Hepatitis C Virus Subtypes Novel 6g-Related Subtype and 6w Could Be Indigenous in Southern Taiwan with Characteristic Geographic Distribution.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (GT) 6 is the most genetically diverse GT and mainly distributed in Southeast Asia and south China but not Taiwan. Earlier studies showed the major HCV GTs in Taiwan were GT 1b and 2 with very rare GT 6 except in injection drug users (IDUs), and subtype 6a is the main GT 6 subtype among IDUs. Recently, we reported a much higher prevalence (18.3%) of GT 6 in Tainan City, southern Taiwan. This study was designed to clarify the subtypes of GT 6 in this endemic area. A total of 3022 (1343 men and 1679 women) HCV viremic patients were enrolled. Subtypes of GT 6 were determined by sequencing of core/E1 and nonstructural protein 5B in 322 of 518 GT 6 patients. The overall GT 6 prevalence rate was 17.1% (518/3022), with higher prevalence districts (>25%) located in northern Tainan. A novel 6g-related subtype is the most prevalent subtype (81.0%), followed by 6w (10.8%), 6a (7.5%), and 6n (0.7%). The high GT 6 prevalence in Tainan was mainly due to a novel 6g-related subtype and 6w. These two subtypes could be indigenous in Tainan with characteristic geographic distribution.

Site-specific mortality in native joint septic arthritis: a national population study.

OBJECTIVE: This national cohort study investigated the incidence, site-specific mortality and prognostic factors of native septic arthritis (SA). METHODS: Tapping Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified inpatients with newly diagnosed SA between 1998 and 2012. They were categorized by site of infection and followed to calculate 30-day, 90-day and 1-year mortality. Predictors of mortality were calculated using Cox models. RESULTS: A total of 31 491 patients were identified as having SA, the most common site of infection being the knee (50.1%), followed by the hip (14.4%), other sites (26.8%), the shoulder (5.5%) and multiple sites (1.2%). Knee joint involvement was the most common site for all subgroups. Incidence increased from 9.8/105 in 1998 to 13.3/105 in 2012. The 30-day, 90-day and 1-year mortality rates were 4.3, 8.6 and 16.4% respectively. Predictors for mortality were hip infection, shoulder infection, multiple-site infection, being male, age ≥65 years old and comorbidities. We derived a mortality scoring model over age/SA site/comorbidity, and age ≥65 years old had the greatest risk contribution to mortality. No matter whether 1-month, 3-month or 1-year mortality was being considered, patients with the higher risk scores had the higher mortality rates (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: SA is an emerging infectious disease with a rising incidence, long duration of hospital stay and high mortality rate. The most common affected joint was knee for all subgroups. Patients aged ≥65 years old had a high SA incidence and the greatest risk contribution.

Effect of Chronic Pancreatitis on Complications and Mortality in DM Patients: A 10-year Nationwide Cohort Study.

CONTEXT: Chronic pancreatitis (CP), is a long-term inflammation of the pancreatic parenchyma, and might increase risk of a hyperglycemia crisis or hypoglycemia in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM); however, the relationship has not been previously investigated. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS), hypoglycemia, and long-term outcomes in DM patients with CP. DESIGN: A population-based cohort study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Tapping Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 506 DM patients with newly diagnosed CP from 1999 to 2010 and created a control cohort consisting of 5060 age- and sex-matched DM patients without CP from the same time period. We followed those 2 cohorts from the index date to occurrence of outcomes, the date of death or 31 December 2012. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: DKA, HHS, hypoglycemia and mortality. RESULTS: DM patients with CP, who were predominantly male (88%) and younger (60% < 45 years old), had a 9.5-, 5.0-, and 3.0-fold higher risk for DKA (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.51-13.91), HHS (95% CI: 2.85-8.62), and hypoglycemia (95% CI: 2.23-4.08), respectively. They also had lower 1-, 5-, and 10-year cumulative survival rates (98.4% vs 99.0%, 87.7% vs 96.6%, and 78.7% vs 93.6%, respectively) (log-rank test: P < .001), and a 2.43-fold higher risk for death (HR: 2.43, 95% CI: 1.82-3.27). CONCLUSIONS: In Taiwan, DM patients with CP have a higher incidence of DKA, HHS, hypoglycemia, and mortality. More attention is needed for preventing hyperglycemia crisis and hypoglycemia prevention in this population.

Epidemiology and outcome of acute pancreatitis in end-stage renal disease dialysis patients: a 10-year national cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to determine the incidence and severity of acute pancreatitis (AP) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis and whether the dialysis modality [hemodialysis (HD) versus peritoneal dialysis (PD)] confers a higher risk for AP as well as complications or mortality related to AP. METHODS: We analyzed national health insurance claims data of 67 078 ESRD patients initiating dialysis between 1999 and 2007 in Taiwan. All patients were followed up from the start of their dialysis to first AP diagnosis, death, end of dialysis or 31 December 2008. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify risk factors. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence rates of AP were 0.6, 1.7, 2.6, 3.4 and 4% at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 years, respectively. ESRD patients on HD and PD had an AP incidence of 5.11 and 5.86 per 1000 person-years, respectively. Independent risk factors for AP in this population were being elderly, being female, having biliary stones or liver disease, and being on PD. Severe AP occurred in 44.9% of the HD patients and in 36% of the PD patients. Patients with AP on HD had a higher incidence of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeding than those on PD (P = 0.002). In contrast, those with AP on PD had a higher incidence of need for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) support than those on HD (P = 0.072). Overall in-hospital mortality was 8.1%. The risk factors for mortality after an AP attack were male gender, increased age, AP severity, and the presence of diabetes mellitus or liver disease. CONCLUSIONS: ESRD patients on PD were at higher risk for AP than those on HD. HD patients with AP attacks had a greater incidence of UGI bleeding and PD patients with AP attacks a more frequent need for TPN support.