Validation of the Saga Fall Injury Risk Model.

Background: Predicting fall injuries can mitigate the sequelae of falls and potentially utilize medical resources effectively. This study aimed to externally validate the accuracy of the Saga Fall Injury Risk Model (SFIRM), consisting of six factors including age, sex, emergency transport, medical referral letter, Bedriddenness Rank, and history of falls, assessed upon admission. Methods: This was a two-center, prospective, observational study. We included inpatients aged 20 years or older in two hospitals, an acute and a chronic care hospital, from October 2018 to September 2019. The predictive performance of the model was evaluated by calculating the area under the curve (AUC), 95% confidence interval (CI), and shrinkage coefficient of the entire study population. The minimum sample size of this study was 2,235 cases. Results: A total of 3,549 patients, with a median age of 78 years, were included in the analysis, and men accounted for 47.9% of all the patients. Among these, 35 (0.99%) had fall injuries. The performance of the SFIRM, as measured by the AUC, was 0.721 (95% CI: 0.662-0.781). The observed fall incidence closely aligned with the predicted incidence calculated using the SFIRM, with a shrinkage coefficient of 0.867. Conclusions: The external validation of the SFIRM in this two-center, prospective study showed good discrimination and calibration. This model can be easily applied upon admission and is valuable for fall injury prediction.

Safety of Combined Statin and Fibrate Therapy: Risks of Liver Injury and Acute Kidney Injury in a Cohort Study from the Shizuoka Kokuho Database.

INTRODUCTION: Statins and fibrates are important means of preventing cardiovascular diseases, particularly when administered in combination as part of various therapeutic strategies. In this study, we explored the risks associated with various combinations of these drugs. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the risk of 1-year hospitalization with acute kidney injury, liver injury, pancreatitis, or rhabdomyolysis related to the concurrent administration of statins and fibrates. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study using data from the Shizuoka Kokuho Database, focusing on patients prescribed statins, fibrates, or a combination. Four drug exposure patterns were evaluated: adding statins to fibrates (exposure 1), switching from fibrates to statins (exposure 2), adding fibrates to statins (exposure 3), and switching from statins to fibrates (exposure 4). Hospitalization for the specified conditions within 1 year was the outcome. Propensity score matching was used to create balanced cohorts for comparison. RESULTS: We studied 269,226 statin users and 16,282 fibrate users. After propensity score matching, there were 498 participants in the group of exposure 1, matched with 2988 in the fibrate-only group; 1180 in the group of exposure 2, matched with 7080 in the fibrate-only group; 1183 in group of exposure 3, matched with 11,830 in the statin only group; and 1356 in group of exposure 4, matched with 13,560 in the statin only group. The 1-year hospitalization rate with liver injury was higher in the group of exposure 1 than in the fibrate-only group (1.2% vs 0.3%, p < 0.01), in the group of exposure 2 than in the fibrate-only group (0.9% vs 0.3%, p < 0.01), and in the group of exposure 4 than in the statin-only group (0.6% vs 0.2%, p = 0.02). There was also a higher risk of 1-year hospitalization with acute kidney injury in group of exposure 1 than in the fibrate-only group (1.3% vs 0.3%, p = 0.01) but not in evaluations of exposure 2, 3, and 4. However, there were no differences in the risks of 1-year hospitalization with pancreatitis or rhabdomyolysis among the matched groups. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated higher risks of 1-year hospitalization with liver injury or acute kidney injury associated with the use of combinations of statins and fibrates. This underscores the need for a cautious approach to the prescribing of such drug combinations and the importance of monitoring patients for potential adverse events.

Systemic inflammation score as a predictor of death within one year after esophagectomy.

BACKGROUND: After radical resection for esophageal cancer, death within 1 year of surgery can occur due both to recurrence and to other diseases, even after postoperative complications have been overcome. This study identified risk factors for early death within 1 year of esophagectomy for reasons other than death in hospital in patients undergoing esophagectomy for esophageal cancer or esophagogastric junction cancer. METHODS: We reviewed 366 patients who underwent esophagectomy without adjuvant treatment between January 2009 and July 2022 for thoracic esophageal cancer or esophagogastric junction cancer. Patients who died within 1 year excluding in-hospital death were compared with those who did not. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictors of death within 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: Death within 1 year occurred in 32 of 366 patients, 24 from primary disease and 8 from other diseases. Deaths within 1 year were significantly older than the other cases, had significantly lower % vital capacity (%VC), and occurred significantly more often in cases in advanced stages of disease. In a multivariable analysis, a systemic inflammation score (SIS) based on serum albumin level and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio was identified as an independent predictor of death within 1 year. As SIS increased, %VC decreased significantly, and CRP level and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio increased significantly. There was no relationship between SIS and pN. Death within 1 year increased as SIS increased (p = 0.001 for trend). CONCLUSION: SIS assessment undertaken before beginning esophageal cancer treatment is a useful predictor of death within 1 year of surgery.

The Administration of Lemborexant at Admission is Not Associated with Inpatient Falls: A Multicenter Retrospective Observational Study.

Purpose: There has been no large-scale investigation into the association between the use of lemborexant, suvorexant, and ramelteon and falls in a large population. This study, serving as a pilot investigation, was aimed at examining the relationship between inpatient falls and various prescribed hypnotic medications at admission. Patients and Methods: This study was a sub-analysis of a multicenter retrospective observational study conducted over a period of 3 years. The target population comprised patients aged 20 years or above admitted to eight hospitals, including chronic care, acute care, and tertiary hospitals. We extracted data on the types of hypnotic medications prescribed at admission, including lemborexant, suvorexant, ramelteon, benzodiazepines, Z-drugs, and other hypnotics; the occurrence of inpatient falls during the hospital stay; and patients' background information. To determine the outcome of inpatient falls, items with low collinearity were selected and included as covariates in a forced-entry binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Overall, 150,278 patients were included in the analysis, among whom 3,458 experienced falls. The median age of the entire cohort was 70 years, with men constituting 53.1%. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that the prescription of lemborexant, suvorexant, and ramelteon at admission was not significantly associated with inpatient falls. Conclusion: The administration of lemborexant, suvorexant, and ramelteon at admission may not be associated with inpatient falls.

[Optimal search conditions for identification of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia from Japanese National Health Insurance data].

This study investigated which conditions could be used to identify patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) from a National Health Insurance claims dataset. During April 2012 and September 2018, 1,789,462 employees were enrolled in the dataset for Shizuoka Prefecture residents. The number of patients with the ICD-10 code for CML was 761. Among them, 246 who had been prescribed a tyrosine kinase inhibitor were considered as having true CML. The positive predictive value was calculated as 32.3% when CML was identified by ICD-10 code alone. Combination of ICD-10 code with prescribed drugs was required to accurately identify patients with CML from the insurance database.

Enhancing exercise tolerance in interstitial lung disease with high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy: A randomized crossover trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is characterized by dyspnoea on exertion and exercise-induced hypoxaemia. High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy reduces the respiratory workload through higher gas flow and oxygen supplementation, which may affect exercise tolerance. This study aimed to examine the effects of oxygen and gas flow rates through HFNC therapy on exercise tolerance in ILD patients. METHODS: We conducted three-treatment crossover study. All ILD patients performed the exercises on room air (ROOM AIR setting: flow, 0 L/min; fraction of inspired oxygen [FiO2], 0.21), HFNC (FLOW setting: flow 40 L/min, FiO2 0.21), and HFNC with oxygen supplementation (FLOW + OXYGEN setting: flow 40 L/min, FiO2 0.6). The primary endpoint was the endurance time, measured using constant-load cycle ergometry exercise testing at a peak work rate of 80%. RESULTS: Twenty-five participants (10 men, 71.2 ± 6.7 years) were enrolled. The increase in exercise duration between the ROOM AIR and FLOW was 46.3 s (95% CI, -6.1 to 98.7; p = 0.083), and the FLOW and FLOW + OXYGEN was 91.5 s (39.1-143.9; p < 0.001). The percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2) at rest was significantly higher with the FLOW + OXYGEN setting than with the ROOM AIR and FLOW settings, and the difference persisted during exercise. At equivalent time points during exercise, the SpO2 with the FLOW setting was significantly higher than that with the ROOM AIR setting. CONCLUSION: Oxygen supplementation in HFNC therapy improved exercise tolerance and SpO2. We found that gas flow alone did not improve exercise tolerance, but improved SpO2 during exercise.

Validation and Improvement of the Saga Fall Risk Model: A Multicenter Retrospective Observational Study.

Purpose: We conducted a pilot study in an acute care hospital and developed the Saga Fall Risk Model 2 (SFRM2), a fall prediction model comprising eight items: Bedriddenness rank, age, sex, emergency admission, admission to the neurosurgery department, history of falls, independence of eating, and use of hypnotics. The external validation results from the two hospitals showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of SFRM2 may be lower in other facilities. This study aimed to validate the accuracy of SFRM2 using data from eight hospitals, including chronic care hospitals, and adjust the coefficients to improve the accuracy of SFRM2 and validate it. Patients and Methods: This study included all patients aged ≥20 years admitted to eight hospitals, including chronic care, acute care, and tertiary hospitals, from April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2021. In-hospital falls were used as the outcome, and the AUC and shrinkage coefficient of SFRM2 were calculated. Additionally, SFRM2.1, which was modified from the coefficients of SFRM2 using logistic regression with the eight items comprising SFRM2, was developed using two-thirds of the data randomly selected from the entire population, and its accuracy was validated using the remaining one-third portion of the data. Results: Of the 124,521 inpatients analyzed, 2,986 (2.4%) experienced falls during hospitalization. The median age of all inpatients was 71 years, and 53.2% were men. The AUC of SFRM2 was 0.687 (95% confidence interval [CI]:0.678-0.697), and the shrinkage coefficient was 0.996. SFRM2.1 was created using 81,790 patients, and its accuracy was validated using the remaining 42,731 patients. The AUC of SFRM2.1 was 0.745 (95% CI: 0.731-0.758). Conclusion: SFRM2 showed good accuracy in predicting falls even on validating in diverse populations with significantly different backgrounds. Furthermore, the accuracy can be improved by adjusting the coefficients while keeping the model's parameters fixed.

Impact of preexisting interstitial lung disease on mortality in COVID-19 patients from the early pandemic to the delta variant epidemic: a nationwide population-based study.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 patients with preexisting interstitial lung disease (ILD) were reported to have a high mortality rate; however, this was based on data from the early stages of the pandemic. It is uncertain how their mortality rates have changed with the emergence of new variants of concern as well as the development of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. It is also unclear whether having ILD still poses a risk factor for mortality. As COVID-19 continues to be a major concern, further research on COVID-19 patients with preexisting ILD is necessary. METHODS: We extracted data on COVID-19 patients between January 2020-August 2021 from a Japanese nationwide insurance claims database and divided them into those with and without preexisting ILD. We investigated all-cause mortality of COVID-19 patients with preexisting ILD in wild-type-, alpha-, and delta-predominant waves, to determine whether preexisting ILD was associated with increased mortality. RESULTS: Of the 937,758 adult COVID-19 patients, 7,333 (0.8%) had preexisting ILD. The proportion of all COVID-19 patients who had preexisting ILD in the wild-type-, alpha-, and delta-predominant waves was 1.2%, 0.8%, and 0.3%, respectively, and their 60-day mortality was 16.0%, 14.6%, and 7.5%, respectively. The 60-day mortality significantly decreased from the alpha-predominant to delta-predominant waves (difference - 7.1%, 95% confidence intervals (CI) - 9.3% to - 4.9%). In multivariable analysis, preexisting ILD was independently associated with increased mortality in all waves with the wild-type-predominant, odds ratio (OR) 2.10, 95% CI 1.91-2.30, the alpha-predominant wave, OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.84-2.50, and the delta-predominant wave, OR 2.10, 95%CI 1.66-2.66. CONCLUSIONS: All-cause mortality rates for COVID-19 patients with preexisting ILD decreased from the wild-type- to the more recent delta-predominant waves. However, these patients were consistently at higher mortality risk than those without preexisting ILD. We emphasize that careful attention should be given to patients with preexisting ILD despite the change in the COVID-19 environment.

Denosumab-induced hypocalcemia in patients with solid tumors and renal dysfunction: a multicenter, retrospective, observational study.

BACKGROUND: Bone metastases are frequently observed in advanced cancer, and bone modifying agents are used to prevent or treat skeletal-related events. Zoledronic acid is contraindicated in patients with severe renal impairment (Ccr < 30 mL/min), but it is not completely known whether denosumab can be used in them. We aimed to determine the association between renal function and hypocalcemia development during denosumab treatment. METHODS: We included patients with solid cancer and bone metastases who started denosumab treatment between April 2017 and March 2019. They were classified into four groups based on creatinine clearance (Ccr; mL/min): normal (Ccr ≥ 80), mild (50 ≤ Ccr ˂80), moderate (30 ≤ Ccr ˂50), and severe (Ccr ˂30). Hypocalcemia was evaluated using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (v5.0) based on the albumin-adjusted serum calcium levels; its incidence (stratified by renal function) and risk factors were investigated using a Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 524 patients (age: 69 ± 11 years; 303 men), 153 had a normal renal function and 222, 117, and 32 had mild, moderate, and severe renal dysfunction. The albumin-adjusted serum calcium level was higher than the measured (total) calcium level in most patients. The incidence of grade ≥ 1 hypocalcemia was 32.0% in the normal group and 37.4%, 29.9%, and 62.5% in the mild, moderate, and severe renal dysfunction groups, respectively. It was, therefore, higher in the severe renal dysfunction groups than in the normal group (P = 0.002). The incidence of grade ≥ 3 hypocalcemia did not differ significantly among the groups. Pre-treatment low serum calcium levels and severe renal dysfunction were risk factors for hypocalcemia. CONCLUSIONS: Evaluating denosumab-induced hypocalcemia required albumin adjustment, and its incidence was high among patients with severe renal dysfunction. Reduced serum calcium levels and severely impaired renal function were associated with an elevated hypocalcemia risk.

Prospective study on planned biliary stent placement to treat small common bile duct stones.

Aims: Small common bile duct stones are known to occasionally clear spontaneously. This study aimed to prospectively assess the role of biliary stent placement in promoting the spontaneous clearance of small common bile duct stones. Methods and Results: We analyzed patients presenting with common bile duct stones of ≤5 mm diameter between June 2020 and May 2022. The exclusion criteria included asymptomatic patients, biliary pancreatitis, altered gastrointestinal anatomy, bile duct strictures (malignant or benign), and a history of EST. The biliary stents were inserted without stone removal. Stone clearance was assessed using endoscopic ultrasonography or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography after 3 months. Our primary endpoint was the clearance rate of common bile duct stones over 6 months, targeting a lower limit for the 95% confidence interval (CI) exceeding 25%. Of the 32 enrolled patients, 18 (56.3%; 95% CI: 37.7-73.6%) exhibited stone clearance. Early complications occurred in 11 patients (34.4%), totaling 12 incidents: acute cholecystitis in four, acute pancreatitis in three, biliary pain in three, and cholangitis in two patients. No severe complications occurred. Six (18.8%) patients experienced asymptomatic stent migration. Following stone clearance, four (12.5%) patients experienced stone recurrence, with an average duration of 256 ± 164 days. Conclusion: Biliary stenting appeared to effectively promote the clearance of small common bile duct stones in approximately half of the patients. However, the potential complications and risks of stone recurrence warrant close monitoring.This trial was registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCT1042200020).

The effect of the conduit size on middle-term outcomes in patients with extracardiac total cavopulmonary connection.

OBJECTIVES: The 18- and 16-mm conduits in extracardiac total cavopulmonary connection (eTCPC) were reported to be optimal based on energy loss and flow stagnation at the relatively early phase. However, because the artificial conduit lacks growth potential, we have recently encountered some cases in which the conduit needs to be changed several years after eTCPC. These cases prompted us to reconsider the surgical strategy for eTCPC. METHODS: We reviewed our 20-year single-centre experience with eTCPC patients (n = 256) to compare the 18-mm conduit (n = 195) and 16-mm conduit (n = 61) in terms of mortality and morbidity. RESULTS: The 16-mm conduit was used significantly more frequently in patients whose main chamber was right ventricle (P < 0.001). There was also a significant difference in preoperative inferior vena cava pressure (P = 0.008). There was a significant difference in the actuarial rate of freedom from late-occurring complications, including mortality, between the 2 groups (P = 0.003). There was a significant difference in the actuarial rate of reoperation-free survival (P = 0.042); however, there was no significant difference in resurgical intervention for the conduit (P = 0.333). In multivariate analysis, preoperative inferior vena cava pressure was an independent predictor for late-occurring complications (hazard ratio 1.19; P = 0.026). Conduit size (18 or 16 mm) itself was not an independent predictive factor for late-occurring complications (P = 0.690). CONCLUSIONS: The mid-term clinical outcomes in patients who underwent eTCPC were excellent with low mortality. Preoperative inferior vena cava pressure was the only predictive risk factor for postoperative morbidity, and the 16 mm conduit was not predictive thereof.

Risk factors for glioblastoma in adults in Japan: an exploratory cohort study based on the Shizuoka Kokuho Database, the Shizuoka study.

PURPOSE: To elucidate the risk factors associated with the onset of glioblastoma (GBM) utilizing a comprehensive administrative claims database from a major governmental district in Japan. METHODS: Using the Shizuoka Kokuho Database (SKDB) for the period from April 2012 to September 2021, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 1,465,353 participants, identifying GBM cases using specific Japanese disease codes in conjunction with associated treatments. Risk factors were assessed using both univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Within the cohort, 182 participants (0.012%) received a GBM diagnosis during the study period, resulting in an incidence rate of 2.1 per 100,000 person-years. The multivariable analysis revealed that older age, male sex, and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) significantly influenced the risk of GBM onset. No clear link was found between allergic conditions and GBM risk, in contrast to some previous research. CONCLUSION: Employing a robust health insurance database, this study revealed significant associations between GBM and factors such as age, male sex, and PVD within the Japanese population. It provides key insights into GBM epidemiology and underscores the potential of health insurance databases for large-scale oncological research.

Comorbidities associated with 2-year mortality in adults with cerebral palsy in Japan.

AIM: To clarify whether the Whitney Comorbidity Index (WCI) is useful in Asian adults with cerebral palsy (CP) and whether aspiration pneumonia and pressure ulcers improved the prognostic significance of the WCI. METHOD: This cohort study evaluated individuals aged at least 18 years with CP in Japan. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to analyse 2-year mortality rates. The predictive performance of the Charlson Comorbidity Index, Elixhauser Comorbidity Index, and WCI were compared as comorbidity assessment criteria. Aspiration pneumonia and pressure ulcers were added to the Cox models, and their impact on hazard ratios was determined. RESULTS: Of the 2232 adults with CP, 72 died during the 2 years. The model with a previously reported weighted WCI with aspiration pneumonia and pressure ulcers produced the best fit. Additionally, the hazard risk of 2-year mortality for an unweighted WCI score of at least 4 was 2.56; when CP-specific comorbidities were added, it increased to 8.94. INTERPRETATION: This study showed that the WCI can be used in Asian adults with CP. Furthermore, assessing patient age, aspiration pneumonia, and pressure ulcers in addition to the WCI increased the predictive value for mortality. Our findings indicate that the WCI can promote valid comparisons between international populations. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: The Whitney Comorbidity Index (WCI) is useful among adults with cerebral palsy, irrespective of ethnic differences. Assessment of aspiration pneumonia and pressure ulcers increased the WCI predictive value. The WCI helps identify adults with cerebral palsy at risk of adverse outcomes.

Leukotriene antagonists reduce epileptic seizures-related hospitalization in older adult populations with allergic rhinitis or asthma: A population-based cohort study using the Shizuoka Kokuho database: The Shizuoka study.

OBJECTIVE: Managing the risk of epileptic seizures in older adults is increasingly important as the population ages. Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) are commonly used to treat asthma or allergic rhinitis. Preclinical studies suggest that LTRAs have antiepileptic effects; however, few population-based etiological studies on this topic have been available. Our study explored whether LTRAs reduce hospitalization risk associated with epileptic seizures in older individuals with asthma or allergic rhinitis. METHODS: We conducted a new-user design analysis using the Shizuoka Kokuho database. We included all individuals aged 60-89 years who had at least one episode of allergic rhinitis or asthma during the study period. We compared individuals who newly started LTRAs with those who did not take LTRAs. Propensity score matching was used to balance the baseline characteristics of the participants. We compared the hazard ratios for seizure-related hospitalization between new LTRA users and non-users and performed subgroup analyses. RESULTS: Our matched cohorts consisted of 64 724 new users and non-users of LTRAs who were aged 60-89 years and had asthma or allergic rhinitis. During the observation period, 377 (0.58%) and 595 (0.92%) incidents were observed in the LTRA new-user and non-user groups, respectively. The hazard ratio for seizure-related hospitalization was 0.75 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62-0.92) in the LTRA new-user group compared with the non-user group. Subgroup analysis revealed that the hazard ratio was weak in diabetic patients (1.31; 95% CI: 0.72-2.38). SIGNIFICANCE: This study indicated that LTRAs reduced seizure-related hospitalization in older adult patients with allergic rhinitis or asthma. We could not evaluate the severity and related diseases of epileptic seizures during LTRAs. Further studies, including observational studies, detailed multicenter prospective studies, and clinical trials, are needed to validate these findings. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: This study examined if leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs), commonly used for asthma or allergies, could lower seizure risk in older adults. Analyzing health records of 60-89 year-olds with asthma or allergies, we found a reduced rate of seizure-related hospitalizations in those starting LTRAs, though this was not as evident in diabetic patients. Our results suggest potential benefits of LTRAs in preventing seizures in older adults with respiratory issues, but further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Impact of wound management strategies after revascularization for chronic limb-threatening ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: There is no established consensus or guidelines for wound management after revascularization for patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) without severe infection. This study is designed to evaluate the clinical effect of the wound management strategy on toe wounds after revascularization for CLTI. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was performed at eight institutions affiliated with Keio University School of Medicine in Japan and included 261 patients who underwent revascularization for CLTI between April 2019 and July 2021. We identified 132 patients with toe wounds from the database who had restored in-line blood flow to the foot. Patients were divided into two groups by the timing of toe resection after revascularization, which dictated the wound management policy. Group A (62 patients) underwent early toe amputation for suspected osteomyelitis, whereas group B (70 patients) underwent watchful waiting. The primary outcome was wound healing after revascularization; the secondary outcome was major amputation. We compared outcomes between groups A and B after propensity score matching. RESULTS: Using propensity score matching, each patient in group A (33 patients) was matched with a patient in group B (33 patients). Wound healing in matched group A was significantly better than that in matched group B (respectively: 1-year wound healing rate: 90.0% vs 68.2%, P < .001; median wound healing time: 65 days vs 258 days, P < .01). Although five major amputations were necessary in matched group B, none were required in matched group A (P = .05). The high rate of major amputations in group B was attributed to the sudden exacerbation of infection. Limb salvage rate in matched group A exceeded matched group B (100.0% vs 90.5%: 1-year limb salvage rate, P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Early toe amputation for highly suspected osteomyelitis in patients with CLTI with toe wounds may expedite wound healing compared with watchful waiting, potentially avoiding unnecessary major amputation. Considering the wound management strategy is crucial when evaluating wound healing outcomes in patients with CLTI with revascularization.

[Evaluation of Changes in Membranous Septum Length during the Cardiac Cycle and by Measurement Methods Using the Preoperative CT for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Single-center Cross-sectional Study].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in membranous septum (MS) length during the cardiac cycle and by measurement methods using the preoperative computed tomography (CT) images for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). METHOD: Among 34 consecutive patients who underwent preoperative contrast-enhanced CT for TAVR, we measured MS lengths by three measurement methods (coronal, stretched, and reformatted coronal view method) at 10% intervals in the cardiac cycle. RESULT: MS lengths differed between the three measurement methods in all cardiac phases. Moderate correlations were observed between the MS lengths measured by the coronal view method and the other two methods. In contrast, strong correlations were observed between the MS lengths measured by the stretched view method and the reformatted coronal view method. The frequencies of the minimum and maximum MS lengths during the cardiac cycle tended to be highest at R-R 90% and R-R 30%, respectively. The median MS lengths at R-R 90% were smaller than those at R-R 30% in all measurement methods. CONCLUSION: The MS length in patients undergoing contrast-enhanced CT for TAVR varies notably depending on the cardiac cycle and measurement methods. When evaluating MS length, it is crucial to consider the measurement method and to perform measurements during diastole in order to evaluate the minimum value during the cardiac cycle.

Identification of subgroups within a Japanese older adult population for whom statin therapy is effective in reducing mortality.

Use of statins for primary prevention can reduce all-cause mortality in Asian elderly populations, but their effect and the specific effective subgroups in the elderly Japanese population remain unclear. This study examined the relationship between statin therapy for primary prevention and mortality reduction in older Japanese adults, and investigated the effective subgroups. The cohort study was conducted using the Shizuoka Kokuho Database (SKDB). Data were compared between the statin-treated group and a non-statin-treated (control) group using the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method. In the SKDB cohort aged ≥65 years, new statin use was associated with a decreased risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 0.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33-0.48) after IPTW adjustment. The risk difference for mortality at 5 years in the statin-treated group compared with that in the control group was 0.05 (95% CI, 0.04-0.06), and the number needed to treat was 21.20 (95% CI, 18.10-24.70). In conclusion, statin use for primary prevention in older adults may reduce the risk of all-cause mortality in the population without atherosclerotic disease. Furthermore, statin use for primary prevention is feasible in patients aged 75 to <85 years and in patients with comorbidities such as diabetes, or dementia.

Longitudinal analysis of long-term outcomes of colorectal cancer after laparotomy and laparoscopic surgery: The Shizuoka study.

BACKGROUND: Long-term cancer prognosis after initial surgical procedures is an unlikely endpoint for clinical trials. Medical claim databases may aid in addressing this issue regardless of limited information on disease and patient background. However, the long-term prognosis (especially regarding long-term care needs) following surgical procedures remains unclear. This study aimed to assess whether long-term outcomes, such as the exacerbation of long-term care needs and mortality, differ with surgical methods. METHODS: Using a longitudinal study with linkage between medical claim and long-term care database, patients with primary colorectal cancer who underwent initial colonoscopies were identified through anonymized data in Japan (Shizuoka Kokuho Database, 2012-2018). Odds ratios (ORs) for long-term outcomes (long-term care needs and all-cause mortality during a 6.5-year follow-up period) were analyzed using logistic regression to compare laparoscopy and endoscopic surgery to laparotomy. RESULTS: Overall, 3,744 primary colorectal cancer cases (822 laparotomies, 705 laparoscopies, and 2,217 endoscopic surgeries) were included. Compared to the laparotomy group, the crude OR for exacerbation of long-term care needs in the laparoscopic surgery group was 0.376 (95% confidence interval, 0.227, 0.624), while the OR for all-cause mortality was 0.22 (0.329, 0.532). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to analyze long-term prognosis after surgery for patients with colorectal cancer to combine medical and long-term needs data. As the national health insurance claim database rarely includes information on cancer stage and comorbidities, better prognosis on endoscopic surgery may need careful interpretation. Therefore, laparoscopy has superior outcomes in terms of long-term care needs and mortality compared to those of laparotomy.