Association of salivary gland cancer with human papillomavirus infections.

PURPOSE: The link between human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and salivary gland cancer is still a subject of ongoing debate. This study aimed to explore the association between HPV infections and salivary gland cancer in a Taiwanese cohort. We hypothesize that HPV infection is associated with an increased risk of developing salivary gland cancer. METHODS: This case-control study included 416 individuals aged ≥ 20 years who had received their first diagnosis of salivary gland cancer as cases, and 2080 propensity-score-matched controls. We performed multivariate logistic regressions to evaluate the association of salivary gland cancer with HPV infections while considering sociodemographic characteristics and medical comorbidities. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed a significant difference in the prevalence of HPV infections between patients diagnosed with salivary gland cancer and the controls, with rates of 10.8% and 6.2%, respectively (p < 0.001). The odds ratio for having prior HPV infections among patients with salivary gland cancer compared to controls was 1.885, with a 95% confidence interval of 1.315 to 2.701 after adjusting for variables such as age, sex, monthly income, geographic location, urbanization level, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, tobacco use, and alcohol abuse/alcohol dependence syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Our study adds to the evidence suggesting an association between HPV infections and salivary gland cancer. Individuals with a history of HPV infection have an approximately 88% higher likelihood of developing salivary gland cancer.

Tracheitis hospital admissions are associated with Asia dust storm.

The risks of tracheitis have been widely studied, but no investigation has yet to assess the impact of air pollutants on tracheitis hospital admissions. This research explores the relationship between Asia dust storm (ADS) and tracheitis hospital admissions, by using a Poisson time-series model on the 2000-2012 National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRB) from Taiwan and linking air pollutants and temperature data. From a total of 126,013 tracheitis hospital admissions, the average number of daily tracheitis hospital admissions is 26.53 and increases 10% notably one day after ADS. The empirical result shows that ADS does significantly affect tracheitis hospital admissions 3 and 5 days after an event for the overall sample and 2-4 days after it for females. For the age group <45, the number significantly increases 3-4 days after ADS, revealing that ADS has a prolonged effect on tracheitis hospital admissions.

Stroke: a Hidden Danger of Margin Trading in Stock Markets.

Using 10-year population data from 2000 through 2009 in Taiwan, this is the first paper to analyze the relationship between margin trading in stock markets and stroke hospitalizations. The results show that 3 and 6 days after an increase of margin trading in the Taiwan stock markets are associated with greater stoke hospitalizations. In general, a 1 % increase in total margin trading positions is associated with an increment of 2.5 in the total number of stroke hospitalizations, where the mean number of hospital admissions is 233 cases a day. We further examine the effects of margin trading by gender and age groups and find that the effects of margin trading are significant for males and those who are 45-74 years old only. In summary, buying stocks with money you do not have is quite risky, especially if the prices of those stocks fall past a certain level or if there is a sudden and severe drop in the stock market. There is also a hidden danger to one's health from margin trading. A person should be cautious before conducting margin trading, because while it can be quite profitable, danger always lurks just around the corner.

Exploring the association between knee osteoarthritis outpatient visits and Asian dust storms: a time-series analysis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal diseases in Taiwan, posing a significant public health challenge. In recent years, outdoor air pollution has become an increasingly critical global health issue. Asian Dust Storms (ADS) are known to exacerbate various health conditions due to elevated levels of particulate matter and other pollutants. However, the relationship between ADS and knee OA remains insufficiently explored. This study investigates the association between ADS occurrences and knee OA outpatient visits from January 2006 to December 2012, aiming to understand the potential health impacts of dust storms on OA patients. Using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), the Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency (TEPA), and the Taiwan Central Weather Bureau, we conducted a time-series analysis employing the autoregressive moving average with exogenous variables (ARMAX) model. This approach accounted for daily outpatient visits related to knee OA, ADS events, and various environmental and meteorological factors. The results revealed a significant increase in knee OA outpatient visits on days immediately following ADS events, with peaks observed one to two days after the event. This increase was most pronounced among females, individuals aged 61 and above, and residents in the western regions. The study demonstrates an association between ADS and increased knee OA outpatient visits, highlighting the need for public health strategies to mitigate the health impacts of dust storms.

A population-based study on the associations of thyroid cancer with chronic periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: Emerging concerns link periodontitis to an array of cancers, notably thyroid cancer, though investigations into these associations are still in the nascent stages. This population-based study aimed to investigate the association of thyroid cancer with chronic periodontitis using Taiwan's Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2010 (LHID2010). METHODS: This case-control study utilized LHID2010, selecting 2,775 patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer, matched with 8,325 controls based on age, sex, income, and the presence of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, human papillomavirus infection, and tobacco use disorder using propensity-score matching. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of thyroid cancer with chronic periodontitis. RESULTS: A chi-squared analysis demonstrated a significant disparity in the prevalence of chronic periodontitis between those diagnosed with thyroid cancer and the controls, with prevalence rates of 38.5% and 24.1% respectively, and a p-value less than 0.001. The odds ratio (OR) for having prior chronic periodontitis among patients with thyroid cancer compared to controls was 1.991, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.816-2.184 and a p-value less than 0.001. The association was similar between sexes, yielding adjusted ORs of 1.991 (95% CI = 1.816∼2.184) for men and 1.962 (95% CI = 1.765-2.182) for women, indicating a statistically significant higher prevalence of chronic periodontitis in both male and female patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer compared to their control counterparts. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight chronic periodontitis as a potential risk factor for thyroid cancer, underscoring the importance of integrated health surveillance and preventive strategies that encompass oral health. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: This study aimed to explore the link between thyroid cancer and chronic periodontitis. Using Taiwan's Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2010 (LHID2010), we selected 2,775 patients with thyroid cancer and matched them with 8,325 individuals without the disease based on age, sex, income, and other health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, HPV infection, and smoking habits. The study used statistical models to examine the relationship between thyroid cancer and chronic periodontitis. The findings showed that 38.5% of thyroid cancer patients had chronic periodontitis, compared to 24.1% of the control group. The odds of having chronic periodontitis were nearly twice as high in thyroid cancer patients. This pattern was consistent for both men and women. The study underscores the strong connection between chronic periodontitis and thyroid cancer, emphasizing the importance of raising public awareness about the potential risks of periodontitis.

Association of Peripheral Vestibular Disorder with Diabetes: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the association of peripheral vestibular disorders with type 1 and type 2 diabetes using a population-based dataset. METHODS: The data for this study were obtained from Taiwan's Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2010. The sample consisted of 150,916 patients who were newly diagnosed with peripheral vestibular disorders as cases and 452,748 propensity-score-matching controls without peripheral vestibular disorders. We utilized multivariate logistic regression models to quantitatively evaluate the association between peripheral vestibular disorders and diabetes while considering factors such as sex, age, geographic location, monthly income, urbanization level of the patient's residence, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. RESULTS: The chi-squared test indicates that diabetes was more common in the peripheral vestibular disorder group compared to controls (20.6% vs. 15.1%, p < 0.001). Of all sampled patients, the adjusted odds ratio for diabetes was 1.597 (95% CI = 1.570~1.623) for those with peripheral vestibular disorders when compared to controls, while patients with Ménière's disease, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, unilateral vestibulopathy, and other peripheral vestibular disorders had respective adjusted odds ratios of diabetes at 1.566 (95% CI = 1.498~1.638), 1.677 (95% CI = 1.603~1.755), 1.592 (95% CI = 1.504~1.685), and 1.588 (95% CI = l.555~1.621) in comparison to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Our research has revealed an association between diabetes and an increased susceptibility to peripheral vestibular disorders.

Association of Alzheimer's Disease With Peripheral Vestibular Disorder: A Case-Control Study.

OBJECTIVES: Vestibular disorders can impact cognitive domains, including spatial orientation and memory, which are also affected in Alzheimer's disease. This study aimed to examine the association between Alzheimer's disease and a prior diagnosis of peripheral vestibular disorders in the elderly Taiwanese population. METHODS: The case-control study sample was retrieved from Taiwan's Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2010. We included 3138 cases with Alzheimer's disease and 9414 propensity-matched controls. We conducted multivariable logistic regression modeling to investigate the association between Alzheimer's disease and a prior diagnosis of peripheral vestibular disorders after accounting for sociodemographic characteristics and medical comorbidities including diabetes, coronary heart disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and hearing loss. RESULTS: The results revealed a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of prior peripheral vestibular disorders between patients with Alzheimer's disease and controls; 20.6% among patients with Alzheimer's disease and 11.4% among controls (p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis found that patients with Alzheimer's disease were twice as likely as controls to have had a prior diagnosis of peripheral vestibular disorders, adjusted odds ratio 2.040 (95% confidence interval: 1.829-2.274). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest the possibility of shared or related pathophysiological pathways in Alzheimer's disease and vestibular dysfunction disorders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:4730-4735, 2024.

Association of Young-Onset Dementia with Pre-Existing Peripheral Vestibular Disorders.

Background: The relationship between young-onset dementia and peripheral vestibular disorders remained largely unknown although this association was observed in the older population. Objective: This case-control study aims to investigate the association of young-onset dementia with a pre-existing diagnosis of peripheral vestibular disorders using a population-based data from Taiwan's Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2010. Methods: This study included 989 patients with young-onset dementia and 2967 propensity-score-matching controls. Differences in baseline characteristic between patients with young-onset dementia and controls were investigated using chi-square tests or t-tests. Multiple logistic regression models were employed to assess the association of young-onset dementia (outcome) with pre-existing peripheral vestibular disorders (predictor). Results: Compared to patients without young-onset dementia, those affected by this condition exhibited a statistically significantly higher rate of peripheral vestibular disorders (18.3% versus 8.2%, p < 0.001). Furthermore, our analysis found notable between-group disparities in the rates of Meniere's Disease (3.5% versus 2.0%, p= 0.015), benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (2.4% versus 1.1%, p= 0.006), and vestibular neuritis (2.4% versus 1.1%, p= 0.003). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of prior peripheral vestibular disorders increased the odds of young-onset dementia [2.603 (95% CI = 2.105∼3.220)] after adjusting for age, sex, monthly income, geographic location, urbanization level, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, coronary heart disease, hearing loss, and hypertension. Conclusions: The study findings demonstrate a notable association between young-onset dementia and pre-existing peripheral vestibular disorders, suggesting that vestibular malfunction could play a role in the development of young-onset dementia.

Associations of head and neck cancers with herpes zoster in the preceding five years.

This population-based study investigated the risk of having had prior herpes zoster within five years preceding a diagnosis of head and neck cancer. We conducted a case-control study that included 9,191 patients with a diagnosis of head and neck cancer in Taiwan's Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2010 and 36,764 matched controls. We assessed the odds of patients with head and neck cancer having had a diagnosis of herpes zoster during the five years preceding head and neck cancer using multiple logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of prior herpes zoster among the total sample was 4.6%, 7.9% and 3.8% among patients with and without head and neck cancer, respectively (p < 0.001). The odds ratio of herpes zoster among the head and neck cancer- versus control group was 2.198 (95% CI = 2.001 ~ 2.415) after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, tobacco use disorder, HPV infection, and alcohol dependence syndrome. Statistically significant excess odds were observed for all specific subtypes of head and neck cancer except for sinonasal cancer. Herpes zoster infection within the 5 years preceding a diagnosis of head and neck cancer may be a harbinger of developing head and neck cancer.

Association of thyroid cancer with human papillomavirus infections.

While Human Papillomavirus (HPV) particles have been detected in a small proportion of benign thyroid nodules or thyroid cancer cases, a role of HPV in these thyroid conditions has not been established. This study aims to investigate the association of HPV infection with thyroid cancer (TC) using a nationwide population-based study. We retrieved data for this case-control study from Taiwan's Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2010. The study sample included 3062 patients with TC and 9186 propensity-scored matched controls. We employed multivariate logistic regression models to quantitatively evaluate the association of TC with HPV infections after taking age, sex, monthly income, geographic location and urbanization level of the patient's residence, diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia into considerations. Chi-squared test revealed that there was a significant difference in the prevalence of prior HPV infections between patients with TC and controls (15.3% vs. 7.6%, p < 0.001). The adjusted odds ratio of prior HPV infections for patients with TC was 2.199 (95% CI = 1.939-2.492) relative to controls. The adjusted ORs of prior HPV infections for patients with TC was similar for males and females. Our research suggests a significant link between HPV infection and the development of TC.

Increased prevalence of peripheral vestibular disorder among patients with Fabry disease.

BACKGROUND: Although peripheral vestibular disorder is a non-fatal complication of Fabry disease, fatalities have been reported in some case reports and case series. To date, no studies have examined the relative risk of peripheral vestibular disorder in patients with Fabry disease compared to the general population without the condition. Due to the high prevalence of Fabry disease in East Asia and the potential shared pathogenic pathways between Fabry disease and vasculopathy, we conducted a study using a nationwide population-based dataset to compare the prevalence of peripheral vestibular disorder between patients with Fabry disease and matched comparison patients. METHODS: Data was sourced from Taiwan's Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2010. this study consists of 11,668 sampled patients, 2917 study patients with Fabry disease and 8751 propensity-score-matching comparison patients. We conducted multiple logistic regression analysis to study the association between peripheral vestibular disorder and Fabry disease. RESULTS: The study identified notable differences in the prevalence of various vestibular disorders between the study and comparison groups. Specifically, there was a 7.2% increased prevalence of peripheral vestibular disorder in the study group (28.3%) compared to the comparison group (20.9%), Meniere's disease (5.4% vs. 3.7%), benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (5.1% vs. 3.3%), and other/ unspecified peripheral vestibular dizziness (15.6% vs. 11.8%) (all p < 0.001). The odds ratios for PVD, MD, BPPV, and other PVD were 1.44 (95% CI = 1.29-1.60), 1.50 (95% CI = 1.23-1.83), 1.59 (95% CI = 1.30-1.95), and 1.40 (95% CI = 1.24-1.58), respectively, among the Fabry disease group relative to the comparison group after adjusting for age, monthly income, geographic location, urbanization level, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and hypertension. CONCLUSION: This study found that patients with Fabry disease had increased prevalence of peripheral vestibular disorder.

Increased prevalence of hearing loss, tinnitus and sudden deafness among patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to provide an updated prevalence of hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo and sudden deafness on patients with Sjögren's syndrome and matched comparison patients. METHODS: Data for this study were retrieved from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database and Taiwan's registered catastrophic illness dataset. This study included 20 266 patients with Sjögren's syndrome as the study group and 60 798 propensity score-matched comparison patients as the comparison group. We used multivariable logistic regressions to estimate the ORs and 95% CI for tinnitus, hearing loss, vertigo and sudden deafness among Sjögren's syndrome patients versus comparison patients. RESULTS: χ2 tests showed there were statistically significant differences between the study group and comparison group in the prevalence of tinnitus (10.1% vs 6.3%, p<0.001), hearing loss (5.6% vs 3.3%, p<0.001), vertigo (4.6% vs 3.2%, p<0.001) and sudden deafness (0.8% vs 0.6%, p<0.001). Multiple logistic regression revealed that patients with Sjögren's syndrome had a greater tendency to have tinnitus (OR=1.690, 95% CI 1.596-1.788), sudden deafness (OR=1.368, 95% CI 1.137-1.647), hearing loss (OR=1.724, 95% CI 1.598-1.859) and vertigo (OR=1.473, 95% CI 1.360-1.597) relative to comparison patients after adjusting for age, income, geographic location, residential urbanisation level, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and rheumatoid arthritis. CONCLUSIONS: We found higher prevalence of hearing loss, vertigo, tinnitus and sudden deafness among patients with Sjögren's syndrome relative to comparison patients. Findings may provide guidance to physicians in counselling patients with Sjögren's syndrome regarding a higher risk of hearing loss, tinnitus, sudden deafness and vertigo.

Prevalence of hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo and sudden deafness among patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis.

Little is known about a possible association of autoimmune inner ear disease among patients diagnosed with polymyositis (PM)/dermatomyositis (DM). This study aimed to explore differences in the prevalence of inner ear symptoms among patients with and without PM/DM using a nationwide population-based dataset. Data for this study were retrieved from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. The study sample included 1622 patients diagnosed with PM/DM and 8109 propensity-score matched comparison patients without PM/DM. We performed multivariate logistic regressions to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for tinnitus, hearing loss, sudden deafness, and vertigo among patients with PM/DM versus comparison patients. Chi-square tests showed statistically significant differences between patients with PM/DM and comparison patients in the prevalence of tinnitus (16.1% vs. 12.7%, p < 0.001), non-conductive hearing loss (9.2% vs. 6.8%, p < 0.001), and vertigo (14.4% vs. 11.1%, p < 0.001). The adjusted ORs for tinnitus, non-conductive hearing loss, and vertigo, respectively, were 1.332 (95% CI = 1.147-1.547), 1.399 (95% CI = 1.154-1.696), and 1.374 (95% CI = 1.173-1.611) for patients with PM/DM when compared to comparison patients. Our study finds that patients with PM/DM have higher prevalence rates of tinnitus, non-conductive hearing loss, and vertigo than comparison patients.

Increased prevalences of head and neck cancers in patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate prevalences of head and neck cancers in patients with and those without Sjögren's syndrome using a population-based dataset. METHODS: We retrieved sampled patients from Taiwan's Longitudinal Health Insurance Database. This study included 38 930 patients with Sjögren's syndrome and 155 720 propensity-score matched comparison patients without Sjögren's syndrome. RESULTS: Chi-squared tests revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in the prevalences of head and neck cancers between patients with Sjögren's syndrome and comparison patients (1.77% vs. 1.22%, p < 0.001). The odds ratio for head and neck cancers for patients with Sjögren's syndrome relative to the comparison group was 1.452 (95% CI = 1.325-1.592). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that patients with Sjögren's syndrome face increased odds of head and neck cancers, encompassing several sites including the oral cavity, oropharynx, nasopharynx, and thyroid.

Association of Chronic Otitis Media with Sjogren's Syndrome: A Case-Control Study.

There is a paucity of large-scale population-based study whether patients with Sjögren's syndrome are at higher risk of chronic otitis media. This study aimed to investigate the association of chronic otitis media with Sjögren's syndrome by utilizing the representative dataset of the Taiwanese population. We identified 9473 patients with chronic otitis media as cases. We used propensity score matching to select 28,419 controls. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to examine the association of chronic otitis media with prior Sjögren's syndrome after adjusting for age, sex, monthly income category, geographic location and urbanization level of the patient's residence, allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis and tonsillitis and adenoiditis. Chi-square tests showed a statistically significant difference in Sjögren's syndrome between patients with chronic otitis media and controls (4.89% vs. 2.93%, p < 0.001). In addition, we found patients with chronic otitis media were more likely to have Sjögren's syndrome (OR = 1.698, 95% CI = 1.509~1.910) relative to controls after adjusting for age, income, geographic location, residential urbanization level, allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis and tonsillitis and adenoiditis. We also found that of the male patients, patients with chronic otitis media had a greater tendency to Sjögren's syndrome than controls (adjusted OR = 1.982, 95% CI = 1.584~2.481). Similarly, a statistically significant association between Sjögren's syndrome and chronic otitis media remains in female sampled patients (adjusted OR = 1.604, 95% CI = 1.396~1.842). We found that patients with Sjögren's syndrome were associated with the occurrence of chronic otitis media. It may guide physicians as they counsel patients with Sjögren's syndrome on the possibility of chronic otitis media occurrence.

Associations of Head and Neck Cancer with Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

This case-control study investigates the associations between head and neck cancer (HNC), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We included 5603 patients who had received a diagnosis of HNC as cases and 16,809 propensity score matching controls. We employed multivariate logistic regression models to evaluate the association of HNC with HBV and HCV infection after taking sociodemographic characteristics and diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, HPV infection, tobacco use disorder, and alcohol abuse/alcohol dependence syndrome into considerations. Results show that 7.9% of the total sample had been previously diagnosed with HBV infection, with 9.0% prevalence among cases and 7.6% among controls (p < 0.001). The chi-squared test suggests a significant difference in the prevalence of HCV infection between cases and controls (3.3% vs. 2.7%, p = 0.019). The covariate-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of HBV infection in patients with HNC relative to controls was 1.219 (95% CI = 1.093~1.359). Additionally, the adjusted OR of HCV infection in patients with HNC was 1.221 (95% CI = 1.023~1.457) compared to controls. Furthermore, patients with oropharyngeal cancer were more likely to have HCV infection than controls (adjusted OR = 2.142, 95% CI = 1.171~3.918). Our study provides evidence that suggests a potential association between HBV and HCV infections and the risk of HNC.

Does peripheral vestibular disorder increase the risk of attempted suicide: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the risk of attempted suicide in the population of patients diagnosed with peripheral vestibular disorders (PVD). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study. We extracted data on patients diagnosed with PVD (72,569 study patients) and a 3:1 ratio of propensity-score matched comparison patients without PVD (217,707 patients) from Taiwan's Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2010. The claims records of sampled patients were tracked for a one-year period from their index date to identify claims showing a diagnosis of suicide attempt. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to calculate the one-year hazard ratio (HR) of suicide attempt following the PVD diagnosis among PVD patients relative to comparison patients. RESULTS: Of total 290,276 sampled patients, the rate of attempted suicide was 0.158 per 100 person-years, being 0.460 and 0.057, respectively, among PVD patients and comparison patients. Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that PVD patients had a high relative hazard of suicide attempt (adjusted HR = 7.622, 95 % CI = 6.196-9.376) during one-year follow-up relative to comparison patients. We also found that subcategories of PVD, showed similar adjusted hazard ratios as all PVDs: Meniere's disease (HR = 7.608, 95 % CI = 4.350-13.305), benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (HR = 8.201, 95 % CI = 4.716-14.260), and vestibular neuritis (HR = 9.399, 95 % CI = 5.036-17.544). LIMITATIONS: The incidence of suicide attempts could be underestimated in both the study group and comparison group, if the suicide attempt did not cause a medical emergency and the patient did not seek medical assistance. CONCLUSIONS: We found a high magnitude of association between PVD and subsequent suicide attempt.

Association of Nasopharynx Cancer with Human Papillomavirus Infections.

This population-based study aims to examine the association between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and human papillomavirus infections. This study included 2747 individuals aged 20 years and older who were diagnosed with nasopharynx cancer as cases and 13,735 propensity-score-matching controls. Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to quantitatively assess the association of nasopharynx cancer with human papillomavirus infections while considering age, sex, monthly income, geographic location, and urbanization level of the patient's residence as well as diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Our chi-squared test indicated a significant dissimilarity in previous human papillomavirus infection rates between nasopharynx cancer patients and controls (12.7% vs. 7.2%, p < 0.001). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for prior human papillomavirus infections was found to be significantly higher for nasopharyngeal carcinoma cases compared to controls at a value of 1.869 with confidence interval ranging from 1.640 to 2.128. Among female participants, compared to controls, the adjusted OR of prior human papillomavirus infections was 2.150 (95% CI = 1.763-2.626) in patients with nasopharynx cancer. In male participants sampled in this study, we observed a statistically significant association between prior human papillomavirus infections and nasopharynx cancer (adjusted OR = 1.689; 95% CI = 1.421-2.008). Our study indicates a noteworthy association between previous human papillomavirus infections and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Trends in the incidence of head and neck cancer: A nationwide population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to demonstrate the temporal trend in incidence of head and neck cancer (HNC) in Taiwan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with a HNC were retrieved from the Taiwan's Health Insurance Database. We identified 16,894 patients aged ≥20 years who had received a first-time diagnosis of cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx, hypopharynx, nasopharynx, sinonasal, salivary gland or thyroid gland between 2010 and 2018. We calculated the annual incidence rate per 100,000 population, overall, and classified by gender and cancer type. We also used the annual percent change (APC) to characterize trends in head and neck cancer rates over time. RESULTS: The incidence rate showed a gradual decline during this period from 2010 to 2018 with an APC of -2.81% (p < 0.001). Within gender groups, the decline was not statistically significant among females (APC = -1.69, 95% CI = -3.58 âˆ¼ 0.23, p = 0.080). Within cancer types, strikingly high magnitude and statistically significant declines were observed in respect of cancer of the nasopharynx (APC = -7.89%, 95% CI = -9.43%∼-6.31%, p < 0.001), sinonasal cancer (APC = -10.08%, 95% CI = -16.66%∼-2.99%, p = 0.012) and oropharyneal cancer (APC = -9.47%, 95% CI = -15.15%∼-3.42%, p = 0.013) over the study period. In contrast, there was a statistically significant increase in incidence on thyroid cancer over the study period with an APC of 4.75% (95% CI = -2.81%∼6.75%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: HNCs in Taiwan are showing a decreasing trend, led by the upper respiratory and oropharyngeal cancers. However, there was a concurrent increasing trend of the incidence on thyroid cancer. These trends may be attributable to changing lifestyles and behavioral choices in Taiwan.

Trends in the incidence of peripheral vestibular disorders: a Nationwide population-based study.

Purpose: This study aimed to examines the long-term trend of incidence of peripheral vestibular disorders between 2010 and 2018 in Taiwan. Methods: Study-eligible patients were identified from Taiwan's Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2005 maintained by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan. We retrieved 230,566 patients with a first-time diagnosis of peripheral vestibular disorders between 2010 and 2018. We calculated annual incidence rates of peripheral vestibular disorders per 100,000 population. We used the annual percent change (APC) to test the trend of peripheral vestibular disorders over time. Results: The mean annual incidence rate of peripheral vestibular disorders during the study period was 1489.6 per 100,000 population. Incidence showed a statistically significant steady decrease from 2010 to 2018 with a mean APC of -6.15% (95% CI = -6.97% ~ -5.32%). The decline was led by Meniere's disease (APC = -9.83, 95% CI = -10.66% ~ -8.99%), followed by benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (APC = -3.69, 95% CI = -4.53% ~ -3.03%), vestibular neuritis (APC = -7.85, 95% CI = -8.96 ~ -6.73), and other peripheral vestibular dizziness (APC = -5.56, 95% CI = -6.69% ~ -4.43%). Conclusion: The incidence of peripheral vestibular disorders, overall, and the four major subgroups, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere's disease, vestibular neuritis, and other peripheral vestibular dizziness, all decreased substantially, year by year within the 2010-2018 period.