Yen-Jung Chang

Rheumatoid arthritis increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism: a nationwide cohort study

Objective Studies on the association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) are scarce. This study identifies the effects of RA on the risks of developing DVT and PE in a nationwide prospective cohort study. Methods We studied the entire Taiwan population from 1998 to 2008, with a follow-up period extending to the end of 2010. We identified patients with RA using the catastrophic illness registry of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). We also selected a comparison cohort that was randomly frequency-matched by age (each 5-year span), sex and index year from the general population. We analysed the risks of DVT and PE using Cox proportional hazards regression models, including sex, age and comorbidities. Results From 23.74 million people in the cohort, 29 238 RA patients (77% women, mean age of 52.4 years) and 1 16 952 controls were followed 1 93 753 and 7 92 941 person-years, respectively. The risk of developing DVT and PE was 3.36-fold and 2.07-fold, respectively, in patients with RA compared with patients without RA, after adjusting for age, sex and comorbidities. The multiplicative increased risks of DVT and PE were also significant in patients with RA with any comorbidity. Conclusions This nationwide prospective cohort study demonstrates that DVT and PE risks significantly increased in patients with RA compared with those of the general population.

Population-based cohort study on the increase in the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus development from nonapnea sleep disorders

OBJECTIVES The evidence concerning the relationship between nonapnea sleep disorders and the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is scant and elusive. Our study aimed to examine if nonapnea sleep disorders increase the risk for DM using a population-based retrospective cohort study from 1997 to 2010. METHODS In the Taiwans National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), 45,602 patients with nonapnea sleep disorders were identified as the study cohort. The comparison cohort was formed by 91,204 age- and gender-matched controls. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the risk for developing DM. RESULTS In 45,602 patients with nonapnea sleep disorders, 7241 new cases of DM were reported during the follow-up period. The mean follow-up time was 9.04 (standard deviation [SD], 3.33) and 8.96 (SD, 3.47) for the nonapnea sleep disorders cohort and the comparison cohort, respectively. The incidence rate of DM was higher in the nonapnea sleep disorder cohort than in the comparison cohort (17.6 vs 13.3 per 1000 individuals-years). Overall, patients with nonapnea sleep disorders had a higher risk for DM compared to patients without nonapnea sleep disorders (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.05 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.02-1.08]). Men with nonapnea sleep disorders had a higher risk for DM than the men in the comparison group (adjusted HR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.03-1.14]). Among subjects aged less than 40years, patients with nonapnea sleep disorders had a higher risk for DM than the comparison group (adjusted HR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.27-1.59]). Compared with the comparison cohort, patients with sleep disturbance had an 11% higher risk for DM (adjusted HR, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.07-1.16]). CONCLUSION Compared to patients without nonapnea sleep disorders, patients with nonapnea sleep disorders had a higher risk for developing DM, especially among those who were less than 40years of age and who had sleep disturbances.

Risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in female breast cancer patients treated with morphine: A retrospective population-based time-dependent cohort study

AIMS We aimed to examine whether morphine treatment is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in female breast cancer patients. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database for Catastrophic Illness Patients in Taiwan. A total of 31,112 women with breast cancer without T2DM history during the period 2000-2005 were identified, divided into morphine and non-morphine users (8071 and 23,041 patients, respectively), and the hazard ratios of newly diagnosed T2DM during the period 2005-2010 were calculated. We used a Cox proportional hazard model with time-dependent exposure covariates to estimate the risk of T2DM. The dosage of morphine was counted as defined daily dose and its effect was assessed by multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression controlling age, Charlson comorbidity index, outpatient department visits, antipsychotics, and breast cancer drugs. RESULTS Morphine users were 1.24 times more likely to suffer from T2DM than non-morphine users (95% CI=1.04-1.49). Risk increased slightly with the morphine dosage, in patients aged 35-49 years, and with tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, and antipsychotics treatment. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of T2DM is associated with morphine treatment in female breast cancer patients. A higher risk was observed in patients aged 35-49 years using higher dose of morphine, and may be increased by tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors.

Sleep Disorders and Increased Risk of Subsequent Acute Coronary Syndrome in Individuals without Sleep Apnea: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES Studies investigating the relationship between nonapnea sleep disorders and the risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are scant. This study evaluated whether the risk of ACS is associated with sleep disorders other than sleep apnea in Taiwan. METHODS This longitudinal nationwide population-based cohort study investigated the incidence and risk of ACS in 49,099 cases of nonapnea sleep disorders newly diagnosed from January 1997 to December 2001. In total, 98,198 control participants without sleep disorders were randomly selected, frequency matched by age and sex from the general population. The follow-up period started from the date of entering the study cohort to the date of an ACS event, censoring, or December 31, 2010. We conducted Cox proportional hazard regression analysis to estimate the effects of nonapnea sleep disorders on ACS risk. RESULTS The nonapnea sleep disorder cohort had an adjusted hazard ratio (HR; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.29-1.60) of subsequent ACS 1.43-fold higher than that of the cohort without sleep disorders. The highest crude effect of nonapnea sleep disorders on ACS incidence was detected among young adults. However, by adjusting for probable risk factors, the HR of ACS increased with age. Compared with women, men had an adjusted HR of 1.57 (95% CI = 1.42-1.75). Hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), and hyperlipidemia were also significant factors associated with the increased risk of ACS. CONCLUSION This nationwide population-based cohort study provides evidence that patients with nonapnea sleep disorders are at higher risk of developing acute coronary syndrome, which increases with age.

Increased risk of ischaemic stroke amongst patients with chronic osteomyelitis: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

Inflammatory processes, which kindle endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis, may facilitate the development of cardiovascular disease, including ischaemic stroke. Evident stroke risk factors may not be identified in up to 40% of stroke patients, especially in the younger population. Inflammation remains to be established as a stroke risk factor. In this study, it was assessed whether chronic osteomyelitis (COM), an infectious disease with chronic inflammation, increases stroke risk.

Nonapnea sleep disorders are associated with subsequent ischemic stroke risk: a nationwide, population-based, retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is related to an increased risk for stroke and cardiovascular disease. However, studies investigating the relationship between nonapnea sleep disorders (NSD) and the risk for subsequent ischemic stroke are scant. The objective of our study was to assess the association between NSD and the risk for acute ischemic stroke among patients in Taiwan. METHODS We conducted our longitudinal nationwide, population-based, retrospective study using Taiwans National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) from January 1997 to December 2001. All study participants were followed until the incidence of ischemic stroke, or until censoring due to death; until withdrawal from the insurance program; or until they were lost to follow-up by the end of 2010. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to assess the association between NSD and subsequent ischemic stroke risk. RESULTS We analyzed the data collected from 94,160 participants as a comparison cohort and 47,080 participants as a NSD cohort with the diagnosis date as the index date. The age range of cohorts was 20.0-101.7years and 64% were women. The average follow-up duration was 9.61years for the NSD cohort and 9.42years for the reference cohort. Overall, the ischemic stroke incidence was 1.48-fold higher in the NSD cohort than in the reference cohort (8.87 vs 6.00/1000 individual-years), with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.19 after controlling for age, sex, and comorbidities. Our study also showed a 1.35-fold significantly higher risk for developing ischemic stroke in men compared to women. The adjusted HR was 31.2 for elderly patients compared with participants aged ⩽35years. CONCLUSIONS Our nationwide, population-based, retrospective cohort study provides evidence that patients with NSD were at increased risk for developing ischemic stroke compared to patients without diagnosed sleep disorder, with men and the elderly being at greatest risk.

Increased risk of ischaemic stroke among patients with multiple sclerosis.

Inflammatory processes including autoimmune diseases which ignite endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis may promote development of cardiovascular diseases including ischaemic stroke. This study aimed to evaluate whether multiple sclerosis (MS) increases stroke risk.

Splenectomy in trauma patients is associated with an increased risk of postoperative type II diabetes: a nationwide population-based study

BACKGROUND Animal studies indicate that splenocytes may act as precursors of β-islet secretory cells in the pancreas. This study aimed to assess the risk of postoperative type II diabetes after splenectomy in trauma patients. METHODS We used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance hospitalized claims. Study 1 included 3,723 patients receiving splenectomy and 3,723 matched patients receiving other types of abdominal surgery. Study 2 included 5,996 patients with spleen injury and 5,996 matched patients with other types of abdominal injury. The hazard ratio for diabetes was estimated using the matched Cox proportional hazard regression model. RESULTS In trauma patients after surgery, those who received splenectomy had a 2-fold higher risk of diabetes compared with patients without splenectomy after a 3-year follow-up period. In the nonoperative group, there was no difference in diabetes risk between patients with splenic injury and those with other types of injury. CONCLUSIONS Splenectomy was associated with an increased risk of postoperative type II diabetes in trauma patients. Thus, there may be a role for the spleen in the development of diabetes.

Herpes zoster infection associated with acute coronary syndrome: a population‐based retrospective cohort study

Vasculopathy in varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection and a proposed association between herpes virus infection and atherosclerosis suggest a possible link between VZV infection and vascular thrombosis.

Relationship Between Zolpidem Use and Stroke Risk: A Taiwanese Population–Based Case-Control Study

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship between the use of zolpidem and risk of subsequent stroke in Taiwanese patients. METHOD This case-control study used data obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database to determine whether the use of zolpidem is associated with an increased risk of stroke. The case group comprised 12,747 patients who were newly diagnosed with stroke between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2009. We also randomly selected a 4-fold greater number of patients without stroke as a control group. Patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke were frequency-matched with controls on sex, age, and year of index date. We measured the effect of zolpidem and determined the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS We found that exposure to zolpidem was associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke (OR = 1.37; 95% CI, 1.30-1.44). The risk of ischemic stroke increased significantly with increasing exposure to zolpidem; for average exposures of ≤ 70, 71-470, and > 470 mg per year, the ORs were 1.20, 1.41, and 1.50, respectively; the P value for the trend was < .0001. Regardless of whether people presented with a sleep disorder, the risk of stroke was still greatly increased with zolpidem exposure; the adjusted OR was 1.37 without sleep disorder and 1.41 with sleep disorder. CONCLUSIONS This population-based study positively associated the use of zolpidem with increased risk of ischemic stroke. Our findings warrant further large-scale and in-depth investigations in this area.