Cancer cases attributable to modifiable lifestyle risk factors in Switzerland between 2015 and 2019.

Several modifiable lifestyle risk factors have been linked to higher cancer risk in the literature. Determining the proportion and number of cancer cases attributable to these risk factors is pivotal in informing effective cancer prevention and control plans that have the greatest effect on reducing cancer incidence. We aimed to estimate the proportion and number of incident cancer cases that were attributable to modifiable lifestyle risk factors (ie, tobacco smoking, high alcohol consumption, excess body weight, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet) in Switzerland between 2015 and 2019. The exposure prevalence of selected risk factors was estimated based on the representative national nutrition survey menuCH, the associated relative risks were obtained from systematic literature reviews and the numbers of incident cancer cases were provided by the National Institute for Cancer Epidemiology and Registration. The fractions and numbers of attributable cases were calculated overall, by sex and by the three major language regions of Switzerland. The investigated modifiable risk factors combined were linked to 25.2% of potentially preventable incident cancer cases in Switzerland between 2015 and 2019. The proportion and numbers were slightly larger in males (28.4%, 6945 cases per year) than in females (21.9%, 4493 cases per year), and variations were observed between language regions. Tobacco smoking, excess body weight and high alcohol consumption were the leading contributors to lifestyle-attributable cancer cases. The observed differences in the leading risk factors both within Switzerland and compared to other countries underline the need for regionally and nationally tailored cancer prevention and education strategies.

The Association between Liver Enzymes and Mortality Stratified by Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: An Analysis of NHANES III.

Associations between liver enzymes or De Ritis ratio (DRR; aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT)) and mortality stratified by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which have rarely been analyzed in previous studies, were investigated using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III (1988-1994). Participants without risk factors for liver diseases other than NAFLD were linked with National Death Index records through 2019 (n = 11,385) and divided into two cohorts with or without NAFLD, based on ultrasound examination. Liver enzyme concentrations were categorized into sex-specific deciles and subsequently grouped (AST and ALT: 1-3, 4-9, 10; gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT): 1-8, 9-10). DRR was categorized into tertiles. Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for confounders were fitted to estimate associations with mortality. Compared with low levels, high GGT and DRR in participants with and without NAFLD had significantly higher hazard ratios for all-cause mortality. Compared with intermediate concentrations, low ALT showed higher all-cause mortality in participants with and without NAFLD, whereas low AST had higher HR in participants without NAFLD and high AST in those with NAFLD. Mortality was associated with liver enzymes or DRR in participants both with and without NAFLD, indicating that the relationship is not mediated solely by hepatocellular damage.

Determinants and changes in adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research cancer-prevention recommendations over the past 25†years in Switzerland.

OBJECTIVES: The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) established 10 lifestyle recommendations for cancer prevention. The current study examines the proportion and changes over 25 years of adherence to these recommendations and their determinants in Switzerland. METHODS: On the basis of six Swiss Health Surveys (1992-2017, N = 110 478), an index reflecting adherence to the 2018 WCRF/AICR cancer-prevention recommendations was created. Multinomial logistic regression models were fitted to investigate changes over time and determinants of a cancer-protective lifestyle. RESULTS: Adherence to cancer-prevention recommendations was moderate and higher in the years 1997-2017 compared to 1992. Higher adherence was observed among women (odds ratio [OR]high vs. low adherence ranging from 3.31 to 3.74) and participants with a tertiary education level (ORhigh vs. low adherence ranging from 1.71 to 2.18), and lower adherence among participants of the oldest age group (ORhigh vs. low adherence ranging from 0.28 to 0.44) and participants of the Switzerland (lat.: Confoederatio helvetica)-French language regions (ORhigh vs. low adherence ranging from 0.53 to 0.73). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that cancer-prevention recommendations are not well followed by the general Swiss population, as the adherence to a cancer-protective lifestyle was generally moderate; however, adherence to cancer-prevention recommendations improved over the past 25 years. Sex, age group, education level, and language regions were significant determinants of adherence to a cancer-protective lifestyle. Further actions at the governmental and individual levels promoting the adoption of a cancer-protective lifestyle are needed.

Is Following a Cancer-Protective Lifestyle Linked to Reduced Cancer Mortality Risk?

Objectives: This study investigates the association between a cancer protective lifestyle (defined based on the revised World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) cancer prevention recommendations) and mortality in Switzerland. Methods: Based on the cross-sectional, population-based National Nutrition Survey, menuCH (n = 2057), adherence to the WCRF/AICR recommendations was assessed via a score. Quasipoisson regression models were fitted to examine the association of adherence to the WCRF/AICR recommendations with mortality at the Swiss district-level. Spatial autocorrelation was tested with global Moran's I. Integrated nested Laplace approximation models were fitted when significant spatial autocorrelation was detected. Results: Participants with higher cancer prevention scores had a significant decrease in all-cause (relative risk 0.95; 95% confidence interval 0.92, 0.99), all-cancer (0.93; 0.89, 0.97), upper aero-digestive tract cancer (0.87; 0.78, 0.97), and prostate cancer (0.81; 0.68, 0.94) mortality, compared to those with lower scores. Conclusion: The inverse association between adherence to the WCRF/AICR recommendations and mortality points out the potential of the lifestyle recommendations to decrease mortality and especially the burden of cancer in Switzerland.

Comparison of Cardiovascular Procedure Rates in Patients With Supplementary vs Basic Insurance in Switzerland.

Importance: Switzerland's mandatory health insurance provides universal coverage, but residents can opt for supplementary private insurance for nonessential, nonvital amenities. It is debated whether people with supplementary private insurance receive overtreatment due to financial incentives. Objective: To assess whether incidence rates of cardiovascular procedures in people with supplementary private insurance are higher than in those with basic insurance only. Design, Setting, and Participants: A population-based weighted cohort comparative effectiveness study, using administrative claims data from Switzerland assessing incidence rates (IRs), was conducted in adults undergoing a nonemergency cardiovascular inpatient procedure from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2020. Analysis included primary or secondary discharge procedure codes for 1 of the following: percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), left atrial appendage (LAA) occlusion, patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), mitral valve clip implantation, cardiac pacemaker implantation, and atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter ablation. Exposures: Supplementary private health insurance. Main Outcomes and Measures: Incidence rates of cardiovascular procedures between insurance groups calculated by negative binomial regression adjusted by inverse probability weights. Results: Of 590 919 admissions (median age, 68 years; IQR, 57-77 years), 55.5% male, 15.7% non-Swiss nationality), 70.1% had basic insurance only. Independent of insurance status, IR for all cardiovascular procedures steadily increased over the study years. In general, people with supplementary private insurance received cardiovascular procedures more frequently (IR ratio [IRR], 1.11; 99% CI, 1.10-1.11) than people with basic insurance only. There was also an increase for every procedure: PTCA (IRR, 1.12; 99% CI, 1.12-1.13), LAA closure (IRR, 1.15; 99% CI, 1.13-1.16), mitral valve clip implantation (IRR, 1.08; 99% CI, 1.07-1.09), TAVR (IRR, 1.04; 99% CI, 1.03-1.06), PFO closure (IRR, 1.01; 99% CI, 1.00-1.02), pacemaker implantation (IRR, 1.08; 99% CI, 1.07-1.09), and atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter ablation (IRR, 1.12; 99% CI, 1.11-1.12). Sensitivity analyses, including side procedures, stratification by length of stay, and propensity score matching, suggested robustness of the results. Conclusions and Relevance: This study found an association between supplementary private insurance and a higher likelihood of receiving nonemergency cardiovascular procedures. Whether this higher rate of procedures in people with supplementary private insurance is based on clinical reasoning or due to financial incentives warrants further exploration.

Alcohol consumption: context and association with mortality in Switzerland.

PURPOSE: Non-communicable diseases generate the largest number of avoidable deaths often caused by risk factors such as alcohol, smoking, and unhealthy diets. Our study investigates the association between amount and context of alcohol consumption and mortality from major non-communicable diseases in Switzerland. METHODS: Generalized linear regression models were fitted on data of the cross-sectional population-based National Nutrition Survey menuCH (2014-2015, n = 2057). Mortality rates based on the Swiss mortality data (2015-2018) were modeled by the alcohol consumption group considering the amount and context (i.e., during or outside mealtime) of alcohol consumption and potential confounders. The models were checked for spatial autocorrelation using Moran's I statistic. Integrated nested Laplace approximation (INLA) models were fitted when evidence for missing spatial information was found. RESULTS: Higher mortality rates were detected among drinkers compared to non-drinkers for all-cancer (rate ratio (RR) ranging from 1.01 to 1.07) and upper aero-digestive tract cancer (RR ranging from 1.15 to 1.20) mortality. Global Moran's I statistic revealed spatial autocorrelation at the Swiss district level for all-cancer mortality. An INLA model led to the identification of three districts with a significant decrease and four districts with a significant increase in all-cancer mortality. CONCLUSION: Significant associations of alcohol consumption with all-cancer and upper aero-digestive tract cancer mortality were detected. Our study results indicate the need for further studies to improve the next alcohol-prevention scheme and to lower the number of avoidable deaths in Switzerland.

Neutrophile-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) Identifies Patients with Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) at High Risk for Deterioration and Mortality-A Retrospective, Monocentric Cohort Study.

Among people infected with SARS-CoV-2, the determination of clinical features associated with poor outcome is essential to identify those at high risk of deterioration. Here, we aimed to investigate clinical phenotypes of patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 and to examine the predictive value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in a representative patient collective of the Swiss population. We conducted a retrospective monocentriccohort study with patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 between 27 February and 31 December 2020. Data were analyzed descriptively, using the binary logistic regression model, proportional odds logistic regression model, competing risk analysis, and summary measure analysis. A total of 454 patients were included in our study. Dyspnea, elevated respiratory rate, low oxygen saturation at baseline, age, and presence of multiple comorbidities were associated with a more severe course of the disease. A high NLR at baseline was significantly associated with disease severity, unfavorable outcome, and mortality. In non-survivors, NLR further increased during hospital stay, whereas in survivors, NLR decreased. In conclusion, our data emphasize the importance of accurate history taking and clinical examination upon admission and confirm the role of baseline NLR as a surrogate marker for increased disease severity, unfavorable outcome, and mortality in patients hospitalized due to infection with SARS-CoV-2.