Screening for Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis for the U.S

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Screening for Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis for the U.S Evidence Synthesis Number 111 Screening for Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Prepared for: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850 www.ahrq.gov Contract No. HHSA-290-2012-00015-I, Task Order No. 2 Prepared by: RTI International–University of North Carolina Evidence-based Practice Center Research Triangle Park, NC Investigators: Daniel E. Jonas, MD, MPH Cynthia Feltner, MD, MPH Halle R. Amick, MSPH Stacey Sheridan, MD, MPH Zhi-Jie Zheng, MD, MPH, PhD Daniel J. Watford, MD, MPH Jamie L. Carter, MD, MPH Cassandra J. Rowe, MPH Russell Harris, MD, MPH AHRQ Publication No. 13-05178-EF-1 July 2014 This report is based on research conducted by the RTI International–University of North Carolina Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) under contract to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Rockville, MD (Contract No. HHSA-290-2012-00015-I, Task Order No. 2). The findings and conclusions in this document are those of the authors, who are responsible for its contents; the findings and conclusions do not necessarily represent the views of AHRQ. Therefore, no statement in this report should be construed as an official position of AHRQ or of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The information in this report is intended to help health care decisionmakers—patients and clinicians, health system leaders, and policymakers, among others—make well-informed decisions and thereby improve the quality of health care services. This report is not intended to be a substitute for the application of clinical judgment. This report may be used, in whole or in part, as the basis for development of clinical practice guidelines and other quality enhancement tools, or as a basis for reimbursement and coverage policies. AHRQ or U.S. Department of Health and Human Services endorsement of such derivative products may not be stated or implied. This document is in the public domain and may be used and reprinted without permission except those copyrighted materials that are clearly noted in the document. Further reproduction of those copyrighted materials is prohibited without the specific permission of copyright holders. None of the investigators has any affiliations or financial involvement that conflicts with the material presented in this report. Acknowledgments The authors gratefully acknowledge the following individuals for their contributions to this project and deeply appreciate their considerable support, commitment, and contributions: Tracy Wolff, MD, MPH, AHRQ Medical Officer; Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, PhD, MD, Jessica Herzstein, MD, MPH, and Michael LeFevre, MD, MSPH, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force leads; Evelyn Whitlock, MD, MPH, Kaiser Permanente Research Affiliates EPC director; Tracy Beil, MS, Kaiser Permanente Research Affiliates EPC; RTI International–University of North Carolina EPC staff: Carol Woodell, BSPH, project manager; Meera Viswanathan, PhD, EPC director; Christiane Voisin, MSLS, librarian; Laura Small, BA, editor; and Loraine Monroe, publications specialist. Suggested Citation Jonas DE, Feltner C, Amick HR, Sheridan S, Zheng ZJ, Watford DJ, et al. Screening for Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Evidence Synthesis No. 111. AHRQ Publication No. 13-05178- EF-1. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2014. Screening for Carotid Artery Stenosis ii RTI International–University of North Carolina EPC Structured Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the evidence on screening and treating asymptomatic adults for carotid artery stenosis (CAS) for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Data Sources: PubMed/MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and trial registries through September 2013; reference lists of published literature; MEDLINE searches for trials were updated through March 2014. Study Selection: Two investigators independently selected studies reporting on asymptomatic adults with CAS, including randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) of screening for CAS; RCTs of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAAS) versus medical treatment; RCTs of medications versus placebo added to current standard medical therapy; multi- institution trials or cohort studies reporting harms; relevant systematic reviews; and studies that attempted to externally validate risk stratification tools. Data Extraction: One reviewer extracted data and a second checked accuracy. Two independent reviewers assigned quality ratings using predefined criteria. Data Synthesis: No RCTs compared screening with no screening, CAAS with medical treatment, or assessed intensification of medical therapy. Given the specificity of ultrasound (range 88% to 94% for CAS ≥50% to ≥70%), its use in low-prevalence populations would yield many false-positive results. Only one fair-quality study attempted external validation of a risk stratification tool to distinguish persons who are more likely to have CAS; the tool’s discrimination was inadequate (c-statistic for ≥50% CAS, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.64). Our meta- analyses of RCTs comparing CEA with medical therapy found an absolute risk reduction of 5.5 percent (95% CI, 3.9 to 7.0) for any nonperioperative stroke over approximately 5 years. Meta- analyses for perioperative (30-day) stroke or death after CEA found rates of 2.4 percent (95% CI, 1.7 to 3.1) using all trials of CEA, regardless of the comparator; and 3.3 percent (95% CI, 2.7 to 3.9) using cohort studies (7 studies; n=17,474). Rates of perioperative stoke or death after CAAS were similar or slightly higher. Other important potential harms of CEA or CAAS include nonfatal perioperative myocardial infarction (approximately 0.8% rate after CEA), cranial nerve injury, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, local hematoma requiring surgery, and psychological harms (e.g., anxiety or labeling). Externally validated, reliable risk stratification tools that can distinguish persons with asymptomatic CAS who have increased or decreased risk for ipsilateral stroke or harms after CEA or CAAS are not available. Limitations: Medical therapy in trials varied and often lacked treatments that are now standard. For this reason, and because advances in medical therapy have reduced the rate of stroke in persons with asymptomatic CAS in recent decades, the true reduction of stroke or composite reduction of cardiovascular events is unknown. Trials utilized highly selected surgeons. No trials focused on a population identified by screening in primary care. Harms may be underreported. Conclusion: Current evidence does not sufficiently establish incremental overall benefit of CEA, CAAS, or intensification of medical therapy beyond current standard medical therapy. Potential Screening for Carotid Artery Stenosis iii RTI International–University of North Carolina EPC for overall benefit is limited by low prevalence in the general asymptomatic population and by harms from screening and treatment. Evidence is insufficient to allow reliable risk stratification. Screening for Carotid Artery Stenosis iv RTI International–University of North Carolina EPC Table of Contents Chapter 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 Scope and Purpose ...................................................................................................................... 1 Condition Definition ................................................................................................................... 1 Prevalence and Burden ............................................................................................................... 1 Etiology and Natural History ...................................................................................................... 2 Rationale for Screening and Screening Strategies ...................................................................... 3 Treatment Approaches ................................................................................................................ 3 Current Clinical Practice in the United States ............................................................................ 4 Previous USPSTF Recommendation .......................................................................................... 5 Chapter 2. Methods ...................................................................................................................... 6 Key Questions and Analytic Framework .................................................................................... 6 Key Questions ......................................................................................................................... 6 Contextual Questions .............................................................................................................. 7 Data Sources and Searches ......................................................................................................... 7 Study Selection ........................................................................................................................... 7 Quality Assessment and Data Abstraction .................................................................................. 8 Data Synthesis and Analysis ......................................................................................................
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