COVID or not COVID: attributing and reporting cause of death in a community cohort.

OBJECTIVES: In Germany, deaths of SARS-CoV-2-positive persons are reported as 'death related to SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19' to the Robert Koch Institute, Germany's main infectious disease institution. In 177 COVID-19-associated deaths reported in Regensburg, Germany, from October 2020 to January 2021, we investigated how deaths following SARS-CoV-2 infection were reported and whether cases with a death attributed to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19 death [CD]) differed from cases with a reported death from other causes (non-COVID-19 death [NCD]). STUDY DESIGN: This was an observational retrospective cohort study. METHODS: We analysed descriptive data on the numbers of cases, deaths, age, sex, symptoms and hospitalizations. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) and performed Chi-squared/Fisher's exact test for categorical variables and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for comparison of medians. RESULTS: Deaths attributed to COVID-19 occurred primarily in elderly patients. The mortality rate and the case fatality ratio (CFR) increased with age. The median age and the prevalence of risk factors were similar between CD and NCD. Respiratory symptoms and pneumonia at the time of diagnosis were associated with death reported as CD. The odds of CD attribution in cases hospitalized because of COVID-19 were 6-fold higher than the odds of NCD (OR: 6.00; 95% CI: 1.32 to 27.22). CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory symptoms/pneumonia at the time of diagnosis and hospitalization due to COVID-19 were associated with attributing a death to COVID-19. Numbers of COVID deaths need to be interpreted with caution. Criteria that facilitate attributing the cause of death among SARS-CoV-2 cases more uniformly could make these figures more comparable.

Relationship between atopic dermatitis, depression and anxiety: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

BACKGROUND: Growing evidence suggests that atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with an increased risk of depressive disorders and anxiety. However, existing studies were observational and may have uncovered correlations but could not easily disentangle noncausal or reverse-causal associations because these associations could be confounded and may not reflect true causal relationships. OBJECTIVES: To examine, in a two-sample Mendelian randomization study, the potential effect of AD on the risk of depressive disorders and anxiety. METHODS: Genetic instruments from the largest available genome-wide association study (GWAS) for AD (10 788 cases and 30 047 controls) were used to investigate the relationship to broad depression (170 756 cases and 329 443 controls), major depressive disorder (MDD; 30 603 cases and 143 916 controls) and anxiety (5580 cases and 11 730 controls). A set of complementary approaches were carried out to assess horizontal pleiotropy and related potential caveats occurring in MR studies. RESULTS: We observed no causal impact of AD on the risk of depressive disorders and anxiety, with close-to-zero effect estimates. The inverse weighted method revealed no associations of AD on broad depression [odds ratio (OR) 1·014; P = 0·431], probable MDD (OR 1·002; P = 0·568), International Classification of Diseases, Ninth/Tenth Revision-based MDD (OR 1·001; P = 0·466) or anxiety (OR 1·097; P = 0·180). CONCLUSIONS: This MR study does not support a causal effect of AD on depression and anxiety.

Physical activity in relation to risk of prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers among men, yet little is known about its modifiable risk and protective factors. This study aims to quantitatively summarize observational studies relating physical activity (PA) to PCa incidence and mortality. Materials and methods: Published articles pertaining to PA and PCa incidence and mortality were retrieved in July 2017 using the Medline and EMBASE databases. The literature review yielded 48 cohort studies and 24 case-control studies with a total of 151 748 PCa cases. The mean age of the study participants at baseline was 61 years. Results: In random-effects models, comparing the highest versus the lowest level of overall PA showed a summary relative risk (RR) estimate for total PCa incidence close to the null [RR = 0.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.94-1.04]. The corresponding RRs for advanced and non-advanced PCa were 0.92 (95% CI = 0.80-1.06) and 0.95 (95% CI = 0.85-1.07), respectively. We noted a statistically significant inverse association between long-term occupational activity and total PCa (RR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.71-0.98, n studies = 13), although that finding became statistically non-significant when individual studies were removed from the analysis. When evaluated by cancer subtype, an inverse association with long-term occupational activity was noted for non-advanced/non-aggressive PCa (RR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.37-0.71, n studies = 2) and regular recreational activity was inversely related to advanced/aggressive PCa (RR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.60-0.95, n studies = 2), although these observations are based on a low number of studies. Moreover, PA after diagnosis was related to reduced risk of PCa mortality among survivors of PCa (summary RR based on four studies = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.55-0.85). Conclusions: Whether PA protects against PCa remains elusive. Further investigation taking into account the complex clinical and pathologic nature of PCa is needed to clarify the PA and PCa incidence relation. Moreover, future studies are needed to confirm whether PA after diagnosis reduces risk of PCa mortality.

Tobacco smoking and the risk of diverticular disease - a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies.

AIM: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to clarify whether tobacco smoking is associated with an increased risk of diverticular disease. METHOD: The PubMed and Embase databases were searched for studies of smoking and diverticular disease up to 19 February 2016. Prospective studies that reported adjusted relative risk (RR) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of diverticular disease associated with current or previous smoking were included. Summary RRs were estimated using a random effects model. RESULTS: We identified five prospective studies which comprised 6076 cases of incident diverticular disease (diverticulosis and diverticulitis) among 385 291 participants and three studies with 1118 cases of complications related to diverticular disease (abscess or perforation) among 292 965. The summary RR for incident diverticular disease was 1.36 (95% CI 1.15-1.61, I2  = 84%, n = 4) for current smokers, 1.17 (95% CI 1.05-1.31, I2  = 49%, n = 4) for former smokers and 1.29 (95% CI 1.16-1.44, I2  = 62%, n = 5) for ever smokers. The summary RR was 1.11 (95% CI 0.99-1.25, I2  = 82%, n = 4) per 10 cigarettes per day. Although there was some indication of nonlinearity there was a dose-dependent positive association with increasing number of cigarettes smoked per day. There was some evidence that smoking also increases the risk of complications of diverticular disease, but the number of studies was small. CONCLUSION: The current meta-analysis provides evidence that tobacco smoking is associated with an increased incidence of diverticular disease and related complications.

Use of cardiac glycosides and risk of glioma.

Cardiac glycosides induce apoptotic effects on glioma cells, but whether cardiac glycosides protect against risk for glioma is unknown. We therefore explored the relation between glycoside use and glioma risk using a large and validated database. We performed a case-control analysis using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink involving 2005 glioma cases diagnosed between 1995 and 2012 that were individually matched to 20,050 controls on age, gender, general practice, and number of years of active history in the database. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between cardiac glycosides and the risk of glioma adjusting for body mass index and smoking. We also examined use of common heart failure and arrhythmia medications to differentiate between a specific glycoside effect and a generic effect of treatment for congestive heart failure or arrhythmia. Cardiac glycoside use was inversely related to glioma incidence. After adjustment for congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, diabetes, and common medications used to treat those conditions, the OR of glioma was 0.47 (95% CI 0.27-0.81, Bonferroni-corrected p value = 0.024) for use versus non-use of cardiac glycosides, based on 17 exposed cases. In contrast, no associations were noted for other medications used to treat congestive heart failure or arrhythmias. The OR of glioma in people with congestive heart failure was 0.65 (95% CI 0.40-1.04), and for arrhythmia it was 1.01 (95% CI 0.78-1.31). These data indicate that cardiac glycoside use is independently associated with reduced glioma risk.

Cardiorespiratory fitness as predictor of cancer mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies have reported that cardiorespiratory fitness is inversely associated with mortality from cancer. However, the evidence relating cardiorespiratory fitness to cancer mortality has not yet been quantitatively summarized. METHODS: Following the preferred reporting items for sytematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) checklist, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and total cancer mortality. Relevant studies were identified through a literature search in PubMed up to August 2013 and by screening reference lists of qualifying articles. Data extraction was carried out independently by both authors and summary risk estimates were obtained using random-effects models. RESULTS: Six prospective studies with an overall number of 71 654 individuals and 2002 cases of total cancer mortality were included. The median follow-up time in the studies was 16.4 years. Cardiorespiratory fitness showed a strong, graded, inverse association with total cancer mortality. Using low cardiorespiratory fitness as the reference group, intermediate and high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness were related to statistically significant decreased summary relative risks (RRs) of total cancer mortality of 0.80 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.67-0.97] and 0.55 (95% CI 0.47-0.65), respectively. Studies that adjusted for adiposity yielded similar results to those that did not adjust for adiposity. CONCLUSION: Increased cardiorespiratory fitness represents a strong predictor of decreased total cancer mortality risk, independent of adiposity.

The association between physical activity and bladder cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity may protect against bladder cancer through several biologic pathways, such as enhanced immune function and decreased chronic inflammation. Physical activity may also indirectly prevent bladder cancer by reducing obesity. A sizeable number of epidemiologic studies have examined the association between physical activity and bladder cancer, but the available evidence has not yet been formally summarised using meta-analysis. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of English-language studies published from January 1975 through November 2013. We followed the PRISMA guidelines and used a random effects model to estimate the summary risk estimates for the association between physical activity and bladder cancer. RESULTS: A total of 15 studies with 5,402,369 subjects and 27,784 bladder cancer cases were included. High vs low levels of physical activity were related to decreased bladder cancer risk (summary relative risk (RR)=0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.74-0.98; I(2)=83%; P-value for heterogeneity across all studies<0.001). Results were similar for cohort studies (RR=0.89, 95% CI=0.80-1.00; I(2)=64%) and case-control studies (RR=0.71, 95% CI=0.43-1.16; I(2)=87%; P-value for difference=0.108) and they were comparable for women (RR=0.83, 95% CI=0.73-0.94; I(2)=0%) and men (RR=0.92, 95% CI=0.82-1.05; I(2)=67; P-value for difference=0.657). Findings were also comparable for recreational (RR=0.81, 95% CI=0.66-0.99; I(2)=77%) and occupational physical activity (RR=0.90, 95% CI=0.76-1.0; I(2)=76%; P-value for difference=0.374), and they were largely consistent for moderate (RR=0.85, 95% CI=0.75-0.98; I(2)=76%) and vigorous activity (RR=0.80, 95% CI=0.64-1.00;I(2)=87%; P-value for difference=0.535). CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity is associated with decreased risk of bladder cancer. Further studies are required to assess the relations of intensity, frequency, duration, and timing in life of physical activity to bladder cancer risk.

Association between physical activity and mortality among breast cancer and colorectal cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity improves physical function during and after cancer treatment, but whether physical activity imparts survival benefit remains uncertain. DESIGN: Using prospective studies published through June 2013, we conducted a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis of pre- and post-diagnosis physical activity in relation to total and cancer mortality among breast or colorectal cancer survivors. RESULTS: Sixteen studies of breast cancer survivors and seven studies of colorectal cancer survivors yielded 49095 total cancer survivors, including 8129 total mortality cases and 4826 cancer mortality cases. Comparing the highest versus lowest levels of pre-diagnosis physical activity among breast cancer survivors, the summary relative risks (RRs) of total and breast cancer mortality were 0.77 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.69-0.88] and 0.77 (95% CI = 0.66-0.90, respectively. For post-diagnosis physical activity, the summary RRs of total and breast cancer mortality were 0.52 (95% CI = 0.42-0.64) and 0.72 (95% CI = 0.60-0.85), respectively. For pre-diagnosis physical activity among colorectal cancer survivors, the summary RRs of total and colorectal cancer mortality were 0.74 (95% CI = 0.63-0.86) and 0.75 (95% CI = 0.62-0.91), respectively. For post-diagnosis physical activity, the summary RRs of total and colorectal cancer mortality were 0.58 (95% CI = 0.48-0.70) and 0.61 (95% CI = 0.40-0.92), respectively. Each 10 metabolic equivalent task-hour/week increase in post-diagnosis physical activity (equivalent to current recommendations of 150 min/week of at least moderate intensity activity) was associated with 24% (95% CI = 11-36%) decreased total mortality risk among breast cancer survivors and 28% (95% CI = 20-35%) decreased total mortality risk among colorectal cancer survivors. Breast or colorectal cancer survivors who increased their physical activity by any level from pre- to post-diagnosis showed decreased total mortality risk (RR = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.46-0.80) compared with those who did not change their physical activity level or were inactive/insufficiently active before diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Physical activity performed before or after cancer diagnosis is related to reduced mortality risk among breast and colorectal cancer survivors.

The association between physical activity and renal cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity may decrease renal cancer risk by reducing obesity, blood pressure, insulin resistance, and lipid peroxidation. Despite plausible biologic mechanisms linking increased physical activity to decreased risk for renal cancer, few epidemiologic studies have been able to report a clear inverse association between physical activity and renal cancer, and no meta-analysis is available on the topic. METHODS: We searched the literature using PubMed and Web of Knowledge to identify published non-ecologic epidemiologic studies quantifying the relationship between physical activity and renal cancer risk in individuals without a cancer history. Following the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, including information from 19 studies based on a total of 2 327 322 subjects and 10 756 cases. The methodologic quality of the studies was examined using a comprehensive scoring system. RESULTS: Comparing high vs low levels of physical activity, we observed an inverse association between physical activity and renal cancer risk (summary relative risk (RR) from random-effects meta-analysis=0.88; 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.79-0.97). Summarising risk estimates from high-quality studies strengthened the inverse association between physical activity and renal cancer risk (RR=0.78; 95% CI=0.66-0.92). Effect modification by adiposity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, smoking, gender, or geographic region was not observed. CONCLUSION: Our comprehensive meta-analysis provides strong support for an inverse relation of physical activity to renal cancer risk. Future high-quality studies are required to discern which specific types, intensities, frequencies, and durations of physical activity are needed for renal cancer risk reduction.

Aspirin but not ibuprofen use is associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer: a PLCO study.

BACKGROUND: Although most epidemiological studies suggest that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use is inversely associated with prostate cancer risk, the magnitude and specificity of this association remain unclear. METHODS: We examined self-reported aspirin and ibuprofen use in relation to prostate cancer risk among 29 450 men ages 55-74 who were initially screened for prostate cancer from 1993 to 2001 in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. Men were followed from their first screening exam until 31 December 2009, during which 3575 cases of prostate cancer were identified. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounders, the hazard ratios (HRs) of prostate cancer associated with <1 and ≥ 1 pill of aspirin daily were 0.98 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.90-1.07) and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.85-0.99), respectively, compared with never use (P for trend 0.04). The effect of taking at least one aspirin daily was more pronounced when restricting the analyses to men older than age 65 or men who had a history of cardiovascular-related diseases or arthritis (HR (95% CI); 0.87 (0.78-0.97), 0.89 (0.80-0.99), and 0.88 (0.78-1.00), respectively). The data did not support an association between ibuprofen use and prostate cancer risk. CONCLUSION: Daily aspirin use, but not ibuprofen use, was associated with lower risk of prostate cancer risk.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of gastric and oesophageal adenocarcinomas: results from a cohort study and a meta-analysis.

Use of aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may reduce the risk of gastric or oesophageal adenocarcinomas. We examined the association between self-reported use of aspirin or non-aspirin NSAIDs in the earlier 12 months and gastric non-cardia (N=182), gastric cardia (N=178), and oesophageal adenocarcinomas (N=228) in a prospective cohort (N=311 115) followed for 7 years. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) come from Cox models adjusted for potential confounders. Use of any aspirin (HR, 95% CI: 0.64, 0.47-0.86) or other NSAIDs (0.68, 0.51-0.92) was associated with a significantly lower risk of gastric non-cardia adenocarcinoma. Neither aspirin (0.86, 0.61-1.20) nor other NSAIDs (0.91, 0.67-1.22) had a significant association with gastric cardia cancer. We found no significant association between using aspirin (1.00, 0.73-1.37) or other NSAIDs (0.90, 69-1.17) and oesophageal adenocarcinoma. We also performed a meta-analysis of the association between the use of NSAIDs and risk of gastric and oesophageal adenocarcinoma. In this analysis, aspirin use was inversely associated with both gastric and oesophageal adenocarcinomas, with summary odds ratios (95% CI) for non-cardia, cardia, and oesophageal adenocarcinomas of 0.64 (0.52-0.80), 0.82 (0.65-1.04), and 0.64 (0.52-0.79), respectively. The corresponding numbers for other NSAIDs were 0.68 (0.57-0.81), 0.80 (0.67-0.95), and 0.65 (0.50-0.85), respectively.

Height and risk of prostate cancer in the prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer screening trial.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between prostate cancer and height is uncertain. METHODS: We prospectively examined the association of height with prostate cancer among 34,268 men in the prostate, lung, colorectal, and ovarian cancer trial. Anthropometry was assessed at baseline and 2144 incident prostate cancer cases were identified upto 8.9 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Overall, tallness was not associated with the risk of prostate cancer or with the risk of non-aggressive disease, but the risk for aggressive prostate cancer tended to be greater in taller men (Gleason score > or = 7 or stage > or = III; P trend=0.05; relative risk (RR) for 190 cm + vs < or = 170 cm = 1.39, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 0.96-2.01). This association was largely limited to men below the age of 65 years (P trend=0.008; RR for 190 cm + vs < or = 170 cm = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.06-2.93; P for interaction=0.009), although the number of cases was small and risk estimates were somewhat unstable. CONCLUSION: The results of this large prospective prostate cancer screening trial suggest that tallness is associated with increased risk for younger onset aggressive prostate cancer.

Area-level and individual correlates of active transportation among adults in Germany: A population-based multilevel study.

This study aimed at estimating the prevalence in adults of complying with the aerobic physical activity (PA) recommendation through transportation-related walking and cycling. Furthermore, potential determinants of transportation-related PA recommendation compliance were investigated. 10,872 men and 13,144 women aged 18 years or older participated in the cross-sectional 'German Health Update 2014/15 - EHIS' in Germany. Transportation-related walking and cycling were assessed using the European Health Interview Survey-Physical Activity Questionnaire. Three outcome indicators were constructed: walking, cycling, and total active transportation (≥600 metabolic equivalent, MET-min/week). Associations were analyzed using multilevel regression analysis. Forty-two percent of men and 39% of women achieved ≥600 MET-min/week with total active transportation. The corresponding percentages for walking were 27% and 28% and for cycling 17% and 13%, respectively. Higher population density, older age, lower income, higher work-related and leisure-time PA, not being obese, and better self-perceived health were positively associated with transportation-related walking and cycling and total active transportation among both men and women. The promotion of walking and cycling among inactive people has great potential to increase PA in the general adult population and to comply with PA recommendations. Several correlates of active transportation were identified which should be considered when planning public health policies and interventions.

Past body mass index and risk of mortality among women.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies of body mass index (BMI) in relation to mortality commonly exclude persons with health conditions and/or a history of smoking to prevent bias resulting from illness-related weight loss ('reverse causation'). Analysis of BMI from an earlier time period may minimize reverse causation without requiring exclusion of participants based on disease or smoking history. METHODS: We prospectively examined BMI based on technician measurements of weight and height from 10 years prior to start of follow-up in relation to subsequent mortality in a cohort of 50 186 women who were 40-93 years old at baseline in 1987-1989. Deaths were ascertained through the US National Death Index. Proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of mortality, adjusted for age, education, race/ethnicity, income, menopausal hormone use, smoking and physical activity. RESULTS: During 10 years of follow-up through 1997, 5201 women died. Overall, we observed a J-shaped association between BMI and mortality, with increased risk for women who were underweight, overweight or obese. The HRs and 95% confidence intervals of mortality for BMI categories of <18.5, 18.5-20.9, 21.0-23.4 (reference), 23.5-24.9, 25.0-27.4, 27.5-29.9, 30.0-34.9 and 35.0+ kg m(-2) were 1.43 (1.19, 1.72), 1.07 (0.98, 1.17), 1.00 (reference), 1.10 (1.00, 1.20), 1.20 (1.11, 1.31), 1.23 (1.11, 1.37), 1.60 (1.44, 1.77) and 1.92 (1.64, 2.24). There was little evidence that pre-existing conditions (heart disease, diabetes and/or cancer) or smoking history modified the past BMI and mortality relation (P=0.54 and 0.76). CONCLUSIONS: In this large cohort of women, BMI based on technician measurements of weight and height from 10 years prior to baseline showed increased risk for mortality across the range of overweight and obesity, regardless of disease and smoking history. Observed associations between overweight, obesity and mortality in healthy individuals may also apply to persons with a history of disease or smoking.

Physical activity and television watching in relation to risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus in men.

BACKGROUND: Television (TV) watching, a major sedentary behavior in the United States, has been associated with obesity. We hypothesized that prolonged TV watching may increase risk for type 2 diabetes. METHODS: In 1986, 37 918 men aged 40 to 75 years and free of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer completed a detailed physical activity questionnaire. Starting from 1988, participants reported their average weekly time spent watching TV on biennial questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 1058 cases of type 2 diabetes were diagnosed during 10 years (347 040 person-years) of follow-up. After adjustment for age, smoking, alcohol use, and other covariates, the relative risks (RRs) for type 2 diabetes across increasing quintiles of metabolic equivalent hours (MET-hours) per week were 1.00, 0.78, 0.65, 0.58, and 0.51 (P for trend, <.001). Time spent watching TV was significantly associated with higher risk for diabetes. After adjustment for age, smoking, physical activity levels, and other covariates, the RRs of diabetes across categories of average hours spent watching TV per week (0-1, 2-10, 11-20, 21-40, and >40) were 1.00, 1.66, 1.64, 2.16, and 2.87, respectively (P for trend, <.001). This association was somewhat attenuated after adjustment for body mass index, but a significant positive gradient persisted (RR comparing extreme categories, 2.31; P for trend,.01). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing physical activity is associated with a significant reduction in risk for diabetes, whereas a sedentary lifestyle indicated by prolonged TV watching is directly related to risk. Our findings suggest the importance of reducing sedentary behavior in the prevention of type 2 diabetes.

Adiposity and risk of thyroid cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Thyroid cancer incidence has increased rapidly over time, as has obesity prevalence. A link between the two appears plausible, but the relation of adiposity to thyroid cancer remains incompletely understood. We performed a meta-analysis of adiposity measures and thyroid cancer using studies identified through October 2014. Twenty-one articles yielded data on 12,199 thyroid cancer cases. We found a statistically significant 25% greater risk of thyroid cancer in overweight individuals and a 55% greater thyroid cancer risk in obese individuals as compared with their normal-weight peers. Each 5-unit increase in body mass index (BMI), 5 kg increase in weight, 5 cm increase in waist or hip circumference and 0.1-unit increase in waist-to-hip ratio were associated with 30%, 5%, 5% and 14% greater risks of thyroid cancer, respectively. When evaluated by histologic type, obesity was significantly positively related to papillary, follicular and anaplastic thyroid cancers, whereas it revealed an inverse association with medullary thyroid cancer. Both general and abdominal adiposity are positively associated with thyroid cancer. However, relations with BMI vary importantly by tumour histologic type.

Development and evaluation of a short 24-h food list as part of a blended dietary assessment strategy in large-scale cohort studies.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The validity of dietary assessment in large-scale cohort studies has been questioned. Combining data sources for the estimation of usual intake in a blended approach may enhance the validity of dietary measurement. Our objective was to develop a web-based 24-h food list for Germany to identify foods consumed during the previous 24 h and to evaluate the performance of the new questionnaire in a feasibility study. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Available data from the German National Nutrition Survey II were used to develop a finite list of food items. A total of 508 individuals were invited to fill in the 24-h food list via the Internet up to three times during a 3-6-month time period. In addition, participants were asked to evaluate the questionnaire using a brief online evaluation form. RESULTS: In total, 246 food items were identified for the 24-h food list, reflecting >75% variation in intake of 27 nutrients and four major food groups. Among the individuals invited, 64% participated in the feasibility study. Of these, 100%, 85% and 68% of participants completed the 24-h food list one, two or three times, respectively. The average time needed to complete the questionnaire was 9 min, and its acceptability by participants was rated as high. CONCLUSIONS: The 24-h food list represents a promising new dietary assessment tool that can be used as part of a blended approach combining multiple data sources for valid estimation of usual dietary intake in large-scale cohort studies.

Alcohol and head and neck cancer risk in a prospective study.

We investigated the relation between head and neck cancer risk and alcohol consumption in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. During 2,203,500 person-years of follow-up, 611 men and 183 women developed head and neck cancer. With moderate drinking (up to one alcoholic drink per day) as the referent group, non-drinkers showed an increased risk of head and neck cancer (men: hazard ratio (HR) 1.68, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.37-2.06; women: 1.46, 1.02-2.08). Among male and female alcohol drinkers, we observed a significant dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and risk. The HR for consuming >3 drinks per day was significantly higher in women (2.52, 1.46-4.35) than in men (1.48, 1.15-1.90; P for interaction=0.0036). The incidence rates per 100 000 person-years for those who consumed >3 drinks per day were similar in men (77.6) and women (75.3). The higher HRs observed in women resulted from lower incidence rates in the referent group: women (14.7), men (34.4). In summary, drinking >3 alcoholic beverages per day was associated with increased risk in men and women, but consumption of up to one drink per day may be associated with reduced risk relative to non-drinking.

Central adiposity, regional fat distribution, and the risk of cholecystectomy in women.

PURPOSE: Whether central adiposity contributes independently of total adiposity to the risk for gall stones is inconclusive. We examined prospectively indicators of central adiposity in relation to the occurrence of gall stone disease. METHODS: We evaluated the relationship between abdominal circumference and waist to hip ratio and risk of cholecystectomy in a cohort of women who had no history of gall stone disease. As part of the Nurses' Health Study, the women reported on questionnaires their weights, heights, and waist and hip circumferences, and the occurrence of cholecystectomy. A total of 42,312 women, aged 39-66 years in 1986, who were free of prior gall stone disease, provided complete waist and hip circumference measurements in 1986. RESULTS: We documented 3197 cases of cholecystectomy during 514,283 person years of follow up. After adjusting simultaneously for regional (waist circumference or waist to hip ratio) and total adiposity (body mass index) measures as well as for other risk factors of gall stone disease, women with a height adjusted waist circumference of 36 inches or larger had a relative risk (RR) of 1.96 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.53-2.51; p trend < 0.0001) compared with women with a height adjusted waist circumference of less than 26 inches. Waist to hip ratio was directly associated with the risk, with an RR of 1.39 (95% CI 1.16-1.66; p trend < 0.0001) for women with a waist to hip ratio of 0.86 or higher compared with women with a waist to hip ratio of less than 0.70. CONCLUSION: Abdominal circumference and waist to hip ratio were associated with an increased risk of cholecystectomy, independently of body mass index in women.

Dietary carbohydrates and glycaemic load and the incidence of symptomatic gall stone disease in men.

BACKGROUND: Diets with a high glycaemic response exacerbate the metabolic consequences of the insulin resistance syndrome. Their effects on the incidence of gall stone disease are not clear, particularly in men. METHODS: Dietary information was collected as part of the Health Professionals Follow up Study starting in 1986 using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire with follow up until 1998. On biennial questionnaires participants reported new symptomatic gall stone disease, diagnosed by radiology, and whether they had undergone cholecystectomy. RESULTS: During 12 years of follow up, we documented 1810 new cases of symptomatic gall stones. After adjusting for age and other known or suspected risk factors in multivariate models, the relative risk (RR) for the highest compared with the lowest quintile of carbohydrate intake was 1.59 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25, 2.02; p for trend = 0.002). The RR for the highest compared with the lowest quintile of dietary glycaemic load was 1.50 (95% CI 1.20, 1.88; p for trend = 0.0008), and 1.18 for dietary glycaemic index (95% CI 1.01, 1.39; p for trend = 0.04). Independent positive associations were also seen for intakes of starch, sucrose, and fructose. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a high intake of carbohydrate, glycaemic load, and glycaemic index increases the risk of symptomatic gall stone disease in men. These results add to the concern that low fat high carbohydrate diets may not be an optimal dietary recommendation.