TY - JOUR
T1 - Letter by Fung et al regarding article, "Frailty and clinical outcomes in heart failure : a systematic review and meta-analysis"
AU - Fung, Erik
AU - Yang, Xiaobo
AU - Newton, Phillip J.
AU - Ferguson, Caleb
AU - Gastelurrutia, Paloma
AU - Lupon, Josep
AU - Bayes-Genis, Antoni
AU - Jha, Sunita
AU - Macdonald, Peter S.
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - We read with interest an article titled "Frailty and Clinical Outcomes in Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis" by Zhang et al published in the Journal. The article raises concerns in terms of its quality, methodology, and the degree to which it has inaccurately summarized the literature on frailty and heart failure (HF), which may cause readers to misinterpret the results. HF is a complex syndrome with often insidious disease onset, development and progression, interspersed decompensation episodes in the advanced stages, periods of stabilization following appropriate treatment, an unpredictable trajectory, marked differences in outcomes between inpatients and outpatients, and variable responses to interventional therapies. Discernible phases and acuity of the disorder with or without intervention(s) should not be combined and grouped under the umbrella term "heart failure." Moreover, we wish to highlight concerns we have with the approach taken.
AB - We read with interest an article titled "Frailty and Clinical Outcomes in Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis" by Zhang et al published in the Journal. The article raises concerns in terms of its quality, methodology, and the degree to which it has inaccurately summarized the literature on frailty and heart failure (HF), which may cause readers to misinterpret the results. HF is a complex syndrome with often insidious disease onset, development and progression, interspersed decompensation episodes in the advanced stages, periods of stabilization following appropriate treatment, an unpredictable trajectory, marked differences in outcomes between inpatients and outpatients, and variable responses to interventional therapies. Discernible phases and acuity of the disorder with or without intervention(s) should not be combined and grouped under the umbrella term "heart failure." Moreover, we wish to highlight concerns we have with the approach taken.
KW - criticism, interpretation, etc.
KW - heart failure
KW - meta-analysis
KW - systematic reviews (medical research)
UR - http://handle.westernsydney.edu.au:8081/1959.7/uws:49076
U2 - 10.1016/j.jamda.2018.09.035
DO - 10.1016/j.jamda.2018.09.035
M3 - Article
SN - 1525-8610
VL - 19
SP - 1143
EP - 1146
JO - Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
JF - Journal of the American Medical Directors Association
IS - 12
ER -