healthcare setting: a scoping review
3 Bräuner et al. Is male gynaecomastia associated with an increased risk of death? A nationwide register-based cohort study
4 Pigott et al. What are the treatment remission, response and extent of improvement rates after up to four trials of antidepressant therapies in real-world depressed patients? A reanalysis of the STAR*D study’s patient-level data with fidelity to the original research protocol
5 Jeddi et al. Cannabis for medical use versus opioids for chronic non-cancer pain: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials
6 Jalilian et al. Length of stay and economic sustainability of virtual ward care in a medium-sized hospital of the UK: a retrospective longitudinal study
7 Li et al. The Brazilian COVID-19 vaccination campaign: a modelling analysis of sociodemographic factors on uptake
8 Huang et al. Effect of methylene blue on outcomes in patients with distributive shock: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
9 Massey et al. Characterisation of internal tremors and vibration symptoms
10 Singh et al. Trends in age of tobacco use initiation over time in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan: analysis of cross-sectional nationally representative surveys

 

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