The Medical journal of Australia
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Since coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and spread around the world, over 1100 clinical studies have been registered globally on clinical trials registries, including over 500 randomised controlled trials. Such rapid development and launch of clinical trials is impressive but presents challenges, including the potential for duplication and competition. ⋯ We have grouped these trials into four categories: prophylaxis; treatment of outpatients with mild COVID-19; treatment of hospitalised patients with moderate COVID-19; and treatment of hospitalised patients with moderate or severe disease. The most common therapeutic agent being trialled currently is hydroxychloroquine (24 trials with potential sample size of over 25 000 participants), followed by lopinavir-ritonavir (seven trials) and remdesevir (five trials) There are many candidate drugs in pre-clinical and early phase development, and these form a pipeline for future large clinical trials if current candidate therapies prove ineffective or unsafe.
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Multicenter Study
Home ward bound: features of hospital in the home use by major Australian hospitals, 2011-2017.
To describe uptake of hospital in the home (HIH) by major Australian hospitals and the characteristics of patients and their HIH admissions; to assess change in HIH admission numbers relative to total hospital activity. ⋯ HIH care is most frequently provided to patients requiring hospital treatment related to infections, venous thromboembolism, or post-surgical care. Its use could be expanded in clinical areas where it is currently used, and extended to others where it is not. HIH activity is growing. It should be systematically monitored and reported to allow better overview of its use and outcomes.
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Multicenter Study
Long term outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians after hospital intensive care.
To assess long term outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) Australians admitted non-electively to intensive care units (ICUs). ⋯ Adjusted long term mortality and median number of potential life years lost are higher for Indigenous than non-Indigenous patients after intensive care in hospital. These differences reflect underlying population survival patterns rather than the effects of ICU admission.
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To prepare more accurate population-based Australian birthweight centile charts by using the most recent population data available and by excluding pre-term deliveries by obstetric intervention of small for gestational age babies. ⋯ Current birthweight centile charts probably underestimate the incidence of intra-uterine growth restriction because obstetric interventions for delivering pre-term small for gestational age babies depress the curves at earlier gestational ages. Our curves circumvent this problem by excluding intervention-initiated births; they also incorporate more recent population data. These updated centile curves could facilitate more accurate diagnosis of small for gestational age babies in Australia.