Optimizing lipid control in Taiwanese diabetic patients: A collaborative consensus by the Diabetes Association of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Taiwanese Association of Diabetes Educators.

We present an in-depth analysis of dyslipidemia management strategies for patients with diabetes mellitus in Taiwan. It critically examines the disparity between established guideline recommendations and actual clinical practices, particularly in the context of evolving policies affecting statin prescriptions. The focus is on synthesizing the most recent findings concerning lipid management in patients with diabetes mellitus, with a special emphasis on establishing consensus regarding low-density lipoprotein cholesterol treatment targets. The article culminates in providing comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations tailored to the unique needs of those living with diabetes mellitus in Taiwan. It underscores the criticality of personalized care approaches, which incorporate multifaceted factors, and the integration of novel therapeutic options to enhance cardiovascular health outcomes.

HbA1c and systolic blood pressure variation to predict all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) variation or blood pressure (BP) variation was known to be an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to investigate the combined effect of HbA1c and systolic blood pressure (SBP) variation on all-cause mortality and if there was a gender difference in patients with T2DM. METHODS: Patients with T2DM who had at least three HbA1c, SBP measurements within 12-24 months during 2001-2007 were included. Coefficient of variation (CV) was used to evaluate variation. The 75th percentile of HbA1c-CV and SBP-CV were set as a cutoff to define high and low variation. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: A total of 2744 patients were included, of whom 769 died during the 11.7 observation years. The associated risk of all-cause mortality was 1.22 [1.01- 1.48], P = 0.044, for low HbA1c-CV & high SBP-CV; 1.28 [1.04-1.57], P = 0.020, for high HbA1c-CV & low SBP-CV; and 1.68 [1.31-2.17], P < 0.001, for high HbA1c-CV & high SBP-CV. The associated risk remained unchanged in either males or females older than 50 years old, although there is only numerically higher for high HbA1c-CV & low SBP-CV in females older than 50 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Both HbA1c and SBP variation were significant predictors of all-cause mortality in patients with T2DM. The combined effect was higher than either alone and no gender difference in patients older than 50 years old.

The expert consensus on care and education for patients with diabetic kidney disease in Taiwan.

Increasing prevalence of type 2 DM (T2DM) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) has posed a great impact in Taiwan. However, guidelines focusing on multidisciplinary patient care and patient education remain scarce. By literature review and expert discussion, we propose a consensus on care and education for patients with DKD, including general principles, specifics for different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and special populations. (i.e. young ages, patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or heart failure, patients after acute kidney injury, and kidney transplant recipients). Generally, we suggest performing multidisciplinary patient care and education in alignment with the government-led Diabetes Shared Care Network to improve the patients' outcomes for all patients with DKD. Also, close monitoring of renal function with early intervention, control of comorbidities in early stages of CKD, and nutrition adjustment in advanced CKD should be emphasized.

Residual risk of cardiovascular complications in statin-using patients with type 2 diabetes: the Taiwan Diabetes Registry Study.

BACKGROUND: The residual risks of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in statin-treated patients with diabetes remain unclear. This study was conducted to identify factors associated with these residual risks in patients with no prior vascular event. METHODS: Data on 683 statin-using patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) from the Taiwan Diabetes Registry were used in this study. Patients aged < 25 or > 65 years at the time of diabetes diagnosis and those with diabetes durations ≥ 20 years were excluded. The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study risk engine (version 2.01; https://www.dtu.ox.ac.uk/riskengine/ ) was used to calculate 10-year residual nonfatal and fatal coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke risks. Associations of these risks with physical and biochemical variables, including medication use and comorbidity, were examined. RESULTS: The 10-year risks of nonfatal CHD in oral anti-diabetic drug (OAD), insulin and OAD plus insulin groups were 11.8%, 16.0%, and 16.8%, respectively. The 10-year risks of nonfatal stroke in OAD, insulin and OAD plus insulin groups were 3.0%, 3.4%, and 4.3%, respectively. In the multivariate model, chronic kidney disease (CKD), neuropathy, insulin use, calcium-channel blocker (CCB) use, higher body mass indices (BMI), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), fasting glucose, log-triglyceride (TG), and log-alanine transaminase (ALT) levels were associated with an increased CHD risk. The residual risk of stroke was associated with CKD, neuropathy, CCB use, and lower LDL cholesterol levels, higher BMI and diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION: This study indicated that insulin was probably a residual risk factor of CHD but not stroke, and that there was a possible presence of obesity paradox in patients with T2DM on statin therapy. In addition to lowering TG and normalizing fasting glucose levels, lower LDL cholesterol level is better for reduction of risk of CHD on statin therapy. On the other hand, lower LDL cholesterol level could potentially be related to higher risk of stroke among populations receiving statin therapy. These findings suggest potential therapeutic targets for residual cardiovascular risk reduction in patients with T2DM on statin therapy.

Maternal autoimmune disease and risk of offspring autism spectrum disorder - a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders which cause long term social and behavior impairment, and its prevalence is on the rise. Studies about the association between maternal autoimmune diseases and offspring ASD have controversial results. The aim of this study was to investigate whether maternal autoimmune diseases increase the risk of ASD in offspring from a population-based perspective. Methods: The data sources were Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) and Taiwan's Maternal and Child Health Database (MCHD), which were integrated and used to identify newborns whose mothers were diagnosed with autoimmune disease. Newborns were matched by maternal age, neonatal gender, and date of birth with controls whose mothers were without autoimmune disease using a ratio of 1:4 between 2004 and 2019. Data on diagnoses of autoimmune disease and autism spectrum disorders were retrieved from NHIRD. Patients who had at least 3 outpatient visits or at least 1 admission with a diagnosis of autoimmune disease and autism spectrum disorders were defined as incidence cases. The risks of ASD in offspring were compared between mothers with or without autoimmune disorders. Results: We identified 20,865 newborns whose mothers had been diagnosed with autoimmune disease before pregnancy and matched them at a ratio of 1:4 with a total of 83,460 newborn whose mothers were without autoimmune disease, by maternal age, neonatal gender, and date of birth. They were randomly selected as the control group. The cumulative incidence rates of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) were significantly higher among the offspring of mothers with autoimmune diseases. After adjusting for cofactors, the risk of ASD remained significantly higher in children whose mother had autoimmune diseases. Regarding to specific maternal autoimmune disease, Sjögren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis were both associated with elevated risks of ASD in offspring. Conclusion: Mother with autoimmune disease might be associated with increasing the risk of autism spectrum disorder in offspring.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of R-Form Verapamil Added to Ongoing Metformin Therapy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

CONTEXT: There is a medical need for effective insulin-independent antidiabetic drugs that can promote pancreatic ß-cell function and have a low risk of hypoglycemia in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. R-form verapamil (R-Vera), which is able to enhance the survival of ß-cells and has higher cardiovascular safety margin compared with racemic verapamil, was developed as a novel approach for T2DM treatment. OBJECTIVE: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 3 dosages of R-Vera added to ongoing metformin therapy in T2DM patients who had inadequate glycemic control on metformin alone. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned in an equal ratio to receive R-Vera 450, 300, or 150 mg per day, or matching placebo, in combination with metformin. The primary endpoint was change in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) after 12 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 184 eligible participants were randomized to receive either R-Vera or placebo plus metformin. At week 12, significant reductions in HbA1c were observed for R-Vera 300 mg/day (-0.36, P = 0.0373) and 450 mg/day (-0.45, P = 0.0098) compared with placebo. The reduction in HbA1c correlated with decreasing fasting plasma glucose levels and improved HOMA2-ß score. Treatment with R-Vera was well tolerated with no hypoglycemic episodes occurring during the trial. CONCLUSION: Addition of R-Vera twice daily to ongoing metformin therapy significantly improved glycemic control in T2DM patients. The favorable efficacy and safety profile of R-Vera 300 mg/day can be considered as the appropriate dose for clinical practice.

Derivation and validation of a clinical prediction model for risks of venous thromboembolism in diabetic and general populations.

ABSTRACT: Most studies on the prediction of venous thromboembolism (VTE) focused on hospitalized, surgery, and cancer patients or women receiving hormonal contraceptives or menopausal hormone therapy. No study considered diabetic and general populations to establish a VTE prediction model, especially in Asia. We developed a predictive model for VTE among type 2 diabetic patients and the general population.This study considered 2 nationwide retrospective cohort studies consisting of 52,427 diabetic participants and 508,664 participants from the general population aged 30 to 85 years during 2001 to 2004 in Taiwan. All participants were followed up until VTE event, death, or December 2011. The outcome event was VTE, including deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Candidate predictors consisted of socio-demographic factors, diabetes-related factors and biomarkers, comorbidities, and medicine use. Our study followed the procedures proposed by the Framingham Heart Study to develop prediction models by using a Cox regression model. The predictive accuracy and performance characteristics were assessed using the area under curve of receiver operating characteristics curve and calibration of a risk score were performed by Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test.The common factors for persons with type 2 diabetes and general population included age, hospitalization status 1 year before the baseline, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and anti-diabetes medications; the specific factors for persons with type 2 diabetes consisted of body mass index, glycosylated hemoglobin A1C, and creatinine; and the factors for general population included gender, peripheral vascular disease, cancer, hypertension medication, cardiovascular medication, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The area under curve of 3-, 5-, and 8-year VTE prediction models were 0.74, 0.71, and 0.69 in the diabetic population and 0.77, 0.76, and 0.75 in the general population, respectively.The new clinical prediction models can help identify a high risk of VTE and provide medical intervention in diabetic and general populations.

Association of Mean and Variability of HbA1c with Heart Failure in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Heart failure (HF) is a common presentation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Previous studies revealed that the HbA1c level is significantly associated with HF. However, little is known about the association between HbA1c variability and HF. We aimed to evaluate the association of mean and variability of HbA1c with HF in patients with T2DM. Using Diabetes Share Care Program data, patients with T2DM who had mean HbA1c (HbA1c-Mean), and HbA1c variability (tertiles of HbA1c-SD and HbA1c-adjSD) within 12-24 months during 2001-2008 were included. The cutoffs of HbA1c-Mean were set at <7%, 7-7.9%, and ≥8%. Hazard ratios (HRs) for HF during 2008-2018 were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models. A total of 3824 patients were included, of whom 315 patients developed HF during the observation period of 11.72 years. The associated risk of HF increased with tertiles of HbA1c variability and cutoffs of HbA1c-Mean. In mutually adjusted models, HbA1c-Mean showed a consistent dose-response association with HF, while the association of HbA1c variability with HF disappeared. Among patients with HbA1c-Mean <7%, the associated risk of HF in patients with HbA1c variability in tertile 3 was comparable to patients with HbA1c-Mean ≥8%. In conclusion, mean HbA1c was an independent predictor of HF and not explained by HbA1c variability. In addition to absolute HbA1c level, targeting on stability of HbA1c in patients with good glycemic control was also important for the development of HF in patients with T2DM.

Genetic risk score constructed from common genetic variants is associated with cardiovascular disease risk in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) experience a two-fold increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified T2DM susceptibility genetic variants. Interestingly, the genetic variants associated with cardiovascular disease risk in T2DM Han Chinese remain to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the genetic variants associated with cardiovascular disease risk in T2DM. METHODS: We performed bootstrapping, GWAS and an investigation of genetic variants associated with cardiovascular disease risk in a discovery T2DM cohort and in a replication cohort. The discovery cohort included 326 cardiovascular disease patients and 1209 noncardiovascular disease patients. The replication cohort included 68 cardiovascular disease patients and 317 noncardiovascular disease patients. The main outcome measures were genetic variants for genetic risk score (GRS) in cardiovascular disease risk in T2DM. RESULTS: In total, 35 genetic variants were associated with cardiovascular disease risk. A GRS was generated by combining risk alleles from these variants weighted by their estimated effect sizes (log odds ratio [OR]). T2DM patients with weighted GRS ≥ 12.63 had an approximately 15-fold increase in cardiovascular disease risk (odds ratio = 15.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 10.33-24.00) compared to patients with weighted GRS < 10.39. With the addition of weighted GRS, receiver-operating characteristic curves showed that area under the curve with conventional risk factors was improved from 0.719 (95% CI = 0.689-0.750) to 0.888 (95% CI = 0.866-0.910). CONCLUSIONS: These 35 genetic variants are associated with cardiovascular disease risk in T2DM, alone and cumulatively. T2DM patients with higher levels of weighted genetic risk score have higher cardiovascular disease risks.

Genome-Wide and Candidate Gene Association Analyses Identify a 14-SNP Combination for Hypertension in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

BACKGROUND: High blood pressure is common and comorbid with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Almost 50% of patients with T2D have high blood pressure. Patients with both conditions of hypertension (HTN) and T2D are at risk for cardiovascular diseases and mortality. The study aim was to investigate genetic risk factors for HTN in T2D patients. METHODS: This study included 999 T2D (cohort 1) patients for the first genome scan stage and 922 T2D (cohort 2) patients for the replication stage. Here, we investigated the genetic susceptibility and cumulative weighted genetic risk score for HTN in T2D patients of Han Chinese descent in Taiwan. RESULTS: Thirty novel genetic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were associated with HTN in T2D after adjusting for age and body mass index (P value <1 × 10-4). Eight blood pressure-related and/or HTN-related genetic SNPs were associated with HTN in T2D after adjusting for age and body mass index (P value <0.05). Linkage disequilibrium and cumulative weighted genetic risk score analyses showed that 14 of the 38 SNPs were associated with risk of HTN in a dose-dependent manner in T2D (Cochran-Armitage trend test: P value <0.0001). The 14-SNP cumulative weighted genetic risk score was also associated with increased regression tendency of systolic blood pressure in T2D (SBP = 122.05 + 0.8 × weighted genetic risk score; P value = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: A cumulative weighted genetic risk score composed of 14 SNPs is important for HTN, increased tendency of systolic blood pressure, and may contribute to HTN risk in T2D in Taiwan.

The Effects of Bariatric Surgery on Renal, Neurological, and Ophthalmic Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: the Taiwan Diabesity Study.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery has been shown to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, less is known whether it can also reduce diabetic renal, neurological, and ophthalmic complications. METHODS: This prospective multicenter cohort study compared renal, ophthalmic, and neurological complications between 49 patients with obesity/overweight receiving bariatric surgery and 338 patients receiving standard medical treatment after follow-up for 2 years. Patients received neurological examinations including toe tuning fork vibration test, ankle tendon reflex test, 10-g monofilament test, and ophthalmic examinations including visual acuity measurement and fundus examinations. Multiple regressions, propensity score weighting, and matching were employed to adjust for baseline differences. RESULTS: After 2 years of follow-up, patients with type 2 diabetes receiving bariatric surgery had greater reduction in BMI, HbA1c, and urine albumin-creatinine ratio, greater improvement in estimated glomerular filtration rate, and greater increase in tuning fork test score of right and left toes compared with the medical group. However, there is no improvement in 10 g-monofilament test, visual acuity, diabetic non-proliferative retinopathy, and proliferative retinopathy. Similar results were obtained using multiple regression adjustment, propensity-score weighting, or comparing age-, sex-, and BMI-matched subjects. CONCLUSIONS: After 2-year follow-up, patients with obesity/overweight and type 2 diabetes receiving bariatric surgery have increased glomerular filtration rate, reduced albuminuria, and improved tuning folk vibration sensation.

Use and effectiveness of dapagliflozin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a multicenter retrospective study in Taiwan.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: To investigate the clinical outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who initiated dapagliflozin in real-world practice in Taiwan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this multicenter retrospective study, adult patients with T2DM who initiated dapagliflozin after May 1st 2016 either as add-on or switch therapy were included. Changes in clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated at 3 and 6 months. Baseline factors associated with dapagliflozin response in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 1,960 patients were eligible. At 6 months, significant changes were observed: HbA1c by -0.73% (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.80, -0.67), body weight was -1.61 kg (95% CI -1.79, -1.42), and systolic/diastolic blood pressure by -3.6/-1.4 mmHg. Add-on dapagliflozin showed significantly greater HbA1c reduction (-0.82%) than switched therapy (-0.66%) (p = 0.002). The proportion of patients achieving HbA1c <7% target increased from 6% at baseline to 19% at Month 6. Almost 80% of patients experienced at least 1% reduction in HbA1c, and 65% of patients showed both weight loss and reduction in HbA1c. Around 37% of patients had at least 3% weight loss. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated patients with higher baseline HbA1c and those who initiated dapagliflozin as add-on therapy were associated with a greater reduction in HbA1c. CONCLUSIONS: In this real-world study with the highest patient number of Chinese population to date, the use of dapagliflozin was associated with significant improvement in glycemic control, body weight, and blood pressure in patients with T2DM. Initiating dapagliflozin as add-on therapy showed better glycemic control than as switch therapy.

Validation of the Chinese version of the insulin treatment appraisal scale.

AIMS: To test the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Insulin Treatment Appraisal Scale (ITAS) questionnaire in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: A total of 200 patients with T2DM were consecutively recruited from the outpatient clinic in Taiwan. The World Health Organization guideline was followed to translate the questionnaire. The internal consistency was assessed by Cronbach's α coefficient and item-total correlations. The construct validity was evaluated by using confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity, and discriminate validity. RESULTS: The Cronbach's α coefficient for estimates of internal consistency of the total scale was 0.72, and ranged from 0.76 to 0.77 for the subscales. A value of ≥0.40 was considered being substantial. The item-total correlation values were 14 out of 20 items having substantial correlations (4 out of 4 items on the positive appraisal scale and 10 out of 16 items on the negative appraisal scale). The confirmatory factor analysis confirmed both positive and negative factors with total explained variance 33.9% (12.2% for positive subscale and 21.7% for negative subscale). The success rate, calculated from the item-total correlation values, was 70% for the convergent validity (100% for positive subscale and 63% for negative subscale) and 90% for discriminate validity (100% for positive subscale and 88% for negative subscale), respectively. Both the ceiling effect and floor effect were 0%. CONCLUSIONS: The Chinese version of the ITAS questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the perceptions of insulin injection in patients with T2DM.

Effects of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor treatment doses on tuberculosis in patients with diabetes: a long-term nationwide population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the association of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4is) treatment doses and tuberculosis (TB) in patients with diabetes. METHODS: We allocated participants into DPP4i users and non-users from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database. A chi-square test and Wilcoxon's rank-sum test were used to analyze the baseline discrete variables and continuous variable, respectively. The incidence rate was calculated in 1,000 personyears. The hazard ratios (HRs) were adjusted using a multivariate Cox regression model. The effect of DDP4i dosage on TB was analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess the cumulative incidence curves with a log-rank test. RESULTS: We identified 6,399 DPP4i users and 6,399 non-users. The incidence rate of TB in DPP4i users and non-users was 22.2 and 16.2 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. The HR of TB for DPP4i users relative to non-users was 1.04 (P=0.89). Most of the analysis of factors such as the incidence rate, gender and diabetic comorbidities in our study were non-significant. The risk of developing TB in patients with over 20 average defined daily doses (DDDs) per year was increased by 2.19 times (P=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: In our long-term nationwide population-based cohort study, higher doses of DPP4i (20 average DDDs) could increase TB infection risk in patients with diabetes. To pay more attention to this kind of diabetic patients with DPP4i treatment will be more important for the public health issue of TB prevention.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis might increase polycystic ovary syndrome and associated comorbidities risks in Asia.

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether increased the comorbidities such as coronary artery disease (CAD) and risks between Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in Taiwanese women. METHODS: Patients newly diagnosed as having HT during 2000-2012 were assigned to the case group. Cases and controls were matched for age and comorbidities at a 1:2 ratio using propensity score matching. Incidence was calculated in the unit of 1000 person-year. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression, multivariate Cox, logistic regression, and Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed. RESULTS: Among 3,996 participants, 2,664 constituted the control group and 1,332 constituted the case group. The PCOS risk in patients with HT increased by 2.37 times [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.22-4.62] compared with the controls. Hypertension (HTN) [adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.31, 95% CI: 1.03-1.66] and hyperlipidemia (adjusted OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.2-1.9) were more common in HT patients without PCOS than in other patients. The adjusted OR for CAD in patients with HT was 1.51 (95% CI: 1.11-2.06), whereas that in patients with HT and PCOS was 5.92 (95% CI: 1.32-26.53). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the PCOS risk in patients with HT increased by 2.37 times, which is lower than the increase in HT risk in Asian patients with PCOS (4.56 times). The proportion of CAD increased significantly by 5.92 times in patients with HT and PCOS compared with patients with HT only.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor treatment could decrease Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia in patients with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP4i) for Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) pneumonia in patients with diabetes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes from 2009 to 2012 were recruited for this population-based and observational study. Diabetes complications severity index (DCSI) score and defined daily dose (DDD) were used for analysis. The multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the risk of KP pneumonia by DPP4i use, with adjustments for propensity score. The Kaplan-Meier method with the log-rank test was used to estimate the risk of KP pneumonia for DPP4i users. RESULTS: 34774 patients were included. The incidence rate of KP pneumonia in DDP4i users was 1.51 per 1000 person-years and that for the comparison was 2.25 per 1000 person-years. DDP4i users also had a significantly lower cumulative incidence of KP pneumonia (log-rank test p-value = 0.03). DDP4i users had a significantly lower risk of developing KP pneumonia compared with nonusers (adjusted HR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.48-0.95). CONCLUSIONS: For public health issue with type2 diabetes and infection, DPP4i use decreased KP pneumonia. Male gender, patients with co-morbidities, patients with higher DSCI score and higher DDD of DPP4i were observed to decrease KP pneumonia infection in our analysis. The possible role of DPP4i causing immunological disturbances should be considered.

Association Between Thionamides and Acute Pancreatitis: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Thionamides have been extensively used to treat patients with hyperthyroidism worldwide. Recent pharmacovigilance studies have revealed a safety signal between carbimazole or methimazole and pancreatitis. The associated risk remains unclear. Methods: We identified patients with newly diagnosed acute pancreatitis from 2000 to 2013 as the case group from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000, which contains data from 1996 to 2013. Each patient with acute pancreatitis was matched for age, sex, comorbidities, and cancer with four controls through propensity score matching. A total of 52 patients without matched controls were excluded. Sensitivity analyses including the 52 excluded patients were performed using a matching ratio of 1:2. Odds ratios (ORs) along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association were estimated using multivariate logistic regression. Results: We included 9204 and 36,816 patients in the case and control groups, respectively. The proportions of patients who had used thionamides, carbimazole, methimazole, and propylthiouracil were similar in these two groups. In addition, the adjusted OR (CI) for the association of acute pancreatitis with thionamides was 1.03 (0.86-1.24), with carbimazole it was 0.90 (0.63-1.30), with methimazole it was 1.05 (0.84-1.31), and with propylthiouracil it was 1.00 (0.74-1.34). The sensitivity analysis results were unchanged. Conclusions: We were unable to demonstrate an association between acute pancreatitis and usage of thionamides.

Increased the risk of heart failure and comorbidities in patients with gout treatment: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the association between gout treatment and heart failure (HF). METHODS: Patients with gout between 2000 and 2010 constituted the gout cohort. The main outcome was a new diagnosis of HF. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to measure the effect of gout on the risk of developing HF. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the cumulative HF incidence curve for the gout and nongout cohorts. RESULTS: The cohort study included 50,166 patients with gout. The incidence of HF was 1.96 times higher in the gout cohort than the non-gout cohort (7.11 vs. 3.63 per 10,000 person-years). The adjusted HR of developing HF was a 1.06-fold increase (95% CI: 1.06-1.07) with age and a 1.08-fold increase for women compared with men (95% CI: 1.02-1.14). HF incidence was higher in patients with receiving any two or more types of anti-gout drug treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that gout could increase the risk of HF. Gout treatment in Taiwan cannot improve HF and actually increase the risk for HF after combination therapy for gout. The public health burden of gout should be resolved in the future.

Graves' disease could increase polycystic ovary syndrome and comorbidities in Taiwan.

Background: To investigate the association between Graves' disease (GD) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and its comorbidities.Methods: Logistic regression was performed to determine the association between the two conditions. Cumulative incidence curves were obtained using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Hazard ratios were determined using the Cox proportional hazards regression model.Results: We included 5399 patients with GD as the study group and 10,798 patients without GD as the control group. The cumulative incidence curve of PCOS in patients with GD was significantly higher than that in patients without GD (p = .02). The adjusted hazard ratio for PCOS in patients with GD compared with patients without GD was 1.47 (95%CI = 1.09-1.98). The adjusted odds ratio of hyperlipidemia in patients with GD and PCOS was 2.18 (95%CI = 1.14-4.17) higher than that in patients with GD only.Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that women with GD could be at risk of developing PCOS; additionally, a higher incidence of comorbidities, including hyperlipidemia, was noted in women with GD and PCOS.

Gout can increase the risk of periodontal disease in Taiwan.

Objectives: To evaluate the risk of periodontal disease (PD) in gout patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000. The gout cohort included 31,759 patients newly diagnosed with gout from 2000 to 2012, and the comparison (nongout) cohort included 63,517 patients. Univariate and multivariable adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs), with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were estimated using the Cox proportional hazard model for determining the occurrence of PD in both cohorts. We also measured the cumulative incidence of PD in these two cohorts using the Kaplan-Meier method and assessed the curve difference using the log-rank test. Results: The mean follow-up time was more than 6 years for both cohorts. The overall incidence rate of PD was significantly higher in the gout cohort than in the comparison cohort (5.04 vs 4.16 per 10,000 person-years; aHR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.10-1.16). Only patients using colchicine had a significantly lower risk of PD (aHR = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.79-0.91). Conclusion: In our study, patients with gout showed an increased risk of PD, and treatment with colchicine could decrease the risk. Abbreviations: PD: periodontal disease; LHID: Longitudinal Health Insurance Research Database; NHIRD, National Health Insurance Research Database; ICD-9-CM: International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification; CI: confidence interval; HR: hazard ratio.