Top studies of 2021 relevant to primary care: From the PEER team

Samantha S Moe; Betsy Thomas; Michael R Kolber; Christina S Korownyk; Adrienne J Lindblad; Nicolas Dugré; Ricky D Turgeon; Emélie Braschi; G Michael Allan

doi:10.46747/cfp.6805329

Top studies of 2021 relevant to primary care: From the PEER team

Can Fam Physician. 2022 May;68(5):329-333. doi: 10.46747/cfp.6805329.

Authors

Samantha S Moe¹, Betsy Thomas², Michael R Kolber³, Christina S Korownyk³, Adrienne J Lindblad⁴, Nicolas Dugré⁵, Ricky D Turgeon⁶, Emélie Braschi⁷, G Michael Allan⁸

Affiliations

¹ Clinical Evidence Expert for the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC). smoe@cfpc.ca.
² Clinical Evidence Expert for the CFPC and Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
³ Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta.
⁴ Clinical Evidence Expert Lead for the CFPC and Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta.
⁵ Pharmacist at the CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal and Clinical Associate Professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Montreal in Quebec.
⁶ Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia and Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at St Paul's Hospital in Vancouver.
⁷ Hospitalist at the Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital in Ottawa, Ont, and a physician advisor with the CFPC.
⁸ Director of Programs and Practice Support at the CFPC.

Abstract

Objective: To summarize 10 high-quality studies or guidelines from 2021 that have strong relevance to physicians in comprehensive family practice.

Selecting the evidence: Routine literature surveillance of abstracts in high-impact journals and EvidenceAlerts was completed by the PEER (Patients, Experience, Evidence, Research) team, a group of health care professionals with a research interest in evidence-based medicine and primary care. Abstracts were screened, selected, and ranked by the PEER team.

Main message: The articles from 2021 that are most likely to impact primary care practice discuss the following topics: empagliflozin for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; semaglutide for weight loss; stopping antidepressants in primary care; inhaled budesonide for COVID-19; acetylsalicylic acid for preeclampsia prevention; quarter-dose blood pressure medications for hypertension; aggressive blood pressure control for elderly patients; kangaroo care for low-birth-weight infants; footwear for knee osteoarthritis; and delayed antibiotics for pediatric respiratory infections. Two "honourable mention" studies are also briefly reviewed.

Conclusion: Research from 2021 produced several high-quality studies in cardiovascular care but also addressed a variety of conditions relevant to primary care including weight loss, depression, and COVID-19.

MeSH terms

Aged
COVID-19*
Child
Humans
Hypertension*
Primary Health Care
Research
Weight Loss