Reawakening inflammation in the chronically injured spinal cord using lipopolysaccharide induces diverse microglial states.

Background: Rehabilitative training is an effective method to promote recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI), with lower training efficacy observed in the chronic stage. The increased training efficacy during the subacute period is associated with a shift towards a more adaptive or proreparative state induced by the SCI. A potential link is SCI-induced inflammation, which is elevated in the subacute period, and, as injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) alongside training improves recovery in chronic SCI, suggesting LPS could reopen a window of plasticity late after injury.

Economic costs of tobacco-related diseases in Hong Kong in 2021.

Background: Hong Kong has one of the lowest smoking prevalence both within China and among high-income economies. As tobacco use consistently declined over the past decades, we examine whether there are corresponding cost reductions.

Methods: Data were sourced from diverse population-wide datasets including government reports and public hospital records.

Evaluation of vaccine allergy safety track program to assess potential COVID-19 vaccine allergy: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Background: Concerns about new COVID-19 vaccines played a key role in vaccine hesitancy and hampered population uptake. Hong Kong initiated a Vaccine Allergy Safety Track (VAS-Track) program to assess potential COVID-19 vaccine-associated allergies. A 'Hub-and-Spoke' model of predominately non-specialists supported by the allergist hub was established to meet overwhelming demand despite limited specialists.

The Association of Retinal Disease with Vision Impairment and Functional Status in Medicare Patients.

The association of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), diabetic macular edema (DME), and retinal vein occlusion (RVO) with functional status in the general Medicare population are not well established. This study examined patient-reported survey data linked with Medicare claims to describe the burden of these vision-threatening retinal diseases (VTRDs) among Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data linked with Medicare Fee-for-Service claims data from 2006 to 2018 were used in a nationally representative retrospective pooled cross-sectional population-based comparison study.

Comparison of prediction models for cardiovascular and mortality risk in people with type 2 diabetes: An external validation in 23 685 adults included in the UK Biobank.

Aims: To validate cardiovascular risk prediction models for individuals with diabetes using the UK Biobank in order to assess their applicability.

Methods: We externally validated 19 cardiovascular risk scores from seven risk prediction models (Chang et al., Framingham, University of Hong Kong-Singapore [HKU-SG], Li et al, RECODe [risk equations for complications of type 2 diabetes], SCORE [Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation] and the UK Prospective Diabetes Study Outcomes Model 2 [UKPDS OM2]), identified from systematic reviews, using UK Biobank data from 2006 to 2021 (n = 23 685; participant age 40-71 years, 63.

Assessment of second primary malignancies among treated and untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia using real-world data from the USA.

Improved management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has resulted in a growing population of CLL survivors; these patients have a higher risk of developing second primary malignancies (SPMs) versus the general population. This retrospective cohort study aims to assess the timing, frequency, incidence and types of SPMs in treated and untreated patients with CLL in the USA, using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Medicare database, which links a nationally representative cancer registry with Medicare claims data. Patients aged ≥66 years with newly diagnosed CLL between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2016, who were enrolled in Parts A and B of Medicare for ≥12 months pre-diagnosis of CLL were selected from the database.

Cost of Disease Progression in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma After Frontline Treatment With Rituximab Plus Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, and Prednisone.

Background: In recent years, novel agents have become available to treat relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL); the impact of such agents on treatment costs has not been formally studied. We present results from 2 independent, retrospective, real-world cohort analyses to determine the cost of disease progression after first-line rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP).

Materials And Methods: Analyses were conducted using the IQVIA PharMetrics Plus claims database and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry-Medicare-linked database (SEER-Medicare) and included patients ≥18 years and ≥66 years, respectively.

US cost-effectiveness analysis of polatuzumab vedotin in previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Aims: We evaluated the pharmacoeconomic value of polatuzumab vedotin plus rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (Pola-R-CHP) in previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) versus rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP).

Materials And Methods: A 3-state partitioned survival model was used to estimate life years (LYs), quality-adjusted LYs (QALYs), and cost impacts of Pola-R-CHP versus R-CHOP. Analyses utilized mixture-cure survival modelling, assessed a lifetime horizon, discounted all outcomes at 3% per year, and examined both payer and societal perspectives.

Estimating the US Baseline Distribution of Health Inequalities Across Race, Ethnicity, and Geography for Equity-Informative Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

Objectives: Information on how life expectancy, disability-free life expectancy, and quality-adjusted life expectancy varies across equity-relevant subgroups is required to conduct distributional cost-effectiveness analysis. These summary measures are not comprehensively available in the United States, given limitations in nationally representative data across racial and ethnic groups.

Methods: Through linkage of US national survey data sets and use of Bayesian models to address missing and suppressed mortality data, we estimate health outcomes across 5 racial and ethnic subgroups (non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic black, non-Hispanic white, and Hispanic).

Factors associated with fall risk of community-dwelling older people: A decision tree analysis.

Objective: To examine the predictive attributes for accidental falls in community-dwelling older people in Hong Kong using decision tree analysis.

Methods: We recruited 1151 participants with an average age of 74.8 years by convenience sampling from a primary healthcare setting to carry out the cross-sectional study over 6 months.

ALDH2 polymorphism, alcohol intake and the attributable burden of cancer in East Asia: systematic review, meta-analysis, and modeling study.

Purpose: To estimate the burden of alcohol-attributable cancer in East Asian populations accounting for aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) genotype-specific cancer risk and alcohol exposure.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of eight databases on cancer risk to derive alcohol dose-response curves by ALDH2 genotype. A simulation-based approach using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) modeling framework was applied to estimate the population attributable fraction, incidence, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost to alcohol-attributable cancer.

Potential health and economic impact associated with achieving risk factor control in Chinese adults with diabetes: a microsimulation modelling study.

Background: The prevalence of diabetes has risen sharply in China. Improving modifiable risk factors such as glycaemia and blood pressure could substantially reduce disease burden and treatment costs to achieve a healthier China by 2030.

Methods: We used a nationally representative population-based survey of adults with diabetes in 31 provinces in mainland China to assess the prevalence of risk factor control.

Impact of alcohol taxes on violence in Hong Kong: a population-based interrupted time series analysis.

Background: Interpersonal violence is a major public health concern with alcohol use a known risk factor. Despite alcohol taxation being an effective policy to reduce consumption; Hong Kong, contrary to most developed economies, embarked on an alcohol tax reduction and elimination policy.

Methods: To assess the impact of the alcohol tax reductions, we analysed population-based hospitalisation data for assault from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, and violent and sexual crimes recorded by the Hong Kong Police Force (2004-2018).

Study protocol of ConquerFear-HK: a randomised controlled trial of a metacognition-based, manualised intervention for fear of cancer recurrence among Chinese cancer survivors.

Introduction: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is a prevalent and frequently debilitating response to a cancer diagnosis, affecting a substantial proportion of cancer survivors. Approximately 30% of local Hong Kong Chinese cancer survivors in a recent survey reportedly experienced persistent high FCR over the first-year post-surgery. This was associated with lower levels of psychological well-being and quality of life.

COVID-19 Vaccine Allergy Safety Track (VAS-Track) pathway: real-world outcomes on vaccination rates and antibody protection.

Background: Misdiagnosed vaccine-related "allergies" lead to unnecessary vaccine deferrals and incomplete vaccinations, leaving patients unprotected against COVID-19. To overcome limitations and queues for Allergist assessment, the "VAS-Track" pathway was developed to evaluate patients via a multi-disciplinary triage model including nurses, non-specialists, and Allergists.

Objective: We assessed the effectiveness and safety of VAS-Track and evaluate its real-world impact in terms of vaccination rates and COVID-19 protection.

The Impact of Funding Inpatient Treatments for COVID-19 on Health Equity in the United States: A Distributional Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

Objectives: We conducted a distributional cost-effectiveness analysis (DCEA) to evaluate how Medicare funding of inpatient COVID-19 treatments affected health equity in the United States.

Methods: A DCEA, based on an existing cost-effectiveness analysis model, was conducted from the perspective of a single US payer, Medicare. The US population was divided based on race and ethnicity (Hispanic, non-Hispanic black, and non-Hispanic white) and county-level social vulnerability index (5 quintile groups) into 15 equity-relevant subgroups.

Long-term spill-over impact of COVID-19 on health and healthcare of people with non-communicable diseases: a study protocol for a population-based cohort and health economic study.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant spill-over effect on people with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) over the long term, beyond the direct effect of COVID-19 infection. Evaluating changes in health outcomes, health service use and costs can provide evidence to optimise care for people with NCDs during and after the pandemic, and to better prepare outbreak responses in the future.

Methods And Analysis: This is a population-based cohort study using electronic health records of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA) CMS, economic modelling and serial cross-sectional surveys on health service use.

Transmission dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 in British Columbia's largest school district during the second half of the 2020-2021 school year.

Objectives: To determine the extent and characteristics of in-school transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and determine risk factors for in-school acquisition of COVID-19 in one of Canada's largest school districts.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of all reportable cases of COVID-19 who attended a kindergarten-Grade 12 (K-12) school within the study area between January and June of the 2020-2021 school year. The acquisition source was inferred based on epidemiological data and, when available, whole genome sequencing results.

The impact of alcohol pricing policies on public health in Hong Kong, China: A modelling study.

Background: Contrary to most developed economies, Hong Kong has reduced and eliminated taxes on beer and wine over the last 15 years and observed increasing alcohol consumption.

Methods: We applied econometric epidemiological modelling to assess the impact of reverting ad valorem taxation to pre-2008 levels (20% on wine and 40% on beer) on consumption and health outcomes. We used 15 years of industry sales and pricing data (2004-2018) to derive 25 own-price and cross-price elasticity estimates.

Changes in the Incidence of Childhood Obesity.

Objectives: Examine childhood obesity incidence across recent cohorts.

Methods: We examined obesity incidence and prevalence across 2 cohorts of children in the United States 12 years apart using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Studies, parallel data sets following the kindergarten cohorts of 1998 and 2010 with direct anthropometric measurements at multiple time points through fifth grade in 2004 and 2016, respectively. We investigated annualized incidence rate and cumulative incidence proportion of obesity (BMI z-score ≥95th percentile based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention weight-for-age z-scores).

The Role of the Allergist in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Allergy Safety: A Pilot Study on a "Hub-and-Spoke" Model for Population-Wide Allergy Service.

Background: Hong Kong started its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program in February 2021. A territory-wide Vaccine Allergy Safety (VAS) clinic was set up to assess individuals deemed at "higher risk" of COVID-19 vaccine-associated allergies. A novel "hub-and-spoke" model was piloted to tackle the overwhelming demand of services by allowing nonallergists to conduct assessment.

The Association Between Persistence and Adherence to Disease-Modifying Therapies and Healthcare Resource Utilization and Costs in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis.

Persistence and adherence to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) affects treatment efficacy and economic outcomes, both of which contribute to overall patient disease burden. Current literature suggests that patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who adhere to DMT for 12 months have fewer relapses and reduced MS-related healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and medical costs than nonadherent patients. To expand on previous research by estimating the association of persistence and adherence with all-cause and MS-related HCRU and non-DMT costs of patients with MS across 12 and 24 months of therapy use.

The impact of road safety policies in a deregulated alcohol tax environment in Hong Kong: a 15-year time series analysis.

Background And Aims: Hong Kong reduced beer and wine tax in 2007, eliminated taxes on beer and wine and strengthened drink-driving legislation in 2008, and increased police traffic enforcement after the 2014 social unrest. This study aimed to measure the effects of implementing road safety policies on road traffic harm in the context of deregulated alcohol control policy in Hong Kong.

Design: Population-based interrupted time series analysis using seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (sARIMA) models.