Biomedical Evaluation of Early Chronic Kidney Disease in the Air Force: Building a Predictive Model from the Taiwan Military Health Service.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common diseases worldwide. The increasing prevalence and incidence of CKD have contributed to the critical problem of high medical costs. Due to stressful environments, aircrew members may have a high risk of renal dysfunction. A better strategy to prevent CKD progression in Air Force personnel would be to diagnosis CKD at an early stage. Since few studies have been conducted in Taiwan to examine the long-term trends in early CKD in Air Force aircrew members, this study is highly important. We investigated the prevalence of CKD and established a predictive model of disease variation among aircrew members. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we included all subjects who had received physical examinations at a military hospital from 2004 to 2010 and who could be tracked for four years. The Abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Formula (aMDRD) was used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and was combined with the National Kidney Foundation/ Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (NKF-K/DOQI) to identify CKD patients. RESULTS: A total of 212 aircrew members were assessed. The results showed that the prevalence of CKD was 3.8%, 9.4%, 9.0%, and 9.4% in each of the four years. According to the logistic regression analysis, abnormal urobilinogen levels, ketones, and white blood cell (WBC) counts in urine and a positive urine occult blood test increased the risk of CKD. A positive urine occult blood test can be used to predict the future risk of CKD. Moreover, the generalized estimating equation (GEE) model showed that a greater risk of CKD with increased examination time, age and seniority had a negative effect. In conclusion, abnormal urobilinogen levels, ketones, and urine WBC counts in urine as well as a positive urine occult blood test might serve as independent predictors for CKD. CONCLUSION: In the future, we can focus not only on annual physical examinations but also on simple and accurate examinations, such as urine occult blood testing, to determine the risk of CKD and prevent its progression in our aircrew members.

Diagnostic accuracy of optical flow ratio: an individual patient-data meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Optical flow ratio (OFR) is a novel method for the fast computation of fractional flow reserve (FFR) from optical coherence tomography. AIMS: We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of OFR in assessing intermediate coronary stenosis using wire-based FFR as the reference. METHODS: We performed an individual patient-level meta-analysis of all available studies with paired OFR and FFR assessments. The primary outcome was vessel-level diagnostic concordance of the OFR and FFR, using a cut-off of ≤0.80 to define ischaemia and ≤0.90 to define suboptimal post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) physiology. This meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021287726). RESULTS: Five studies were finally included, providing 574 patients and 626 vessels (404 pre-PCI and 222 post-PCI) with paired OFR and FFR from 9 international centres. Vessel-level diagnostic concordance of the OFR and FFR was 91% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 88%-94%), 87% (95% CI: 82%-91%), and 90% (95% CI: 87%-92%) in pre-PCI, post-PCI, and overall, respectively. The overall sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 84% (95% CI: 79%-88%), 94% (95% CI: 92%-96%), 90% (95% CI: 86%-93%), and 89% (95% CI: 86%-92%), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that a low pullback speed (odds ratio [OR] 7.02, 95% CI: 1.68-29.43; p=0.008) was associated with a higher risk of obtaining OFR values at least 0.10 higher than FFR. Increasing the minimal lumen area was associated with a lower risk of obtaining an OFR at least 0.10 lower than FFR (OR 0.39, 95% CI: 0.18-0.82; p=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: This individual patient data meta-analysis demonstrated a high diagnostic accuracy of OFR. OFR has the potential to provide an improved integration of intracoronary imaging and physiological assessment for the accurate evaluation of coronary artery disease.

Impact of coronary plaque morphology on the precision of computational fractional flow reserve derived from optical coherence tomography imaging.

Background: Computational fractional flow reserve (FFR) was recently developed to expand the use of physiology-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Nevertheless, current methods do not account for plaque composition. It remains unknown whether the numerical precision of computational FFR is impacted by the plaque composition in the interrogated vessels. Methods: This study is an observational, retrospective, cross-sectional study. Patients who underwent both optical coherence tomography (OCT) and FFR prior to intervention between August 2011 and October 2018 at Wakayama Medical University Hospital were included. All frames from OCT pullbacks were analyzed using a deep learning algorithm to obtain coronary plaque morphology including thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA), lipidic plaque volume (LPV), fibrous plaque volume (FPV), and calcific plaque volume (CPV). The interrogated vessels were stratified into three subgroups: the overestimation group with the numerical difference between the optical flow ratio (OFR) and FFR >0.05, the reference group with the difference ≥-0.05 and ≤0.05, and the underestimation group with the difference <-0.05. Results: In total 230 vessels with intermediate coronary artery stenosis from 193 patients were analyzed. The mean FFR was 0.82±0.10. Among them, 21, 179, and 30 vessels were in the overestimation, the reference, and the underestimation group, respectively. TCFA was higher in the underestimation group (60%) compared with reference (36.3%) and overestimation group (19%). Besides, it was not associated with numerical difference between OFR and FFR (NDOF) after multilevel linear regression. LPV was associated with NDOF as OFR underestimated FFR with -0.028 [95% confidence interval (CI): -0.047, -0.009] for every 100 mm3 increase in LPV. Conclusions: High lipid burden underestimates FFR when OFR is used to assess the hemodynamic importance of intermediate coronary artery stenosis. TCFA, FPV, and CPV were not independent predictors of NDOF.

A Technology Acceptance Model for Deploying Masks to Combat the COVID-19 Pandemic in Taiwan (My Health Bank): Web-Based Cross-sectional Survey Study.

BACKGROUND: The successful completion of medical practices often relies on information collection and analysis. Government agencies and medical institutions have encouraged people to use medical information technology (MIT) to manage their conditions and promote personal health. In 2014, Taiwan established the first electronic personal health record (PHR) platform, My Health Bank (MHB), which allows people to access and manage their PHRs at any time. In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Taiwan has used MIT to effectively prevent the spread of COVID-19 and undertaken various prevention measures before the onset of the outbreak. Using MHB to purchase masks in an efficient and orderly way and thoroughly implementing personal protection efforts is highly important to contain disease spread. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to understand people's intention to use the electronic PHR platform MHB and to investigate the factors affecting their intention to use this platform. METHODS: From March 31 to April 9, 2014, in a promotion via email and Facebook, participants were asked to fill out a structured questionnaire after watching an introductory video about MHB on YouTube. The questionnaire included seven dimensions: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, health literacy, privacy and security, computer self-efficacy, attitude toward use, and behavioral intention to use. Each question was measured on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "strongly disagree" (1 point) to "strongly agree" (5 points). Descriptive statistics and structural equation analysis were performed using SPSS 21 and AMOS 21 software. RESULTS: A total of 350 valid questionnaire responses were collected (female: 219/350, 62.6%; age: 21-30 years: 238/350, 68.0%; university-level education: 228/350, 65.1%; occupation as student: 195/350, 56.6%; average monthly income

Usability of Wearable Devices With a Novel Cardiac Force Index for Estimating the Dynamic Cardiac Function: Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Long-distance running can be a form of stress to the heart. Technological improvements combined with the public's gradual turn toward mobile health (mHealth), self-health, and exercise effectiveness have resulted in the widespread use of wearable exercise products. The monitoring of dynamic cardiac function changes during running and running performance should be further studied. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the relationship between dynamic cardiac function changes and finish time for 3000-meter runs. Using a wearable device based on a novel cardiac force index (CFI), we explored potential correlations among 3000-meter runners with stronger and weaker cardiac functions during running. METHODS: This study used the American product BioHarness 3.0 (Zephyr Technology Corporation), which can measure basic physiological parameters including heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, maximum oxygen consumption, and activity. We investigated the correlations among new physiological parameters, including CFI = weight * activity / heart rate, cardiac force ratio (CFR) = CFI of running / CFI of walking, and finish times for 3000-meter runs. RESULTS: The results showed that waist circumference, smoking, and CFI were the significant factors for qualifying in the 3000-meter run. The prediction model was as follows: ln (3000 meters running performance pass probability / fail results probability) = -2.702 - 0.096 × [waist circumference] - 1.827 × [smoke] + 0.020 × [ACi7]. If smoking and the ACi7 were controlled, contestants with a larger waist circumference tended to fail the qualification based on the formula above. If waist circumference and ACi7 were controlled, smokers tended to fail more often than nonsmokers. Finally, we investigated a new calculation method for monitoring cardiac status during exercise that uses the CFI of walking for the runner as a reference to obtain the ratio between the cardiac force of exercise and that of walking (CFR) to provide a standard for determining if the heart is capable of exercise. A relationship is documented between the CFR and the performance of 3000-meter runs in a healthy 22-year-old person. During the running period, data are obtained while participant slowly runs 3000 meters, and the relationship between the CFR and time is plotted. The runner's CFR varies with changes in activity. Since the runner's acceleration increases, the CFR quickly increases to an explosive peak, indicating the runner's explosive power. At this period, the CFI revealed a 3-fold increase (CFR=3) in a strong heart. After a time lapse, the CFR is approximately 2.5 during an endurance period until finishing the 3000-meter run. Similar correlation is found in a runner with a weak heart, with the CFR at the beginning period being 4 and approximately 2.5 thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the study results suggested that measuring the real-time CFR changes could be used in a prediction model for 3000-meter running performance.

Long-term predictive models of risk factors for early chronic kidney disease: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: The high incidence and prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Taiwan have produced tremendous burdens on health care resources. The work environment of air force special operations personnel engenders high psychological stress, and the resulting increased blood pressure can lead to glomerular hypertension and accelerated glomerular injury in the long term. The aim of the study was to establish the predictive models to define the predictors of CKD. RESULTS: The results indicated that the prevalence of CKD over 4 consecutive years was 3.8%, 9.4%, 9.0%, and 9.4%. The capability of using occult blood in urine to predict the risk of CKD after 1, 2, and 3 years was statistically significant. The age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 7.94 (95% CI: 2.61-24.14), 12.35 (95% CI: 4.02-37.94) and 4.25 (95% CI: 1.32-13.70), respectively. DISCUSSION: The predictive power of occult blood in urine for the risk of CKD in each model was statistically significant. Future investigations can explore the feasibility of implementing simple and accurate urine dipsticks for preliminary testing besides annual aircrew physical examinations to facilitate early detection and treatment. METHODS: This study was a longitudinal study, in which air force special operations personnel who received physical examinations at military hospitals between 2004 and 2010 were selected. CKD was determined based on the definition provided by the US National Kidney Foundation. Overall, 212 participants that could be followed continuously for 4 years were analyzed.

Albuminuria and neck circumference are determinate factors of successful accurate estimation of glomerular filtration rate in high cardiovascular risk patients.

BACKGROUND: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is used for diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The eGFR models based on serum creatinine or cystatin C are used more in clinical practice. Albuminuria and neck circumference are associated with CKD and may have correlations with eGFR. AIM: We explored the correlations and modelling formulates among various indicators such as serum creatinine, cystatin C, albuminuria, and neck circumference for eGFR. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: We reviewed the records of patients with high cardiovascular risk from 2010 to 2011 in Taiwan. 24-hour urine creatinine clearance was used as the standard. We utilized a decision tree to select for variables and adopted a stepwise regression method to generate five models. Model 1 was based on only serum creatinine and was adjusted for age and gender. Model 2 added serum cystatin C, models 3 and 4 added albuminuria and neck circumference, respectively. Model 5 simultaneously added both albuminuria and neck circumference. RESULTS: Total 177 patients were recruited in this study. In model 1, the bias was 2.01 and its precision was 14.04. In model 2, the bias was reduced to 1.86 with a precision of 13.48. The bias of model 3 was 1.49 with a precision of 12.89, and the bias for model 4 was 1.74 with a precision of 12.97. In model 5, the bias could be lower to 1.40 with a precision of 12.53. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the predicting ability of eGFR was improved after the addition of serum cystatin C compared to serum creatinine alone. The bias was more significantly reduced by the calculation of albuminuria. Furthermore, the model generated by combined albuminuria and neck circumference could provide the best eGFR predictions among these five eGFR models. Neck circumference can be investigated potentially in the further studies.