A reduced risk of stroke with lithium exposure in bipolar disorder: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: The risk of stroke is increased in patients with bipolar disorder. Lithium exhibits neuroprotective effects but the association between lithium use and the risk of stroke is unknown.

Methods: A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted by utilizing the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan.

Optimal Sequence of Irinotecan and Oxaliplatin-Based Regimens in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Population-Based Observational Study.

The optimal sequence of irinotecan and oxaliplatin-based regimens for metastatic colorectal cancer remains unclear. We conducted a population-based observational study by retrospectively reviewing records from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database to explore this issue. Patients aged ≥ 20 years with metastatic colorectal cancer newly diagnosed between 2004 and 2008 (n = 9490) were enrolled in current study.

Risk of depressive disorders in women undergoing hysterectomy: A population-based follow-up study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the risk of depressive disorders in women who underwent hysterectomy in Taiwan.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in a matched cohort of cases using the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Database records from 1689 women who underwent hysterectomy between 2001 and 2005 were included in this study.

Risk for Mycobacterial Disease among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Taiwan, 2001-2011.

Increasing evidence indicates that the risk of acquiring tuberculosis (TB) and nontuberculous mycobacterial disease is elevated among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To determine the epidemiology of mycobacterial diseases among RA patients in Asia, we conducted a retrospective cohort study. We used a nationwide database to investigate the association of RA with mycobacterial diseases.

Association Between Parkinson Disease and Risk of Cancer in Taiwan.

Importance: Parkinson disease (PD) has been reported to be associated with a general reduced risk of cancer. These studies were mainly carried out in Western populations and little was known about associations in East Asians.

Objective: To analyze the association between PD and risk of cancer.

Risk of premotor symptoms in patients with newly diagnosed PD: a nationwide, population-based, case-control study in Taiwan.

Background: To evaluate the risk of premotor symptoms, namely rapid eye movement behavior disorder (RBD), constipation, and depression among patients with newly diagnosed Parkinson disease (PD).

Methods: A total of 705 PD patients and 2,820 control subjects were selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients were traced back for a maximum of 14 years to determine the diagnoses of RBD, depression, and constipation.

Age and CHADS2 Score Predict the Effectiveness of Renin-Angiotensin System Blockers on Primary Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation.

Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers have potential protective effects against atrial fibrillation (AF). The purpose of this study was to determine if patient characteristics and underlying co-morbidities could predict the efficacy of RAS blockers in AF prevention. Patients aged ≥ 45 years with hypertension were identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.

The effect of diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and statins on the development of rotator cuff disease: a nationwide, 11-year, longitudinal, population-based follow-up study.

Background: The intrinsic risk factors of rotator cuff disease (RCD) include degeneration, inflammation, oxidative stress, and circulation impairment. Both diabetes and hyperlipidemia are thought to increase these risk factors and therefore potentially enhance RCD development. However, few studies, and few longitudinal follow-up studies in particular, exist to prove this.

Increased survival with the combination of stereotactic radiosurgery and gefitinib for non-small cell lung cancer brain metastasis patients: a nationwide study in Taiwan.

Purpose: Whole brain irradiation (WBRT) either with or without resection has historically been the treatment for brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The effect of gamma knife (GK) radiosurgery, chemotherapy, or the combination remains incompletely defined. In this study, we assessed the outcome of brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer treated by WBRT followed by GK, gefitinib, or the combination of GK and gefitinib.

Factors affecting discontinuation of adalimumab and etanercept therapy in anti-TNF-naïve patients with ankylosing spondylitis: Nationwide population-based cohort study.

Objectives: We investigated factors associated with discontinuation of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), who were anti-TNF-naïve and were given etanercept (ETN) or adalimumab (ADA).

Methods: This is a retrospective nationwide population-based cohort study. We identified 1401 anti-TNF-naïve patients with AS who initiated ETN (n = 441) or ADA (n = 960) and measured the duration of anti-TNF drug use.

Increased risk of hyperlipidemia in patients with bipolar disorder: a population-based study.

Objective: We conducted this nationwide study to examine the epidemiology of hyperlipidemia among Taiwanese patients with bipolar disorder.

Methods: We used a random sample of 766,427 subjects who were ≥18 years old in 2005. Subjects with at least one primary diagnosis of bipolar disorder were identified.

Trends, correlates, and disease patterns of antidepressant use among elderly persons in Taiwan.

Purpose: The population-based National Health Insurance database was used to investigate the trends, correlates, and disease patterns for elderly people in Taiwan who use antidepressants.

Methods: The National Health Research Institute provided a database of 1000,000 random subjects for study. We created a sample of subjects who were older than 65 years from 1997 to 2005.

Incidence and survival of cancers among 1,054 hemophilia patients: A nationwide and 14-year cohort study.

As life expectancy increases in persons with hemophilia (PWH), more age-related diseases such as cancer emerge among this patient group. The aim of this study was to investigate incidence and survival of cancers among PWH in Taiwan. We analyzed data of 1,054 PWH retrieved from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database between 1997 and 2010, by comparing variables to 10540 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals from the general population.

Prevalence and risk factors of atherothrombotic events among 1054 hemophilia patients: a population-based analysis.

Introduction: Reports on the prevalence and risk factors of atherothrombotic events (AEs) are conflicting in persons with hemophilia (PWH).

Methods: This study evaluated the prevalence and risk factors of AEs among 1054 male hemophilia patients, using data collected from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database between 1997 and 2010, by comparing variable to those of an unaffected 10540 age- and gender-matched general population.

Results: The proportions of all AEs among PWH, including 26 ischemic stroke, 29 coronary artery disease and 5 peripheral arterial disease were comparable to those in the general population.

Hydroxychloroquine reduces risk of incident diabetes mellitus in lupus patients in a dose-dependent manner: a population-based cohort study.

Objective: SLE is associated with increased risk of diabetes mellitus. Treatment for SLE requires high-dose glucocorticoids that may worsen glucose homoeostasis. HCQ can reduce diabetes risk in RA.

Increased risk of ischemic stroke in patients with pneumoconiosis.

Although past studies have confirmed that chronic dust exposure is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the relationship between it and cerebrovascular disease is still unclear. We aimed to determine whether pneumoconiosis is related to increased incidence of ischemic stroke in the following 5 to 11 years. We selected 1238 patients with pneumoconiosis from Taiwan's National Health Insurance database as our study cohort.

Increased risk of hypertension in patients with anxiety disorders: a population-based study.

Objective: We designed this study to examine the prevalence and incidence of hypertension and risk factors in patients with anxiety disorders.

Methods: The National Health Research Institute provided a database of 1,000,000 random subjects for study. We obtained a random sample of 766,427 subjects aged ≥18years in 2005.

Epidemiology and clinical outcome of pyogenic liver abscess: an analysis from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, 2000-2011.

Background: The epidemiology of pyogenic liver abscess continues to change and the issue of antimicrobial therapy is controversial. This study investigated the epidemiology and clinical outcomes of antimicrobial therapy.

Methods: The annual incidence rates, demographic data, underlying diseases, complications, length of stay, mortality rates, and antimicrobial therapy were analyzed using the data retrieved from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000, Taiwan, from 2000 to 2011.

Asthma in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: Asthma symptoms can interrupt daily activities, disturb sleep, and increase the risk of a child having an attention deficit or irritability, which also are symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Previous studies have shown conflicting results regarding the association between ADHD and asthma. This study investigates the possible correlation between asthma and ADHD.

Comparison of a semi-automatic annotation tool and a natural language processing application for the generation of clinical statement entries.

Background And Objective: Electronic medical records with encoded entries should enhance the semantic interoperability of document exchange. However, it remains a challenge to encode the narrative concept and to transform the coded concepts into a standard entry-level document. This study aimed to use a novel approach for the generation of entry-level interoperable clinical documents.

Initial medication in patients of newly diagnosed Parkinson's disease in Taiwan.

Introduction: Several treatment guidelines for Parkinson's disease (PD) had been proposed in recent decades. The aim of current study was to investigate the initial medication utilized in newly diagnosed PD subjects in Taiwan during an eleven-year period.

Methods: A total of 7,550 patients with newly diagnosed Parkinsonism were retrospectively enrolled from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan from 2000 to 2010.

A multi-technique approach to bridge electronic case report form design and data standard adoption.

Background And Objective: The importance of data standards when integrating clinical research data has been recognized. The common data element (CDE) is a consensus-based data element for data harmonization and sharing between clinical researchers, it can support data standards adoption and mapping. However, the lack of a suitable methodology has become a barrier to data standard adoption.

Resistant hypertension, patient characteristics, and risk of stroke.

Background: Little is known about the prognosis of resistant hypertension (RH) in Asian population. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of RH in Taiwanese patients with hypertension, and to ascertain whether patient characteristics influence the association of RH with adverse outcomes.

Methods And Results: Patients aged ≥45 years with hypertension were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database.

Statin Therapy for Primary Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation: Guided by CHADS2/CHA2DS2VASc Score.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The anti-arrhythmic effect of statins on AF prevention appears to be highly significant in most clinical studies. However, some discrepancies do exist among different clinical studies.

Incidence of late-onset pneumonia in patients after treatment with radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A nationwide population-based study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of late-onset pneumonia in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after radiotherapy.

Methods: Data were retrieved from the National Health Institute Research Database of Taiwan. We identified patients diagnosed with NPC (International Classification of Disease 9th revision-Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM] code 147) from January 2005 to December 2008 who received curative radiotherapy as the study cohort.