Optimisation of protection in the medical exposure of recurrent adult patients due to computed tomography procedures: development of recurrent exposures reference levels.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the incidence (1 year) and the cumulative incidence (3 years) of the condition of patients accruing cumulative effective doses (CED) of ≥ 100 mSv and their variability among different hospitals. To establish and validate a reference level for the CED in patients with recurrent exposures (RERL) and provide a RERL value. METHODS: Data of CT exposure was collected in 9 similar hospitals. The database included 294,222 patient*years who underwent 442,278 CT exams in 3 years. The incidence proportion of patients with CED ≥ 100 mSv in a given year (I100;1) and the 3-year cumulative incidence of patients with CED ≥ 100 mSv over 3 consecutive years (I100;3) were calculated and compared among different institutions. RESULTS: I100;1 ranged from a minimum of 0.1% to a maximum of 5.1%. The percentage of recurrent patients was quite uniform among centres ranging from 23 to 38%. The I100;3 ranged from a minimum of 1.1 to 11.4%. There was a strong positive correlation between the third quartile values of yearly CED and yearly incidence (r = 0.90; R2 = 0.81; p < 0.0001). RERL value in our study was found at 34.0 mSv. CONCLUSION: The management of patients with recurrent exposures is highly variable among hospitals leading to a 50-fold variation in I100;1 and to a tenfold variation in I100;3. RERL could be established and used by taking as a RERL quantity the CED and as a RERL value the 75th percentile of the third quartiles of the distribution of the yearly CED obtained by surveying different hospitals. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: This is the first ever multicentre study that quantifies recurrent exposures in terms of incidence and cumulative incidence of patients with CED ≥ 100 mSv. RERL establishment and use could benefit the optimisation of radioprotection of patients with recurrent exposures. KEY POINTS: This is the first multicentre study estimating yearly incidence and 3-year cumulative incidence of patients with cumulative effective doses ≥ 100 mSv. In this study, a 50-fold inter centre variation between the maximum (5.1%) and the minimum value (0.1%) of yearly incidence of patients with cumulative effective doses ≥ 100 mSv was reported. The range of the 3-year cumulative incidence extended from 1.1 to 11.4% (a tenfold variation) The third quartile of the yearly cumulative effective doses in a centre showed a strong positive correlation with the yearly incidence of patients with cumulative effective doses ≥ 100 mSv, with a potential of being used to set reference levels for recurrent exposures.

Major Adverse Limb Events in Patients Undergoing Revascularisation for Lower Limb Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Nationwide Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: Major adverse limb events (MALEs) are frequent in patients with lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD). However, routine care MALE rate estimations after revascularisation are scarce. This study aimed to determine post-procedural MALE rates in revascularised patients with PAD and identify predictors of post-procedural MALEs. METHODS: This was a population based observational study on merged national registry data. Patients with PAD undergoing lower limb revascularisation between 2008 and 2016 were retrieved from the Swedish National Registry for Vascular Surgery. Information on comorbidities, medications, and post-procedural MALE endpoints were identified in national healthcare registries. Primary outcomes of interest were categorised as 2 - 4 point MALE composites that included limb amputation, acute lower limb ischaemia, progression to or relapse of chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI), and ipsilateral re-interventions regardless of indication. Patients with intermittent claudication (IC) and CLTI were analysed separately using Kaplan-Meier estimates. Stepwise Cox proportional hazard models were used for predictor candidate analysis. RESULTS: Overall, 28 021 revascularised patients with PAD were analysed (IC, n = 10 506, 37.5%; CLTI, n = 17 515, 62.5%). During a mean follow up ± standard deviation of 3.2 ± 2.4 years, 5 226 (18.7%), 9 423 (33.6%), and 12 696 (45.3%) patients experienced a 2, 3, and 4 point MALE, respectively. The estimated one year 4 point MALE rates were 21.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 20.6 - 22.2%) in IC and 46.9% (95% CI 46.1 - 47.7%) in CLTI. Adjusted predictors for experiencing a 4 point MALE in IC were chronic kidney disease (CKD) (hazard ratio [HR] 1.33, 95% CI 1.12 - 1.59) and previous lower limb revascularisation (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.19 - 1.40). In CLTI, previous contralateral lower limb amputation (HR 1.60, 95% CI 1.47 - 1.73) and CKD (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.17 - 1.34) were adjusted predictors. CONCLUSION: This study emphasises the very high MALE rates in revascularised patients with lower limb PAD, especially in CLTI. Prior lower limb revascularisation correlated with increased MALE rates in IC patients, while prior lower limb amputation was linked to subsequent MALEs in CLTI. In both IC and CLTI, CKD was associated with poorer outcomes, regardless of applied MALE definition.

A multicentre prospective analysis of the incidence of pemphigoid diseases in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: The differentiation between the pemphigoid diseases is essential for treatment and prognosis. In Turkey, data on the incidence of these diseases are insufficient. Our aim in this study is to determine the incidence, demographics and clinical characteristics associated with diseases of the pemphigoid group. METHODS: We prospectively analysed 295 patients with pemphigoid who visited dermatology clinics of tertiary referral hospitals in 12 different regions of Turkey within a year. The diagnosis was based on clinical, histopathological, direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and serological (multivariant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], indirect immunofluorescence and mosaic-based BIOCHIP) examinations. Clinical and demographic findings, aetiological factors and concomitant diseases observed in the patients were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 295 (female/male ratio: 1.7/1) patients with pemphigoid were diagnosed in 1-year period. The overall incidence rate of pemphigoid diseases was found to be 3.55 cases per million-years. The ratio of pemphigoid group diseases to pemphigus group diseases was 1.6. The most common pemphigoid type was bullous pemphigoid (BP, 93.2%). The others were epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (3.1%), pemphigoid gestationis (2.4%), linear IgA disease (1%) and mucous membrane pemphigoid (0.3%). The most common (26.8%) possible trigger of the bullous pemphigoid was gliptin derivative drugs. The most common concomitant diseases with pemphigoid were cardiovascular (27.8%) and neurological diseases (23.7%). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the increased frequency of bullous pemphigoid reversed the pemphigoid/pemphigus ratio in Turkey. Further studies are warranted regarding the reasons for this increase.

Weight tracking in childhood and adolescence and type 2 diabetes risk.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this work was to examine the associations of average weight and weight velocity in three growth periods from birth through adolescence with type 2 diabetes incidence. METHODS: Child participants were selected from a 43 year longitudinal study of American Indians to represent three growth periods: pre-adolescence (birth to ~8 years); early adolescence (~8 to ~13 years); and late adolescence (~13 to ~18 years). Age-, sex- and height-standardised weight z score mean and weight z score velocity (change/year) were computed for each period. Participants were followed for up to 25 years from the end of each growth period until they developed diabetes. Associations of weight z score mean or weight z score velocity with diabetes incidence were determined with sex-, birth date- and maternal diabetes-adjusted Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Among 2100 participants representing the pre-adolescence growth period, 1558 representing the early adolescence period and 1418 representing the late adolescence period, there were 290, 315 and 380 incident diabetes cases, respectively. During the first 10 years of follow-up, the diabetes incidence rate ratio (95% CI) was 1.72 (1.40, 2.11)/SD of log10 weight z score mean in pre-adolescence, 2.09 (1.68, 2.60)/SD of log10 weight z score mean in early adolescence and 1.85 (1.58, 2.17)/SD of log10 weight z score mean in late adolescence. The diabetes incidence rate ratio (95% CI) was 1.79 (1.49, 2.17)/SD of log10 weight z score velocity in pre-adolescence, 1.13 (0.91, 1.41)/SD of log10 weight z score velocity in early adolescence and 1.29 (1.09, 1.51)/SD of log10 weight z score velocity in late adolescence. There were strong correlations in the weight z score means and weak correlations in the weight z score velocities between successive periods. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Higher weight and accelerated weight gain in all growth periods associate with increased type 2 diabetes risk. Importantly, higher weight and greater weight velocity during pre-adolescence jointly associate with the highest type 2 diabetes risk. Graphical abstract.

Birthweight and early-onset type 2 diabetes in American Indians: differential effects in adolescents and young adults and additive effects of genotype, BMI and maternal diabetes.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this work was to estimate the impact of birthweight on early-onset (age <40 years) type 2 diabetes. METHODS: A longitudinal study of American Indians, aged ≥5 years, was conducted from 1965 to 2007. Participants who had a recorded birthweight were followed until they developed diabetes or their last examination before the age of 40 years, whichever came first. Age- and sex-adjusted diabetes incidence rates were computed and Poisson regression was used to model the effect of birthweight on diabetes incidence, adjusted for sex, BMI, a type 2 diabetes susceptibility genetic risk score (GRS) and maternal covariates. RESULTS: Among 3039 participants, there were 652 incident diabetes cases over a median follow-up of 14.3 years. Diabetes incidence increased with age and was greater in the lowest and highest quintiles of birthweight. Adjusted for covariates, the effect of birthweight on diabetes varied over time, with a non-linear effect at 10-19 years (p < 0.001) and a negative linear effect at older age intervals (20-29 years, p < 0.001; 30-39 years, p = 0.003). Higher GRS, greater BMI and maternal diabetes had additive but not interactive effects on the association between birthweight and diabetes incidence. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: In this high-risk population, both low and high birthweights were associated with increased type 2 diabetes risk in adolescence (age 10-19 years) but only low birthweight was associated with increased risk in young adulthood (20-39 years). Higher type 2 diabetes GRS, greater BMI and maternal diabetes added to the risk of early-onset diabetes.

Fluctuations in the incidence of type 1 diabetes in the United States from 2001 to 2015: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: While the United States has the largest number of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus, less is known regarding adult-onset disease. The present study utilizes nationwide data to compare the incidence of type 1 diabetes in youth (0-19 years) to that of adults (20-64 years). METHODS: In this longitudinal study, the Clinformatics® Data Mart Database was used, which contains information from 61 million commercially insured Americans (years 2001-2015). Incidence rates and exact Poisson 95% confidence intervals were calculated by age group, sex, census division, and year of diagnosis. Changes in rates over time were assessed by negative binomial regression. RESULTS: Overall, there were 32,476 individuals who developed type 1 diabetes in the cohort. The incidence rate was greatest in youth aged 10-14 years (45.5 cases/100,000 person-years); however, because adulthood spans over a longer period than childhood, there was a greater number of new cases in adults than in youth (n = 19,174 adults; n = 13,302 youth). Predominance in males was evident by age 10 and persisted throughout adulthood. The male to female incidence rate ratio was 1.32 (95% CI 1.30-1.35). The incidence rate of type 1 diabetes in youth increased by 1.9% annually from 2001 to 2015 (95% CI 1.1-2.7%; P < 0.001), but there was variation across regions. The greatest increases were in the East South Central (3.8%/year; 95% CI 2.0-5.6%; P < 0.001) and Mountain divisions (3.1%/year; 95% CI 1.6-4.6%; P < 0.001). There were also increases in the East North Central (2.7%/year; P = 0.010), South Atlantic (2.4%/year; P < 0.001), and West North Central divisions (2.4%/year; P < 0.001). In adults, however, the incidence decreased from 2001 to 2015 (-1.3%/year; 95% CI -2.3% to -0.4%; P = 0.007). Greater percentages of cases were diagnosed in January, July, and August for both youth and adults. The number of new cases of type 1 diabetes (ages 0-64 years) in the United States is estimated at 64,000 annually (27,000 cases in youth and 37,000 cases in adults). CONCLUSIONS: There are more new cases of type 1 diabetes occurring annually in the United States than previously recognized. The increase in incidence rates in youth, but not adults, suggests that the precipitating factors of youth-onset disease may differ from those of adult-onset disease.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk in Alaska Native Children and Young Adults with Hepatitis B Virus: Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk in Alaska Native children and young adults with hepatitis B virus (HBV). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of a population-based cohort of Alaska Native persons with HBV followed during 1982-2012. All individuals with HBV were offered HCC screening regardless of age using alpha-fetoprotein every 6 months; persons with an elevated alpha-fetoprotein or persons at high-risk for HCC, such as cirrhosis, family history of HCC, were offered ultrasound. We calculated the HCC incidence/1000 person-years from date of cohort entry until death, diagnosis of HCC, or attaining the age of 40 years (males) or 50 years (females). RESULTS: We followed 1083 subjects with HBV (56% male) comprising 5 genotypes (A2 [12.5%], B6 [1.7%], C [5.3%], D [49.7%], F1 [18.6%], unknown [12.4%]) for a median of 23.4 years/person. We observed 22 HCC cases (incidence/1000 person-years follow-up: 1.0); 19 HCC cases among persons with genotype F1. There was no significant difference in HCC incidence between males (1.4) and females (0.6). The HCC incidence was significantly higher for persons with genotype F1 (4.4) compared with genotype A2 (0.4) and D (0.2) and remained higher among persons with HBV genotype F1 excluding persons with HCC family history/cirrhosis (1.9). CONCLUSIONS: Alaska Native children and young adults with HBV genotype F1 are at high risk for HCC and should receive HCC surveillance. For males <40 years of age and females <50 years of age with HBV in regions of the world with a high genotype F prevalence, testing/confirming genotype F can identify persons who could benefit from HCC surveillance.

New risk factors for adult-onset incident asthma. A nested case-control study of host antioxidant defense.

RATIONALE: Host antioxidant defense, consisting of enzymatic antioxidant activity and nonenzymatic antioxidant micronutrients, is implicated in asthma pathogenesis. Studies of antioxidant defense and adult incident asthma have either used measures of antioxidants estimated from questionnaires or not considered enzymatic aspects of host defense. OBJECTIVES: We conducted the first study designed and powered to investigate the association of antioxidant defenses on adult incident asthma. METHODS: In a nested case-control study, we followed Shanghai women (aged 40-70 years) without prevalent asthma at baseline, over 8 years. Subjects with incident asthma were ascertained prospectively by gold standard testing of symptomatic women and matched to two asymptomatic control subjects. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Baseline urinary F2-isoprostanes, plasma concentrations of antioxidant micronutrients (tocopherols, xanthines, carotenes, and lycopene), and antioxidant enzyme activity (platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase [PAF-AH] and superoxide dismutase) were measured from samples collected before disease onset. Among 65,372 women, 150 (0.24%) developed asthma. F2-isoprostane levels before asthma onset were not different between cases and control subjects. Doubling of α-tocopherol concentrations and PAF-AH activity was associated with 50 and 37% decreased risk of incident asthma (α-tocopherol: adjusted odds ratio = 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.32-0.84; PAF-AH: adjusted odds ratio = 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.42-0.93). CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective study, α-tocopherol, within normal reference ranges, and PAF-AH enzymatic activity were associated with decreased asthma development. These modifiable risk factors may be an effective strategy to test for primary asthma prevention.

Temporal and geographical clustering of Kawasaki disease in Japan: 2007-2012.

BACKGROUND: Since 1987, no study has reported the municipal-level geographical clustering of Kawasaki disease (KD) in Japan. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify the temporal and municipal-level geographical clustering of KD. METHODS: The annual incidence rates of KD for each municipality were calculated using nationwide data from 73 758 patients with KD (2007-2012). To determine whether temporal and municipal-level clustering existed, we calculated the correlations of the annual incidence rates for each municipality during the study years, and compared these rates with those of the adjacent municipalities. Spatial scanning analysis was used to identify the geographical clusters for each year, and the incidence rates in those clusters were compared with the rates in the surrounding region. RESULTS: The annual national incidence rate of KD, adjusted for the prefecture-specific response rate, was 322.45 patients per 100 000 children aged 0-4 years. The correlation between the annual incidence rates during 2 consecutive years was significantly positive (coefficients, 0.149-0.428). On spatial scanning analysis, the most likely clusters were in the Tokyo metropolitan area during 2007-2010 and 2012, and in Kumamoto prefecture during 2011. CONCLUSION: Kawasaki disease exhibits temporal and municipal-level clustering.

Incidence of occult contralateral carcinomas of the breast following mastoplasty aimed at symmetrization.

INTRODUCTION: Breast carcinomas are the most frequent form of cancer in French women. Following a total mastectomy, only an estimated 25% of patients wish to undergo breast reconstruction. After mammary volume reconstitution, the plastic surgeon often attempts to harmonize the two breasts by carrying out contralateral reduction mammaplasty (CRM). In the literature, the incidence of occult contralateral carcinomas incidentally discovered in surgical specimens ranges from 1.12 to 4.5%. The main objective of this study was to evaluate occurrence of carcinoma in the CRM specimens in the framework of a breast reconstruction operation. The secondary objective was to determine the consequences of the incidentally discovered carcinoma in the contralateral breast. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a 6-year, bicentric, retrospective study involving women having undergone breast cancer surgery who later underwent contralateral reduction mammaplasty (CRM), that is to say reconstruction aimed at harmonization of the two breasts. RESULTS: Three hundred and nineteen patients were included in the study. Mean age during the CRM was 55years (29-79). Mean weight of the surgical specimens was 323grams (12-2500). Incidence of occult carcinomas found in the specimens was 0.94% (3 patients). The mean age for these 3 cases was 58years (47-64). All 3 patients had superior pedicle mammaplasty. One of the patients benefited from monobloc resection with orientation of the surgical specimen. In the other 2 cases, there existed 3 surgical resection specimens; in one case, they were oriented; in the other, they were not. In all 3 cases, the histological findings were unifocal ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS). Mean tumor size was 5.7mm (3-9). Only the patient having had monobloc resection with orientation of the specimen underwent salvage surgery, which consisted in partial mastectomy, otherwise known as secondary lumpectomy. Adjuvant radiotherapy was administered to all of the patients. After 17months of mean follow-up (12-22), no recurrence was found in any of the three cases. CONCLUSION: Incidence of occult contralateral breast carcinomas after symmetrization CRM approximates 1%. Our observations are in agreement with the data in the literature. Incidence is greater than in mammaplasty carried out for esthetic or functional reasons; this is probably due to the higher age and the previous breast cancer history of the breast reconstruction population. Monobloc resection and orientation of the surgical specimens with surgeon's knots facilitate precise pinpointing of the occult carcinoma. A secondary lumpectomy may take place when margins of excision are invaded or inadequate.

Characterizing mild cognitive disorders in the young-old over 8 years: prevalence, estimated incidence, stability of diagnosis, and impact on IADLs.

OBJECTIVES: Few studies report incidence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and other mild cognitive disorders (MCD) in cohorts in their 60s, at an age when diagnoses are less stable. The authors' goal was to estimate the incidence and prevalence of MCI and MCD, characterize subgroups with stable vs nonstable diagnoses, and evaluate the impact of diagnosis on daily life in a young-old cohort. METHODS: A community-based cohort age 60 to 64 years in 1999 (n = 2551) was monitored for 8 years and assessed every 4 years. A two-stage sampling design was used to identify MCI and MCD through a neuropsychological and neurological assessment. A panel of physicians blind to previous diagnoses reviewed each case using published criteria. RESULTS: The prevalence of MCDs in the cohort aged 68 to 72 years at the last follow-up was approximately 10%. An estimated 141 subjects (7.7%) progressed to MCI and 183 subjects (10.0%) progressed to MCD between years 4 and 8. Only eight participants received a dementia diagnosis at any wave, five of whom progressed from MCDs. More than 45% of diagnoses were unstable during the 8 years of follow-up. Stable diagnoses were associated with lower Mini-Mental State Examination scores, history of neurological disorder, higher cardiovascular risk, and depression at baseline. MCDs were associated with impairments in instrumental activities of daily living and higher rates of reporting memory problems prior to diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: MCDs in individuals in their 60s occur in at least 10% of the population and are likely to be heterogeneous in terms of their etiology and long-term prognosis, but may cause a significant impact in everyday life.

Evaluating the impact of alternative phenotype definitions on incidence rates across a global data network.

Objective: Developing accurate phenotype definitions is critical in obtaining reliable and reproducible background rates in safety research. This study aims to illustrate the differences in background incidence rates by comparing definitions for a given outcome. Materials and Methods: We used 16 data sources to systematically generate and evaluate outcomes for 13 adverse events and their overall background rates. We examined the effect of different modifications (inpatient setting, standardization of code set, and code set changes) to the computable phenotype on background incidence rates. Results: Rate ratios (RRs) of the incidence rates from each computable phenotype definition varied across outcomes, with inpatient restriction showing the highest variation from 1 to 11.93. Standardization of code set RRs ranges from 1 to 1.64, and code set changes range from 1 to 2.52. Discussion: The modification that has the highest impact is requiring inpatient place of service, leading to at least a 2-fold higher incidence rate in the base definition. Standardization showed almost no change when using source code variations. The strength of the effect in the inpatient restriction is highly dependent on the outcome. Changing definitions from broad to narrow showed the most variability by age/gender/database across phenotypes and less than a 2-fold increase in rate compared to the base definition. Conclusion: Characterization of outcomes across a network of databases yields insights into sensitivity and specificity trade-offs when definitions are altered. Outcomes should be thoroughly evaluated prior to use for background rates for their plausibility for use across a global network.

Epidemiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the north east Tuscany in the 2018-2021 period.

Background: The incidence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) varies among different geographical areas and seems to increase over time. This study aimed to examine the epidemiologic data of ALS in the north-east Tuscany and compare the results with those of similar surveys. Methods: Data from ALS cases diagnosed in Florence and Prato Hospitals were prospectively collected from 1st June 2018 to 31st May 2021. Results: The age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate of ALS in cases per 100,000 population was 2.71 (M/F ratio: 1.21), significantly higher as compared to that reported in the 1967-1976 decade in the same geographical area (0.714). The age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate among resident strangers was similar to that of the general population (2.69). A slightly higher incidence rate (4.36) was observed in the north-east area of Florence province, which includes the Mugello valley. The mean prevalence was of 7.17/100,00. The mean age at diagnosis was 69.7 years, with a peak between 70 and 79 years among men and a smoother age curve among women. Conclusions: ALS epidemiological features in north-east Tuscany are in line with other Italian and European Centers. The dramatic increase of the local disease burden over the last decades probably reflects better ascertainment methods and health system.

Colombian Ocular Infectious Epidemiology Study (COIES): Ocular Toxoplasmosis Incidence and Sociodemographic Characterization, 2015-2019.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to describe the incidence of ocular involvement in patients with toxoplasmosis and describe the sociodemographic characteristics by age, sex, and region in Colombia, based on the National Health Registry of data between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using the Integrated Social Protection Information System database from the Colombian Ministry of Health, the unique official database in the country. We used the International Classification of Diseases for all codes of toxoplasmosis with a specific filter for ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) from 2015 to 2019 to estimate the incidence and the demographic status of the disease in Colombia. RESULTS: During the 5 years of study, the crude unadjusted incidence of OT was 42.02 (Confidence Interval 30.29-56.19) cases in 1,000 patients with toxoplasmosis per year, showing a significant increase of incidence when comparing the year 2019 to the year 2015. There was a predominance of female patients (58% of the cases). The distribution by age shows an increase in cases of the disease in subjects aged 15 to 49 years (65.2%). The geographic analysis showed a higher proportion of cases in the Andean region, followed by the Pacific and the Atlantic regions. CONCLUSION: This is the first study that determines the epidemiological characteristics of OT based on a National Health database in Colombia, showing a public health problem and evidencing the neediness of solidifying preventive and screening strategies in the Colombian population.

Serum uric acid is a predictive biomarker of incident metabolic syndrome at the Brazilian longitudinal study of adult Health (ELSA - Brasil).

AIM: To investigate whether serum uric acid (SUA) levels and hyperuricemia can be predictive biomarkers of incident metabolic syndrome(MS) among different body mass index(BMI) categories, and to investigate SUA cutoffs that best discriminate individuals with incident MS. METHODS: We analyzed 7,789 participants without MS at baseline of ELSA-Brasil study. Logistic regression models were performed to evaluate associations between incident MS and SUA levels/hyperuricemia, expressed by odds ratios(ORs) and confidence intervals(95 % CI). RESULTS: We found 1,646 incident MS cases after a median follow-up of 3.8[3.5-4.1] years. Incident MS was present among 8.3 % (n = 290) of participants with normal weight, 28.3 % (n = 850) with overweight, 39.8 % (n = 506) with obesity. Among incident MS participants of total sample, 33.0 % had hyperuricemia [SUA > 6.0 mg/dL (356.9 µmol/L)]. After all adjustments, SUA was independently prognostic of incident MS: for each 1 mg/dL increase in SUA the odds of incident MS were 45 % higher (OR1.45[CI95 %1.34-1.55 p <.01]). Associations were found for those presenting normal weight, overweight and obesity (OR1.43[CI95 %1.31-1.57 p <.01; OR1.22[CI95 %1.13-1.32 p <.01]; and OR1.16[CI95 %1.04-1.29 p <.05]) respectively. Hyperuricemia was independently associated with incident MS (OR1.88[CI95 %1.49-0.2.36 p <.01]). The SUA cut point level maximizing sensitivity and specificity in the discrimination of incident MS was 5.0 mg/dL. CONCLUSIONS: SUA level is an independent predictive biomarker of incident MS at all BMI categories.

Incidence and Survival by Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 Status in Young Women With Stage I-III Breast Cancer: SEER, 2010-2016.

BACKGROUND: Young premenopausal women with breast cancer often experience more aggressive disease biology and poorer survival than older women. Diagnostic and therapeutic advances, including human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-directed therapy, may lessen treatment burden and improve survival for these young women, but contemporary incidence and survival data by HER2 status are limited. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We identified women aged 20-49 years (n = 68,530) diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer during 2010-2016 from the United States Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 registries database. Age-adjusted average annual percent changes in incidence (diagnosis 2010-2016) and 5-year Kaplan-Meier survival curves (diagnosis 2010-2015) were estimated by HER2 and hormone receptor (HR) status and stratified independently by cancer stage and race/ethnicity. RESULTS: With increasing age decade, proportions of HER2-/HR+ cancer increased, whereas proportions of HER2+/HR+, HER2+/HR-, and HER2-/HR- decreased. The greatest increases in incidence during 2010-2016 were observed for HER2+ among women aged 20-49 years and HER2-/HR- among women aged 20-29 years. Incidence decreased for HER2-/HR- among women aged 40-49 years. Five-year survival was lowest for HER2-/HR- status compared to other receptor-based subtypes among women aged 20-49 years. HER2+ status was more beneficial for 5-year survival than HR+ status among women aged 20-29 years, with the opposite observed among women aged 30-49 years, particularly those aged 40-49 years. CONCLUSION: HER2+ breast cancer increased among premenopausal women and was also associated with higher early survival within each HR status. HER2-/HR- cancer also increased among women aged 20-29 years and was associated with lower early survival. Our contemporary data provide important insights to help inform preventive and therapeutic strategies for premenopausal women.

A Birth Cohort Analysis of Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment Incidence in the Einstein Aging Study (EAS) Cohort.

BACKGROUND: The transition from normal cognition to Alzheimer's disease is considered a continuum, with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) an intermediate clinical cognitive state. Although prior work suggests that dementia incidence rates may be declining, there is little information regarding temporal trends in aMCI incidence. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether age specific rates of aMCI have changed over sequential birth cohorts among individuals included in the population-based Einstein Aging Study (EAS) cohort. A secondary objective was to examine trends in aMCI rates among Blacks and Whites and by sex. METHODS: Age specific incidence of aMCI was examined by birth year among 1,233 individuals age 70 years and above enrolled in the population-based EAS cohort between November 1, 1993 and February 22, 2016 and who had at least one annual follow-up assessment (5,321 person years of follow-up). Poisson regression was used to determine whether there has been a change in age specific aMCI rates over sequential years of birth. RESULTS: No significant change in aMCI rates was identified in the overall cohort, among Blacks or Whites, or among males or females born between 1899 and 1946. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a trend for decreased dementia incidence in the EAS cohort, rates of incident aMCI have not changed. These apparently conflicting results may indicate a delay or decrease in the rates of transition from aMCI to dementia within the cohort. However, further studies are needed to confirm whether rates of aMCI have changed in other populations, and how aMCI rates are related to secular trends in dementia risk factors.

Risk of traffic accidents after onset of vestibular disease assessed with a surrogate marker.

OBJECTIVES: To determine if the risk of traffic accidents increases after disease onset in patients with acute vestibular disorders. That could provide a valid rationale for guidelines on driving restrictions. METHODS: 5,260,054 patient data (> 18 years of age) from a statutory health insurer were used to identify traffic injuries in incident cases of Menière's disease (MD) and vestibular neuritis (VN) in 2010-2013. Incident diagnoses were defined as the absence of such diagnoses in the preceding 5 years. Comparators were insured individuals with no such diagnoses throughout 2005-2017. The surrogate for traffic injuries were whiplash injuries coded in ICD-10 as diagnosis of sprain of ligaments of the cervical spine without structural changes. RESULTS: We identified 4509 incident patients with Menière's disease and 25,448 with vestibular neuritis and 5,102,655 controls with no such diagnoses throughout the observation period. The incidence of traffic injuries was increased for both vestibular disorders prior to the time point of diagnosis-MD 0.72 [0.47; 0.97] and VN 0.66 [0.56; 0.76] compared to controls (0.46 [0.46; 0.47]). The temporal course of incidence in whiplash injuries showed no increase and was 0.64 [0.41; 0.88] for MD at diagnosis and 0.73 [0.48; 0.98] after diagnosis, for VN it was 0.81 [0.70; 0.92] at diagnosis and 0.65 [0.55; 0.74] after diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Although these data were not originally collected to address the research question, they provide a valid body of evidence. There is no rationale for driving restrictions, which substantially interfere with the individuals' quality of life, in patients with incident MD and VN.

Sexually transmitted infections in young people and factors associated with HIV coinfection: an observational study in a large city.

OBJECTIVES: Young people are a critical target group for sexually transmitted infections (STI) surveillance due to their particular behavioural and social related vulnerability. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological characteristics and trends in the incidence of gonorrhoea, syphilis, HIV and venereal lymphogranuloma (LGV) among 15-24-year-olds in Barcelona, and to determine factors associated with HIV coinfection. DESIGN: We performed a population-based incidence study covering the 2007-2015 period. PARTICIPANTS: All new cases of STI-HIV, gonorrhoea, infectious syphilis and LGV-notified to the epidemiological surveillance system in Barcelona between 2007 and 2015. 1218 cases were studied: 84.6% were men, 19.3% were 15-19 years old and 50.6% were born in Spain. Among men, 73.7% were men who have sex with men (MSM); among women, 85.6% were women that have sex with men. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Incidence of HIV, gonorrhoea, infectious syphilis and LGV. HIV coinfection. RESULTS: There was an increase in the incidence of gonorrhoea, from 1.9 cases per 10 000 people in 2007 to 7.6/10 000 in 2015 (p<0.01), in MSM from 27.1 to 228.8/10 000 (p<0.01). The incidence of syphilis increased from 0.4/10 000 in 2007 to 3.1/10 000 in 2015 (significant in men only, p<0.01), in MSM from 18.1 to 116.9/10 000 (p<0.01). The incidence of HIV showed a non-significant increase in men (p=0.27), and that of LGV remained stable (p=0.59). Factors associated with increased risk of HIV coinfection included being MSM (adjusted OR[ORa]=14.14, 95% CI 3.34 to 59.91) and having >10 sexual partners (ORa=4.11, 95% CI 1.53 to 11.01) or STI diagnosis during the previous 12 months (ORa=2.06; 95% CI 1.13 to 3.77). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of gonorrhoea and syphilis among 15-24-year-olds increased, while HIV infection remained stable but with a high incidence among MSM. Being MSM, having sex with multiple partners and having a diagnosis of an STI in the previous 12 months were factors associated with HIV coinfection.

Trend in the Incidence and Prevalence of Dementia in the Faroe Islands.

BACKGROUND: Dementia has become an important public health, economic, and social issue. Knowledge about prevalence, incidence, and trends of dementia in a country is of crucial importance. However, no studies of incidence or prevalence of dementia have been undertaken in the Faroe Islands. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to estimate the overall and trend in incidence and prevalence of dementia among individuals ≥60 years in the Faroe Islands from 2010-2017. METHODS: Population-based register study where all individuals ≥60 years with a dementia diagnosis from January 2010 to December 2017 were identified. The overall crude and age-and-sex-specific incidence and prevalence was assessed. RESULTS: The overall crude incidence among individuals ≥60 years from 2010 to 2017 was 5.1 per 1000 individuals and the prevalence 22.5 per 1000 individuals. The age-and sex-standardized annual incidence of dementia fluctuated between 4.8 and 6.7 per 1000, with no clear secular trend while the age-and sex-standardized prevalence increased steadily from 14.5 in 2010 to 30.8 per 1000 individuals in 2017. CONCLUSION: The age-standardized incidence or prevalence estimates in the Faroes seem to be lower than in other countries. The incidence was relatively stable in the period while the prevalence of dementia simultaneously increased.