ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The rates and outcomes of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in Taiwan remain unclear. METHODS: A nationwide population-based cohort study (Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, 2002-2015) was conducted. Data from four PBC cohorts with various definitions were compared (cohort 1 (C1): ICD-9-CM (571.6); C2: alkaline phosphatase (Alk-P) and antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) measurements; C3: Alk-p and AMA measurements and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) treatment; C4: ICD-9-CM (571.6), Alk-p and AMA measurements and UDCA treatment). RESULTS: The average prevalence rate ranged from 9.419/105 (C4) to 307.658/105 (C2), and the female-to-male ratio ranged from 1.192 (C1) to 3.66 (C4). Prevalence rates increased over time in all cohorts. The average incidence rates ranged from 1.456/105 (C4) to 66.386/105 (C2). Incidence rates decreased over time in C1 (-9.09%, p < 0.0001) and C4 (-6.68%, p < 0.0001) and remained steady in the others. C4 had the lowest prevalence and incidence rates and highest female-to-male ratio. Cirrhosis rates ranged from 7.21% (C2) to 39.34% (C4), hepatoma rates ranged from 2.77%(C2) to 6.66%(C1), liver transplantation (LT) rates ranged from 1.07% (C2) to 6.77% (C4), and mortality rates ranged from 18.24% (C2) to 47.36% (C1). C4 had the highest LT (6.77%), osteoporosis (13.87%) and dyslipidemia rates (17.21%). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the reported ranges of reasonable rates, female predominance and characteristic outcomes, C4 was the most representative Taiwanese PBC cohort, with average prevalence and incidence rates of 9.419/105 and 1.456/105, respectively, and a female-to-male ratio of 3.66. In a 14-year period, cirrhosis, hepatoma, LT, and mortality were noted in 39.34%, 5.52%, 6.77%, and 34.22% of C4 patients, respectively.
ABSTRACT
As research progressed, the recommended duration of endocrine therapy for breast cancer patients has been extended from 5 to 10 years. This study aimed to investigate how the duration of endocrine medication and therapy affect survival rate in the real world. By using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD), this study examined 1002 breast cancer patients newly diagnosed between 2000 and 2005 as research subjects, and conducted follow-up until 2013. Among these subjects, 51 used aromatase inhibitors (AIs), 561 used tamoxifen, and 390 alternated between the use of tamoxifen and AIs. The mean follow-up period in this study was 9.63 years, and the mean duration of taking endocrine medication was 4.04 years. The tamoxifen group had the longest follow-up period (9.87 years), shortest endocrine therapy duration (3.29 years), and best survival rate (86.1%). Patients were divided into 3 groups based on the duration of endocrine therapy: under 2 years, 2 to 5 years, and over 5 years. It was found that patients who received medication for less than 2 years showed the lowest survival rate with statistically significant differences (Pâ<â.001). Therefore, the extension of endocrine therapy duration is critical in improving breast cancer patients' survival rate.
