Background: Several reviews have noted shortcomings regarding the quality and reporting of network meta-analyses (NMAs). We suspect that this issue may be partially attributable to limitations in current NMA software which do not readily produce all of the output needed to satisfy current guidelines. Results: To better facilitate the conduct and reporting of NMAs, we have created an R package called “BUGSnet” (Bayesian inference Using Gibbs Sampling to conduct a Network meta-analysis). This R package relies upon Just Another Gibbs Sampler (JAGS) to conduct Bayesian NMA using a generalized linear model. BUGSnet contains a suite of functions that can be used to describe the evidence network, estimate a model and assess the model fit and convergence, assess the presence of heterogeneity and inconsistency, and output the results in a variety of formats including league tables and surface under the cumulative rank curve (SUCRA) plots. We provide a demonstration of the functions contained within BUGSnet by recreating a Bayesian NMA found in the second technical support document composed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Decision Support Unit (NICE-DSU). We have also mapped these functions to checklist items within current reporting and best practice guidelines. Conclusion: BUGSnet is a new R package that can be used to conduct a Bayesian NMA and produce all of the necessary output needed to satisfy current scientific and regulatory standards. We hope that this software will help to improve the conduct and reporting of NMAs.

Cardiovascular disease has been identified as one of the late complications of cancer therapy. The purpose of this study was to quantify the long‐term risk of cardiovascular mortality among lymphoma survivors relative to that of the general population. A systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted. Articles were identified in November 2016 by searching EMBASE, MEDLINE, and CINAHL databases. Observational studies were included if they assessed cardiovascular mortality in patients with lymphoma who survived for at least 5 years from time of diagnosis or if they had a median follow‐up of 10 years. A pooled standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was estimated using a DerSimonian and Laird random‐effects model. The Q and I² statistics were used to assess heterogeneity. Funnel plots and Begg's and Egger's tests were used to evaluate publication bias. Of the 7450 articles screened, 27 studies were included in the systematic review representing 46 829 Hodgkin and 14 764 non‐Hodgkin lymphoma survivors. The pooled number of deaths attributable to cardiovascular disease among Hodgkin and non‐Hodgkin disease was estimated to be 7.31 (95% CI: 5.29‐10.10; I² = 95.4%) and 5.35 (95% CI: 2.55‐11.24; I² = 94.0%) times that of the general population, respectively. This association was greater among Hodgkin lymphoma survivors treated before the age of 21 (pooled SMR = 13.43; 95% CI: 9.22‐19.57; I² = 78.9%). There was a high degree of heterogeneity and a high risk of bias due to confounding in this body of literature. Lymphoma survivors have an increased risk of fatal cardiovascular events compared to the general population and should be targeted for cardiovascular screening and prevention campaigns.

The prognosis for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) is poor. Real-world evidence can highlight the unmet clinical need within this population. We conducted a population-based cohort study of ES-SCLC patients diagnosed in a large Canadian province (2010–2018) using electronic medical records and administrative claims data. In all, 1941 ES-SCLC patients were included, of which 476 (25%) were recurrent cases. Median age at diagnosis was 70 years (range: 39–94) and 50.2% were men. Of the 1941 ES-SCLC patients, 29.5% received chemotherapy and radiotherapy, 17.0% chemotherapy alone, 8.7% radiotherapy alone, and 44.8% received best supportive care. Chemotherapy was initiated by 46.5%, 8.5%, and 1.4% of first-, second-, and third-line patients, with lower uptake for recurrent cases. Median survival from first-, second-, and third-line chemotherapy was 7.82 months (95% CI: 7.50–8.22), 5.72 months (95% CI: 4.90–6.87), and 3.83 months (95% CI: 2.99–4.60). Among patients who received first-line therapy, the 2-year and 5-year survival was 7.3% (95% CI: 5.7–9.2) and 2.9% (95% CI: 1.8–4.5). In conclusion, initiation of first-line treatment in ES-SCLC was low with significant attrition in subsequent lines. These results underscore the need for effective front-line treatments and highlight the potential for novel therapies to improve patient outcomes.

Background Primary decompression in patients with malignant biliary obstruction can be achieved via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with transpapillary stenting, or, more recently, via transmural endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD). It is unclear whether either approach is superior in terms of clinical success or adverse events in the primary setting. Methods A comprehensive systematic electronic search was performed for studies comparing EUS-BD and ERCP as the primary approach with respect to clinical success and any other outcome(s). Pooled relative risks (RRs) and weighted mean differences were obtained as appropriate using DerSimonian and Laird random effects models. Sensitivity analyses were also performed. Results 5 out of 776 studies with a total of 396 patients were included. Overall clinical success was not significantly different between EUS-BD and ERCP (RR 0.98, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.93 to 1.03). There was no significant difference in overall adverse events (RR 0.84, 95 %CI 0.35 to 2.01), though results suggested that EUS-BD may be associated with a reduced risk of pancreatitis (RR 0.22, 95 %CI 0.05 to 1.02). There were no significant differences between EUS-BD and ERCP in terms of procedure time or the risk of stent occlusion. Conclusions EUS-BD had similar clinical success rates and occlusion rates to ERCP in the primary decompression of malignant biliary obstruction from meta-analysis including a modest number of patients. EUS-BD may be a practical alternative to the ERCP-guided approach in such patients, but further well-designed prospective studies with larger numbers of patients are required to more clearly delineate potential differences in adverse events and cost. ^* These authors contributed equally to this work.

Background and aims: Lymphoma patients are frequently treated with cancer therapies that may increase the risk of adverse health outcomes later in life, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. We sought to investigate the long‐term risk of CVD incidence in this survivor population relative to the general population to quantify this health burden.Methods: A systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted using EMBASE, MEDLINE, and CINAHL databases, from date of inception to November 2016, with additional searches completed through June 2018. Included reports were observational studies assessing CVD incidence in patients of either Hodgkin or non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (HL, NHL) who survived for at least 5 years from the time of diagnosis or if the study had a median follow‐up of 10 years. Meta‐analyses were performed using random effects models, and subgroup analyses were conducted to determine the incidence of specific CVD subtypes (coronary heart disease, pericardial disease, valvular heart disease, myocardial disease, cardiac dysrhythmia, and cerebrovascular disease). Heterogeneity was assessed using I² statistics and prediction intervals.Results: Of the 7734 studies identified, 22 studies were included in this review, representing 32 438 HL and NHL survivors. Relative to the general population, lymphoma survivors had statistically significant two to threefold increases in the risk for nearly all subtypes of CVD examined. Lymphoma survivors appeared to be particularly susceptible to pericardial diseases (HL: 10.67, 95% confidence interval (CI), 7.75‐14.69; NHL: 4.70, 95% CI, 2.08‐10.61) and valvular diseases (HL: 13.10, 95% CI, 7.41‐23.16; NHL: 3.76, 95% CI, 2.12‐6.66). Although the 95% CIs were suggestive of increased risks, the 95% prediction intervals often included the null, reflecting the high heterogeneity of the estimates.Conclusion: Given the suggested increased risks of cardiovascular outcomes in lymphoma survivor populations relative to the general population, tailored screening and prevention programmes may be warranted to offset the future burden of disease.