National trends of surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia in Finland.

PURPOSE: To investigate national trends of surgical treatment for benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). METHODS: The Care Register for Healthcare in Finland was used to investigate the annual numbers and types of surgical procedures, operation incidence and duration of hospital stay between 2004 and 2018 in Finland. Procedures were classified using the Nordic Medico-Statistical Committee Classification of Surgical Procedures coding. Trends in incidence were analyzed with two-sided Cochran-Armitage test. Trends in duration of hospital stay and patient age were analyzed with linear regression. RESULTS: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) was the most common operation type during the study period, covering over 70% of operations for BPO. Simultaneous with the implementation of photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP), the incidence of TURP, minimally invasive surgical therapies, transurethral vaporization of the prostate (TUVP) and open prostatectomies decreased (p < 0.05). The mean operation incidence rate in the population between 2004 and 2018 was 263 per 100,000. The duration of hospital stay shortened (p < 0.05), and the average age of operated patients increased by 2 years (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The implementation of PVP did not challenge the dominating position of TURP in Finland, but it has probably influenced the overall use of other surgical therapies, excluding transurethral incision of the prostate.  The results might suggest that the conservative treatment is accentuated, patient selection is more thorough, and surgical intervention might be placed at a later stage of BPO.

Retreatment after primary spontaneous pneumothoraxes managed with primary tube thoracostomy or surgery.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is a paucity of data on later healthcare visits and retreatments after primary treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax. The main purpose of this study was to describe retreatment rates up to 5 years after primary spontaneous pneumothorax treated with either surgery or tube thoracostomy (TT) at index hospitalization in Finland between 2005 and 2018 to estimate the burden of primary spontaneous pneumothorax on the healthcare system. METHODS: Retrospective registry-based study of patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax treated with TT or surgery in Finland in 2005-2018. Rehospitalization and retreatment for recurrent pneumothorax and complications attributable to initial treatment were identified. RESULTS: The total study population was 1594 patients. At 5 years, 53.2% (384/722) of TT treated and 33.8% (295/872) of surgically treated patients had undergone any retreatment. Surgery was associated with a lower risk of recurrence than TT (hazard ratio (HR) 0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43-0.56, p < 0.001). Male sex was associated with a lower risk of recurrent treatment (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.63-0.90, p = 0.001). Higher age decreased the risk of recurrent treatment (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.99-0.99, p < 0.001). At 5 years, 36.0% (260/722) of the TT treated and 18.8% (164/872) of the surgically treated had undergone reoperation at some point. CONCLUSIONS: Reintervention rates and repeat hospital visits after TT and surgery were surprisingly high at long-term follow-up. Occurrences of retreatment and reoperation were significantly higher among primary spontaneous pneumothorax patients treated with TT at index hospitalization than among patients treated with surgery.

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy procedure volume trends, perioperative mortality, and malpractice claims: Population-based analysis.

Background and study aims Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (EGD) is one of the most common diagnostic procedures done to examine the foregut, but it can also be used for therapeutic interventions. The main objectives of this study were to investigate trends in EGD utilization and mortality related to it in a national low-threshold healthcare system, assess perioperative safety, and identify and describe patient-reported malpractice claims from the national database. Patients and methods We retrospectively identified patients from the Finnish Patient Care Registry who underwent diagnostic or procedural EGD between 2010 and 2018. In addition, patient-reported claims for malpractice were analyzed from the National Patient Insurance Center (PIC) database. Patient survival data were gathered collectively from the National Death Registry from Statistics Finland. Results During the study period, 409,153 EGDs were performed in Finland for 298,082 patients, with an annual rate of 9.30 procedures per 1,000 inhabitants, with an annual increase of 2.6%. Thirty-day all-cause mortality was 1.70% and 90-day mortality was 3.84%. For every 1,000 patients treated, 0.23 malpractice claims were filed. Conclusions The annual rate of EGD increased by 2.6% during the study, while the rate of interventional procedures remained constant. Also, while the 30-day mortality rate declined over the study period, it is an unsuitable quality metric for EGDs in comprehensive centers because a patient's underlying disease plays a larger role than the procedure in perioperative mortality. Finally, there were few malpractice claims, with self-evident causes prevailing.

Case-Fatality Rate in Parkinson's Disease: A Nationwide Registry Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) may have an increased risk of mortality, but robust estimates are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To compare mortality rates nationally between patients with PD and controls. METHODS: The case-fatality rates of Finnish PD patients diagnosed in 2004-2018 (n = 23,688; 57% male, mean age at diagnosis = 71 years) and randomly selected sex- and age-matched control subjects (n = 94,752) were compared using data from national registries. The median follow-up duration was 5.8 years (max 17 years). RESULTS: The case-fatality rate in patients with PD was higher than that in matched controls (HR 2.29; 95% CI 2.24-2.33; P < 0.0001). Excess fatality among PD patients was already present at 1 year from diagnosis and then plateaued at 29% at 12 years after diagnosis. The long-term relative hazard of death in PD patients vs. matched controls did not differ based on sex. Patients with early-onset PD (age at diagnosis <50 years old) had the highest relative hazard of death (HR 3.36) compared to matched control subjects, and the relative hazard decreased with higher age at diagnosis. The seven-year excess risk of death decreased during the study period, especially in men. In patients with PD, male sex, increasing age, and increasing comorbidity burden were associated with an increased risk of death. CONCLUSIONS: An increased risk of death among PD patients was evident from early on. The increase in risk was greatest among young-onset patients. The excess risk in early PD declined during the study period, particularly in men. The reasons for this are unknown.

Malpractice claims after antireflux surgery and paraesophageal hernia repair: a population-based analysis.

BACKGROUND: The complication rate of modern antireflux surgery or paraesophageal hernia repair is unknown, and previous estimates have been extrapolated from institutional cohorts. METHODS: A population-based retrospective cohort study of patient injury cases involving antireflux surgery and paraesophageal hernia repair from the Finnish National Patient Injury Centre (PIC) register between Jan 2010 and Dec 2020. Additionally, the baseline data of all the patients who underwent antireflux and paraesophageal hernia operations between Jan 2010 and Dec 2018 were collected from the Finnish national care register. RESULTS: During the study period, 5734 operations were performed, and the mean age of the patients was 54.9 ± 14.7 years, with 59.3% (n = 3402) being women. Out of all operations, 341 (5.9%) were revision antireflux or paraesophageal hernia repair procedures. Antireflux surgery was the primary operation for 79.9% (n = 4384) of patients, and paraesophageal hernia repair was the primary operation for 20.1% (n = 1101) of patients. A total of 92.5% (5302) of all the operations were laparoscopic. From 2010 to 2020, 60 patient injury claims were identified, with half (50.0%) of the claims being related to paraesophageal hernia repair. One of the claims was made due to an injury that resulted in a patient's death (1.7%). The mean Comprehensive Complication Index scores were 35.9 (± 20.7) and 47.6 (± 20.8) (p = 0.033) for antireflux surgery and paraesophageal hernia repair, respectively. Eleven (18.3%) of the claims pertained to redo surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of antireflux surgery has diminished and the rate of paraesophageal hernia repair has risen in Finland during the era of minimally invasive surgery. Claims to the PIC remain rare, but claims regarding paraesophageal hernia repairs and redo surgery are overrepresented. Additionally, paraesophageal hernia repair is associated with more serious complications.

Association of Central Nervous System-Affecting Medications With Occurrence and Short-Term Mortality of Traumatic Brain Injury.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The use of medications commonly prescribed after traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been little studied before TBI. This study examined the association between the use of medications that affect the central nervous system (CNS) and the occurrence and short-term mortality of TBI. METHODS: Mandatory Finnish registries were used to identify TBI admissions, fatal TBIs, and drug purchases during 2005-2018. Patients with TBI were 1:1 matched to nontrauma control patients to investigate the association between medications and the occurrence of TBI and 30-day mortality after TBI. Number needed to harm (NNH) was calculated for all medications. RESULTS: The cohort included 59 606 patients with TBI and a similar number of control patients. CNS-affecting drugs were more common in patients with TBI than in controls [odds ratio = 2.07 (2.02-2.13), P < .001)]. Benzodiazepines were the most common type of medications in patients with TBI (17%) and in controls (11%). The lowest NNH for the occurrence of TBI was associated with benzodiazepines (15.4), selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (18.5), and second-generation antipsychotics (25.8). Eight percent of the patients with TBI died within 30 days. The highest hazard ratios (HR) and lowest NNHs associated with short-term mortality were observed with strong opioids [HR = 1.41 (1.26-1.59), NNH = 33.1], second-generation antipsychotics [HR = 1.36 (1.23-1.50), NNH = 37.1], and atypical antidepressants [HR = 1.17 (1.04-1.31), NNH = 77.7]. CONCLUSION: Thirty-seven percent of patients with TBI used at least 1 CNS-affecting drug. This proportion was significantly higher than in the control population (24%). The highest risk and lowest NNH for short-term mortality were observed with strong opioids, second-generation antipsychotics, and atypical antidepressants. The current risks underscore the importance of weighing the benefits and risks before prescribing CNS-affecting drugs in patients at risk of head injury.

Imaging Outcomes of Emergency MRI in Patients with Suspected Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare neurological emergency condition with non-specific symptoms. Imaging options to rule out CVST are computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This study aimed to determine the imaging outcomes of emergency MRI as a first-line imaging method in patients with suspected CVST. In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed emergency brain MRI referrals from a five-year period in a tertiary hospital for suspicion of CVST. We recorded patient characteristics, risk factors mentioned in the referrals, and imaging outcomes. Altogether 327 patients underwent emergency MRI on the grounds of suspected CVST. MRI showed evidence of CVST among five patients (1.5%). Imaging showed other clinically significant pathology in 15% of the patients and incidental findings in 5% of the patients. Despite clinical suspicion, the diagnostic yield of emergency MRI for CVST is low and similar to that previously reported for CT. MRI is an alternative imaging method devoid of ionizing radiation in patients with suspected CVST.

Postoperative Complications and Reoperative Surgery in the Treatment of Patients With Zenker Diverticulum.

Importance: The association of the surgical approach, surgical specialty, and other factors with the outcomes of surgical treatment of Zenker diverticulum (ZD) have been debated in the literature. Objectives: To explore the outcomes of 3 different surgical methods used in the management of ZD and determine the associations between patient characteristics, such as preoperative comorbidities and treatment outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective, population-based cohort study examined patient records of patients who underwent surgical treatment for ZD from the Care Register for Healthcare database in Finland between January 1996 and December 2015. Data review and analysis were completed in 2021. Exposure: Surgical treatment for ZD. Main Outcome and Measures: Complications of surgical procedures used in the management of ZD. Results: In this study, 1044 patients (median [IQR] age, 70.0 [22.0-98.0] years; 416 female individuals [39.8%]) surgically treated for ZD were identified. Most patients (606 [58.0%]) had no preoperative comorbidities. A total of 67 (6.4%) complications were recorded, with a mortality rate of 0.9%. The likelihood of complications was associated with patient age (t [1042] = 2.28; Cohen d, 0.29; 95%, CI 0.04, 0.54), surgical approach (Cramer V = 0.14 [95% CI 0.07-0.21]), and surgical specialty (Cramer V, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.06-0.28). The median (IQR) length of stay in association with the primary surgical intervention was 3.0 (0-85.0) days. Length of stay was associated with patient age (Cramer V, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.06-0.25), especially in patients older than 90 years, surgical approach (F [2, 466.2] = 26.9; ηp2 = 0.08; 95% CI, 0.05-0.11), and surgical specialty (F [4, 22.1] = 11.0; ηp2 = 0.07; 95% CI, 0.04-0.10). Reoperation was associated with the initial surgical approach (Cramer V, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.12-0.23) and surgical specialty (Cramer V, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.09-0.21). Conclusions and Relevance: The results of this cohort study suggest that the outcomes of surgical management depended on the surgical approach, surgical specialty, and patient age. Overall, surgical treatment may be considered safe and may be considered for all patients with symptomatic ZD.

Causes of fatal traumatic brain injury in Finland.

OBJECTIVE: The phenotype of patients who suffer fatal traumatic brain injury (TBI) is poorly characterized. The authors examined the external causes, contributing diseases, and preinjury medication in adult patients with fatal TBI in a nationwide Finnish cohort. METHODS: Deaths caused by TBIs in Finland were examined among decedents aged ≥ 16 years during 2005-2020 from the national Cause of Death Registry. Usage of prescription medications prior to TBI was studied using medication purchase data from the Social Insurance Institution of Finland. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 71,488,347 person-years, 821,259 total deaths, and 14,630 TBI-related deaths during 2005-2020, of which 67% (n = 9792) occurred in men. Women were older than men among those who suffered TBI-related death (mean age 77.2 ± 17.1 vs 64.5 ± 19.5 years, p < 0.0001). The overall crude incidence rate of fatal TBIs was 20.5/100,000 person-years (28.1/100,000 in men and 13.2/100,000 in women). TBI was the cause of death in 1.8% of all deaths in the Finnish population during the study years, but in patients aged 16-19 years, TBIs caused more than 17% of all deaths. The most common external cause of fatal TBI was a fall (70%), followed by poisoning or toxic effects (20%) and violence or self-harm (15%) overall. In men, the order of the most common causes of fatal TBI was similar to overall results (64%, 25%, and 19%, respectively), while in women, the most common cause was a fall (82%), followed by complications in healthcare (10%) and poisoning or toxic effects (9%). Cardiovascular diseases, psychiatric diseases, and infections were the most common diseases contributing to death. Blood pressure (lowering) medications were the most common type of medications used before fatal TBI. CNS medications were the second most common medication group. In the context of fatal TBI in Europe, Finland remains at the upper end of fatal TBI incidence. CONCLUSIONS: TBI is a common cause of death in young adults, whereas the incidence of fatal TBI becomes increasingly higher with age in Finland. Cardiovascular diseases and psychiatric conditions were the most common diseases related to death, with opposite age trends. Healthcare facility complications were an alarmingly common cause of death in women with fatal TBI.

Childhood manifestations of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: A Finnish nationwide register-based cohort study.

AIM: The aim of the study was to describe the clinical manifestations of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome patients in the Finnish paediatric population. METHODS: Nationwide registry data including all diagnoses and procedures of every public hospital in Finland between 2004 and 2018 along with mortality and cancer registry data were retrieved. Patients born during the study period and with an ICD-10 code of D82.1 or Q87.06 were included as having 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. A control group was formed with patients born during the study period and with benign cardiac murmur diagnosed under the age of 1 year. RESULTS: We identified 100 pediatric patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (54% males, median age at diagnosis <1 year, median follow-up 9 years). Cumulative mortality was 7.1%. Among patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, 73.8% had congenital heart defects, 21.8% had cleft palate, 13.6% had hypocalcaemia, and 7.2% had immunodeficiencies. Furthermore, 29.6% were diagnosed with autoimmune diseases, 92.9% had infections, and 93.2% had neuropsychiatric and developmental issues during follow-up. Malignancy was found in 2.1% of the patients. CONCLUSION: The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome is associated with increased mortality and substantial multimorbidity in children. A structured multidisciplinary approach is necessary for managing patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Short- and long-term risks of photoselective laser vaporization of the prostate: a population-based comparison with transurethral resection of the prostate.

BACKGROUND: Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the standard surgical treatment for benign prostate enlargement (BPE). Photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) is an alternative, but there is limited real-life evidence of PVP risks. OBJECTIVE: To compare short- and long-term risks of PVP to those of TURP in the treatment of BPE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent elective PVP or TURP between 2006 and 2018 in 20 hospitals in Finland were retrospectively studied using a combination of national registries (n = 27,408; mean age 71 years). Short-term risks were postoperative mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and reoperations for bleeding. Long-term risks were reoperations for BPE or any urethral operations within 12 years. Differences between treatment groups were balanced by inverse probability of treatment weighting. Risks were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression. RESULTS: There were no differences in postoperative mortality or MACE between the study groups. Reoperations for bleeding were less frequent after PVP (0.9%, HR: 0.72, p = 0.042). Bleeding was more likely in patients with atrial fibrillation (number needed to treat [NNT] for PVP vs TURP: 61). Cumulative incidence for reoperation was higher after PVP (23.5%) than after TURP in long-term follow-up (17.8%; HR: 1.20, p < 0.0001, NNT: -31.7). CONCLUSIONS: PVP is associated with lower postoperative bleeding risk but higher long-term reoperation risk than TURP. Patients with high bleeding risk and a low likelihood of needing reoperation appear most suitable for laser vaporization.KEY MESSAGEPVP is associated with lower postoperative bleeding risk but higher long-term reoperation risk than TURP. PVP appears an attractive treatment option, especially for patients with high bleeding risk and a low likelihood of needing a reoperation.

Childhood Dyslipidemia and Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque in Adulthood: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

Background Childhood exposure to dyslipidemia is associated with adult atherosclerosis, but it is unclear whether the long-term risk associated with dyslipidemia is attenuated on its resolution by adulthood. We aimed to address this question by examining the links between childhood and adult dyslipidemia on carotid atherosclerotic plaques in adulthood. Methods and Results The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study is a prospective follow-up of children that began in 1980. Since then, follow-up studies have been conducted regularly. In 2001 and 2007, carotid ultrasounds were performed on 2643 participants at the mean age of 36 years to identify carotid plaques and plaque areas. For childhood lipids, we exploited several risk factor measurements to determine the individual cumulative burden for each lipid during childhood. Participants were categorized into the following 4 groups based on their childhood and adult dyslipidemia status: no dyslipidemia (reference), incident, resolved, and persistent. Among individuals with carotid plaque, linear regression models were used to study the association of serum lipids with plaque area. The prevalence of plaque was 3.3% (N=88). In models adjusted for age, sex, and nonlipid cardiovascular risk factors, the relative risk for carotid plaque was 2.34 (95% CI, 0.91-6.00) for incident adult dyslipidemia, 3.00 (95% CI, 1.42-6.34) for dyslipidemia resolved by adulthood, and 5.23 (95% CI, 2.57-10.66) for persistent dyslipidemia. Carotid plaque area correlated with childhood total, low-density lipoprotein, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Conclusions Childhood dyslipidemia, even if resolved by adulthood, is a risk factor for adult carotid plaque. Furthermore, among individuals with carotid plaque, childhood lipids associate with plaque size. These findings highlight the importance of primordial prevention of dyslipidemia in childhood to reduce atherosclerosis development.

Lack of Statin Therapy and Outcomes After Ischemic Stroke: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Statin treatment is effective at preventing adverse vascular events after ischemic stroke (IS). However, many patients fail to use statins after IS. We studied the impact of not using statins after IS on adverse outcomes. METHODS: IS patients (n=59 588) admitted to 20 Finnish hospitals were retrospectively studied. Study data were combined from national registries on hospital admissions, mortality, cancer diagnoses, prescription medication purchases, and permissions for special reimbursements for medications. Usage of prescription medication was defined as drug purchase within 90 days after hospital discharge. Ongoing statin use during follow-up was analyzed in 90-day intervals. Differences in baseline features, comorbidities, other medications, and recanalization therapies were balanced with inverse probability of treatment weighting. Median follow-up was 5.7 years. RESULTS: Statin therapy was not used by 27.1% of patients within 90 days after IS discharge, with women and older patients using statins less frequently. The average proportion of patients without ongoing statin during the 12-year follow-up was 36.0%. Patients without early statins had higher all-cause mortality at 1 year (7.5% versus 4.4% in patients who did use statins; hazard ratio [HR], 1.74 [CI, 1.61-1.87]) and 12 years (56.8% versus 48.6%; HR, 1.37 [CI, 1.33-1.41]). Cumulative incidence of major adverse cerebrovascular or cardiovascular event was higher at 1 year (subdistribution HR, 1.36 [CI, 1.29-1.43]) and 12 years (subdistribution HR, 1.21 [CI, 1.18-1.25]) without early statin use. Cardiovascular death, recurrent IS, and myocardial infarction were more frequent without early statin use. Early statin use was not associated with hemorrhagic stroke during follow-up. Lack of ongoing statin during follow-up was associated with risk of death in time-dependent analysis (adjusted HR, 3.03 [CI, 2.96-3.23]). CONCLUSIONS: Lack of statin treatment after IS is associated with adverse long-term outcomes. Measures to further improve timely statin use after IS are needed.

Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and concomitant procedures in Finland between 2004 and 2018 based on national registers.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We aimed to assess the incidence of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) and concomitant procedures in Finland. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We identified all the patients who underwent ACLR between 2004 and 2018 in Finland using national registry data. Patients with an ICD-10 diagnosis code S83.5 and the NOMESCO operation codes NGE30 or NGE35 were included. We recorded the patient's age, sex, Charlson comorbidity index, and concomitant procedures. NGE30 or NGE35 was defined as the main procedure and all other procedures attached to this procedure were included as concomitant procedures. RESULTS: Our study included 37,224 ACLRs. The overall incidence of ACLR was 46 (95%CI 34-62) per 105 person-years. This increased from 38 per 105 person-years in 2004 to its peak of 53 in 2014 before decreasing to 47 by 2018. Male patients had a higher overall incidence of ACLR than female patients (61 [CI 47-78] vs. 32 [CI 22-45] per 105 person-years, respectively). However, this difference changed over time: for the males, a decrease in ACLR incidence was observed after 2014, whereas for the females, the trend increased throughout the study period. For both sexes, the highest incidence of ACLRs was in the age group 16-29 years (159 and 71 per 105 person-years, respectively). Concomitant procedures were performed at the time of ACLR in 32% of cases. CONCLUSION: While the total incidence of ACLR decreased slightly from 2014 to 2018, it increased among women over the full study period, which might be due to increased female participation in contact sports. Special attention should be given to girls' and women's ACL rupture prevention and treatment.

Initial statin dose after myocardial infarction and long-term cardiovascular outcomes.

AIMS: Effective statin therapy is a cornerstone of secondary prevention after myocardial infarction (MI). Real-life statin dosing is nevertheless suboptimal and largely determined early after MI. We studied long-term outcome impact of initial statin dose after MI. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive MI patients treated in Finland who used statins early after index event were retrospectively studied (N = 72 401; 67% men; mean age 68 years) using national registries. High-dose statin therapy was used by 26.3%, moderate dose by 69.2%, and low dose by 4.5%. Differences in baseline features, comorbidities, revascularisation, and usage of other evidence-based medications were adjusted for with multivariable regression. The primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular event (MACCE) within 10 years. Median follow-up was 4.9 years. MACCE was less frequent in high-dose group compared with moderate dose [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.92; P < 0.0001; number needed to treat (NNT) 34.1] and to low dose [adj.HR 0.81; P < 0.001; NNT 13.4] as well as in moderate-dose group compared with low dose (adj.HR 0.88; P < 0.0001; NNT 23.4). Death (adj.HR 0.87; P < 0.0001; NNT 23.6), recurrent MI (adj.sHR 0.91; P = 0.0001), and stroke (adj.sHR 0.86; P < 0.0001) were less frequent with a high- vs. moderate-dose statin. Higher initial statin dose after MI was associated with better long-term outcomes in subgroups by age, sex, atrial fibrillation, dementia, diabetes, heart failure, revascularisation, prior statin usage, or usage of other evidence-based medications. CONCLUSION: Higher initial statin dose after MI is dose-dependently associated with better long-term cardiovascular outcomes. These results underline the importance of using a high statin dose early after MI.

Adult-onset epilepsy and risk of traumatic brain injury: a nationwide cohort study.

BACKGROUND: A knowledge gap exists regarding the risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in patients with epilepsy. METHODS: Patients with adult-onset epilepsy during 2005-2018 in Finland were studied using retrospective longitudinal national registry-linkage design. Patients with epilepsy (n=35 686; 51% men; mean age 56.6 years) were 1:1 matched to non-epileptic controls by age, sex, comorbidity burden and cohort entry year. The primary outcome was TBI leading to admission or death, secondary outcomes were TBI admission, fatal TBI, acute neurosurgical operations (ANOs) for TBI and TBI recurrence. RESULTS: The cumulative rate of the primary endpoint was 1.2% at 1 year, 5.6% at 10 years and 7.3% at 14 years in the epilepsy group versus 2.9% at 14 years in the matched controls (HR=3.77; p<0.0001). Epilepsy was associated with increased risk of TBI admission (6.9% vs 2.7%; HR=3.96; p<0.0001), ANOs (1.3% vs 0.4%; HR=7.00; p<0.0001) and fatal TBI (1.3% vs 0.5%; HR=3.82; p<0.0001), during follow-up. Competing risk analyses confirmed the association of epilepsy with all outcomes (p<0.0001). Epilepsy was associated with TBI recurrence during follow-up (HR 1.72; p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Patients with adult-onset epilepsy have a significantly increased risk of severe and fatal TBI. The results underline the importance of TBI prevention in epilepsy.

Controlled register-based study of road traffic accidents in 12,651 Finnish cancer patients during 2013-2019.

BACKGROUND: Little controlled evidence exists on road traffic accident (RTA) risk among patients diagnosed with cancer, while clinicians are often requested to comment their ability to drive. The aim of this study was to evaluate RTA risk in a population-based cohort of cancer patients living in Southwest Finland. PATIENTS: All adult patients diagnosed with cancer in 2013-2019 were included. Acute appendectomy/cholecystectomy and actinic keratosis patients without cancer were selected from the same region as the control cohort. Participants were cross-referenced to a national driving licence database, yielding 12,651 cancer and 6334 control patients with a valid licence. Due to marked differences in their clinical presentation, the cancer cohort was divided into nine cancers of interest (breast, prostate, colorectal, lung, melanoma, head & neck, primary brain tumours, gynaecological and haematological malignancies). The nationwide law-regulated motor liability insurance registry was searched for all RTAs leading to injury with claims paid to not- or at-fault participants. At-fault drivers were verified based on sex and birth year. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 34 months, 167 persons were at-fault drivers in RTAs leading to injury. Among the nine cancers of interest, RTA risk did not differ from the control cohort. Among cancer patients, multivariable regression suggested male sex and opioid use, but not advanced cancer stage or given systemic therapy, as the most influential risk factors for RTA. CONCLUSIONS: Cancer diagnosis itself was not associated with increased RTA risk, but other associated symptoms, medications, comorbidities or specific cancer subgroups may.

Association of CHA2DS2-VASc Score with Long-Term Incidence of New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation and Ischemic Stroke after Myocardial Infarction.

The CHA2DS2-VASc score is a reliable tool used to estimate the risk of ischemic stroke (IS) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Few tools exist for the prediction of new-onset AF (NOAF) after myocardial infarction (MI) and its relation to IS. We studied the usefulness of CHA2DS2-VASc in predicting NOAF and IS in a long-term follow-up after MI. Consecutive MI patients without baseline AF (n = 70,922; mean age: 68.2 years), discharged from 20 hospitals in Finland during 2005−2018, were retrospectively studied using national registries. The outcomes of interest after discharge were NOAF- and IS-assessed with competing risk analyses at one and ten years. The median follow-up was 4.2 years. The median baseline CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3 (IQR 2−5). The likelihood of both NOAF and NOAF-related IS increased stepwise with this score at one and ten years (all p < 0.0001). The one-year-adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio (sHR) was 4.03 (CI 3.68−4.42) for NOAF in patients with CHA2DS2-VASc scores ≥6 points. The cumulative incidence of IS was 15.2% in patients with NOAF vs. 6.2% in patients without AF at 10 years after MI (adj. sHR 2.12; CI 1.98−2.28; p < 0.0001). Coronary artery bypass surgery was associated with a higher NOAF incidence compared to percutaneous coronary intervention (adj. sHR 1.87; CI 1.65−2.13; p < 0.0001 one year after MI). The CHA2DS2-VASc score is a simple tool used to estimate the long-term risk of NOAF and IS after MI in patients without baseline AF. Coronary bypass surgery is associated with an increased NOAF incidence after MI.

Long-term cardiovascular prognosis of patients with type 1 diabetes after myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: To explore long-term cardiovascular prognosis after myocardial infarction (MI) among patients with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: Patients with type 1 diabetes surviving 90 days after MI (n = 1508; 60% male, mean age = 62.1 years) or without any type of diabetes (n = 62,785) in Finland during 2005-2018 were retrospectively studied using multiple national registries. The primary outcome of interest was a combined major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE; cardiovascular death, recurrent MI, ischemic stroke, or heart failure hospitalization) studied with a competing risk Fine-Gray analyses. Median follow-up was 3.9 years (maximum 12 years). Differences between groups were balanced by multivariable adjustments and propensity score matching (n = 1401 patient pairs). RESULTS: Cumulative incidence of MACE after MI was higher in patients with type 1 diabetes (67.6%) compared to propensity score-matched patients without diabetes (46.0%) (sub-distribution hazard ratio [sHR]: 1.94; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.74-2.17; p < 0.0001). Probabilities of cardiovascular death (sHR 1.81; p < 0.0001), recurrent MI (sHR 1.91; p < 0.0001), ischemic stroke (sHR 1.50; p = 0.0003), and heart failure hospitalization (sHR 1.98; p < 0.0001) were higher in patients with type 1 diabetes. Incidence of MACE was higher in diabetes patients than in controls in subgroups of men and women, patients aged < 60 and ≥ 60 years, revascularized and non-revascularized patients, and patients with and without atrial fibrillation, heart failure, or malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with type 1 diabetes have notably poorer long-term cardiovascular prognosis after an MI compared to patients without diabetes. These results underline the importance of effective secondary prevention after MI in patients with type 1 diabetes.