Dementia and the Risk of Hip Fracture

No abstract available.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease and the Risk of Herpes Zoster

No abstract available.

Anti-diabetic medication reduces risk of pulmonary tuberculosis in diabetic patients: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan

Objective: The increased risk of pulmonary tuberculosis [PTB] in patients with diabetes mellitus [DM] remains to be clarified with cohort study. The present study further examined whether the anti-diabetic drug treatment associates with developing PTB. Design: Nation wide cohort study Setting: China Medical University Hospital

Subjects: From the Taiwan National Health Insurance database, we identified 22,256 adult patients newly diagnosed with DM in 2000-2006 as DM cohort and 89,024 persons without DM frequency matched with sex, age and DM diagnosed year as non-DM comparison cohort. Intervention: None Main outcome measures: Both cohorts were followed till the end of 2009 to document PTB incidence. Medications were analyzed for the DM cohort to examine the hazard of developing PTB

Results: The incidence of PTB was 1.64-fold higher in DM cohort than in comparison cohort [52.1 Vs 31.8 per 10,000 person-years] with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.53 [95% CI = 1.40 - 1.67], measured using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Men were at higher risk than women to have PTB. The age-specific incidence rates showed that DM cohort to comparison cohort incidence rate ratio was higher in younger group. However, the Cox model measured HR increased with age. Alcoholism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, alcoholic liver damage and chronic kidney diseases were comorbidities independently associated with PTB. In the DM cohort, anti-DM medications significantly reduced the risk of PTB with a HR of 0.52 for those who had taken metformin, followed by alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, insulins and sulfonylureas [HR = 0.76]. The effects of all anti-diabetic drugs were statistically significant

Conclusions: These findings show patients with DM are associated with an elevated risk of developing PTB, but treatment with anti-diabetic drugs may mediate the risk significantly

Parkinson’s disease and risk of colorectal cancer: A population-based case-control study in Taiwan

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether there is an association between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and colorectal cancer in Taiwan. Methods: This was a case-control study using claim data of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. There were 64,619 subjects aged 20-84 with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer as cases and 64,619 randomly selected subjects without colorectal cancer as controls from 2005 to 2011. Both cases and controls were matched by sex, age, comorbidities, and index year of diagnosing colorectal cancer. Subjects who were diagnosed with PD within 5 years of diagnosing colorectal cancer were excluded. The multivariable logistic regression model was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for risk of colorectal cancer associated with PD. Results: After adjusting for confounding factors, the multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the adjusted OR of colorectal cancer was 0.69 for subjects with PD more than 5 years before index date (95% CI 0.59, 0.81), as compared with subjects without PD. Conclusion: PD is associated with reduced odds of colorectal cancer. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying our findings.

Parkinson’s disease and risk of pancreatic cancer: a population-based case-control study in Taiwan

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between Parkinson’s disease and pancreatic cancer in Taiwan. Methods: This was a case-control study using claim data of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. There were 13,861 subjects aged 20- 84 with newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer as cases and 55,444 randomly selected subjects without pancreatic cancer as controls from 1998 to 2011. Cases and controls were matched by sex, age and index year of diagnosing pancreatic cancer. The association of pancreatic cancer with Parkinson’s disease was evaluated by the multivariable logistic regression model to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: After adjusting for confounding factors including acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, biliary stone, alcoholism, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, the multivariable logistic regression analysis showed the adjusted OR of pancreatic cancer was 0.82 for subjects with Parkinson’s disease (95% CI 0.55, 1.21), as compared with subjects without Parkinson’s disease. Conclusion: No association is detected between Parkinson’s disease and pancreatic cancer.

Increased risk of hip fracture in diabetic elderly

To investigate the relationship between diabetes mellitus [DM] and risk of hip fracture in older people in Taiwan Retrospective cohort study using the database for the period 1998 - 2010 from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program Taiwan National Health Insurance program There were 16,249 individuals aged 65 years or older with newly diagnosed DM as the diabetes group and 64,996 individuals without DM as the none-diabetes group. The risk of hip fracture in both groups incidence of hip fracture than the non-diabetes group [1080 Vs 859.6 per 100,000 person-years, incidence rate ratio 1.26, 95% CI 1.20, 1.31]. DM is associated with 1.26-fold increased risk of hip fracture in older people in Taiwan. Older people with DM should be closely followed to reduce the risk of hip fracture

Use of proton pump inhibitors correlates with increased risk of pancreatic cancer: a case-control study in Taiwan

To investigate whether use of proton pump inhibitors [PPIs] enhances the risk of pancreatic cancer. Retrospective case control study. Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taiwan. We identified 977 patients aged 20 years or older with newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer as the case group between 2000 and 2010. The control group consisted of 3908 subjects without pancreatic cancer selected from the same sample. Use of Proton pump inhibitors. History of using PPIs and other comorbidities were compared between cases and controls. After adjustment for confounders, multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that pancreatic cancer had strong association with PPIs use [OR 9.28, 95% CI 7.77 - 11.08]. Among PPI drugs, those using esomeprazole were at the highest risk with an odds ratio of 12.1 [95% CI 9.76 - 15.0]. Taking PPIs correlates with increased risk of pancreatic cancer. The risk may greater for those taking esomeprazole

Squamous cell papilloma of the stomach

Benign tumors in the stomach are rare in comparison with malignant tumors. Squamous cell papilloma [SCP] of the stomach is a relatively rare benign tumor and only few case reports are found in the literature. Herein, we report a case of squamous cell papilloma of the gastric cardia and also a review the relevant literature

Kidney cancer and diabetes mellitus: a population-based case-control study in Taiwan

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>The purpose of this study was to explore whether diabetes mellitus (DM) correlates with the risk of kidney cancer in Taiwan.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>We designed a population-based case-control study from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database, which consisted of 116 patients with newly diagnosed kidney cancer as cases and 464 subjects without kidney cancer as controls in 2000 to 2009. Both cases and controls were aged ≥20 years. Baseline comorbidities were compared between kidney cancer cases and controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Multivariable analysis showed no association was detected between DM and kidney cancer (OR 1.06, 95% CI, 0.58 to 1.94). Hypertension (OR 2.05, 95% CI, 1.23 to 3.42), chronic kidney diseases (OR 2.57, 95% CI, 1.23 to 5.37), cystic kidney diseases (OR 18.6, 95% CI, 1.84 to 187.6) and kidney stones (OR 4.02, 95% CI, 2.43 to 6.66) were significant comorbidities associated with increased risk of kidney cancer. Use of alpha-glucosidase inhibitor was associated with increased risk of kidney cancer (OR 4.31, 95% CI, 1.07 to 17.3).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>DM does not correlate with the risk of kidney cancer. Hypertension, chronic kidney diseases, cystic kidney diseases, kidney stones and use of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are associated with kidney cancer.</p>

Cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer: a population-based observation in Taiwan

To explore the relationship between cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer in Taiwan. Population-based cohort study. Using database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance program from 2000 to 2006, 89,034 patients [35 years or older] with newly diagnosed cardiovascular disease [CVD] which included coronary artery disease, heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral atherosclerosis, or hypertension, and 89,034 control subjects without CVD were studied. The incidence of colorectal cancer at the end of 2009 and the association with CVD and other co-morbidities were determined. The incidence of colorectal cancer was 1.19-fold higher in the CVD group compared with the non-CVD group [10.87 Vs 9.11 per 10,000 person-years, 95%CI = 1.05-1.36]. After adjustment for covariates, no association was found between CVD and colorectal cancer [95%CI = 0.87-1.13]. Men [HR = 1.53, 95%CI = 1.34-1.75], increasing age [HR = 1.07, 95%CI = 1.06-1.07], and colorectal adenoma [HR = 1.80, 95%CI = 1.06-3.05] were associated with colorectal cancer. No association between cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer is found. Men, increasing age, and colorectal adenoma correlate with the increased risk of colorectal cancer

Statin use and risk of lung cancer in males: a case-control study in Taiwan

To explore the association between statin use and lung cancer risk in men in Taiwan. A nested case-control study. Data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program, 2000 to 2010 Two thousand two hundred and ninety male patients aged 20 years or older with newly diagnosed lung cancer as cases and 9160 male subjects without lung cancer as controls. The association between statin use and lung cancer risk was estimated After adjustment for confounders including pulmonary tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asbestosis and tobacco use, multivariate logistic regression showed the adjusted odds ratio of lung cancer was 0.79 for the statins-use group [95% CI: 0.68, 0.91], when compared with no use of statins. We found an association between statin use and lung cancer risk in men in Taiwan

Related factors for rectosigmoid hyperplastic polyps: a hospital-based study

Little evidence is available about the related factors for colorectal hyperplastic polyps in Taiwan. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of rectosigmoid hyperplastic polyps and to determine the related factors. Medical center in Taichung city, Taiwan Retrospective hospital-based, cross-sectional study. We analyzed the medical records of all subjects receiving periodic health examination at one medical center in Taichung city in Taiwan from 2001 to 2004. A total of 4413 subjects were enrolled in this study. All subjects underwent a 60-cm flexible sigmoidoscopic examination and laboratory survey. Prevalence of hyperplastic Polyps and related factors.There were 2444 men [55.4%] and 1969 women [44.6%]. The mean age was 49.3 years [standard deviation 12.3, range from 20 to 87]. The overall prevalence of hyperplastic polyps was 5.5%, with higher prevalence in men than in women [6.9% Vs 3.7%, p < 0.001]. After controlling for the other co-variates, multivariate logistic regression model showed that the related factors for hyperplastic polyps were increasing age [OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.02 -1.05, p < 0.001], male gender [OR =1.79, 95% CI = 1.31 - 2.46, p < 0.001], generalized obesity [OR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.10 - 2.28, p = 0.012], and smoking [OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.02 - 1.93, p = 0.038]. These findings reveal that increasing age, male gender, generalized obesity and smoking are the related factors for rectosigmoid hyperplastic polyps

Thrombocytopenia and its related factors: a hospital-based, cross-sectional study

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>The objective of this study was to explore the association between thrombocytopenia and its related factors.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>This was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study. We retrospectively analysed the medical records of all patients who received periodic health examinations at a medical centre located at Taichung in Taiwan between 2000 and 2004. In all, 5585 subjects were included for further analysis. A complete physical examination, laboratory survey and abdominal ultrasonography were performed on each subject. The t-test, chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The subjects consisted of 3123 men (55.9%) and 2462 women (44.1%). The mean age was 49.4 +/- 12.3 years (range, 20 to 87). The overall prevalence of thrombocytopenia was found to be 0.5%, higher in men than in women (0.6% vs 0.4%, P = 0.504). After controlling for the other covariates, multivariate logistic regression analysis exhibited that the factors significantly related to thrombocytopenia were increasing age (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.004-1.08), anti-HCV positive (OR, 5.24; 95% CI, 2.08-13.20), liver cirrhosis (OR, 7.93; 95% CI, 2.28-27.62), and splenomegaly (OR, 18.86; 95% CI, 6.86-51.87).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It is advisable to further check the hepatic status, if thrombocytopenia is noted.</p>

Association between rectosigmoid adenomas and cardiovascular risk factors: a hospital-based, cross-sectional study

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Little was known about the association between colorectal adenomas and cardiovascular risk factors in Taiwan. The aim of this study was to assess the association between rectosigmoid adenomas and related factors.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>This was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study. We analysed subjects receiving self-referred health examinations at 1 medical centre in Taiwan between 2001 and 2004. In total, 4413 subjects were enrolled in this study. There were 2444 men (55.4%) and 1969 women (44.6%). The mean age was 49.3 +/-12.3 years (range, 20 to 87). All subjects underwent a 60-cm flexible sigmoidoscopic examination and laboratory survey. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were expressed using a multivariate logistic regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the fi nal model, increasing age (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.03-1.06), hypertriglyceridemia (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.07-2.07), and alcohol consumption (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.47-3.04) were the risk factors for rectosigmoid adenomas in men. Increasing age was the only risk factor for rectosigmoid adenomas in women (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Age, hypertriglyceridemia and alcohol consumption are associated with rectosigmoid adenomas in men, and only age is significantly associated with rectosigmoid adenomas in women.</p>

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Taiwanese adults: a hospital-based study

The constellation of dyslipidemia [hypertriglyceridemia and a low level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol], elevated blood pressure, impaired glucose tolerance, and central obesity is identified now as metabolic syndrome, also called syndrome X[1,2]. People with the syndrome are about twice as likely to develop cerebrovascular disease [CVD] and over four times as likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared with subjects who do not have metabolic syndrome[3]. While this syndrome may have a genetic basis [4,5], environmental factors are important modifiable risk factors for the condition. In Chuang's report from Taiwan, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 9.5% [10.6% in men and 8.1% in women] based on the strict NCEP III criteria, and 12.9% [15.5% in men and 10.5% in women, respectively] by the Asian criteria for waist circumference [6]. To further assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Taiwan, we gathered and analyzed data on all adults who came to the China Medical University Hospital in Taichung for preventive services from January to December in 2004