The ABCG2 rs2231142 polymorphism and the risk of nephrolithiasis: A case-control study from the Taiwan biobank.

Background: Hyperuricemia and gout are risk factors of nephrolithiasis. However, it is unclear whether the ABCG2 gene contributes to the development of nephrolithiasis. We aimed to investigate the interaction between the ABCG2 rs2231142 variant and incident nephrolithiasis in the Taiwanese population. Methods: A total of 120,267 adults aged 30-70 years were enrolled from the Taiwan Biobank data-base in this retrospective case-control study and genotyped for rs2231142. The primary outcome was the prevalence of self-reported nephrolithiasis. The odds ratio (OR) of incident nephrolithiasis was analyzed by multivariable logistic regression models with adjustment for multifactorial confounding factors. Associations of the ABCG2 rs2231142 variant with serum uric acid levels, and the incident nephrolithiasis were explored. Results: The frequency of rs2231142 T allele was 53%, and 8,410 participants had nephrolithiasis. The multivariable-adjusted OR (95% confidence interval) of nephrolithiasis was 1.18 (1.09-1.28) and 1.12 (1.06-1.18) for TT and GT genotypes, respectively, compared with the GG genotype (p<0.001), specifically in the male population with hyperuricemia. Higher age, male sex, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperuricemia, smoking and overweight were independent risk factors for nephrolithiasis. In contrast, regular physical exercise is a protective factor against nephrolithiasis. Conclusions: ABCG2 genetic variation is a significant risk of nephrolithiasis, independent of serum uric acid levels. For rs2231142 T allele carriers, our result provides evidence for precision healthcare to tackle hyperuricemia, comorbidities, smoking, and overweight, and recommend regular physical exercise for the prevention of nephrolithiasis.

Thyroid Disorders and Dementia Risk: A Nationwide Population-Based Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dementia has been gaining attention in aging societies and is estimated to affect 50 million adults globally in 2020, and 12% of the US population may develop a thyroid disorder in their lifetime. There have been limited studies investigating the correlation between thyroid disorder and dementia in the Asian population. METHODS: Our large nationwide population-based case-control study used the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database. A total of 7,843 adults with newly diagnosed dementia without a history of dementia or neurodegenerative disease between 2006 and 2013 were identified and included in our study. In addition, 7,843 adults without dementia diagnosis before the index date were age and sex-matched as controls. Diagnosis of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism before the diagnosis of dementia or the same index date was identified. Results were obtained from logistic regression models and adjusted for sex, age, history of hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, depression, hyperlipidemia, alcohol dependence syndrome, tinnitus, hearing loss, and radioactive iodine treatment. RESULTS: A total of 15,686 patients were included in the study. Both case and control groups were slightly predominantly female (4,066 [51.8%]). The mean (SD) age for those with dementia was 74.9 (11.3) years and for those without dementia was 74.5 (11.3) years. Among patients aged 65 years or older, a history of hypothyroidism was associated with an increased risk of being diagnosed with dementia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.81; 95% CI 1.14-2.87; p = 0.011), which was an association not present in patients older than 50 years but younger than 65 years. We found that this association was most significant among patients aged 65 years or older with a history of hypothyroidism who received hypothyroidism medication (aOR 3.17; 95% CI 1.04-9.69; p = 0.043). DISCUSSION: Our large-scale case-control study found that among people aged 65 years or older, those with a history of hypothyroidism were associated with an 81% increased risk of having dementia and among those, there was a more than 3-fold increased dementia risk with thyroid conditions that required thyroid hormone replacement treatment. Future well-controlled prospective longitudinal studies should be conducted to elucidate these potential mechanisms and relationships. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class III evidence that among patients aged 65 years or older, a history of hypothyroidism was associated with an increased risk of being diagnosed with dementia.

Efficacy of Cryoballoon Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation and Recurrence Predictors in an Asian Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) is a rhythm control procedure used in clinical trials, mostly in Western countries. Its efficacy and the predictors of AF recurrence after CBA remain unclear for Asian populations. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of CBA and the predictors of AF recurrence after CBA in Asian AF patients. METHODS: We included consecutive AF patients undergoing CBA for rhythm control between 2014 and 2020. The baseline characteristics, including AF types, symptom severity, and left atrial diameter (LAD), were analyzed. Holter's monitoring and 12-lead ECG were performed to document AF recurrence. A multivariate Cox hazards regression model was used to evaluate the risk of AF recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 120 AF patients (aged 61.9 ± 9.3 years) were included. The percentage of patients free from AF in the year following CBA was 74.2%. Among the three independent predictors of AF recurrence within one year were the presence of persistent AF (p = 0.025), an LAD ≥ 4.75 cm (p = 0.016), and pre-procedural cardioversion (p = 0.025). All patients survived and none had a stroke after CBA. CONCLUSION: CBA for AF is an effective and safe procedure in Asian populations. The presence of persistent AF, an LAD ≥ 4.75 cm, and severe symptoms are predictors of AF recurrence in the year following CBA.

The Influence of Socioeconomic Status on Esophageal Cancer in Taiwan: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer has extreme worldwide demographic and histologic variations in occurrence; thus, understanding the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer must be region- or country-based. We examined the incidence and tumor stage at diagnosis of esophageal cancer in relation to patients' socioeconomic status (SES) in Taiwan. METHOD: This retrospective cohort study used data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database and Taiwan Cancer Registry collected between January 2008 and December 2014. The records of 40- to 79-year-old patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer were retrieved. The distribution of the crude incidence rates of esophageal cancer by occupation and income variables was studied retrospectively. Cox proportional hazard model was used to adjust for potential confounders and compare the esophageal cancer incidence among four independent variables: age, gender, occupation, and income. Logistic regression analysis was applied to find the power of the independent variables on the odds ratio of late-stage presentation. RESULTS: The analysis included 7763 subjects. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) was the predominant histological type (96.6%) and 94.4% of patients were male. The peak affected age for ESCC was 50 to 59 years, whereas the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma increased progressively with age. The risk of ESCC was significantly unfavorable for the most disadvantaged group, either in occupation or income, while in EAC, risk was unrelated to either factor. The stage of cancer at diagnosis was lower in the highest income groups than in the other two groups. CONCLUSION: Significant SES disparities in esophageal cancer incidence, based on occupation and income, are present in Taiwan. Low SES populations have a higher percentage of late-stage diagnosis. Resolution of the increasing socioeconomic disparities and narrowing the gaps in health inequities in Taiwan are needed.

The Association of Olfactory Dysfunction With Depression, Cognition, and Disease Severity in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Non-motor subtypes of Parkinson's disease (PD) include the limbic, cognitive, and brainstem phenotype, which may have different pathological pathways with olfaction. In this work, we aim to clarify the association between olfactory dysfunction, depression, cognition, and disease severity in PD. Methods: A total of 105 PD subjects were included and divided into anosmia and non-anosmic groups, using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). All patients were evaluated with the movement disorder society unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (MDS-UPDRS), the Beck depression inventory (BDI)-II, and the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA). Results: The BDI-II and UPSIT scores had a trend of reverse correlation without statistical significance (ß-coefficient -0.12, p = 0.232). However, the odds ratio (OR) in anosmia was 2.74 (95% CI 1.01-7.46) for depression and 2.58 (95% CI 1.06-6.29) for cognitive impairment. For the MDS-UPDRS total and Part 3 score, the anosmia had a ß-coefficient of 12.26 (95% CI 5.69-18.82) and 8.07 (95% CI 3.46-12.67), respectively. Neither depression nor cognitive impairment is associated with motor symptoms. Conclusion: More severe olfactory dysfunction in PD is associated with cognitive impairment and greater disease severity. Depression in PD may involve complex pathways, causing relatively weak association with olfactory dysfunction.

Increased risk of stroke in patients with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is frequently an incidental finding during X-ray examination. Although it has been shown to be associated with several chronic diseases, the hazard of cerebrovascular disease has seldom been explored. Our study aimed at determining the risk of stroke conferred by DISH, which is a retrospective cohort study adopting the largest medical database in Taiwan. Patients with a diagnosis of DISH at least three times from 2005 to 2010 were identified as the study group, and those in the control group were selected by matching age and gender. Patients were followed up until the end of 2015 to trace the incidence of stroke. Cox regression analysis was performed to compute the hazard ratio of stroke. Among the included 5300 patients, 1060 had a diagnosis of DISH. Significantly higher prevalence rates of stroke, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia were noted in these patients. Overall, DISH conferred a 1.68 times higher risk of developing stroke. The significantly higher hazard ratio could be identified in both genders whether hypertension existed or not. Even in those without comorbidities, DISH still conferred a significantly higher risk of cerebrovascular disease in the future, which should never be ignored when encountered during clinical practice.

Is either anosmia or constipation associated with cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease?

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the association of anosmia or constipation with cognitive dysfunction and disease severity in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Newly diagnosed patients with PD (less than 5 years) without a clinical diagnosis of dementia were included from February 2017 to August 2018. The subjects were further divided into subgroups based on whether anosmia occurred and the grade of constipation. The severity of PD motor symptoms was rated using the Movement Disorder Society-Sponsored Revision of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), and cognitive functions were evaluated by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Statistical analyses including t-tests, chi-square tests, multiple linear regression, and binary logistic regression were used to determine statistical significance. RESULTS: A total of 107 newly diagnosed PD patients were included in this study. The MoCA score was significantly lower in the anosmia group (p < 0.001). Constipation was associated with impaired olfaction in a post-hoc test. The correlation coefficient between MoCA and UPSIT score was 0.41 (p < 0.001). Total anosmia and age were associated with cognitive dysfunction (MoCA < 26) (odds ratio, 2.63, p = 0.003; 1.10, p < 0.001, respectively). The anosmia group had a higher MDS-UPDRS part 3 score with ß coefficient of 7.30 (p = 0.02). Furthermore, grade 3 constipation was associated with a higher MDS-UPDRS total score with ß coefficient of 14.88 (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Anosmia but not constipation was associated with cognitive impairment in PD patients. Nevertheless, severe constipation was associated with impaired olfaction and PD disease severity. We suggest that the propagation of α-synuclein from the olfactory route is distinct from the enteric nervous system, but the intercommunication between these two routes is complex.

Age-Stratified Risk of Dementia in Parkinson's Disease: A Nationwide, Population-Based, Retrospective Cohort Study in Taiwan.

Introduction: Parkinson's disease (PD) manifests with dominant motor symptoms and a wide range of non-motor symptoms (NMS). Dementia is one of the most disabling and exhausting NMS throughout the clinical course. We conducted a population-based, age-stratified, retrospective cohort study to investigate the incidence rate and risk of dementia of patients with newly diagnosed PD, and linked to the clinicopathological PD subtypes. Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed PD (PD group, n = 760) and control subjects (non-PD group, n = 3,034) were selected from the Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database from January 2001 to December 2005. The dementia incidence rate and dementia-free survival rate were calculated. Results: The overall dementia incidence rate was 17.5 and 5.7 per 1,000 person-years in PD and non-PD groups, respectively. The PD group had a significantly higher overall risk of dementia than controls (p < 0.001). The younger PD patients had a lower dementia incidence rate than the older PD patients, but a higher dementia risk compared to the same age of controls (<60 years, adjusted HR 6.55, 95% CI 1.56-27.48, p = 0.010). The dementia-free survival rate was significantly lower in the PD group compared to the non-PD group during follow-up (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In our study, the older age of onset in PD patients resulted in a higher incidence rate of dementia. In the young age of PD patients, the incidence rate of dementia was lower than the older PD patients, but the dementia risk was higher than controls of the same age. These findings possibly implied that there were different pathogenesis and pathologies causing dementia in younger and older PD patients.

Risk of Dementia in Patients with Depression or Parkinson's Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to clarify whether Parkinson's disease (PD) and depression were independent risk factors or with synergic effects in dementia. METHODS: Newly diagnosed PD (n = 1213) patients and control subjects (n = 4852) were selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from January 2001 through December 2008. Follow-up ended in 2011 with an outcome of dementia occurring or not. This cohort was divided into controls with or without depression, PD only, and PD with depression. The incident rate of dementia and hazard ratio (HR) using Cox's regression analysis were calculated for each group. RESULTS: When compared with controls without depression as HR 1.00, the adjusted HR for dementia was 3.29 (p < 0.001) in the PD only group, 2.77 (p < 0.001) in the PD with depression group, and 1.55 (p=0.024) in the depression only group. The incident rate of dementia was 29.2 (per 1000 person-years) in the PD only group and 13.2 in the PD with depression group. The effect of PD on dementia in the depression group produced a HR of 0.97 (p=0.905). CONCLUSIONS: Parkinson's disease served as a risk factor for dementia. By comparison, depression was not a risk factor for dementia in PD patients, although it did act as a risk factor for dementia.

Is there a close association of depression with either constipation or dysosmia in Parkinson's disease?

A possible association between depression and either the severity of constipation or dysosmia in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients was investigated in this cross-sectional study. One-hundred six patients who had the history of PD for less than 5 years were recruited. Depression was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and our patients were divided into depressive and non-depressive groups (DP: BDI-II ≥ 14; n = 22 and NDP: BDI-II < 14; n = 84). Olfactory dysfunction was assessed by the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). Constipation severity was defined by stool softener dosage and amount. Statistical analyses with one-tailed T- or chi-squared test, odds ratios (OR), and beta-coefficient were used to determine significant differences. Total scores based on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) were significantly higher in the DP group. A significant relationship was observed between PD patients with depression and severe constipation; PD patients with depression were more likely to present with severe constipation (OR 5.81; 95% CI 1.24-27.29, p = 0.026, adjusted for age and gender); but the significance became marginal after adjusted for age, gender and UPDRS part 3 (OR 4.46, 95% CI 0.93-21.33; p = 0.061). However, no association between olfactory dysfunction and depression was detected. There were significant positive correlations between BDI-II scores and severe constipation (ß ± SE 7.65 ± 2.02; p = < 0.001, adjusted for age and gender; ß ± SE 7.06 ± 2.04; p = 0.001, adjusted for age, gender, and UPDRS-3). Besides, we detected a marginally significant correlation that PD patients with higher BDI-II scores tended to present more severe motor symptoms. Olfactory dysfunction seemed to be less relevant to BDI-II scores. Based on our findings, we speculate that depression may be more closely related to brainstem nuclei than to the limbic pathway.

Impact of antipyretics on acute asthma exacerbation during respiratory infection-A nationwide population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Antipyretics are frequently used in pediatric practice. Both acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been reported to increase the risk of asthma exacerbation. The study investigated antipyretic use during respiratory infection in children and analyzed the risk of acetaminophen and NSAID for severe asthma exacerbation (AE) in asthmatic children in Taiwan. METHODS: We used the data from the National Health Insurance Research Database in 2005. There were 27,095 pediatric asthmatic patients having at least one respiratory infection episode, and 27,095 age- and sex-matched non-asthmatic children with respiratory infection served as controls. These patients were divided into groups with acetaminophen use, NSAID cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) use, and no antipyretic use. The rate of AE occurrence within the first 7 days after respiratory infection diagnosis was compared among the groups. RESULTS: During a single episode of respiratory infection, asthmatic patients used fewer antipyretics than controls (48.51% vs. 55.50%, p < 0.001). No difference was observed in the risk of AE occurrence within 7 days after respiratory infection between antipyretic users and antipyretic nonusers (22/13,144 [0.167%] vs. 12/13,951 [0.086%], p = 0.058). Compared with asthmatic children using acetaminophen, those using no antipyretic and COX-1 have lower risks for AE (OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.12-0.54, p < 0.001; and OR: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.03-0.61, p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: In asthmatic children, the rate of AE after a single respiratory infection episode was around 0.144%. The risk of AE was higher in those who took acetaminophen.

The impact of rehabilitation frequency on the risk of stroke in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are at higher risk of developing stroke due to augmented systemic inflammation. While regular exercise has been shown to reduce inflammation in human subjects, the purpose of our study is to determine whether increased frequency of rehabilitation is protective against stroke or not. METHODS: A total of 16,224 rheumatoid arthritis patients with a catastrophic illness certificate were identified in our database from 2000 to 2006, and 663 of them developed stroke before the end of 2013. After statistically matching for age, sex, and the time interval between the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and stroke, 642 patients without stroke were identified as the control group. Analyses with Student's t test and Chi-square test were done to compare the clinical characteristics of patients with and without stroke, and logistic regression analysis was then performed to evaluate the odds ratio of stroke. RESULTS: Higher odds ratio of stroke was revealed in patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and moderate degree of rheumatoid arthritis disease severity. Furthermore, more than 40 rehabilitation sessions per year reduced the risk of developing stroke in patients with moderate disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activities brought by more rehabilitation sessions are beneficial and should be encouraged in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, particularly for those with higher disease activity but not taking biologic agents.

Social Isolation, Loneliness, and All-Cause Mortality in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: A 10-Year Follow-up Study.

OBJECTIVE: Social isolation and loneliness have been associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but few studies have evaluated the impact of social isolation and loneliness on mortality in people with existing CVD, and these are limited to Western populations. We examined whether social isolation and loneliness are associated with increased risk of mortality in individuals with established CVD in Taiwan. METHODS: The cohort was composed of 1267 patients with confirmed CVD 65 years or older followed up for up to 10 years. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to examine the association between social isolation and loneliness at baseline and mortality at follow-up by adjusting for demographic variables, health-related behaviors, and health status. RESULTS: There were 593 deaths during the follow-up period. Social isolation was associated with increased risk of mortality after accounting for established risk factors (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.16; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06-1.26), whereas loneliness was not associated with increased risk of mortality (HR = 0.95; 95% CI = 0.82-1.09). When both social isolation and loneliness were included in the model, social isolation maintained an association with mortality (HR = 1.16; 95% CI =1.07-1.27). CONCLUSIONS: Social isolation is associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients with CVD, and the effects are independent of loneliness. These findings expand our knowledge about the impact of social isolation on the outcomes of CVD in non-Western countries. Efforts to reduce isolation may have substantial benefits in terms of mortality in patients with CVD.

Prior uterine myoma and risk of ovarian cancer: a population-based case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: Uterine myoma which results in the magnitude of ovarian cancer remains uncertain. This study aimed to assess the association between women with previous uterine myoma and the risk of ovarian cancer. METHODS: This population-based case-control study was conducted using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 2006 and 2010. We identified 4,088 adult women with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer with 16,348 women without ovarian cancer matched for age, urbanization level, income and initial diagnosis date. Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the variables associated with ovarian cancer. In addition, the effect of surgical interventions on the risk of ovarian cancer was also evaluated. RESULTS: Women with previous uterine myoma were more likely than those who did not to have ovarian cancer (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=2.26; 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.06-2.49). Patients with uterine myoma who either received (aOR=1.79; 95% CI=1.51-2.13) or did not receive hormone replacement therapy (aOR=2.51; 95% CI=2.24-2.82) experienced a significantly higher risk of ovarian cancer than those without uterine myoma, respectively. However, patients with uterine myoma who underwent either myomectomy (aOR=0.55; 95% CI=0.39-0.77) or hysterectomy (aOR=0.33; 95% CI=0.26-0.42) had a significantly lower risk of ovarian cancer. CONCLUSION: The results revealed that a significantly higher risk of ovarian cancer in women with previous uterine myoma, through an indirect mechanism. Furthermore, a lower risk of ovarian cancer was observed in women who underwent surgical removal of the uterine myoma.

Association Between Thyroid Disorders and Colorectal Cancer Risk in Adult Patients in Taiwan.

Importance: Thyroid hormones have been shown to affect several important pathways in cancer development, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Clinical studies examining the association between thyroid disorders and colorectal cancer have conflicting results and have predominantly involved white populations. Objective: To determine if a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism is associated with the risk of developing colorectal cancer in an East Asian population. Design, Setting, and Participants: This nationwide population-based case-control study was conducted from April 27, 2018, to November 8, 2018, using the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database. Participants were adults (n = 139 426) either with a new diagnosis (between 2008 and 2013) of primary colorectal cancer without a history of cancer, or without cancer. Cases and controls were matched 1:1 by age, sex, and index date. Diagnosis of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism prior to the diagnosis of colorectal cancer (or the same index date in controls) was then determined. Main Outcomes and Measures: Risk differences in developing colorectal cancer among patients with a medical history of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Results: A total of 139 426 patients were included in the study, and 69 713 individuals made up each case and control group, which were both predominantly male (39 872 [57.2%]). The mean (SD) age for those with CRC was 65.8 (13.7) years and for those without CRC was 66.0 (13.6) years. Both hyperthyroidism (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.77; 95% CI, 0.69-0.86; P < .001) and hypothyroidism (aOR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.65-0.94; P = .008) were associated with a decreased risk of being diagnosed with colorectal cancer. An inverse association of rectal cancer was found among patients aged 50 years or older with a history of hypothyroidism despite treatment (aOR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.39-0.74; P < .001). A history of hyperthyroidism in all age groups was associated with a lower risk of colon cancer (aOR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.64-0.85; P < .001), with a stronger association seen among those younger than 50 years (aOR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.36-0.85; P = .007). Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, hypothyroidism appeared to be associated with a lower risk of rectal cancer, whereas hyperthyroidism appeared to be associated with a lower risk of colon cancer. Because of this, biochemical in vivo research and epidemiologic studies appear to be needed to further clarify the nature of these associations.

Thyroid disorders and breast cancer risk in Asian population: a nationwide population-based case-control study in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism increases the risk of subsequent breast cancer in an Asian population. DESIGN: Nationwide population-based case-control study. SETTING: All healthcare facilities in Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 103 466 women (mean age 53.3 years) were enrolled. METHODS: 51 733 adult women with newly diagnosed primary breast cancer without a previous cancer history between 2006 and 2011 were identified and included in our study. 51 733 women with no cancer diagnosis prior to the index date were age matched as controls. Diagnosis of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism prior to the diagnosis of breast cancer or the same index date was identified, age, histories of thyroid disease treatment, oestrogen use and radioactive iodine treatment were adjusted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: To identify risk differences in developing breast cancer among patients with a medical history of hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. RESULTS: There was a significantly increased risk of breast cancer in women with hyperthyroidism under the age of 55 years (age <45: OR 1.16, P=0.049; age 45-55: OR 1.15, P=0.019). Patients with hypothyroidism also showed an increased risk of breast cancer (OR 1.19, P=0.029) without statistical significance after stratification by age group (age <45, 45-55, >55 years). Treatment for thyroid disorders did not alter the association in subgroup analyses (P=0.857; 0.262, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Asian women under 55 years of age with history of hyperthyroidism have a significantly increased risk of breast cancer regardless of treatment. Women with history of hypothyroidism may also have an increased risk.

Depression in Parkinson's disease: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the association between Parkinson's disease (PD) prognosis and the patient's onset of depression. METHODS: A total of 353 patients with newly-diagnosed PD and a history of depression were enrolled. On the basis of the onset of depression before or after PD diagnosis, we divided participants into PD patients with pre- or post-diagnostic depression. Cox's regression analysis was used to detect risks between the onset of depression and outcomes (including death, accidental injury, dementia, and aspiration pneumonia). The association between the onset of depression and levodopa equivalent dosage (LED) and cumulative equivalent dosage of antidepressants were assessed. RESULTS: PD patients with post-diagnostic depression were associated with significantly higher risks of dementia (adjusted HR = 2·01, p = 0·015), and were older (58·5 ± 17·7 vs. 53·7 ± 18·6, p = 0·020) at the time of PD diagnosis than PD patients with pre-diagnostic depression. The higher incident rate of accidental injury was also noted in PD patients with post-diagnostic depression (48·1 vs. 31·3/1000 person-years, HR = 1·60, p = 0·041), but no statistical significance was observed in the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) (HR = 1·52, p = 0·069). Otherwise, mortality, motor condition and severity of depression revealed no significant difference between PD patients with pre-diagnostic and post-diagnostic depression. CONCLUSION: PD patients with post-diagnostic depression had higher incidence of dementia, implying different onset time of depression could be associated with different subtypes and spreading routes which should be examined in follow-up studies.

Leisure-Time, Domestic, and Work-Related Physical Activity and Their Prospective Associations With All-Cause Mortality in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease.

This study aimed to examine the prospective associations between total physical activity, leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and domestic and work-related physical activity (DWPA) involving heavy physical labor, with all-cause mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). A 7-year follow-up cohort design was used based on the data from the Taiwan 2005 National Health Interview Survey, which was linked to the 2005 to 2012 Taiwan National Health Insurance claims data. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were utilized to assess the associations between physical activity and all-cause mortality in 2,370 patients with CVD. Participants who achieved a volume of all physical activities of ≥1,000 kcal/week experienced lower risks of all-cause mortality than those who achieved less. Additionally, an inverse relation between LTPA and all-cause mortality was observed. Furthermore, participants who reported exertions (1 to 999 kcal/week) in DWPA had the lowest risk of all-cause mortality. This study provides evidence that patients with CVD who achieve at least a moderate volume of physical activity reduce their mortality risk. It also reveals that both LTPA and DWPA may be important contributors to the reduced risk of premature death among this clinical population.

Increased risk of breast cancer in women with uterine myoma: a nationwide, population-based, case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if uterine myoma is associated with breast cancer. METHODS: This case-control study used a nationwide database in Taiwan. We identified 24,315 patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer as cases and matched them with 24,281 patients without breast cancer on age, sex, urbanization, income, and initial diagnosis date. Patients with prior mastectomy were excluded. We used logistic regression analysis to assess the association between uterine myoma and breast cancer while adjusting for confounders. We evaluated the impact of surgical removal of uterine myoma on subsequent breast cancer among patients with uterine myoma. RESULTS: We found that 2,892 (11.9%) patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer and 2,541 (10.5%) patients without breast cancer had a history of uterine myoma. The association between breast cancer and uterine myoma was significant (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.14; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.07-1.21; p<0.001). This association remained in patients who used hormone (aOR=1.20; 95% CI=1.08-1.33; p=0.001) or who did not use hormone (aOR=1.11; 95% CI=1.03-1.19; p=0.005) within 5 years prior to the index date. Surgical removal of uterine myoma was not associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer (aOR=0.99; 95% CI=0.88-1.10; p=0.795). CONCLUSION: A minor increased risk of breast cancer was found in women with a history of uterine myoma. This association remained in patients with recent hormone use. Removal of uterine myoma was not associated with decreased risk of breast cancer.