Handgrip strength is associated with mortality in community-dwelling older adults: the Yilan cohort study, Taiwan.

INTRODUCTION: Hand grip strength (HGS) is one of the methods to help early identification of physical frailty and sarcopenia, the major concerns in the aging societies. It is also crucial to evaluate its impact on mortality. However, the available evidence regarding such impact among specific age cohorts (65 to 74 years and above) is limited. This study tried to investigate the relationship between HGS and mortality among specific cohorts of the community-dwelling older individuals in Yilan, Taiwan. METHODS: A seven-year longitudinal follow-up study was conducted involving 2,468 community-dwelling older individuals in Yilan. The participants were divided into two groups based on their quartiles of hand grip strength: with poor HGS and with good HGS. The association between HGS and mortality was examined using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: The analysis revealed that age, HGS, gender, medical history of cardiovascular diseases, body mass index, and wrist-hip ratio had significant impacts on seven-year survival. Specifically, individuals with poor HGS exhibited increased mortality, with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.87 (95% CI: 1.52-2.30). Furthermore, the adverse effect of poor HGS on mortality was more pronounced in males aged 65-74 years (adjusted HR 4.12, 95% CI: 2.16-7.84), females aged 75 years or older (2.09, 1.43-3.04) and males aged 75 years or older (1.49, 1.07-2.07). CONCLUSION: Poor hand grip strength is an independent risk factor for mid-term mortality among community-dwelling older individuals in Yilan. The assessment of HGS can serve as a valuable tool in identifying older individuals at higher risk of death.

Volunteering and self-reported health outcomes among older people living in the community: the Yilan study, Taiwan.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore associations between volunteering and various self-reported health outcomes among older people, including subjective physical and mental health, self-rated health, and self-rated happiness. METHODS: This questionnaire survey was conducted in Yilan, Taiwan. By convenient sampling, a total of 3692 older people living in the community were recruited from 2012 to 2016. Participants' engagement in community volunteer activities in the past month was recorded. Subjective physical and mental health were evaluated using the Short Form-12 version2 Health Survey physical and mental component summary scores. Self-rated health and happiness were each evaluated by a single question. Participants' demographic information and comorbidities were also recorded. We conducted multiple linear regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, marital status, body mass index, educational level, living status, comorbidities, smoking status, and status of alcohol drinking. RESULTSS: After adjusting for covariates, volunteering was significantly associated with better subjective physical health, self-rated health, and self-rated happiness scores (B = 2.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] (1.56, 3.26); B = 3.46, 95% CI (2.66, 4.66), and B = 4.62, 95% CI (3.18, 6.05), respectively). The strength of the relationships between volunteering and various self-reported health outcomes differed. CONCLUSIONS: Volunteering has positive associations on subjective physical health, self-rated health, and happiness for older people living in the community in Yilan, Taiwan. Further follow-up studies are needed to examine the mechanisms of associations between volunteering and various self-reported health outcomes, and clarify the differences in the strength of their associations.

Volunteer participation differentially moderates the association between insomnia and poor subjective well-being in community-dwelling older adults: the Yilan study, Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to elucidate the moderating effect of volunteer participation on the association between insomnia and subjective well-being. METHODS: This was a community-based, cross-sectional study that targeted community-dwelling older adults aged ≥ 65 years in Yilan city, Taiwan. Whether individuals had volunteered in the past month was asked. Insomnia was measured using the Athens Insomnia Scale-5. Subjective well-being was evaluated using self-rated health, self-rated happiness, the physical component summary (PCS), and the mental component summary (MCS) of Short-form 12. Interaction terms between volunteer participation and insomnia were examined to test the moderating effect of volunteer participation on subjective well-being. RESULTS: In total, 3,875 participants were included in the study. After controlling for confounders, older adults with insomnia were more likely to have poor subjective well-being, except with respect to PCS. By contrast, volunteering was associated with a low risk of association between self-rated health and happiness. The interaction terms for volunteering with self-rated happiness (p = 0.03) and the MCS (p = 0.02) were significant. The association between insomnia and poor self-rated happiness among volunteers (odds ratio [OR] = 3.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.85-8.28) was significantly stronger than that in non-volunteers (OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.18-1.86). However, insomnia was linked with poor MCS in non-volunteers (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.21-1.94), but not in volunteers (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.27-1.50). DISCUSSION: Volunteer participation moderated the association between insomnia and subjective well-being; specifically, volunteering strengthened the association between insomnia and poor self-rated happiness but mitigated the relationship between insomnia and poor MCS.

Depression and anxiety correlate differentially with dissatisfaction with healthcare services in older adults: The Yilan Study, Taiwan.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Previous studies have seldom investigated the psychological factors that are associated with dissatisfaction with healthcare services. We therefore examined the associations of depression and anxiety with service dissatisfaction among older adults. METHODS: A community-based health survey was conducted from 2012 to 2016. Residents aged ≥65 years were randomly recruited from Yilan City, Taiwan. Besides overall dissatisfaction, we assessed dissatisfaction with physicians' ability, physicians' attitude, and waiting time. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to detect depressive and anxiety symptoms with optimal cut-off points of 3 for the anxiety subscale and 6 for the depression subscales. RESULTS: Of the 3480 residents included in this study, the overall dissatisfaction rate was 7.9%. After controlling for covariates, depressive and anxiety symptoms were consistently correlated with the various dimensions of dissatisfaction. More specifically, depressive symptoms were associated with overall dissatisfaction and dissatisfaction with physicians' ability and attitude. Conversely, anxiety was uniquely associated with dissatisfaction with waiting time. CONCLUSION: Psychological symptoms were consistent correlates of dissatisfaction with healthcare services among older adults, although the specific symptoms had different associations with the various dimensions of dissatisfaction.

Different item characteristics of a mild cognitive impairment screening tool in the community-based Yilan Study: application of the item response theory.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to use item response theory (IRT) to explore the item-by-item characteristics of a mild cognitive impairment (MCI) screening tool using community-based data. METHODS: The Yilan Study is a community-based study that has been conducted since 2012. Until March 2020, 2230 older adults were interviewed according to the household registration data. IRT was applied to determine the item-by-item distinctive characteristics of the Eight-item Interview to Differentiate Aging and Dementia (AD8). RESULTS: The MCI characteristics in the AD8 items have varying degrees of item response threshold. In all circumstances, item AD8-8, which is related to self-rated memory ability, had a low item response threshold. AD8-5 and AD8-7, which are related to the comparisons of time-oriented functional status, had slightly lower thresholds, especially for those aged 65-79 years or without activity limitations. Conversely, AD8-1, AD8-2, AD8-3, AD8-4, and AD8-6 had similar item response thresholds and discriminative power; these items have more detailed functional descriptions or examples for illustration. CONCLUSIONS: Concise and understandable elements are often expected in community-based screening tools. For community-based health screening and population empowerment in the early detection of MCI, assessment tool items with detailed functional descriptions and examples for illustration have similar validities in most of the population. Items related to self-rated memory ability might be less valid. More examples may be needed for items constructed for comparing time-oriented functional status, especially in extremely old adults and individuals with activity limitations.

Hand grip strength in predicting the risk of osteoporosis in Asian adults.

INTRODUCTION: There is a need for a cost-effective method to identify individuals with a high risk of osteoporosis. This study aimed to investigate the suitability of hand grip strength in predicting the risk of osteoporosis in Asian adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional, hospital-based study of 1007 participants, the bone mineral density of the spine and hips was evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry according to the 2019 International Society for Clinical Densitometry official positions. Bone microarchitecture was evaluated using the trabecular bone score, and hand grip strength was measured in the dominant hand using a hand digital dynamometer. RESULTS: Hand grip strength was significantly related to bone density and bone microarchitecture. Moreover, hand grip strength was a significant predictor of osteoporosis in both women and men. For osteoporosis prediction in women, a threshold of 21.9 kg of hand grip strength had a sensitivity of 59%, specificity of 59%, and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.61. In men, a threshold of 28.7 kg had a sensitivity of 66%, specificity of 78%, and AUC of 0.75. The optimal cutoff strengths for osteoporosis depended on age and sex. CONCLUSION: The measurement of hand grip strength is a simple, cost-effective and an easy assessment method for identifying individuals at a high risk of osteoporosis. The cutoff strength for evaluating osteoporosis in adults is age and sex specific.

Determinants of post-mydriatic intraocular pressure in phakic eyes with prevalent angle closure diseases.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify acute angle closure (AAC) risk following pharmacologic mydriasis and the factors affecting post-mydriatic intraocular pressure (IOP) in a population with a high prevalence of angle closure disease. METHODS: In total, 460 individuals aged ≥ 72 years were enrolled in this cross-sectional community-based screening program. IOP was measured at baseline and 1 hour after mydriasis. Individuals with post-mydriatic IOP spike > 6 mmHg received indentation gonioscopy and IOP-lowering medication. Linear regression analysis was used to identify ocular parameters associated with post-mydriatic IOP elevation. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 77.8 ± 4.1 years, and 65.4% of them were men. In total, 21 eyes of 16 participants (3.48%) had post-mydriatic IOP spikes (range: 6-13.7 mmHg); among them, 15 eyes had an IOP of > 21 mmHg. None of the participants developed AAC. All eyes with IOP spikes were phakic, except for one with pseudophakic angle closure. Analysis of 381 participants with at least one phakic eye revealed that higher post-mydriatic IOP and IOP changes were associated with narrower angle grading, more extensive peripheral anterior synechiae, shallower central anterior chamber, and thicker lens. According to multiple linear regression analysis, post-mydriatic IOP was independently associated with baseline IOP and factors suggestive of crowded anterior chamber based on gonioscopic findings and central or peripheral anterior chamber depth evaluation in conjunction with lens thickness. CONCLUSION: Post-mydriatic IOP should be measured in phakic eyes with a crowded anterior chamber. Post-mydriatic IOP spikes can be effectively blunted with intervention to prevent AAC.

Using hand grip strength to detect slow walking speed in older adults: the Yilan study.

BACKGROUND: Walking speed is an important health indicator in older adults, although its measurement can be challenging because of the functional decline due to aging and limited environment. The aim of this study was to examine whether hand grip strength can be a useful proxy for detecting slow walking speed in this population. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the cohort from the Yilan Study in Taiwan. Community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older were included. Slow walking speed was defined as a 6-meter walking speed < 1.0 m/s, according to the 2019 Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia diagnostic criteria. Stepwise multiple linear regression was used to determine the most significant variables associated with walking speed. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to determine the optimal cutoff values for hand grip strength in detecting slow walking speed. RESULTS: A total of 301 participants with an average age of 73.9 ± 6.8 years were included; 55.1 % participants were women. In stepwise multiple linear regression analysis that included various variables, hand grip strength was found to be the most explainable factor associated with walking speed among all participants and among participants of each sex. The optimal cutoff values for hand grip strength in the detection of slow walking speed were 19.73 kg for all participants (sensitivity: 55 %, specificity: 83 %, area under the curve: 0.74, accuracy: 66.9 %), 35.10 kg for men (sensitivity: 92 %, specificity: 42 %, area under the curve: 0.70, accuracy: 66.4 %), and 17.93 kg for women (sensitivity: 62 %, specificity: 80 %, area under the curve: 0.76, accuracy: 67.9 %). CONCLUSIONS: Hand grip strength was found to be a useful proxy for the identification of slow walking speed in older adults.

The associations between various sleep-wake disturbances and depression in community-dwelling older adults- the Yilan study, Taiwan.

Objectives: Given the close relationship between sleep-wake disturbances and depression, an in-depth investigation of such a relationship is imperative. The present study aims at elucidating the relationship between various sleep-wake disturbances and depression in older adults and at examining the influence of co-occurring anxiety on such associations.Method: A community-based survey using the cohort from the Yilan Study in Taiwan was conducted from August 2013 to November 2016. Adults aged 65 and older were randomly selected to participate in the study. The Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale was used to measure clinical depressive and anxiety symptoms. Insomnia and daytime sleepiness were defined through the Athens Insomnia Scale and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, respectively. Furthermore, the use of hypnotics, subjective sleep duration and sleep-wake scheduling were evaluated. Their relationship with depression was examined through logistic regression analyses.Results: There were 2620 participants surveyed and 247 (9.4%) had depression. Before controlling for anxiety, insomnia (OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.23-2.55), daytime sleepiness (OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.27-2.53), and long sleepers (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.24-2.53) have a higher likelihood for depression in the multivariable regression analysis. However, when including anxiety into the multivariable regression model, only those with daytime sleepiness and long sleepers had an elevated risk for depression. Therefore, the association between insomnia and depression turned to be statistically non-significant.Conclusion: In older adults, various sleep-wake disturbances differ in their relationship with depression. In addition, daytime sleepiness and long sleep duration were mostly characteristic of depression when co-occurring anxiety was considered.

Repeated intravitreal injections of antivascular endothelial growth factor in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration may increase the risk of ischemic optic neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Previous case reports have demonstrated the occurrence of ischemic optic neuropathy (ION) following intravitreal injections of antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF). However, no previous studies have investigated the impact of injection numbers on the risk of ION. The aim of our study was to investigate whether repeated intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF would increase the risk of subsequent ION in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: A population-based, retrospective cohort study using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database was conducted from 2007 to 2013. Neovascular AMD patients receiving intravitreal injections of anti-VEGF during the study period were enrolled in the study cohort. Enrollees were divided into three groups according to the categorized levels of injection number (first level: < 10 times, second level: 10-15 times, and third level: > 15 times). Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to compare the cumulative hazard of subsequent ION among the three groups. Cox regression analyses were used to estimate crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for ION development with respect to the different levels of injection numbers. The confounders included for adjustment were age, sex, and comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, ischemic heart disease, and glaucoma). RESULTS: In total, the study cohort included 77,210 patients. Of these, 26,520, 38,010, and 12,680 were in the first-, second-, and third-level groups, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier method revealed that the cumulative hazards of ION were significantly higher in those who had a higher injection number. After adjusting for confounders, the adjusted HRs for ION in the second- and third-level groups were 1.91 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32-2.76) and 2.20 (95% CI, 1.42-3.43), respectively, compared with those in the first-level group. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with neovascular AMD, those who receive a higher number of anti-VEGF injections have a significantly higher risk of developing ION compared with individuals who receive a lower number of injections.

Family structure, birth order, and aggressive behaviors among school-aged boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

PURPOSE: To evaluate the associations between family structure, birth order, and aggressive behaviors among school-aged boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: We conducted a matched case-control study. Data were retrieved from medical records at a psychiatry center in northern Taiwan. School-aged boys with ADHD who first visited the outpatient department at the psychiatric center between 2000 and 2011 were identified. The Child Behavior Checklist was used for aggressive behavior assessment. Boys with ADHD with T scores higher than 70 on the aggressive subscale were classified as cases and others with T scores lower than 70 were classified as controls at a 1:4 ratio. After controlling for other familial, personal, and parental factors, a multivariate conditional logistic regression was performed to evaluate the effects of family structure and birth order on aggressive behaviors of boys with ADHD. RESULTS: 277 cases and 1108 controls were included in the final analysis. Compared with living in a traditional family with both parents, living in a non-traditional family in which one or both parents were absent increased the risk of aggressive behaviors by 1.47-fold, with the highest risk for those in single parent families. Being the firstborn increased risk by 1.45-fold and the risk was higher when the firstborn had siblings. CONCLUSIONS: Living in non-traditional families in which one or both parents were absent, and being the firstborn increased risk of aggression in school-aged boys with ADHD. Identification of this high-risk population and development of adequate preventive strategies are warranted.

Antithrombotic Treatment May Reduce Mortality Among New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation Patients with Gray-Zone Risk of Stroke.

In clinical practice, some atrial fibrillation (AF) patients were classified as having low and moderate stroke risk by the CHADS2 score (≤ 1) in 2001 but in 2012 they were not truly classified as low risk of stroke according to the CHA2DS2-VASc score (≥ 2) (defined gray zone). Therefore, a treatment gap exists in gray zone AF patients. This study aimed to evaluate whether gray zone AF patients could benefit from reduced all-cause mortality under antithrombotic treatment. This was a longitudinal cohort study performed using data from claim forms submitted to the Taiwan Bureau of National Health Insurance from January 2000 to December 2011. The new-onset AF patients consisted of a gray zone cohort with a total of 1237 patients being enrolled. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality between 2001 and 2011. Patients in the gray zone receiving antithrombotic treatment had a significant reduction in all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR): 0.21; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.16-0.28] compared with the no treatment group [warfarin only: HR, 0.28 (95% CI, 0.15-0.52); warfarin + Aspirin: HR, 0.21 (95% CI, 0.15-0.30); and Aspirin only: HR, 0.22 (95% CI, 0.16-0.29) ]. All-cause mortality was notably increased when any of the following risk factors were present: age 65-74 years, age ≥ 75 years, chronic kidney disease, and vascular disease. We concluded that AF patients in the gray zone must receive either anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet treatment and there is a lower mortality in these groups during long-term follow-up. Further investigation is needed to observe whether the antithrombotic drugs have benefits for patients with AF with a CHA2DS2-VASc score < 2.

A preliminary report on psychiatric impairments and quality of life among Kaohsiung gas explosion victims 6 months after the event.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and related risk factors for probable disaster-related psychiatric disorders, such as major depressive episodes (MDEs) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), among the victims of a petrochemical gas explosion in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 6 months after the event. Additionally, the quality of life (QOL) of victims with related risk factors was simultaneously investigated. METHODS: A community-based screening survey with cross-sectional assessments was conducted. The victims of a petrochemical gas explosion were surveyed 6 months after the event. We used two scales, the Disaster-Related Psychological Screening Test and Short Form 12v2, to survey a representative sample of 502 participants (average age: 42.90 ± 16.61 years; M: 270, average age: 40.89 ± 16.40 years; F: 232; average age: 45.25 ± 16.58 years). The Chinese version of SPSS 17.0 software was used to perform the analysis. RESULTS: Non-PTSD or non-MDE (non-P or M), probable PTSD, probable MDE and probable PTSD, and MDE were present in 341 (67.9%), 54 (10.8%), 37 (7.4%) and 70 (13.9%) participants, respectively. QOL worsened (negative trend) among the groups in the following order: non-P or M, probable PTSD or MDE alone, and probable PTSD and MDE. The risk factors for probable PTSD or MDE were female gender, older age, physical injury, significant financial loss, and lack of religious belief. The risk factors for poorer QOL subscales were older age, financial problems, physical injury, higher educational level, religious beliefs, and probable PTSD and/or MDE. CONCLUSION: This study shows that probable PTSD/MDE is associated with lower QOL, supporting the need for early mental health rehabilitation after a disaster. Therefore, rapid screening and early mental rehabilitation are very important.

The association between glaucoma and risk of depression: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Previous cross-sectional studies revealed a higher prevalence of depression among glaucoma patients. However, cohort studies were in lack to build the risk of incident depression after the diagnosis of glaucoma. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between glaucoma and the subsequent risk of developing depression and to assess risk factors associated with depression in glaucoma patients. METHODS: A population-based retrospective cohort study using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database was conducted from January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2011. Glaucoma patients (n = 8777) and age- and gender-matched control subjects without glaucoma (n = 35,108) were enrolled in the study. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to compare the cumulative hazard of subsequent depression between the glaucoma and control groups. A Cox regression analysis estimated the crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for depression. Risk factors leading to depression were investigated among the glaucoma patients. RESULTS: Glaucoma patients had a significantly higher cumulative hazard of depression compared to the control group (p-value < 0.0001). The Cox regression model indicated that the glaucoma group had a significantly higher risk of depression (adjusted HR = 1.71). Within the glaucoma group, significant risk factors for depression included age, female, low income, substance abuse, and living alone. However, the use of ß-blocker eye drops and the number of glaucoma medications were not significant risk factors for depression. CONCLUSION: Patients with glaucoma are at significantly greater risk of developing depression. Among glaucoma patients, age, female, low income, substance abuse, and living alone were significant risk factors for depression.

Relationship between muscle strength and fall episodes among the elderly: the Yilan study, Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Fall episodes are not unusual among community residents, especially the elderly, and lower muscle strength is an important issue to address in order to prevent falls. METHODS: A community health survey was conducted in a suburban area of Taiwan, and 1067 older adults were selected for enrollment in the present study. All the enrolled subjects had been visited at their homes; the subjects' strength of both hands and muscle mass of both legs were measured and well-established questionnaires were finished by certificated paramedic staffs. RESULTS: The incidence of fall episodes in the previous 1 year in the Yilan elderly population was 15.1%, and the female predominance was significant. A significantly higher prevalence of cataracts was found in group who experienced a fall in the past year (64% vs. 54.9% in the non-fall group). Mild or more severe dementia was much more prevalent in the group who experienced a recent fall (33.8% vs. 25.7% in the non-fall group). The strength of both hands tested as the physical function was 17.6 ± 8.0 kg in the recent fall group, significantly weaker than that in the non-fall group (20.7 ± 8.7 kg). Multivariate regression analysis revealed a greater weekly exercise duration and greater strength of both hands reduced the occurrence of falls among the whole and the female population. The standardized effect sizes of hand grip strength between both groups, not trivial, were 0.29 and 0.37 for the total population and the female subpopulation respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Less weekly exercise duration and weaker muscle strength were f ound to be independent risk factors of fall episode(s) in an elderly Taiwanese population, especially in the female sub-population. Muscle strength, measured by average of both hands grip strength, was the most significantly factor of one-year fall episode(s) accessed retrospectively.

Prediction of Both Electrical and Mechanical Reverse Remodeling on Acute Electrocardiogram Changes After Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

BACKGROUND: The development of both electrical reverse remodeling and mechanical reverse remodeling (ERR+MRR) after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) implantation could reduce the incidence of lethal arrhythmia, hence the prediction of ERR+MRR is clinically important.Methods and Results:Eighty-three patients (54 male; 67±12 years old) with CRT >6 months were enrolled. ERR was defined as baseline intrinsic QRS duration (iQRSd) shortening ≥10 ms in lead II on ECG after CRT, and MRR as improvement in LVEF ≥25% on echocardiography after CRT. Acute ECG changes were measured by comparing the pre-implant and immediate post-implant ECG. Ventricular arrhythmia episodes, including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, detected by the implanted device were recorded. Patients were classified as ERR only (n=12), MRR only (n=23), ERR+MRR (n=26), or non-responder (ERR- & MRR-, n=22). On multivariate regression analysis, difference between baseline intrinsic QRS and paced QRS duration (∆QRSd) >35 ms was a significant predictor of ERR+MRR (sensitivity, 68%; specificity, 64%; AUC, 0.7; P=0.003), and paced QTc >443 ms was a negative predictor of ERR+MRR (sensitivity, 78%; specificity, 60%; AUC, 0.7; P=0.002). On Cox proportional hazard modeling, ERR+MRR may reduce risk of ventricular arrhythma around 70% compared with non-responder (HR, 0.29; 95% CI: 0.13-0.65). CONCLUSIONS: Acute ECG changes after CRT were useful predictors of ERR+MRR. ERR+MRR was also a protective factor for ventricular arrhythmia.

Correlates of self-report chronic insomnia disorders with 1-6 month and 6-month durations in home-dwelling urban older adults - the Shih-Pai Sleep Study in Taiwan: a cross-sectional community study.

BACKGROUND: To examine the correlates of insomnia disorder with different durations in home-dwelling older adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey in the Shih-Pai area of Taipei City, Taiwan (The Shih-Pai Sleep Study). A total 4047 subjects over the age of 65 years completed the study (2259 men and 1788 women). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the duration of insomnia symptoms were used to identify DSM-IV 1-6 month and 6-month insomnia disorders. RESULTS: The prevalence of DSM-IV defined insomnia disorder was 5.8 %; two-thirds of these case lasted for ≥6 months. The shared correlates for both 1-6 and 6-month insomnia disorders were gender (women), depression and moderate pain. Pulmonary diseases were exclusively associated with 1-6 month insomnia disorder (OR: 2.57, 95 % CI: 1.46-4.52). In contrast, heart disease (OR: 1.73, 95 % CI: 1.21-2.49) and severe pain (OR: 2.34, 95 % CI: 1.14-4.40) were associated with 6-month insomnia disorder. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of persistent insomnia disorder is higher than short-term insomnia disorder. Correlates for less persistent and more persistent insomnia disorder appears to be partially different. Duration quantifiers may be important in the identification of the etiology of insomnia and further studies with follow-ups are needed to examine the order of developing insomnia disorder and associated conditions.

Different Impacts of Atrial Fibrillation and Cardiac Premature Contractions on the Health-Related Quality of Life in Elderly People: The Yilan Study.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is currently recognized as one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias worldwide, with the increasing prevalence that has been estimated to be as high as 9% among the elderly. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has become an important patient-centered health outcome measurement, but the impacts created by AF and other arrhythmias with similar symptoms, such as frequent atrial and ventricular premature contractions (APCs and VPCs, defined as ≥ 3 beats/5 minutes), have not been extensively evaluated. The Yilan Study is a population-based community health survey, which in part aims to evaluate the prevalence and impacts of these arrhythmias on the HRQoL in a community dwelling elderly population. A total of 1,732 citizens from the Yilan, Taiwan, aged 65 years or older (45.8% male) were enrolled and visited at their homes, where HRQoL was measured utilizing the Short Form-12 Health Survey. Each participant's heart rhythm was recorded with an electrocardiographic monitor for 5 minutes. The results disclosed that the prevalence of AF of this aged population was 5.8%, similar to the mean global prevalence. Besides, the prevalence of frequent APCs and frequent VPCs in these elderly people were 7.1% and 5.5%, respectively. After multiple regression analysis, elderly people with AF had lower scores in the physical component of HRQoL, while those elderly people with frequent VPCs had lower scores in the mental component. Ultimately, these findings can provide additional useful and population-specific information about AF, and assist medical professionals in designing more effective strategies for cardiac arrhythmia treatments.

Effects of combination approach on harm reduction programs: the Taiwan experience.

BACKGROUND: In 2003, a major epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus emerged among injection drug users in Taiwan. In response to the twin epidemics of HIV and intravenous drug addiction, the government implemented comprehensive harm reduction programs beginning in 2005. Collected data from relevant agencies were used to explore the impact of the harm reduction programs on HIV and illicit drug use. METHODS: This study divided 2002-2015 into three intervention phases and used the surveillance data and statistics on the HIV epidemic, drug abuse, and the intervention from relevant agencies to explore the correlations between different variables in different intervention periods and the combination effects of interventions on the HIV epidemic. RESULTS: In the pre-intervention phase, the growth of the HIV epidemic followed the rapidly increasing number of heroin users, reaching a peak in 2005. After the initiation of harm reduction programs, the HIV epidemic ceased growing, even rapidly declining with the expansion of needle and syringe exchange programs and opioid substitution therapy; however, the number of heroin users remained high. When the implementation of the needle and syringe exchange programs and the opioid substitution therapy program reached the plateau level in the consolidation phase, the number of heroin users also decreased rapidly. The combination effects of the harm reduction programs in this period also pushed levels of HIV infection below those before this outbreak. CONCLUSIONS: The HIV epidemic among injection drug users incorporates the dual problems of drug addiction and needle-sharing behaviors, so the use of a single intervention will not resolve all of the problems. Facing a severe HIV epidemic among injection drug users, quickly scaling up and promoting comprehensive harm reduction programs is a good strategy that can be used to simultaneously reverse the HIV epidemic and to resolve the illicit drug use problems. More research is needed to find out the reasons behind why there were cases that declined opioid substitution therapy, so that efforts can be undertaken to avoid the epidemic rebounding.

Combined effect of individual and neighbourhood socioeconomic status on mortality of rheumatoid arthritis patients under universal health care coverage system.

BACKGROUND: The National Health Insurance program in Taiwan is a public insurance system for the entire population of Taiwan initiated since March 1995. However, the association of socioeconomic status (SES) and prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients under this program has not been identified. OBJECTIVES: Using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan, we aimed to examine the combined effect of individual and neighbourhood SES on the mortality rates of RA patients under a universal health care coverage system. MEASURES: A study population included patients with RA from 2004 to 2008. The primary end point was the 5-year overall mortality rate. Individual SES was categorized into low, moderate and high levels based on the income-related insurance payment amount. Neighbourhood SES was defined by household income and neighbourhoods were grouped as an 'advantaged' area or a 'disadvantaged' area. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to compare outcomes between different SES categories. A two-sided P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Medical data of 23900 RA patients from 2004 to 2008 were reviewed. Analysis of the combined effect of individual SES and neighbourhood SES revealed that 5-year mortality rates were worse among RA patients with a low individual SES compared to those with a high SES (P < 0.001). In the Cox proportional hazards regression model, RA patients with low individual SES in disadvantaged neighbourhoods incurred the highest risk of mortality (Hazard ratio = 1.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-2.13, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: RA patients with a low SES have a higher overall mortality rate than those with a higher SES, even with a universal health care system. It is crucial that more public policy and health care efforts be put into alleviating the health disadvantages, besides providing treatment payment coverage.