Erythropoietin treatment and osteoporotic fracture risk in hemodialysis patients: A nationwide population-based study.

Objectives: Concerns about erythropoietin (EPO) therapy for anemia in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) contributing to potential bone loss and increased fracture risks are growing. This study investigated the impact of EPO administration on the risk of common osteoporotic fractures in ESRD patients.

Methods: This population-based retrospective cohort study compared EPO users and non-EPO users among ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis, diagnosed with ESRD between 2000 and 2014 identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan.

Epileptic Patients with More Clinic Visits Are More Likely to Be Diagnosed with Dementia-A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: This retrospective cohort study assessed dementia risk in epilepsy patients associated with the compliance to epileptic treatment visits.

Methods: We used Taiwanese insurance claims data to establish an epilepsy cohort ( = 39,216) diagnosed in 2000-2015 and a matched control cohort without epilepsy ( = 156,864), evaluating the incident dementia by the end of 2016.

Results: The dementia incidence was 2.

Statin therapy associated mortality in hyperlipidemic dialysis patients with percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction, a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Hyperlipidemic patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are at a higher risk of death from cardiovascular diseases, especially from acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Studies on the efficacy of statin therapy (ST) in dialysis patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are limited. We examine the mortality associated with ST for these patients.

Examining a decade-long trend in exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and their correlation with lipid profiles: Insights from a prospective cohort study on the young Taiwanese population.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are artificial chemicals extensively utilized in everyday products, and numerous cross-sectional epidemiological studies consistently link PFAS exposure with lipid profiles across diverse populations and age groups. In longitudinal studies, the findings also indicate a positive correlation between PFAS and lipid profiles; however, this association remains unexplored in adolescents and young adults. Notably, previous research has predominantly focused on conventional lipid biomarkers, with limited exploration of the relationship between PFAS and diverse lipoprotein subfractions.

Meteorological factors and risk of ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage: A time-stratified case-crossover study.

Background: Stroke risks associated with rapid climate change remain controversial due to a paucity of evidence.

Aims: To examine the risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), and ischemic stroke (IS) associated with meteorological parameters.

Methods: In this time-stratified case-crossover study, adult patients hospitalized for their first stroke between 2011 and 2020 from the insurance claims data in Taiwan were identified.

Cancer and pulmonary fibrosis risks in patients with dermatomyositis and polymyositis: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: This study assessed the risks of developing pulmonary fibrosis and cancer and whether patients are at risk of acquiring subsequent cancer after pulmonary fibrosis development.

Methods: From the claims data of 22 million insured people, we identified 1461 patients with dermatomyositis (DM) and 1058 with polymyositis (PM) diagnosed in 1996-2016 and 50,380 comparison individuals without pulmonary fibrosis and cancer at baseline, matched by sex and age. Incident pulmonary fibrosis and cancer in each cohort were assessed at the end of 2016.

Examining the impact of polyfluoroalkyl substance exposure on erythrocyte profiles and its related nutrients: Insights from a prospective study on young Taiwanese.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) constitute a group of synthetic chemicals extensively utilized across various commonplace products. PFAS are known to have various toxic effects on human health. The relationship between PFAS exposure and erythrocytes has been a subject of interest in epidemiological research, but so far, only limited cross-sectional studies have investigated.

The impact of icodextrin on the outcomes of incident peritoneal dialysis patients.

Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of icodextrin on the risks of death, technique failure and the first episode of peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods: From medical records of a medical center in Taiwan, a total of 725 newly diagnosed end-stage kidney disease patients receiving PD for at least 90 days from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2018 were identified. These patients were grouped as 190 icodextrin users and 535 non-users.

Risk of diabetes and hypertension in a population with alcohol use disorders.

Background: A population-based follow-up study assessing the risk of developing hypertension and diabetes associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD) is crucial. We investigated this relationship by using insurance claims data from Taiwan.

Methods: From the claims data, an AUD cohort (N = 60,590) diagnosed between 2000 and 2006 and a non-AUD comparison cohort (N = 60,590) without the diagnosis of hypertension or diabetes at baseline were established and matched by propensity scores estimated by baseline demographic status and the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI).

The Association among Urinary Lead and Cadmium, Serum Adiponectin, and Serum Apoptotic Microparticles in a Young Taiwanese Population.

Previous studies reported that lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) exposure are linked to changes in serum adiponectin; an adipokine that promotes glycolysis and inhibits gluconeogenesis to regulate glucose metabolism. However, no study has ever explored the relationship between exposure to these two heavy metals and adiponectin in adolescents and young adults. Additionally, the role of adiponectin in the relationship between Pb and Cd exposure and vascular endothelial cell apoptosis has never been investigated.

Antiosteoporosis medications and cardiovascular disease: a population-based nationwide nested case-control study.

Patients with osteoporosis are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Several antiosteoporosis medications have been demonstrated with the benefit of preventing osteoporosis. Our aim is to assess the CVD risks associated with antiosteoporosis medications using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan between 2000 and 2016.

The Association between 4-Tertiary-Octylphenol, Apoptotic Microparticles, and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in a Young Taiwanese Population.

As one of the most common alkylphenols, 4-tertiary-octylphenol (4-tOP) is commonly used in many consumer products. Our previous epidemiological study revealed a negative correlation between serum 4-tOP levels and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), which serves as a biomarker of arteriosclerosis. We aimed to explore the role of apoptotic microparticles, markers of vascular endothelial cell function, in the 4-tOP and CIMT connection.

Acute Bronchitis and Bronchiolitis Infection in Children with Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis: A Retrospective Cohort Study Based on 5,027,486 Children in Taiwan.

This study evaluated the risks of childhood acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis (CABs) for children with asthma or allergic rhinitis (AR). Using insurance claims data of Taiwan, we identified, from children of ≤12 years old in 2000-2016, cohorts with and without asthma (N = 192,126, each) and cohorts with and without AR (N = 1,062,903, each) matched by sex and age. By the end of 2016, the asthma cohort had the highest bronchitis incidence, AR and non-asthma cohorts followed, and the lowest in the non-AR cohort (525.

Depression Risk in Post-Stroke Aphasia Patients: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Introduction: Depression and aphasia impair the quality of life after a stroke. Studies linking depression risk to post-stroke aphasia (PSA) lacked confirmation using a large database.

Methods: Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance claims data, we identified ≥18-year-old patients hospitalized for stroke from 2005 to 2009, and those diagnosed with aphasia during hospitalization or within 3 months after discharge were selected to form the aphasic group.

Comparison of the risks of renal cell carcinoma or urothelial cancer between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.

Purpose: This study is to compare risks of developing renal cell carcinoma or urothelial cancer between hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Methods: The age-, sex-, and index year-matched patients with newly diagnosed end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) undergoing dialysis [HD (N = 22,587) or PD (N = 11,547)] from 2000 to 2015 in Taiwan were identified. Patients were followed until the development of renal cell carcinoma or urothelial cancer, renal transplantation, death, or the end of follow-up (December 31, 2017).

Association of Urinary Lead and Cadmium Levels, and Serum Lipids with Subclinical Arteriosclerosis: Evidence from Taiwan.

Background: Exposure to lead and cadmium has been linked to changes in lipid metabolism and the development of arteriosclerosis, but the role of lipoprotein profiles in this relationship is not well understood, including the potential role of novel lipid biomarkers.

Methods: In this study, we enrolled 736 young Taiwanese subjects aged 12 to 30 years to assess the correlation between urine levels of lead and cadmium, lipoprotein profiles, and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT).

Results: Higher levels of lead and cadmium were significantly associated with higher levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), small dense LDL-C (sdLDL-C), LDL-triglyceride (LDL-TG), and CIMT.

Renal function is associated with one-month and one-year mortality in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Objective: This study evaluated short-term (1-month) and long-term (1-year) mortality risks associated with the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on admission for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Methods: From the Taiwan Stroke Registry data from April 2006 to December 2016, we identified and stratified patients with intracerebral hemorrhage into five subgroups by the eGFR level on admission: ≥90, 60-89, 30-59, 15-29, and <15 mL/min/1.73 m2 or on dialysis.

Stroke Risk in Young Women with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Propensity-Score-Matched Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Studies on strokes associated with dysmenorrhea are limited. We conducted a propensity-score-matched retrospective cohort study to assess the risk of stroke in women with primary dysmenorrhea (PD).

Methods: From the claims data of one million people in Taiwan's insurance program, we identified 18,783 women aged 15-40 years, newly diagnosed with PD in 2000-2010, without a history of stroke.

Risk of Ischemic Heart Disease Associated with Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.

The awareness on ischemic heart disease (IHD) in women with dysmenorrhea is insufficient. We utilized the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan to evaluate this relationship. From the claims data, we established a cohort of women aged 15-50 years with primary dysmenorrhea diagnosed from 2000 to 2008 ( = 18,455) and a comparison cohort ( = 36,910) without dysmenorrhea, frequency matched by age and diagnosis date.

Roles of Ambient Temperature and PM on Childhood Acute Bronchitis and Bronchiolitis from Viral Infection.

Studies have associated the human respiratory syncytial virus which causes seasonal childhood acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis (CABs) with climate change and air pollution. We investigated this association using the insurance claims data of 3,965,560 children aged ≤ 12 years from Taiwan from 2006−2016. The monthly average incident CABs increased with increasing PM2.