Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis and Prognosis in Emergency Medical Settings: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction:

In emergency medical settings, rapid and accurate diagnosis is critical, and biomarkers play a central role in achieving timely interventions. For conditions like acute myocardial infarction and sepsis, biomarkers such as troponin and procalcitonin demonstrate high sensitivity, leading to significant reductions in mortality rates. This systematic review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview, integrating percentages and statistics to quantify the impact of biomarkers on early diagnosis and prognosis in emergency medical settings.

Methods:

The systematic review utilized a thorough literature search strategy, incorporating Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms and keywords related to biomarkers, early diagnosis, prognosis, and emergency medical settings, covering databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Scopus up to September 2023. Studies meeting predefined criteria were included, focusing on original research articles exploring biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis in emergency medical settings, with a comprehensive study selection process and independent screening by two reviewers. The eligibility criteria encompassed diverse study designs, excluding pediatric studies, reviews, commentaries, and conference abstracts, while the methodological quality of included studies was rigorously assessed using established tools such as the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data extraction, conducted independently by two reviewers, captured study characteristics, participant demographics, biomarkers investigated, and key findings, with discrepancies resolved through consensus or consultation with a third reviewer, ensuring the systematic review's accuracy and reliability.

Results:

Eight studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review, showcasing variations in sample size, population demographics, interventions, and outcomes. Sample sizes ranged widely from 322 to 2,564 participants, contributing to the overall heterogeneity of the included studies. Patient characteristics, including age and BMI, varied across studies, offering a comprehensive understanding of the generalizability of the findings. The interventions encompassed a spectrum from dietary and pharmacological approaches to more invasive surgical procedures like gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy. The primary focus of the studies was on the impact of interventions on blood pressure, with consistent reductions observed across various interventions and populations, highlighting potential cardiovascular benefits associated with both surgical and non-surgical approaches to obesity.

Conclusions:

The systematic review supports existing literature, emphasizing the positive impact of surgical and non-surgical interventions on blood pressure outcomes in obesity, underscoring clinical relevance and potential cardiovascular benefits, and calls for further research to explore comparative effectiveness and mechanisms for evidence-based clinical practices in obesity management.