Reviews

Patient focused Internet-based approaches to cardiovascular rehabilitation - a systematic review
Despite the relatively small number of trials and the limited outcome measures, the results appeared to be positive with regard to patient outcomes and patient feedback. However, none had progressed to a clinical service. Munro J, Angus N, Leslie SJ. J Telemed Telecare. 2013;19(6):347-53. PMID: 24163299

Psychological interventions for depression in adolescent and adult congenital heart disease
Depression is common in people with congenital heart disease and can exacerbate the physical consequences of the illness. There are effective pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for depression, but we have not been able to identify any trials showing the effectiveness of non-pharmacological treatments. A well-designed randomised controlled trial is needed to assess the effects of psychological interventions for depression in congenital heart disease. Lane DA, Millane TA, Lip GY. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Oct 28;10:CD004372. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24163137

Ciclesonide: long-term treatment of persistent asthma--no clear progress.
In practice, ciclesonide is neither more effective than the inhaled corticosteroids with which it has been compared, nor does it have fewer adverse effects. It is better to continue to use beclometasone, a drug with which there is more experience. [No authors listed] Prescrire Int. 2013 Sep;22(141):207. PMID: 24171213

Blood pressure targets for hypertension in people with diabetes mellitus
At the present time, evidence from randomized trials does not support blood pressure targets lower than the standard targets in people with elevated blood pressure and diabetes. More randomized controlled trials are needed, with future trials reporting total mortality, total serious adverse events as well as cardiovascular and renal events. Arguedas JA, Leiva V, Wright JM. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Oct 30;10:CD008277. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24170669

Statins' effect on plasma levels of Coenzyme Q10 and improvement in myopathy with supplementation
CoQ10 supplementation might benefit those patients suffering from statin-induced myopathy as evidenced by the results of these studies. Supplementation of CoQ10 at a dose of between 30 and 200 mg daily has shown to have beneficial effects on statin myopathy with no noted side effects. Further research is necessary. Littlefield N, Beckstrand RL, Luthy KE. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2013 Jul 12. doi: 10.1002/2327-6924.12046. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24170646

Oral anti-pseudomonal antibiotics for cystic fibrosis
We found no conclusive evidence that an oral anti-pseudomonal antibiotic regimen is more or less effective than an alternative treatment for either pulmonary exacerbations or long-term treatment of chronic infection with P. aeruginosa. Until results of adequately-powered future trials are available, treatment needs to be selected on a pragmatic basis, based upon any available non-RCT evidence, the clinical circumstances of the individual, the known effectiveness of drugs against local strains and upon individual preference. Remmington T, Jahnke N, Harkensee C. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Oct 29;10:CD005405. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 24170644

Systematic review of combination drug therapy for non-neurogenic male lower urinary tract symptoms
An alpha1-blocker/5-ARI combination is beneficial for patients whose prostate volume is between 30 ml and 40 ml when medical treatment is intended for > 1 yr. Based on short-term follow-up studies, add-on of antimuscarinics to alpha1-blockers is an option when postvoid residual is less than 200 ml. Evidence Updates