A historical cohort study with 27,754 individuals on the association between meat consumption and gastrointestinal tract and colorectal cancer incidence.

In order to explore the association between meat consumption and gastrointestinal/colorectal cancer (CRC) risk and to estimate the Israeli population attributable fraction (PAF), we conducted a collaborative historical cohort study using the individual participant data of seven nutritional studies from the past 6 decades. We included healthy adult men and women who underwent a nutritional interview. Dietary assessment data, using food-frequency or 24-h recall questionnaires, were harmonized. The study file was linked to the National Cancer and death registries. Among 27,754 participants, 1216 (4.4%) were diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancers and 839 (3.0%) with CRC by the end of 2016. Using meta-analysis methods applied to Cox proportional hazard models (adjusted for daily energy intake, sex, age, ethnic origin, education and smoking),100 g/day increments in beef, red meat and poultry consumption, and 50 g/day increment in processed meat consumption were associated with hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals of 1.46 (1.06-2.02), 1.15 (0.87-1.52), 1.06 (0.89-1.26), and 0.93 (0.76-1.12), respectively, for CRC. Similar results were obtained for gastrointestinal cancer, although red meat consumption reached statistical significance (HR = 1.27; 95%CI: 1.02-1.58). The PAFs associated with a reduction to a maximum of 50 g/day in the consumption of red meat were 2.7% (95%CI: -1.9 to 12.0) and 5.2% (0.3-13.9) for CRC and gastrointestinal cancers, respectively. Reduction of beef consumption to a maximum of 50 g/day will result in a CRC PAF reduction of 7.5% (0.7%-24.3%). While beef consumption was associated with gastrointestinal/CRC excess risk, poultry consumption was not. A substantial part of processed meat consumption in Israel is processed poultry, perhaps explaining the lack of association with CRC.

The association between frailty biomarkers and 20-year all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among community-dwelling older adults.

OBJECTIVES: While several biomarkers were previously associated with frailty and mortality, data are still contradicting. We aimed to evaluate the association between novel biomarkers and frailty among community-dwelling older adults to enhance understanding of the pathophysiology of frailty. METHODS: Nine hundred and sixty-three older adults were screened during the third phase (1999-2008) of the Israel study on Glucose Intolerance, Obesity, and Hypertension (GOH). Frailty was defined as sedentary individuals, past 10 years hospitalizations, or at least one of the following: body mass index (BMI) <21 kg/m2; albumin <3.2 g/dl; ≥2 major baseline diseases. Biomarkers were evaluated for their association with frailty, all-cause, and cardiovascular mortality. RESULTS: Mean baseline age was 72 ± 7 years, 471 (49%) were women, and 195 (20%) were classified as frail. Median follow-up for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality was 11 and 13 years, with 179 (18.6%) and 466 (48.4%) deaths recorded, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression showed greater odds for frailty with lower quartile of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (OR = 1.8, 95%CI: 1.2-2.8, p = 0.01), and for each 5 µmol/L increment in homocysteine levels (OR = 1.3, 95%CI: 1.1-1.5, p = 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression showed greater all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk for individuals with low ALT (HR = 1.6, 95%CI: 1.3-2.0, p < 0.001 and HR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0-2.2, p = 0.03, respectively), and high homocysteine (HR = 1.1, 95%CI: 1.1-1.3, p = 0.003 and HR = 1.2, 95%CI: 1.0-1.3, p = 0.04, respectively). Homocysteine association with mortality was more pronounced in those with baseline ischemic heart disease (IHD) compared with subjects free of IHD (P for interaction = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Lower ALT and higher homocysteine were associated with frailty, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. These available and low-cost biomarkers underscore the nutritional and metabolic aspects of frailty when screening high-risk older adults, especially those with IHD, and may be considered as preferable screening biomarkers to be tested among these individuals for frailty and mortality risk.

Factors associated with attempting and succeeding in smoking cessation following a National Tobacco Control Plan: Analysis of two nationwide surveys (2010 and 2017).

INTRODUCTION: Lower rates of smoking cessation among disadvantaged groups contribute to widening health-disparities. With this recognition, in 2010 free-of-charge/subsidized smoking cessation services became available to all Israeli residents through the not-for-profit health plans. METHODS: Based on two cross-sectional National Social Surveys, data on adult ever-smokers were used (n = 2,998 in 2010 and 2,859 in 2017). The outcome variable comprised three categories: no quit attempt, unsuccessful quit attempt and successful quit attempt. Changes over-time and demographic, socioeconomic, health- and smoking-related factors associated with quitting attempts and success were tested in the pooled sample, using multivariable multinomial logistic regression models. RESULTS: The pooled sample of the two surveys included 2,611 participants (44.2%) who were successful quitters, 1,941 (32.7%) who reported an unsuccessful quit attempt, and 1,305 (23.1%) smokers who did not attempt to quit. Compared to 2010, ever-smokers in 2017 were less likely to report an unsuccessful quit attempt (adjusted OR = 0.81, 95%CI: 0.70-0.94). The likelihood of successfully quitting was similar in both surveys. Older age and self-reported health problem were associated with higher likelihood of quitting attempt. Meeting living expenses, being overweight/obese, engaging in physical activity and heavy smoking were associated with higher likelihood of successful smoking cessation; while environmental tobacco exposure was associated with 43% lower likelihood of successful cessation. Finally, there was an interaction between education and ethnicity. Higher education level was associated with a greater likelihood both to attempt to quit smoking and to succeed among Jewish participants, while the opposite phenomenon was observed among Arab smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the availability of subsidized smoking cessation services, social disparities in smoking cessation rates persist. Efforts should focus on proactively reaching subpopulations with low cessation rates, using tailored strategies for successful smoking cessation. Promoting smoke free homes and workplaces should be prioritized.

Sex specific serum uric acid levels are associated with ischemic changes on ECG and with 20-year all-cause mortality among older adults.

BACKGROUND: Uric acid is an emerging biomarker for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but its association with all-cause mortality and ECG findings remains unestablished, specifically among older adults. We aimed to evaluate the association between serum uric acid (SUA) with incidental findings of ECG abnormalities and with long-term all-cause mortality. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 851 community dwelling men and women, who were examined between 1999 and 2008, and followed over 20 years until December 2019 for all-cause mortality. Subjects free of Gout or diuretics treatment at baseline were included. SUA was categorized according to sex-specific tertiles and evaluated against baseline ECG findings and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Mean baseline age was 72±7 years and 416 (49%) were females. Ischemic changes on ECG were observed in 85 (10.0%) participants, of them 36 (13.5%) belonged to the upper SUA tertile and 49 (8.4%) to the lower ones (p = 0.02). Multivariable logistic regression showed 80% higher odds for ischemic changes on ECG among participants in the high SUA tertile (adjusted-OR = 1.8, 95%CI 1.1-2.9, p = 0.03) compared with the lower SUA two-tertiles. During a median follow-up of 14 years, 380 (44.7%) participants died. SUA ≥5.3 mg/dl for women and ≥ 6.2 mg/dl for men, was associated with a 30% greater risk for all-cause mortality in a multivariable Cox regression model (HR = 1.3, 95%CI: 1.0-1.6, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: High SUA level was associated with ischemic changes on ECG and with an increased risk for all-cause mortality over 20 years of follow-up among community dwelling older adults free of Gout. Even lower sex-specific thresholds of SUA were associated with all-cause mortality than previously proposed. SUA should be considered as a biomarker for cardiovascular risk and all-cause mortality.

Polypharmacy is differentially associated with 20-year mortality among community-dwelling elderly women and men: The Israel Glucose Intolerance, Obesity and Hypertension cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Elderly individuals are characterized by multimorbidity and high medication intake, entailing risks for adverse events. We examined the overall and sex-specific association of polypharmacy (≥5 drugs concurrently) with 20-year mortality among community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Survivors of the longitudinal Israel Study of Glucose Intolerance, Obesity, and Hypertension underwent extensive evaluation during 1999-2004, and were followed-up for all-cause mortality until 2019. Cox regression examined association of polypharmacy with all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Data included 1210 participants (mean baseline age 72.9 ± 7.4 years, 53% females), 50.7% of them died over a median follow-up of 12.8 years. Women received a higher mean number of drugs (4.3 vs 3.5; p < 0.0001), were twice more likely to take vitamins, and had higher comorbidity. Polypharmacy prevalence was 38.3%, and more frequent with age, female sex, European-American origin, sedentary lifestyle and poor self-rated health. Polypharmacy was independently associated with mortality in women only (HR=1.41, 95%CI:1.05-1.89). An interaction was found with sex (p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: Polypharmacy was more prevalent in older women than men and associated with increased 20-year mortality in women only. Sex-specific adaptation of guidelines for appropriate drug use among community-dwelling older adults is warranted.

The insulin sensitivity Mcauley index (MCAi) is associated with 40-year cancer mortality in a cohort of men and women free of diabetes at baseline.

BACKGROUND: The association between insulin resistance and cancer-mortality is not fully explored. We investigated the association between several insulin sensitivity indices (ISIs) and cancer-mortality over 3.5 decades in a cohort of adult men and women. We hypothesized that higher insulin resistance will be associated with greater cancer-mortality risk. METHODS: A cohort of 1,612 men and women free of diabetes during baseline were followed since 1979 through 2016 according to level of insulin resistance (IR) for cause specific mortality, as part of the Israel study on Glucose Intolerance, Obesity and Hypertension (GOH). IR was defined according to the Mcauley index (MCAi), calculated by fasting insulin and triglycerides, the Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA), the Matsuda Insulin Sensitivity Index (MISI), and the Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI), calculated by plasma glucose and insulin. RESULTS: Mean age at baseline was 51.5 ± 8.0 years, 804 (49.9%) were males and 871 (54.0%) had prediabetes. Mean follow-up was 36.7±0.2 years and 47,191 person years were accrued. Cox proportional hazard model and competing risks analysis adjusted for age, sex, country of origin, BMI, blood pressure, total cholesterol, smoking and glycemic status, revealed an increased risk for cancer-mortality, HR = 1.5 (95% CI: 1.1-2.0, p = 0.005) for the MCAi Q1 compared with Q2-4. No statistically significant associations were observed between the other ISIs and cancer-mortality. CONCLUSION: The MCAi was independently associated with an increased risk for cancer-mortality in adult men and women free of diabetes and should be further studied as an early biomarker for cancer risk.

[PREDICTION MODEL FOR ASSESSING PHYSICAL FITNESS IN CARDIAC PATIENTS].

AIMS: To develop and validate a readily-available tool for the evaluation of the fitness of cardiac patients. BACKGROUND: Physical fitness is an important factor in the tertiary prevention for cardiac patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 154 cardiac patients: 119 men and 35 women, mean age 63.1±11.2 years, entering the cardiac-rehabilitation program at the Sheba Medical Center, gave informed consent and completed a 24-hour recall physical activity questionnaire. Information on BMI, medication use and on their performance on a symptom-free limited treadmill test, i.e. measured estimated VO2 (ml/kg/min) and resting heart rate (bpm), were obtained from the medical chart. RESULTS: A linear-regression equation for predicting the measured estimated VO2 includes the overall physical activity index calculated from the physical activity questionnaire, sex, age, BMI, type of coronary heart disease (acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, percutaneous coronary intervention), duration of illness, resting heart rate, use of beta-blockers and level of education. The correlation coefficient between measured VO2 values and calculated values is r=0.6. Upon categorizing patients to high and low physical fitness according to the VO2 median value, the validity of the equation was found to be good: sensitivity=61.2%, specificity=65.2%, positive predictive value=68.4%, negative predictive value=57.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The prediction equation for assessing VO2 in cardiac patients is a simple, inexpensive tool, which may be used for monitoring changes in the patients' physical fitness. It may assist the physician in following a cardiac patient's response to physical activity recommendations and improving fitness when the ergometric stress-test availability is low.

Subfertility, use of fertility treatments and BRCA mutation status and the risk of ovarian cancer.

PURPOSE: The objective of the study is to evaluate the possible association between history of subfertility, fertility treatments, BRCA mutations and the risk of ovarian cancer. METHODS: This Israeli National Case-Control study included 1269 consecutive ovarian cancer cases and 2111 individually matched healthy controls. All participants were interviewed and molecular analysis of BRCA mutations were performed to 896 cases. The main outcome measure was reported history of subfertility and exposure to fertility treatments. RESULTS: The rate of reported subfertility was 15.1% and 14.3% in ovarian cancer cases and controls, respectively. However, subfertility was more prevalent in cases with borderline ovarian cancer (but not for invasive ovarian cancer cases) than controls. Multivariate conditional logistic regression revealed that the risk of borderline ovarian cancer was elevated in both women treated for subfertility and those that were not treated for subfertility, (OR = 1.74; 95% CI 0.9-3.36 and OR = 1.79; 95% CI 0.98-3.26, respectively). In non-carriers of BRCA1/2 mutations, fertility treatments were associated with a decreased risk of invasive ovarian cancer while a significant increased risk of borderline ovarian cancer was observed (OR = 2.92, 95%CI 1.67-5.10). CONCLUSIONS: Reported subfertility and exposure to fertility treatments were associated with borderline but not with invasive ovarian tumors. This association was more prominent in women who are non-carriers of a BRCA mutation.

Oncology Treatments during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Israel: the ONCOR Study.

BACKGROUND: The increased susceptibility of cancer patients to coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infections and complications calls for special precautions while treating cancer patients during COVID-19 pandemics. Thus, oncology departments have had to implement a wide array of prevention measures. OBJECTIVES: To address issues associated with cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic and to assess the implementation of measures aimed at containment of COVID-19 diffusion while allowing continuation of quality cancer care. METHODS: A national survey among oncology departments in Israel was conducted between 12 April 2020 and 14 April 2020. Eighteen heads of hospital-based oncology departments completed a self-report questionnaire regarding their institute's preparedness for treatment of cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: In this national survey, prevention measures against COVID-19 spread were taken prior to patients' arrival and at arrival or while staying in the departments. Most participants (78-89%) reported using a quick triage of patients and caregivers prior to their entrance to the oncology units, limiting the entrance of caregivers, and reducing unnecessary visits to the clinic. Switching to oral therapies rather than intravenous ones when possible was considered by 82% and shortage in personal protective equipment was reported by five (28%) heads of oncology departments. Some differences between large and small/medium sized medical centers were observed regarding issues related to COVID-19 containment measures and changes in treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Oncology departments in Israel were able to prepare and adapt their services to guidelines and requirements related to the COVID-19 pandemic with little harm to their treatment capacity.

The association between insulin sensitivity indices, ECG findings and mortality: a 40-year cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 Diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) mortality. Insulin resistance can be evaluated non-invasively by insulin sensitivity indices (ISI) such as the Mcauley index (MCAi), which is a function of the fasting insulin and triglycerides. Currently, the association between ISIs and ECG findings and all-cause and CV mortality is still not established in a large scale and heterogeneous population. METHOD: In a prospective study of the Israel cohort on Glucose Intolerance, Obesity and Hypertension (GOH) second phase (1979-1982) 1830 men and women were followed until December-2016 for CV-mortality and December-2019 for all-cause mortality. ECGs were recorded and OGTTs performed during baseline. ISIs were categorized into quartiles and evaluated against ECG findings and all-cause and CV-mortality. RESULTS: Mean age at baseline was 52.0 ± 8.1 years, and 75 (15.2%) and 47 (25.3%) participants in the upper quartiles (Q2-4) and the lower quartile (Q1) of the MCAi, presented with Ischemic changes on ECG respectively (p = 0.02). Multivariable analysis showed higher odds for ECG ischemic changes, for individuals in Q1-MCAi (adjusted-OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.02-2.8), compared with Q2-4-MCAi, which attenuated when excluding individuals with diabetes (adjusted-OR = 1.6, 95% CI 0.9-2.7, p = 0.09). Median follow up for all-cause and for cardiovascular mortality was 31 years and 37 years, respectively. Cox proportional-hazards regression showed an increased risk for all-cause mortality for individuals in Q1-MCAi (HR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.02-1.3) as well as an increased risk for CV-mortality (HR = 1.4, 95%CI 1.1-1.8) compared with Q2-4-MCAi. Individuals in Q4-Ln Homeostatic model assessment- Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and Q1- Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) also presented with increased risk for all-cause-mortality (HR = 1.2, 95%CI 1.04-1.4; and HR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.04-1.4, respectively). Other ISIs did not show significant associations with CV-mortality. CONCLUSION: Higher insulin-resistance, according to the MCAi, associated with ECG-changes, and with greater risk for all-cause and CV-mortality over a 40-year follow-up. The MCAi may be considered as an early predictive and prognostic biomarker for CV-morbidity and mortality in adults.

Breast cancer survivors: physical and mental quality of life 10 years following diagnosis, a case-control study.

PURPOSE: Improvements in diagnosis and treatment of Breast Cancer (BC) have resulted in an increase in the life expectancy of survivors and in the importance of quality of life in BC survivorship care. The current study aimed to assess the Health-Related Quality Of Life (HRQOL) of BC survivors and to investigate the association of comorbidities with HRQOL compared to a group of women with no history of cancer. METHODS: Women were residents of the central district in Israel, the case group included 250 women diagnosed with BC between 1999 and 2003, with no prior cancer history and no evidence of disease after 8-12 years. The comparison group included 250 women with no cancer history, individually matched to cases by age and area of residence. Data were collected through in-person interviews, and HRQOL was assessed using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Regression analyses were performed evaluating the influence of demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle characteristics and comorbidities on physical and mental HRQOL. RESULTS: The physical and mental summary scores means, were 48.5 ± 11.1 and 49.2 ± 10.8 compared to 51.5 ± 10.2 and 50.9 ± 10.6, in BC survivors and the comparison group, respectively (p = 0.002 and p = 0.097). BC survivors and controls did not differ in number and type of comorbidities and for both groups a negative association was seen with HRQOL. Controlling for age, income, number of comorbidities, BMI and physical activity, BC survivor had decreased physical (b = -2.49, p = 0.001) and mental summary scores (b = -1.27, p = 0.18). CONCLUSION: HRQOL of BC survivors should gain more attention in the area of cancer care, especially when comorbidities are present.

Years of potential life lost in pre-diabetes and diabetes mellitus: data from a 40-year follow-up of the Israel study on Glucose intolerance, Obesity and Hypertension.

INTRODUCTION: We examined years of potential life lost (YPLL) associated with pre-diabetes as compared with either normoglycemia or diabetes, using data of the Israel cohort of Glucose intolerance, Obesity and Hypertension 40-year follow-up. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Men and women (N=2844, mean age 52.0±8.2 years) who underwent oral glucose tolerance test and anthropometric measurements, during 1976-1982, were followed for mortality until May 2019. Multiple imputation procedures for missing mortality dates and multivariable regression mixed models were applied. RESULTS: At baseline, 35.8%, 48.8% and 15.4% individuals were found with normoglycemia, pre-diabetes, and diabetes, respectively. The average difference in YPLL associated with pre-diabetes as compared with normoglycemia was 4.3 years (95% CI 3.3 to 5.2; p<0.001). YPLL were 1 year higher in women with pre-diabetes than in men with pre-diabetes. These differences persisted mainly in individuals younger than 60 years, and those with body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m2, at baseline. Adjusting for age, sex, country of origin, smoking status, BMI, and blood pressure, the average difference in YPLL associated with pre-diabetes as compared with normoglycemia was 2.0 years (95% CI 1.2 to 2.8; p<0.001). Significant reductions of 5.9 years (95% CI 4.8 to 7.0) on average were observed for diabetes as compared with pre-diabetes and 7.9 years (95% CI 6.7 to 9.1) as compared with individuals with normoglycemia. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals that life expectancy of middle-aged individuals with pre-diabetes is shorter than of normoglycemic ones. These findings are especially relevant in view of the rising worldwide prevalence of pre-diabetes within younger age groups and underscore the crucial importance of interventions by either lifestyle modification or drug therapy capable of delaying progression from pre-diabetes to diabetes to reduce the YPLL in this high-risk group.

Accuracy of 1-Hour Plasma Glucose During the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test in Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes in Adults: A Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: One-hour plasma glucose (1-h PG) during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is an accurate predictor of type 2 diabetes. We performed a meta-analysis to determine the optimum cutoff of 1-h PG for detection of type 2 diabetes using 2-h PG as the gold standard. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We included 15 studies with 35,551 participants from multiple ethnic groups (53.8% Caucasian) and 2,705 newly detected cases of diabetes based on 2-h PG during OGTT. We excluded cases identified only by elevated fasting plasma glucose and/or HbA1c. We determined the optimal 1-h PG threshold and its accuracy at this cutoff for detection of diabetes (2-h PG ≥11.1 mmol/L) using a mixed linear effects regression model with different weights to sensitivity/specificity (2/3, 1/2, and 1/3). RESULTS: Three cutoffs of 1-h PG, at 10.6 mmol/L, 11.6 mmol/L, and 12.5 mmol/L, had sensitivities of 0.95, 0.92, and 0.87 and specificities of 0.86, 0.91, and 0.94 at weights 2/3, 1/2, and 1/3, respectively. The cutoff of 11.6 mmol/L (95% CI 10.6, 12.6) had a sensitivity of 0.92 (0.87, 0.95), specificity of 0.91 (0.88, 0.93), area under the curve 0.939 (95% confidence region for sensitivity at a given specificity: 0.904, 0.946), and a positive predictive value of 45%. CONCLUSIONS: The 1-h PG of ≥11.6 mmol/L during OGTT has a good sensitivity and specificity for detecting type 2 diabetes. Prescreening with a diabetes-specific risk calculator to identify high-risk individuals is suggested to decrease the proportion of false-positive cases. Studies including other ethnic groups and assessing complication risk are warranted.

Childhood Exposure to Low to Moderate Doses of Ionizing Radiation and the Risk of Vascular Diseases.

In the Tinea Capitis Study (Israel, 1966-2011), we assessed the association between childhood exposure to low to moderate doses of ionizing radiation (IR) to the head and neck and the development of vascular diseases (ischemic heart disease, carotid artery stenosis, and stroke) in adulthood. The study included 17,734 individuals from the Tinea Capitis cohort (7,408 irradiated in childhood and 10,326 nonirradiated), insured by Israel's largest health provider. Individual dosimetry was estimated based on measurements made on a head phantom and original treatment records. The mean doses were 1.5, 0.09, 0.78, and 0.017 Gy to brain, thyroid, salivary gland, and breast, respectively. Data on vascular diseases was abstracted from computerized medical records. Using Poisson regressions, we examined the association of radiation with morbidity. Any vascular disease was reported for 2,221 individuals. Adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, smoking, hypertension, and diabetes, exposure to IR increased the risk of developing any vascular diseases (relative risk (RR) = 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09, 1.29), stroke (RR = 1.35, 1.20, 1.53), carotid artery stenosis (RR = 1.32, 1.06, 1.64), and ischemic heart disease (RR = 1.12, 1.01, 1.26). The risk of developing vascular diseases was positively associated with dose and inversely associated with age at exposure. In conclusion, the results indicate that early exposure to low to moderate doses of IR increases the risk of cerebro- and cardiovascular impairments.

Factors associated with disparities in out-of-pocket expenditure on dental care: results from two cross-sectional national surveys.

BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic differences in oral health and dental care utilization are a persistent problem in many high-income countries. We evaluated demographic, geographic and socioeconomic factors associated with disparities in households' out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) on dental care, and the effect of ongoing dental health reform on these disparities. METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis used data collected in two Israeli Household Expenditure Surveys conducted in 2014 and 2018. OOPE for dental care was estimated using a two-part multivariable model. A logistic regression was used to examine the likelihood of reporting any OOPE, and a log-transformed linear regression model examined the level of expenditure among those who reported any OOPE. RESULTS: In 2018, OOPE on dental care accounted for 22% of total health expenditure for all households, whereas among those who reported dental OOPE it reached 43%. Households with children up to age 14 years reported lower OOPE, regardless of ownership of supplementary health insurance. Owning supplementary health insurance had a heterogeneous effect on the level of OOPE, with a significant increase among those with 0-8 years of education, compared to households without such insurance, but not among those of higher educational level. In 2014, Arab ethnic minority and residence in the country periphery were associated with a greater likelihood for any OOPE and higher amounts of OOPE on dental care. While the gaps between Jewish and Arab households persisted into 2018, those between peripheral and non-peripheral localities seem to have narrowed. CONCLUSIONS: The burden of dental OOPE on Israeli households remains heavy and some disparities still exist, even after the implementation of the dental health reform. Expanding the dental health reform and addressing barriers to preventive dental care, especially among Arabs and those of lower educational level, may help in reducing households' private expenses on dental care.

ApoE Genotype, Lipid Profile, Exercise, and the Associations With Cardiovascular Morbidity and 18-Year Mortality.

BACKGROUND: Studies of longevity examined apolipoprotein E (ApoE), a gene involved in lipoprotein metabolism, which interacts with susceptibility to age-related diseases, and with mortality. We evaluated the association of ApoE isoforms with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 949 survivors of the Israel Study of Glucose Intolerance, Obesity, and Hypertension, examined during 1999-2004, mean age 72 years, was followed for mortality until 2017. Participants were interviewed for lifestyle habits and medical history. Anthropometrics and biochemical markers were taken. Logistic regression was used to assess CVD morbidity and Cox proportional hazard model for mortality. RESULTS: The most common genotype in the cohort was ApoE E3 (76.3%), with the other two almost equally distributed (ApoE E2 11.2% and ApoE E4 12.5%). In men only, ApoE E4 associated with CVD (adjusted odds ratio = 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.76, 2.80) and with 18-year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.47, 95% CI 0.95, 2.26), adjusting for age, ethnicity, physical activity, hypertension, diabetes, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, triglycerides and lipid-lowering medications. Low levels of HDL cholesterol, adjusted for ApoE and the above-mentioned variables, associated with higher prevalence of CVD (adjusted odds ratio = 1.35, 95% CI 1.00, 1.83) and all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.42, 95% CI 1.14, 1.78). ApoE E3 and E2 conferred a lower 18-year mortality risk in the physically active individuals, compared to the sedentary (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.57, 95% CI 0.44, 0.74, and adjusted hazard ratio = 0.53, 95% CI 0.78, 1.02, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In community-dwelling older adults, sociodemographic characteristics and physical activity, blood pressure and HDL-cholesterol levels, may outweigh the impact of ApoE polymorphisms on CVD morbidity and all-cause mortality.

Data for a population based cohort study on abnormal findings of electrocardiograms (ECG), recorded during follow-up periodic examinations, and their association with long-term cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality.

In this Data in Brief article, we provide data of the cohort and statistical methods of the research- "Incidental abnormal ECG findings and long-term cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality: a population based prospective study" (Goldman et al., 2019). Extended description of statistical analysis as well as data of cohort baseline characteristics and baseline ECG incidental abnormal findings of 2601 Israeli men and women without known cardiovascular disease (CVD) is presented. The cohort is part of the Israel study of Glucose Intolerance, Obesity and Hypertension (GOH) (Dankner et al., 2007). Furthermore, we provide the data on the performance assessment of the 23 - year CVD-risk and the 31- year all-cause mortality prediction models, which includes Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves, reclassification-based measures and calibration curve.

Incidental abnormal ECG findings and long-term cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality: A population based prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The additional prognostic value of resting electrocardiogram (ECG) in long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD)-risk-assessment is unclear. We evaluated the association of incidental abnormal ECG findings with long-term CVD-risk and all-cause mortality, and assessed the additional prognostic value of ECG as a screening tool in adults without known CVD. METHODS: A cohort of 2601 Israeli men and women without known CVD were actively followed from 1976 to 1982 for 23-year cumulative CVD-incidence, and until May 2017 for all-cause mortality. At baseline and follow-up, participants underwent interviews, physical examinations, blood tests and ECG. RESULTS: At baseline, 1199 (46.1%) had incidental abnormal ECG findings (exposed-group). CVD cumulative incidence reached 31.6% among the 930 survivors who participated in the active follow-up (294/930). During a 31-year median follow-up, 1719 (66.1%) of the total cohort died. Incidental abnormal ECG findings were associated with 46% greater CVD-risk (odds ratio = 1.46, 95%CI = 1.09-1.97). The net reclassification improvement (NRI) of CVD-risk was 7.4% (95%CINRI = 1.5%-13.3%, p = 0.01) following the addition of ECG findings, but the C-index improvement was not statistically significant [C-index = 0.656 (0.619-0.694) vs. C-index = 0.666 (0.629-0.703), p = 0.14]. Multivariable Cox regression demonstrated an all-cause mortality hazard ratio (HR) of 1.18 (95%CI = 1.07-1.30) for exposed vs. unexposed individuals. Non-specific T-wave changes and left-axis deviation are the incidental ECG abnormalities that were associated with all-cause mortality [HR = 1.18 (95%CI = 1.05-1.33) and HR = 1.19 (95%CI = 1.00-1.42), respectively]. CONCLUSION: Incidental abnormal ECG findings, mainly non-specific T-wave changes and left-axis deviation, were associated with increased long-term CVD-risk and all-cause mortality among individuals without known CVD, and demonstrated net reclassification improvement for CVD-risk.

Fifteen-year survival of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer in women with BRCA1/2 mutations - the National Israeli Study of Ovarian Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Compare 5, 10 and 15 year survival in invasive epithelial ovarian cancer, between patients with and without BRCA1/2 germ line mutation in a nonselective group of patients diagnosed during 1994-99. METHODS: The analysis was based on 779 Jewish patients: 229 carriers to the Ashkenazi Jewish founder mutations in BRCA1 (185delAG; 5382insC) and BRCA2 (6174delT); and 550 non-carriers. Clinical characteristics were abstracted from the patients' medical records and vital status was updated through the National Population Registry up to 11/2015. The Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank tests, and Cox-regression model were used for survival analyses. RESULTS: By the end of the follow-up period, (range 1-20 years), 629 (80.7%) deaths occurred. While considerably higher survival was observed during the first 5 years from diagnosis among carriers compared to non-carriers (46.7% vs. 36.2%, p = 0.0004), the survival rates at 15 years were 22.3% vs. 21.8% respectively (p = 0.04). The age-adjusted hazard ratio for all-cause mortality of carriers versus non-carriers was 0.74 (95%CI 0.60-0.91) in the first 5 years. For women who survived 5 and 10 years, the age-adjusted hazard ratios for mortality during 5 additional years, of carriers compared to non-carriers, were 1.38 (95%CI 0.93-2.04) and 1.08 (95%CI 0.61-1.92), respectively. CONCLUSION: The results of this study, with up to 20 years follow-up, support studies with shorter follow-up that suggested that the advantage in survival observed among BRCA1/2 carriers during the first 5 years decreases over time. Clinically, this may have implications for follow-up and therapy, especially of new agents that are particularly effective in BRCA carriers.