Evaluating a novel approach to stimulate open science collaborations: a case series of "study-a-thon" events within the OHDSI and European IMI communities.

Objective: We introduce and review the concept of a study-a-thon as a catalyst for open science in medicine, utilizing harmonized real world, observation health data, tools, skills, and methods to conduct network studies, generating insights for those wishing to use study-a-thons for future research. Materials and Methods: A series of historical study-a-thons since 2017 to present were reviewed for thematic insights as to the opportunity to accelerate the research method to conduct studies across therapeutic areas. Review of publications and experience of the authors generated insights to illustrate the conduct of study-a-thons, key learning, and direction for those wishing to conduct future such study-a-thons. Results: A review of six study-a-thons have provided insights into their scientific impact, and 13 areas of insights for those wishing to conduct future study-a-thons. Defining aspects of the study-a-thon method for rapid, collaborative research through network studies reinforce the need to clear scientific rationale, tools, skills, and methods being collaboratively to conduct a focused study. Well-characterized preparatory, execution and postevent phases, coalescing skills, experience, data, clinical input (ensuring representative clinical context to the research query), and well-defined, logical steps in conducting research via the study-a-thon method are critical. Conclusions: A study-a-thon is a focused multiday research event generating reliable evidence on a specific medical topic across different countries and health systems. In a study-a-thon, a multidisciplinary team collaborate to create an accelerated contribution to scientific evidence and clinical practice. It critically accelerates the research process, without inhibiting the quality of the research output and evidence generation, through a reproducible process.

Prevalencia e incidencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en 2, 5 millones de niños y adolescentes en España / The prevalence and incidence rate of overweight and obesity among 2.5 million children and adolescents in Spain

Introducción y objetivos: Las tendencias de la obesidad infantil se están estancando en España, pero hay poca información sobre las diferencias por comunidad autónoma. Este estudio evaluó en 8 comunidades autónomas la prevalencia y la incidencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en niños y adolescentes entre 2005-2017. Métodos: Este estudio longitudinal utilizó las determinaciones de estatura y peso de 2,5 millones de niños de 2-17 años para calcular el sobrepeso y la obesidad según las guías de la OMS. Los datos proceden de 2 bases de datos de historias clínicas electrónicas: la Base de datos para la Investigación Farmacoepidemiológica en Atención Primaria y el Sistema de Información para la Investigación en Atención Primaria. Se calcularon la prevalencia, la tasa de incidencia y las tendencias entre 2005-2017, y se estratificaron por edad, sexo y comunidad autónoma. Resultados: La prevalencia general de obesidad aumentó en niños y niñas desde los 2 años (0,8%; IC95%, 0,8-0,9% en ambos sexos) hasta alcanzar su punto máximo a los 7 años en las niñas (17,3%; IC95%, 17,1-17,5%) y a los 9 años en los niños (24,1%; IC95%, 23,9-24,3%). Las prevalencias de obesidad más altas y más bajas se observaron en Murcia y Navarra respectivamente. Las tendencias generales de la prevalencia de obesidad disminuyeron de 2005 a 2017 en todos los grupos de edad y sexo y en la mayoría de las comunidades autónomas. Las tasas de incidencia de obesidad más altas se encontraron en niños de 6-7 años (4,5 [4,5-4,5] y 3,5 [3,5-3,5] nuevos casos de obesidad cada 100 personas-año en niños y niñas respectivamente). Los niños tenían cifras de prevalencia e incidencia más altas que las niñas en todas las comunidades autónomas. Los valores de prevalencia e incidencia de sobrepeso/obesidad y sus tendencias fueron constantemente mayores que los de obesidad, aunque se observó un patrón similar según edad y sexo. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad se redujo ligeramente en España (AU)

Introduction and objectives: Childhood obesity trends are plateauing in Spain, but limited information is available about how they differ by region. This study assessed childhood and adolescent the prevalence and incidence of overweight and obesity from 2005 to 2017 across 8 Spanish regions. Methods: This longitudinal study used height and weight measurements from 2.5 million children aged 2 to 17 years to calculate overweight and obesity, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Data were obtained from The Base de datos para la Investigación Farmacoepidemiológica en Atención Primaria, and the Information System for Research in Primary Care. Prevalence and incidence rates and trends from 2005 to 2017 were calculated and stratified by age, sex, and region. Results: The overall obesity prevalence increased in boys and girls from age 2 (0.8%; 95%CI, 0.8-0.9 in both sexes) until peaking at age 7 in girls (17.3%; 95%CI, 17.1-17.5) and age 9 in boys (24.1%; 95%CI 23.9-24.3). The highest and lowest obesity prevalences were observed in Murcia and Navarre. Overall obesity prevalence trends decreased from 2005 to 2017 in all age-sex groups and in most regions. Highest obesity incidence rates were found in children aged 6 to 7 years, (4.5 [4.5-4.5] and 3.5 [3.5-3.5] new obesity cases per 100 person-years in boys and girls, respectively). Boys had higher prevalence and incidence rates than girls across all regions. Overweight/obesity prevalence and incidence rates and their trends were consistently higher than the obesity results, although a similar pattern was observed across sex and age.Conclusions: Overweight and obesity prevalence slightly decreased in Spain from 2005 to 2017, but regional, sex, and age differences persisted. Because incidence peaked around the age of 6 years, it may be important to begin health promotion programs at an early age (AU)

Fruit and vegetable consumption in relation to hepatocellular carcinoma in a multi-centre, European cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Vegetable and/or fruit intakes in association with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk have been investigated in case-control studies conducted in specific European countries and cohort studies conducted in Asia, with inconclusive results. No multi-centre European cohort has investigated the indicated associations. METHODS: In 486,799 men/women from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition, we identified 201 HCC cases after 11 years median follow-up. We calculated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for HCC incidence for sex-specific quintiles and per 100 g d(-1) increments of vegetable/fruit intakes. RESULTS: Higher vegetable intake was associated with a statistically significant, monotonic reduction of HCC risk: HR (100 g d(-1) increment): 0.83; 95% CI: 0.71-0.98. This association was consistent in sensitivity analyses with no apparent heterogeneity across strata of HCC risk factors. Fruit intake was not associated with HCC incidence: HR (100 g d(-1) increment): 1.01; 95% CI: 0.92-1.11. CONCLUSIONS: Vegetable, but not fruit, intake is associated with lower HCC risk with no evidence for heterogeneity of this association in strata of important HCC risk factors. Mechanistic studies should clarify pathways underlying this association. Given that HCC prognosis is poor and that vegetables are practically universally accessible, our results may be important, especially for those at high risk for the disease.

Plasma methionine, choline, betaine, and dimethylglycine in relation to colorectal cancer risk in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).

BACKGROUND: Disturbances in one carbon metabolism may contribute to carcinogenesis by affecting methylation and synthesis of DNA. Choline and its oxidation product betaine are involved in this metabolism and can serve as alternative methyl group donors when folate status is low. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a case-control study nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), to investigate plasma concentrations of the methyl donors methionine, choline, betaine (trimethylglycine), and dimethylglycine (DMG) in relation to colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. Our study included 1367 incident CRC cases (965 colon and 402 rectum) and 2323 controls matched by gender, age group, and study center. Multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for CRC risk were estimated by conditional logistic regression, comparing the fifth to the first quintile of plasma concentrations. RESULTS: Overall, methionine (OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.63-0.99, P-trend = 0.05), choline (OR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.60-0.99, P-trend = 0.07), and betaine (OR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.66-1.09, P-trend = 0.06) concentrations were inversely associated with CRC risk of borderline significance. In participants with folate concentration below the median of 11.3 nmol/l, high betaine concentration was associated with reduced CRC risk (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.50-1.00, P-trend = 0.02), which was not observed for those having a higher folate status. Among women, but not men, high choline concentration was associated with decreased CRC risk (OR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.43-0.88, P-trend = 0.01). Plasma DMG was not associated with CRC risk. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with high plasma concentrations of methionine, choline, and betaine may be at reduced risk of CRC.

Consumption of fish and meats and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).

BACKGROUND: While higher intake of fish and lower consumption of red/processed meats have been suggested to play a protective role in the etiology of several cancers, prospective evidence for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited, particularly in Western European populations. METHODS: The associations of fish and meats with HCC risk were analyzed in the EPIC cohort. Between 1992 and 2010, 191 incident HCC were identified among 477 206 participants. Baseline diet was assessed using validated dietary questionnaires. A single 24-h diet recall from a cohort subsample was used for calibration. Multivariable proportional hazard regression was utilized to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). In a nested case-control subset (HCC = 122), HBV/HCV status and liver function biomarkers were measured. RESULTS: HCC risk was inversely associated with intake of total fish (per 20 g/day increase, HR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.74-0.95 and HR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.69-0.97 before and after calibration, respectively). This inverse association was also suggested after adjusting for HBV/HCV status and liver function score (per 20-g/day increase, RR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.66-1.11 and RR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.50-1.09, respectively) in a nested case-control subset. Intakes of total meats or subgroups of red/processed meats, and poultry were not associated with HCC risk. CONCLUSIONS: In this large European cohort, total fish intake is associated with lower HCC risk.

Social inequalities in health among adolescents in a large southern European city.

BACKGROUND: Numerous health problems are initiated in childhood and adolescence. For example, obesity, which has increased significantly in recent years, often begins in early life. The objective of this study is to describe social inequalities in obesity and other health problems among adolescents, by sex. METHODS: Data were from a cross-sectional study conducted in a representative sample of 903 adolescents aged 12-16 years old, from secondary schools in Barcelona, Spain. Associations between socioeconomic indicators and health outcomes (perceived health status, and overweight and obesity) were examined through generalised estimating equation models. All analyses were stratified by sex. RESULTS: Boys were more likely to report very good perceived health status than girls (64.1% and 46.3%, respectively). Some of the less privileged socioeconomic position indicators were associated with the presence of overweight and obesity (prevalence ratio 2.41 for low family affluence scale in girls), and with a lower probability of reporting very good perceived health status among boys (prevalence ratio 0.75 for primary level of paternal education). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that there are social inequalities in perceived health status, overweight and obesity, measured by different socioeconomic indicators among the adolescent population of Barcelona, and that these inequalities were distributed differently among boys and girls. Gender differences in the impact of socioeconomic variables in health need to be considered in epidemiological and intervention studies.