Statin therapy and upper tract urothelial carcinoma risk in hyperlipidemic patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease, a population-based 17-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: The upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) risk associated with statin therapy in hyperlipidemic patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) remains obscure. AIM: This retrospective cohort study investigated the UTUC risk for hyperlipidemic patients with CKD or ESKD associated with statin therapy. METHODS: From the national insurance claims data of Taiwan, we identified hyperlipidemic patients and established three pairs of statin users and non-users sub-cohorts matched by propensity scores: 401,490 pairs with normal kidney function, 37,734 pairs with CKD, and 6271 pairs with ESKD. Incidence rates and hazard ratio (HR) of UTUC were estimated, by the end of 2016, between statin and non-statin cohorts, and between hydrophilic statins users and lipophilic statins users. Time-dependent model estimated adjusted HR, and sub-distribution HR (sHR) accounting for the competing risk of deaths. RESULTS: The statin-users with ESKD were at increased UTUC risk (sHR 1.98; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.28-3.06), significant for younger patients (40-64 years). The incidence was twofold greater in women than in men (31.8 versus 15.9 per 10,000 person-years). Receiving lipophilic statins was associated with increased UTUC risk in CKD and ESKD patients, while receiving hydrophilic statins was associated with increased UTUC risk in ESKD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ESKD receiving statin were at an increased UTUC risk, significant for younger group (<65 y/o). The positive associations between UTUC and statin persisted in both genders with ESKD, and in therapy with either lipophilic statins or hydrophilic statins. Statin users with ESKD deserve attention for UTUC prevention.

Utility of monocyte distribution width in the differential diagnosis between simple and complicated diverticulitis: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Colonic diverticulitis is a leading cause of abdominal pain. The monocyte distribution width (MDW) is a novel inflammatory biomarker with prognostic significance for coronavirus disease and pancreatitis; however, no study has assessed its correlation with the severity of colonic diverticulitis. METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients older than 18 years who presented to the emergency department between November 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021, and received a diagnosis of acute colonic diverticulitis after abdominal computed tomography. The characteristics and laboratory parameters of patients with simple versus complicated diverticulitis were compared. The significance of categorical data was assessed using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for continuous variables. Multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of complicated colonic diverticulitis. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were used to test the efficacy of inflammatory biomarkers in distinguishing simple from complicated cases. RESULTS: Of the 160 patients enrolled, 21 (13.125%) had complicated diverticulitis. Although right-sided was more prevalent than left-sided colonic diverticulitis (70% versus 30%), complicated diverticulitis was more common in those with left-sided colonic diverticulitis (61.905%, p = 0.001). Age, white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil count, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and MDW were significantly higher in the complicated diverticulitis group (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that the left-sided location and the MDW were significant and independent predictors of complicated diverticulitis. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was as follows: MDW, 0.870 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.784-0.956); CRP, 0.800 (95% CI, 0.707-0.892); NLR, 0.724 (95% CI, 0.616-0.832); PLR, 0.662 (95% CI, 0.525-0.798); and WBC, 0.679 (95% CI, 0.563-0.795). When the MDW cutoff was 20.38, the sensitivity and specificity were maximized to 90.5% and 80.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: A large MDW was a significant and independent predictor of complicated diverticulitis. The optimal cutoff value for MDW is 20.38 as it exhibits maximum sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing between simple and complicated diverticulitis The MDW may aid in planning antibiotic therapy for patients with colonic diverticulitis in the emergency department.

Disparities in the first-ever diagnosed liver cancers between the emergency department and outpatient department in Taiwan: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Liver cancer is ranked fifth in incidence and second in mortality among cancers in Taiwan. Nevertheless, the Taiwan government does not screen for liver cancer in its free cancer screening and preventive health examination service. This study compared the differences in cancer stage and survival between patients who received an initial liver cancer diagnosis in outpatient departments (OPDs) and those who received such a diagnosis in emergency departments (EDs). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used the 2000-2016 National Health Insurance Database to obtain a sample from 2 million Taiwanese residents. To evaluate the effect of the utilization of the adult health examination offered to people aged ≥ 40 years, patients aged ≥ 40 years who received an initial liver cancer diagnosis between 2003 and 2015 were followed up until December 31, 2016. RESULTS: In total, 2,881 patients were included in this study. A greater proportion of cancer cases in the OPD group were non-advanced than those in the ED group (75.26% vs. 54.23%). Having stage C or D cancer, having a low monthly salary, and a Charlson comorbidity index score ≥ 8, not having hepatitis B, being divorced, and attending a non-public hospital as the primary care institution were risk factors for initial ED diagnosis. The risk of liver cancer-specific death among the ED group patients was 1.38 times that among the OPD group patients (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.14-1.68, P < 0.001). However, the use of health examination did not exert a significant effect on the likelihood of liver cancer diagnosis in an ED (adjusted odds ratio = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.61-1.21, P = 0.381). CONCLUSION: Government-subsidized health examinations are insufficient to prevent first-ever diagnosed liver cancers in EDs. Patients with liver cancers diagnosed in EDs had a higher risk of advanced stage and mortality. For early detection and treatment, the government may consider implementing liver cancer screening for high-risk and low-socioeconomic people.

Epidemiological investigation of multiple sclerosis and related medical utilisation in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: The increasing trend in the prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) cannot be neglected. Long-term epidemiological investigations of MS patients who have been registered in Taiwan are very scarce. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of MS and medical utilisation among MS patients in Taiwan. METHODS: The National Health Insurance Research Database was used as the source of the research population; the time period investigated was 2001-2015. A descriptive statistical analysis of the number of MS patients was conducted. For newly diagnosed MS patients, the frequencies of emergency visits and hospitalisations and changes in their temporal distributions were calculated. RESULTS: The standardised incidence of MS peaked at 0.50/100,000 in 2003, and the highest standardised prevalence was 7.14/100,000 in 2015. The highest standardised mortality was 0.11/100,000 in 2015, with an overall mortality rate of 13.34/1000 person-years. The number of annual emergency visits for MS patients peaked at 0.9 ± 3.5 in 2011, and the longest annual length of hospital stays was 19.2 ± 40.1 days in 2001, which decreased to 5.6 ± 23.5 days in 2015. CONCLUSION: The standardised prevalence of MS steadily increased, and its incidence slightly decreased from 2001 to 2015.

Comparison of colorectal cancer screening between people with and without disability: a nationwide matched cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization has recognized that people with disability are among the most marginalized in the world. This study's objective was to investigate the differences in the probability of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening with faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) between people with disability and without disability in Taiwan. METHODS: The study participants included people with and without disability from the Disability Registration Database (2012) and the National Health Insurance Research Database (2009-2012). The study included 50- to 69-year-olds with and without disability who were screened from 2011 to 2012 and were alive in 2012. There were 16 categories of disability. After propensity score matching (PSM) between the two groups, conditional logistic regression analysis with control variables was used to investigate the odds ratio (OR) that people with or without disability would undergo CRC screening. RESULTS: The percentage of people with disability receiving CRC screening was 21.84%, and the highest rate of those receiving CRC screening (38.72%) was found in people with intractable epilepsy, whose OR was 1.47 times that of people with moving functional limitation (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.17-1.85). The results showed that the probability of CRC screening in people with disability was lower than that in people without disability (OR = 0.88, 95%CI = 0.87-0.89). The probability of receiving CRC screening differed between people with different categories of disability. CONCLUSIONS: Although the probability of CRC screening in the four categories of disability was higher than that in the general population, overall, people with disability were less likely than people without disability to undergo CRC screening. Health inequalities still exist under National Health Insurance in Taiwan.

Cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, and impact of antiepileptic drugs on the risk of fracture in patients with epilepsy: A nationwide cohort study.

PURPOSE: Although nonenzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs (nEIAEDs) are accepted for the treatment of epilepsy, few studies have examined the costs, benefits, and cost-effectiveness of nEIAEDs in relation to the incidence of fracture among patients with epilepsy. In the present study, we performed cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses comparing the influence of enzyme-inducing AEDs (EIAEDs) and nEIAEDs on the risk of fracture in this population. METHODS: A total of 4864 patients with epilepsy were classified into EIAED and nEIAED groups. Propensity score matching was applied to reduce the influence of selection bias. Clinical outcomes were measured in relation to AED fee, medical expenses associated with epilepsy and fracture, and the total number of fractures. Cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses were performed for all patients. RESULTS: Patients in the unmatched EIAED cohort (n = 3686) were older and had more comorbidities. After matching, the cohorts exhibited similar features (n = 2432 each). Fracture risk was lower in the nEIAED group than in the EIAED group (HR = 0.70). The additional medical expense of nEIAEDs in fractures and epilepsy for 2 years per person was 107,731 New Taiwan dollars (NT$). The additional cost for nEIAEDs to reduce one event of fracture was $14,789,421 NT$. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with epilepsy using nEIAEDs had a lower risk of fracture than those using EIAEDs. However, the cost-benefit ratio and cost-effectiveness of such treatment were lower in the nEIAED group than in the EIAED group.

Demographics and medical disorders associated with smoking: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated factors associated with smoking behaviors. In this population-based study, we investigated demographics and medical comorbid diseases to establish a prediction model for smoking behaviors by using the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). METHODS: We enrolled individuals aged ≥40 years who had participated in the NHIS in 2001, 2005, and 2009. We identified the smoking behaviors of the study participants in the NHIS. Smoking behaviors were divided into ever smokers (current smokers and ex-smokers) and nonsmokers (never smokers).We defined medical comorbid disorders of the study participants by using medical claim data from the NHIRD. We used multivariable logistic regression models to calculate the adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for variables associated with smoking. The significant variables in the multivariable model were included in the receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) to predict the sensitivity and specificity of the model. RESULTS: In total, 26,375 participants (12,779 men and 13,596 women) were included in the analysis. The prevalence of smoking was 39.29%. The mean ages of the 16,012 nonsmokers were higher than those of the 10,363 smokers (57.86 ± 12.92 years vs. 53.59 ± 10.82 years). Men outnumbered women among smokers (68.18% vs. 31.82%). Male sex, young age and middle age, being insured categories, residence in suburban areas, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were independent factors associated with smoking. The area under the ROC curve of these significant factors to predict smoking behaviors was 71.63%. CONCLUSION: Sex, age, insured categories, residence in suburban areas, and COPD were associated with smoking in people.

Impact of family physician integrated care program on decreasing utilization of emergency department visit and hospital admission: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Hospital admission and emergency department(ED) visits are a massive burden in medical expenditures. In 2003, the Taiwanese government developed Family Physician Integrated Care Program (FPIC) to increase the quality of primary care and decrease medical expenditures. This study's goals were to determine whether FPIC decreased hospital admissions and ED visits and identify the factors influencing the outcomes. METHODS: This nationwide retrospective cohort study was conducted for the period between 2006 and 2013 by using data obtained from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. A total of 68,218 individuals were divided into those who joined FPIC and those who did not. We used propensity score matching at a ratio of 1:1 and logistic regression with the generalized estimating equation (GEE) model having a difference-in-difference design to investigate the effects of the FPIC policy on hospital admissions and ED visits in 7 years. RESULTS: Using logistic regression with the GEE model with the difference-in-difference design, we found no reduction in ED visits and hospital admissions between the two groups. The participants' risk of hospital admissions increased in the first year after joining FPIC (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.03-1.20, P < .05). However, participants who joined FPIC showed an 8% lower risk of hospital admissions in the sixth and seventh years after joining FPIC, compared with those who did not join FPIC (OR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.85-1.00, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: FPIC in Taiwan could not decrease medical utilization initially but might reduce hospital admissions in the long term.

Is incentive spirometry beneficial for patients with lung cancer receiving video-assisted thoracic surgery?

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of Incentive spirometry (IS) in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) remains lacking. We conducted a population-based study to investigate the effectiveness of IS on patients with lung cancers following VATS. METHODS: We identified patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer who underwent surgical resection by VATS or thoracotomy from the years 2000 to 2008 in the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database. Exposure variable was the use of IS during admission for surgical resection by VATS or thoracotomy. Primary outcomes included hospitalization cost, incidence of pneumonia, and length of hospital stay. Secondary outcomes included the frequency of emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations at 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month follow-ups after thoracic surgery. RESULTS: We analyzed 7549 patients with lung cancer undergoing surgical resection by VATS and thoracotomy. The proportion of patients who were subjected to IS was significantly higher in those who underwent thoracotomy than in those who underwent VATS (68.4% vs. 53.1%, P < 0.0001). After we controlled for potential covariates, the IS group significantly reduced hospitalization costs (- 524.5 USD, 95% confidence interval [CI] = - 982.6 USD - -66.4 USD) and the risk of pneumonia (odds ratio = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.32-0.95) compared to the non-IS group following VATS. No difference in ED visit frequency and hospitalization frequency at 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year follow-up was noted between the IS and the non-IS groups following VATS. CONCLUSIONS: The use of IS in patients with lung cancers undergoing VATS may reduce hospitalization cost and the risk of pneumonia.

Morbidity rate and medical utilization in interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objective was to calculate the morbidity rate and medical utilization of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) over 12 years using a nationwide database of Taiwan. METHODS: This was a cohort study of the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2010 with new diagnoses of IC/PBS from 2002 through 2013. The morbidity rate was adjusted for age, sex, and calendar date using density methods. Moreover, medical utilization during the study period was measured. RESULTS: It was observed that the incidence of IC/PBS was 21.8/100,000 in 2002 and 21.1/100,000 in 2013. The prevalence of IC/PBS was 21.8/100,000 in 2002 and 40.2/100,000 in 2013. In 2003, the incidence and prevalence of women was 28.6/100,000 and 63.5/100,000 respectively. The incidence and prevalence of men was 12.3/100,000 and 19.4/100,000 respectively. In 2002, the incidence was 45.5/100,000, 32.4/100,000, and 9/100,000 in the age groups above 65, 40-65, and under 40 years respectively. The prevalence in 2003 was 86.3/100,000, 63.1/100,000, and 16.4/100,000 in age groups above 65, 40-65, and under 40 years respectively. This pattern was similar until 2013. The mean outpatient and inpatient visit time was 4.8 and 1.8 times per year respectively. The mean surgical fee (US$ 246.6 ± 304.5) was 23.6% of the total fee. CONCLUSIONS: The morbidity rate of IC/PBS showed a higher incidence and prevalence in women and older patients. A new drug for the treatment of IC/PBS may be a factor of the peak in the morbidity rate. The increase in medical utilization could be explained by the awareness of physicians and patients seeking medical help.

Risk factors for neonatal early-onset group B streptococcus-related diseases after the implementation of a universal screening program in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: We examined the risk for Group B streptococcus (GBS)-related diseases in newborns born to mothers who participated in a universal GBS screening program and to determine whether differences are observed in factors affecting the morbidity for neonatal early-onset GBS-related diseases. METHODS: This is a retrospective study and the study subjects were women who had undergone GBS screening and who gave birth naturally and their newborns between April 15, 2012 and December 31, 2013. Data from the GBS screening system database and the National Health Insurance database were collected to calculate the GBS prevalence in pregnant women and morbidity of newborns with early-onset GBS-related diseases. RESULTS: The GBS prevalence in pregnant women who gave birth naturally was 19.58%. The rate of early-onset infection caused by GBS in newborns decreased from the original 0.1% to 0.02%, a decrease of as high as 80%. After the implementation of the universal GBS screening program, only three factors, including positive GBS screening result (OR = 2.84), CCI (OR = 2.45), and preterm birth (OR = 4.81) affected the morbidity for neonatal early-onset GBS-related diseases, whereas other factors had no significant impact. CONCLUSION: The implementation of the universal GBS screening program decreased the infection rate of neonatal early-onset GBS diseases. The effects of socioeconomic factors and high-risk pregnancy on early-onset GBS infections were weakened.

Associations of body mass index and diabetes with hip fracture risk: a nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of diabetes is associated with body mass index (BMI), and diabetes can cause many complications, such as hip fractures. This study investigated the effects of BMI and diabetes on the risk of hip fractures and related factors. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data from 22,048 subjects aged ≧ 40 years from the National Health Interview Survey in Taiwan (NHIST) in 2001, 2005, and 2009. We linked the NHIST data for individual participants with the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), which includes the incidence of hip fracture from 2000 to 2013. We defined five categories for BMI: low BMI (BMI < 18.5), normal BMI (18.5 ≦ BMI < 24), overweight (24 ≦ BMI < 27), mild obesity (27 ≦ BMI < 30), and moderate obesity (BMI ≧ 30). The Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the effects of BMI and diabetes on risk of hip fracture. RESULTS: The Cox proportional hazards model shows that hip fracture risk in participants with diabetes was 1.64 times that of non-diabetes patients (95% confidence interval [CI]:1.30-2.15). Participants with low BMIs showed a higher hip fracture risk (HR: 1.75) than those with normal BMI. Among the five BMI groups, compared with non-diabetes patients, only diabetes patients with a normal BMI showed a significantly higher risk on hip fracture (HR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.48-3.06). In participants with diabetes, compared with those with normal BMI, those with overweight or obesity showed significantly lower hip fracture risks (HR: 0.49 or 0.42). The hip fracture risk in participants who expend ≧ 500 kcal/week in exercise was 0.67 times lower than in those who did not exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes and low BMI separately are important risk factors for hip fracture. There was an interaction between diabetes and BMI in the relationship with hip fracture (p = 0.001). The addition of energy expenditure through exercise could effectively decrease hip fracture risk, regardless of whether the participants have diabetes or not. The results of this study could be used as a reference for health promotion measures for people with diabetes.

Quality of life of breast and cervical cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: Breast and cervical cancer are the most common cancers affecting women. The symptom distresses experienced by cancer survivors are critical factors influencing their quality of life (QOL). This study investigated the QOL of breast and cervical cancer survivors, their physical, psychological and social conditions. METHODS: The participants were older than 20 years, had been diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer for more than 2 years, and had completed their cancer treatment. The survey incorporated the QOL questionnaires developed by the European Organization of Research and Treatment for Cancer and a self-designed questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 48.89 ± 8.53 years for the breast cancer survivors and 49.00 ± 10.30 years for the cervical cancer survivors. The corresponding QOL scores were 75.33 ± 20.25 and 75.56 ± 17.93. The factors influencing QOL of breast cancer survivors were household income, number of comorbidities, stage of cancer, type of cancer treatment and duration of illness, whereas the factor related to QOL of cervical cancer survivors was only household income. CONCLUSIONS: The QOL of the two groups was similar. Healthcare providers should demonstrate greater concern toward breast and cervical cancer survivors.

Assessment of Educational Needs and Quality of Life of Chronic Hepatitis Patients.

BACKGROUND: Patient education is crucial in improving the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients. At the same, understanding the concerns and needs of patients is essential in providing appropriate education. This study assessed the educational needs and HRQOL experienced by chronic hepatitis patients. METHODS: We developed structured questionnaires with satisfactory validity and reliability to assess the educational needs of patients. HROQL was measured using a generic Short Form 36 (SF-36) and a liver disease-specific Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ). Descriptive statistic measures and Pearson's correlation analysis were applied for data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 135 subjects were recruited from two regional teaching hospitals in Taiwan. "Disease characteristics and management" exhibited the highest mean score (3.17) among all the subscales of educational needs. In comparison with those without antiviral therapy, chronic hepatitis patients undergoing antiviral treatment scored significantly higher on all subscales of educational needs, especially on "side effects of antiviral treatment" (p < 0.010). The median range of the physical component summary score was 45.94, the mental component summary score was 49.37, and the mean CLDQ was 5.70. Several domains of educational needs were significantly inversely correlated with the CLDQ and SF-36 subscales. CONCLUSIONS: Education is highly required by chronic hepatitis patients, especially those receiving antiviral therapy and patients with poor HRQOL. These findings can serve as a useful reference for nursing personnel who perform needs assessment to develop individual nursing instruction and thereby improve the quality of care for chronic hepatitis patients.

Utilization of tooth filling services by people with disabilities in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: The oral condition of people with disabilities has considerable influence on their physical and mental health. However, nationwide surveys regarding this group have not been conducted. For this study, we used the National Health Insurance Research Database to explore the tooth filling utilization among people with disabilities. METHODS: Using the database of the Ministry of the Interior in 2008 which included people with disabilities registered, we merged with the medical claims database in 2008 of the Bureau of National Health Insurance to calculate the tooth filling utilization and to analyze relative factors. We recruited 993,487 people with disabilities as the research sample. RESULTS: The tooth filling utilization was 17.53 %. The multiple logistic regression result showed that the utilization rate of men was lower than that of women (OR = 0.78, 95 % CI = 0.77-0.79) and older people had lower utilization rates (aged over 75, OR = 0.22, 95 % CI = 0.22-0.23) compared to those under the age of 20. Other factors that significantly influenced the low tooth filling utilization included a low education level, living in less urbanized areas, low economic capacity, dementia, and severe disability. CONCLUSION: We identified the factors that influence and decrease the tooth-filling service utilization rate: male sex, old age, low education level, being married, indigenous ethnicity, residing in a low urbanization area, low income, chronic circulatory system diseases, dementia, and severe disabilities. We suggest establishing proper medical care environments for high-risk groups to maintain their quality of life.

The incidence risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in female nurses: a nationwide matched cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is one of the most common chronic illnesses worldwide. This study was to assess whether the incidence risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus between female nurses and female non-nurses. METHODS: Study data were obtained from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Research Database, and nurses were sampled from the Registry for medical personnel. Nurses and non-nurses with similar traits and health conditions were selected via 1:1 propensity score matching. A total of 111,670 subjects were selected (55,835 nurses and 55,835 non-nurses). Stages of diabetes development were monitored until December 31, 2009. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to discuss risks and influencing factors related to diabetes. Poisson distribution methods were used to examine the incidence rate of diabetes per 1,000 person-years. RESULTS: The propensity matching results show that on average, female nurses who were diagnosed with diabetes were younger compared with the non-nurses (46.98 ± 10.80 vs. 48.31 ± 10.43, p <0.05). However, the results of the Cox proportional hazards model show that the nurses showed a lower risk of developing diabetes compared with the non-nurses (Adj. HR = 0.84, 95 % CI: 0.79-0.90). Factors influencing diabetes development risks among the nurses include advanced age and high Charlson Comorbidity Index levels. CONCLUSION: The low degree of diabetes development among the nurses may be attributable to the fact that nurses possess substantial knowledge on health care and on healthy behaviors. The results of this study can be used as a reference to assess occupational risks facing nursing staff, to prevent diabetes development, and to promote health education.

Comparing the mortality risks of nursing professionals with diabetes and general patients with diabetes: a nationwide matched cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Nursing professionals have received comprehensive medical education and training. However, whether these medical professionals exhibit positive patient care attitudes and behaviors and thus reduce mortality risks when they themselves are diagnosed with chronic diseases is worth exploring. This study compared the mortality risks of female nurses and general patients with diabetes and elucidated factors that caused this difference. METHODS: A total of 510,058 female patients newly diagnosed with diabetes between 1998 and 2006 as recorded in the National Health Insurance Research Database were the participants in this study. Nurses with diabetes and general population with diabetes were matched with propensity score method in a 1:10 ratio. The participants were tracked from the date of diagnosis to 2009. The Cox proportional hazards model was utilized to compare the mortality risks in the two groups. RESULTS: Nurses were newly diagnosed with diabetes at a younger age compared with the general public (42.01 ± 12.03 y vs. 59.29 ± 13.11 y). Nevertheless, the matching results showed that nurses had lower mortality risks (HR: 0.53, 95 % CI: 0.38-0.74) and nurses with diabetes in the < 35 and 35-44 age groups exhibited significantly lower mortality risks compared with general patients (HR: 0.23 and 0.36). A further analysis indicated that the factors that influenced the mortality risks of nurses with diabetes included age, catastrophic illnesses, and the severity of diabetes complications. CONCLUSION: Nurses with diabetes exhibited lower mortality risks possibly because they had received comprehensive medical education and training, may had more knowledge regarding chronic disease control and change their lifestyles. The results can serve as a reference for developing heath education, and for preventing occupational hazards in nurses.

Risk of Post-TKA Acute Myocardial Infarction in Patients With a History of Myocardial Infarction or Coronary Stent.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the most important perioperative complications of total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Although risk-stratification tools exist for the prediction of cardiac complications including AMI after noncardiac surgery, such stratification does not differentiate the patients with a coronary stent alone, AMI without a stent, or AMI with a stent. The risk of postoperative AMI in these patient groups may vary. Several studies have recommended suitable times for noncardiac surgery in patients with a coronary stent; however, they do not differentiate between the patients with AMI and no AMI. The suitable time of noncardiac surgery for patients with AMI and stent may vary from those with a stent alone. Moreover, a study to evaluate the risk of AMI within 1 year in an Asian population with a history of AMI or coronary stent who underwent TKA has not been reported. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) What are the risks of AMI within 1 year of TKA in patients who have had a stent alone, AMI without a stent, or AMI with a stent as compared with patients without an AMI/stent? (2) For patients with AMI/stent placement, when can TKA be performed where the risk of subsequent AMI normalizes? (3) What comorbidities are associated with post-TKA AMI? (4) Is the risk of AMI within 1 year after surgery in patients undergoing TKA without a history of AMI/stent higher than that in patients with no surgery? METHODS: This study is a retrospective study of the medical claim records of 128,216 patients who underwent TKA between 1997 and 2010 in Taiwan. The records were retrieved from the research database of the Bureau of National Health Insurance in Taiwan, which maintains the records of 99.68% of the Taiwan population. The patients who had a history of AMI or coronary stent placement within the year before TKA were compared with the patients who had not experienced AMI or stent placement before TKA. The control subjects were matched according to sex, age, Charlson score, and year of surgery. There were 2413 patients in each group. The patients with a history of AMI or stent placement and the timing of TKA after coronary event were further stratified as with a coronary stent alone, AMI without a stent, and AMI with a stent. The effects of the comorbidities of renal failure, diabetes, liver failure, and hypertension were also analyzed individually. The risk of AMI within 1 year after TKA was investigated using bivariate analysis and the Cox proportional hazard model. To compare the risk of AMI within 1 year of surgery in the patients with a history of TKA and no AMI/stent with the population without a history of surgery, a similar bivariate analysis and the Cox proportional hazard model were applied to their matched case and control groups, each containing 110,980 patients. RESULTS: In the adjusted model, using no AMI/stent before TKA as a reference, patients having undergone AMI + stent had the highest risk (hazard ratio [HR], 5.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.81-15.14; p = 0.002), AMI alone without a stent had less risk (HR, 4.88; 95% CI, 1.49-16.01; p = 0.009), and stent alone with AMI had the lowest risk (HR, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.29-7.71; p = 0.012). In all patients, risk of AMI after TKA was not different than reference values after 1 year of initial AMI or stent (stent: HR, 1.67; 95% CI, 0.71-3.94; p = 0.239; AMI: HR, 1.88; 95% CI, 0.42-8.49; p = 0.412; AMI + stent: HR, 1.91; 95% CI, 0.53-6.89; p = 0.321). The risk of post-TKA AMI was elevated within 1 year of the previous episode of AMI/stent (0-180 days: HR, 8.42; 95% CI, 3.03-23.41; p < 0.001; 181-365 days: HR, 7.52; 95% CI, 2.47-22.88; p < 0.001). Only chronic renal failure under hemodialysis was associated with increased risk of AMI within 1 year of TKA (adjusted HR, 4.34; 95% CI, 1.22-15.43; p = 0.023). Patients undergoing TKA with no history of AMI/stent had a lower risk of AMI within 1 year of TKA compared with the patients with no history of surgery (adjusted HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86-0.99; p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: This study found the risk of post-TKA AMI remains high within 1 year in patients with a history of AMI/stent. It is recommended that an elective TKA should be performed at least 1 year after an episode of AMI or stent placement. Stents do not provide protection against post-TKA AMI within 6 months of the AMI and patients with AMI + stent have a higher risk of AMI than those with only AMI. Patients of AMI/stent on hemodialysis have a very high risk of post-TKA AMI. However, the risk of AMI is lower in post-TKA patients compared with those with no TKA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, prognostic study.

Hepatitis C virus infection increases the risk of developing peripheral arterial disease: a 9-year population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The relationship between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) development remains unclear. METHODS: Health insurance claims data were used to construct a cohort of HCV-infected patients diagnosed during the period 1998-2011. Patients younger than 20 years and those with history of hepatitis B or PAD were excluded. We selected 7641 HCV-infected patients and 30564 matched controls. The adjusted risk of developing PAD was analyzed using a multivariate Cox hazard model. RESULTS: The results show that the excess risk of PAD development in HCV-infected patients is 1.43-fold higher (95% CI=1.23-1.67) compared with non-HCV patients. The adjusted risk of PAD development increases with age; compared with the 20-34 year-old patients, the risk is 3.96-fold higher in HCV-infected patients aged 35-49 years, and 11.7-fold higher in those aged 65 years and above. CKD/ESRD has the highest risk for PAD (HR=1.80, 95% CI=1.29-2.53). HCV-infected patients with four comorbidities exhibit a substantially higher risk of developing PAD (HR=9.25, 95% CI=6.35-13.5). Excess risk of developing PAD is observed from the first year of follow-up till the third year. CONCLUSION: HCV-infected patients have an independently higher risk of developing PAD. HCV-infected patients with comorbidity have increased risk of developing PAD.

Trend and factors associated with healthcare use and costs in type 2 diabetes mellitus: a decade experience of a universal health insurance program.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about how a universal National Health Insurance program with cost-containment strategies affect costs and quality of diabetes care. OBJECTIVES: To examine the trends of healthcare use and costs for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Taiwan over the last decade, and to identify factors associated with high healthcare cost and poor diabetes care. RESEARCH DESIGN: We delineated the pattern of healthcare use and costs for T2DM in 2000-2010. Generalized linear and logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with medical costs and diabetes care. SUBJECTS: Representative adult T2DM patients and age-matched and sex-matched nondiabetes individuals were selected from the 2000, 2005, and 2010 National Health Insurance Research Databases. MEASURES: Healthcare use included physician visits, hospital admissions, and antidiabetic drug prescriptions. Indicators of diabetes management included completeness of recommended diabetes tests and medication adherence, assessed using medication possession ratio. RESULTS: The total healthcare cost per diabetes patient was approximately 2.8-fold higher than that for nondiabetes individual. The growth of healthcare cost per diabetes patient was significantly contained by about 3694 New Taiwan dollars (3.6%) between 2005 and 2010, but diabetes care improved over the decade. Diabetes duration, income, place of residence, continuity of care, and enrollment to a pay-for-performance program were associated with healthcare costs and diabetes management. Some public health measures implemented to support diabetes care were also discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare costs could be controlled without sacrificing the quality of diabetes care by implementing pay-for-performance programs and effective health policies favorable for diabetes care.