Date of Award

2016

Degree Type

Selective Evidence-Based Medicine Review

Degree Name

Master of Science in Health Sciences - Physician Assistant

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

Department Chair

John Cavenagh, MBA, PhD, PA-C

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this selective Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) review is to determine whether or not Desvenlafaxine is effective in reducing daily hot flashes in postmenopausal females.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of three primary randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published after the year 2000 in the English language.

DATA SOURCES: Three double-blind, randomized controlled trials were found using PubMed and EBSCOhost Web. All trials selected compared treatment with Desvenlafaxine to a visually matched placebo.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: Patients completed daily diary cards on which they recorded the number and severity of daily hot flashes from the screening period through the 12 weeks of therapy. Patients completed self-administered questionnaires at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment: Profile of Mood States, Work Limitations, Menopause Symptoms Treatment Satisfaction, Sexual Functioning, EuroQuality of Life Visual Analog Scale, Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS).

RESULTS: All three RCTs demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the number of moderate to severe daily hot flashes in postmenopausal women receiving treatment with Desvenlafaxine compared to those receiving the placebo.

CONCLUSION: The results of the RCTs evaluated suggest Desvenlafaxine is effective in reducing the daily number of moderate-severe hot flashes in postmenopausal women.

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