scholarly journals Association of Arrhythmia in Patients with Cervical Spondylosis: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (9) ◽  
pp. 236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shih-Yi Lin ◽  
Wu-Huei Hsu ◽  
Cheng-Chieh Lin ◽  
Cheng-Li Lin ◽  
Chun-Hao Tsai ◽  
...  

Background: Sympathetic activity, including cervical ganglia, is involved in the development of cardiac arrhythmias. Objective: The present study investigated the association between cervical spondylosis and arrhythmia, which has never been reported before. Methods: Patients newly diagnosed with cervical spondylosis (CS) with an index date between 2000 and 2011 were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database. We performed a 1:1 case-control matched analysis. Cases were matched to controls according to their estimated propensity scores, based on demographics and existing risk factors. Cox proportional hazard models were applied to assess the association between CS and arrhythmia. Results: The CS cohort comprised 22,236 patients (males, 42.6%; mean age, 54.4 years) and non-CS cohort comprised 22,236 matched controls. There were 1441 events of arrhythmia in CS cohort and 537 events of arrhythmia in non-CS cohort, which 252 and 127 events of atrial fibrillation in CS and non-CS cohort, 33 and 12 events of ventricular tachycardia in CS cohort and non-CS cohort, 78 and 35 events of supraventricular tachycardia in CS cohort and non-CS cohort. The CS cohort had an arrhythmia incidence of 11.1 per 1000 person-years and a higher risk [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 3.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.80–3.42] of arrhythmia, 2.54-fold aHR of ventricular tachycardia (95% CI = 1.70–3.79), and 2.22-fold aHR of atrial fibrillation (95% CI = 1.79–2.76) compared with non-CS cohort. Conclusions: Cervical spondylosis is associated with a higher risk of arrhythmia.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chan-Wei Nien ◽  
Chia-Yi Lee ◽  
Hung-Chi Chen ◽  
Shih-Chun Chao ◽  
Hung-Jui Hsu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The effect of diabetic retinopathy (DR) on the development of sight-threatening cataracts was assessed using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Methods Patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM) and DR were enrolled in the study group. Age- and sex-matched DM individuals without DR and patients without DM served as the DM control group and non-DM control group, respectively, both with 1:4 ratios. The outcome was set as the performance of cataract surgery. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to calculate the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of DR considering multiple factors underlying cataract formation. Results A total of 3297 DR patients, 13,188 DM control patients and 13,188 non-DM control subjects were enrolled. The study group included 919 events of sight-threatening cataracts (27.87%), the DM control group included 1108 events (8.40%), and the non-DM control group included 957 events (7.26%). A multivariable analysis indicated that the study group presented a higher aHR of cataract surgery (2.93, 95% CI: 2.60–3.30) and a higher cumulative probability of cataract surgery than both the DM control and non-DM control groups (both log rank P < 0.001). In addition, both the proliferative DR (3.90, 95% CI: 3.42–4.45) and nonproliferative DR (2.35, 95% CI: 2.08–2.65) subgroups showed a higher aHR of cataract surgery than the DM control group. Conclusion The presence of DR increases the risk of sight-threatening cataracts that warrant surgery, and the effect is prominent among patients with both proliferative DR and nonproliferative DR.


2018 ◽  
Vol 118 (03) ◽  
pp. 526-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Hohnloser ◽  
Edin Basic ◽  
Christopher Hohmann ◽  
Michael Nabauer

AbstractAll pivotal trials have evaluated non–vitamin K oral antagonists (NOACs) against warfarin. However, in some regions of the world, phenprocoumon is the most widely used vitamin K antagonist (VKA). There is little evidence documenting effectiveness and safety of NOACs compared with phenprocoumon in atrial fibrillation (AF). A retrospective cohort study using a German claims database was conducted to assess effectiveness (stroke, systemic embolism [SE]) and safety (bleeding leading to hospitalization) during therapy with NOACs and phenprocoumon in 61,205 AF patients. Hazard ratios (HRs) for effectiveness and safety outcomes were derived from Cox proportional hazard models, adjusting for baseline characteristics. Propensity score matching was performed as a sensitivity analysis. As a prespecified subgroup analysis, the effects of reduced NOAC dosing were compared with phenprocoumon. A total of 61,205 patients were identified in whom phenprocoumon (n = 23,823, 38.9%), apixaban (n = 10,117, 16.5%), dabigatran (n = 5,122, 8.4%), or rivaroxaban (n = 22,143, 36.2%) was initiated. After adjusting for baseline confounders, all three NOACs tested had significantly lower risks of stroke/SE compared with phenprocoumon (apixaban—HR: 0.77, 95% CI: 0.66–0.90; dabigatran—HR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.60–0.91; rivaroxaban—HR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.76–0.97). Apixaban (HR: 0.58, 95% CI: 0.49–0.69) and dabigatran (HR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.50–0.80) were associated with lower bleeding risks than phenprocoumon, whereas the risk was similar for rivaroxaban and phenprocoumon. All three NOACs showed reduced risk of intracranial bleeding compared with phenprocoumon. Reduced doses of NOACs were predominantly used in patients with advanced age and comorbidities with generally similar effectiveness and safety benefits compared with phenprocumon as standard-dose NOACs.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nahid Hashemi Madani ◽  
Faramarz Ismail-Beigi ◽  
Hossein Poustchi ◽  
Mahdi Nalini ◽  
Sadaf G. Sepanlou ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Whether pre-diabetes in the absence of hypertension (HTN) or dyslipidemia (DLP) is a risk factor for occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) is not fully established. We investigated the effect of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) alone and in combination with HTN, DLP or both on subsequent occurrence of MACE as well as individual MACE components. Methods This longitudinal population-based study included 9,831 inhabitants of Northeastern Iran. The participants were free of any cardiovascular disease at baseline and were followed yearly from 2010 to 2017. Cox proportional hazard models were fitted to measure the hazard of IFG alone or in combination with HTN and DLP on occurrence of MACE as the primary endpoint. Results 297 MACE were recorded during 6.2±0.1 years follow up. IFG alone compared to normal fasting glucose (NFG) was not associated with increased in occurrence of MACE (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.59-1.86; p, 0.8). However, combination of IFG and HTN (HR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.93-3.90; p, 0.001) or HTN + DLP (HR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.79-4.54; p, 0.001) significantly increased the hazard of MACE. In contrast, IFG with DLP at baseline did not increase the hazard of MACE compared to normoglycemic- normolipemic individuals (p,0.2). The results also indicated IFG with HTN, DLP, or HTN+DLP were associated with significant higher HRs for some individual components of MACE. Conclusion IFG, per se, does not appear to increase hazard of MACE. However, IFG with HTN or HTN + DLP conferred a significant hazard for MACE in an incremental manner.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0242975
Author(s):  
Chia-Liang Wu ◽  
Wei-Yi Lei ◽  
Jaw-Shing Wang ◽  
Ching-En Lin ◽  
Chien-Lin Chen ◽  
...  

In this population-based propensity score matched (PSM) cohort study, we aimed to investigate the risk of developing dementia with the use of acid suppressants, including proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2 antagonists). Cohorts of PPI users (n = 2,778), H2 antagonist users (n = 6,165), and non-users (n = 86,238) were selected from a dataset covering the years 2000 to 2010 in Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients in the three groups were PSM at a ratio of 1:1 within each comparison cohort (CC). Three CCs were created: (1) PPI users compared to non-users (CC1, n = 2,583 pairs); (2) H2 antagonist users compared to non-users (CC2, n = 5,955 pairs); and (3) PPI users compared to H2 antagonist users (CC3, n = 2,765 pairs). A multivariable robust Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) for the risk of developing dementia. The multivariable analysis results show that the aHR of developing dementia during the follow-up period was 0.72 (CC1: 95% CI = 0.51–1.03, P = 0.07) for PPI users and 0.95 (CC2: 95% CI = 0.74–1.22, P = 0.69) for H2 antagonist users, when compared to non-users. Between the patients using acid suppressants, there was no difference between PPI and H2 antagonist users in the risk of developing dementia (CC3: aHR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.58–1.17, P = 0.28). In conclusion, no association was observed between the use of acid suppressants and the risk of developing dementia in any of the three CCs. Further, randomized controlled trials are warranted to confirm this relationship.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (18) ◽  
pp. 1934-1941
Author(s):  
Yonggu Lee ◽  
Sung Joo Cha ◽  
Jung-Hwan Park ◽  
Jeong-Hun Shin ◽  
Young-Hyo Lim ◽  
...  

Aims Previous studies from Western countries have been unable to demonstrate a relationship between insulin resistance and new-onset atrial fibrillation. We aimed to evaluate this relationship in the nondiabetic Asian population. Methods Between 2001–2003, 8175 adults (mean age 51.5 years, 53% women) without both existing atrial fibrillation and diabetes and with insulin resistance measures at baseline were enrolled and were followed by biennial electrocardiograms thereafter until 2014. We constructed multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard models for risk of incident atrial fibrillation. Results Over a median follow-up of 12.3 years, 136 participants (1.89/1000 person-years) developed atrial fibrillation. Higher homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was independently associated with newly developed atrial fibrillation (hazard ratio 1.61, 95% confidence interval 1.14–2.28). Atrial fibrillation development increased at the HOMA-IR levels approximately between 1–2.5, and then plateaued afterwards ( p = 0.031). Conclusion There is a significant relationship between insulin resistance and atrial fibrillation development independent of other known risk factors, including obesity in a nondiabetic Asian population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuo-Ting Sun ◽  
Te-Chun Shen ◽  
Shih-Chueh Chen ◽  
Chia-Ling Chang ◽  
Ching‐Hao Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Periodontitis is a multifactorial inflammatory disease that can cause tooth loss and contribute to systemic inflammation. It is suggested that periodontitis may be associated with the development of glaucoma. Based on data from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to investigate the risk of developing glaucoma in patients with periodontitis. The periodontitis cohort consisted of newly diagnosed adult patients (n = 194,090, minimum age = 20 years) between 2000 and 2012. The comparison group included age-, gender-, and diagnosis date-matched people without periodontitis (n = 194,090, minimum age = 20 years). Incident glaucoma was monitored until the end of 2013. Hazard ratios (HRs) with confidence intervals (CIs) were established based on the Cox proportional hazard models. The risk of developing glaucoma was higher in patients with periodontitis than those without periodontitis (31.2 vs. 23.3 patients per 10,000 person-years, with an adjusted HR of 1.26 [95% CI 1.21–1.32]). A high risk was evident even after stratifying by age (adjusted HRs = 1.34 [1.26–1.44] for ages 20–49, 1.24 [1.13–1.36] for ages ≥ 65, and 1.20 [1.12–1.29] for ages 50–64 years), sex (adjusted HRs = 1.33 [1.24–1.41] and 1.21 [1.14–1.28] for men and women, respectively), presence of comorbidity (adjusted HRs = 1.38 [1.29–1.47] and 1.18 [1.12–1.25] for without and with comorbidity, respectively), and corticosteroid use (adjusted HRs = 1.27 [1.21–1.33] and 1.21 [1.08–1.35] for without and with corticosteroid use, respectively). Specifically, patients with periodontitis exhibited a significantly high risk of primary open-angle glaucoma (adjusted HR = 1.31 [1.21–1.32]) but not for primary closed-angle glaucoma (adjusted HR = 1.05 [0.94–1.17]). People with periodontitis are at a greater risk of glaucoma than individuals without periodontitis. Ocular health should be emphasized for such patients, and the underlying mechanisms need further investigation.


Gerontology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Sophie Pilleron ◽  
Mélanie Le Goff ◽  
Soufiane Ajana ◽  
Catherine Helmer ◽  
Karine Pérès ◽  
...  

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> This study aimed to investigate whether self-rated health (SRH) predict frailty and its components among community dwellers aged 75 years and older. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We ran a cross-sectional and prospective analysis from 643 and 379 participants of the Bordeaux Center (France) of the Three-City Study, respectively. We assessed SRH using a single question with 5 response options. We defined frailty as having at least 3 out of the following 5 criteria: weight loss, exhaustion, slowness, weakness, and low energy expenditure. We used multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models. <b><i>Results:</i></b> At baseline, poor SRH was significantly associated with frailty (odds ratio = 5.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.9–9.5) and its components except for weakness. In the prospective analysis on nonfrail participants, poor SRH was associated with the 4-year risk of slowness (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1–2.6) but not with that of frailty (HR = 1.6; 95% CI: 0.9–2.9) or the other components. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> In a French cohort of community dwellers aged 75 years or older, poorer SRH was associated with concomitant frailty and 70% higher risk of slowness over 4 years.


2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (7) ◽  
pp. 1270-1275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily C. Pfeifer ◽  
Cynthia S. Crowson ◽  
Shreyasee Amin ◽  
Sherine E. Gabriel ◽  
Eric L. Matteson

Objective.Early menopause is associated with an increased risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women increases following menopause. Because RA is associated with an increased risk of CVD, this study was undertaken to determine whether early menopause affects the risk of developing CVD in women with RA.Methods.A population-based inception cohort of 600 women with RA who fulfilled 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria for RA between 1955 and 2007 and were age ≥ 45 years at diagnosis was assembled and followed. Age at menopause and duration of hormone replacement therapy, along with occurrence of CVD, was ascertained by review of medical records. Cox proportional hazard models compared women who underwent early menopause (natural or artificial menopause at age ≤ 45 yrs) to those within the cohort who did not undergo early menopause.Results.Of 600 women, 79 experienced early menopause. Women who underwent early menopause were at significantly higher risk for developing CVD when compared to women who did not (HR 1.56; 95% CI 1.08–2.26).Conclusion.The risk of CVD in women with RA was higher in those who experienced early menopause, and like other known risk factors should increase clinician concern for development of CVD in these patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 95 (1124) ◽  
pp. 307-313
Author(s):  
Chung-Hsing Chou ◽  
Jiunn-Tay Lee ◽  
Chia-Kuang Tsai ◽  
Li-Ming Lien ◽  
Jiu-Haw Yin ◽  
...  

BackgroundGrowing evidence shows links between septicaemia and non-multiple sclerosis demyelinating syndromes (NMSDS); nevertheless, epidemiological data are still very limited. This study aimed to explore the relationship between septicaemia and NMSDS in a general population.MethodsThe study included 482 781 individuals diagnosed with septicaemia and 1 892 825 age/sex-matched non-septicaemia patients for the comparison. Data were drawn from a population-based nationwide National Health Insurance Research Database Taiwan, from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2011. The two cohorts of patients with and without septicaemia were followed up for the occurrence of NMSDS. The Cox-proportional hazard regression model was performed to estimate adjusted HR after multivariate adjustment.ResultsIndividuals with septicaemia had a 4.17-fold (95% CI 3.21 to 5.4, p < 0.001) higher risk to develop NMSDS compared with those without septicaemia. Patients aged <65 years had a greater NMSDS risk (<45 years: HR = 6.41, 95% CI 3.65 to 11.3, p < 0.001; 45–64 years: HR = 6.66, 95% CI 3.98 to 11.2, p < 0.001). Furthermore, females with septicaemia and individuals with higher severity of septicaemia were associated with increased risks of developing NMSDS.ConclusionsOur results indicated that patients with septicaemia were likely to develop NMSDS. A possible contributing role of septicaemia in increasing the hazard of NMSDS is proposed, based on the outcome that individuals with higher severity of septicaemia carried elevated threat of encountering NMSDS.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajesh Kabra ◽  
Peter Cram ◽  
Saket Girotra ◽  
Mary Vaughan-Sarrazin

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with stroke and death, but the effect of race on these outcomes is not known. Methods: Medicare administrative data from 2010-2011 were used to identify patients with newly diagnosed AF who were categorized based on race as white, black and Hispanic. Racial differences in the primary outcome of death and secondary outcomes of stroke and the composite of stroke and death were assessed using Cox proportional hazard models. Results: Among 517,941 patients with newly diagnosed AF, 452,986 (87%) were whites, 36,425 (7%) were blacks and 28,530 (6%) were Hispanics. The mean age was 79 ± 8 years and 40.5% were males. Over a mean follow-up period of 0.9 years per patient, 68,250 (15.1%) whites, 7665 (20%) blacks and 4814 (16.9%) Hispanics died. Stroke was diagnosed in 6,509 (1.4%) whites, 843 (2.3%) blacks and 507 (1.8%) Hispanics. Compared to whites, blacks had a significantly higher hazard of death (Hazard Ratio [HR] =1.43; 95% CI 1.40-1.47; p<0.001), stroke (HR=1.69; 95% CI 1.57-1.81; p<0.001), and the composite outcome (HR= 1.46; 95% CI 1.43-1.49; p<0.001). After controlling for pre-existing co-morbidities, the higher hazard of death (HR 0.99; 95% CI 0.97-1.01; p=0.41) and the composite outcome (HR=1.02; 95% CI 0.99-1.04; p=0.135) in blacks were eliminated and the relative hazard of stroke (HR=1.44; 95% CI 1.34-1.55; p<0.001) was reduced compared to the whites. Similarly, Hispanics had a higher risk of death (HR= 1.13; 95% CI 1.10-1.17; p<0.001), stroke (HR=1.26; 95% CI, 1.15-1.38; p<0.001) and the composite outcome (HR= 1.15; 95% CI 1.12-1.18; p<0.001), as compared to whites. The relative hazard of death and the composite outcome were noted to be lower in Hispanics, compared to whites, after controlling for pre-existing co- morbidities (HR= 0.93; 95% CI 0.92-0.96; p<0.001 and HR= 0.95; 95% CI 0.92-0.97; p<0.001 respectively). The relative hazard of stroke was also attenuated (HR=1.15; 95% CI 1.05-1.26; p=0.002). Conclusions: In an elderly Medicare population with newly diagnosed AF, the risks of death and stroke are higher in blacks and Hispanics, as compared to whites. This is likely due to increased co-morbidities in blacks and Hispanics.


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