Contribution of systemic factors on macular vessel density: a sex-specific population-based study.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of systemic factors on macular vessel density in quantitative Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) by sex.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: A total of 2018 adults were recruited in this study.

mRNA (BNT162b2) and Inactivated (CoronaVac) COVID-19 Vaccination and Risk of Adverse Events and Acute Diabetic Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Population-Based Study.

Introduction: In Hong Kong, CoronaVac and BNT162b2 have been approved for emergency use owing to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Reactions towards the vaccine and the risk of post-vaccination adverse events may be different between recipients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of adverse events of special interest (AESI) and acute diabetic complications in the T2DM population after COVID-19 vaccination in Hong Kong.

Effect of puerarin supplementation on cardiovascular disease risk factors: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-way crossover trial.

Background: Cell culture and animal studies suggest puerarin could prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, trials in human are scare, not primarily designed for prevention, and inadequately powered. We assessed the effect of puerarin supplementation on CVD risk factors in men using a crossover trial.

Effectiveness of BNT162b2 and CoronaVac vaccinations against mortality and severe complications after SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 infection: a case-control study.

Data regarding protection against mortality and severe complications after Omicron BA.2 infection with CoronaVac and BNT162b2 vaccines remains limited. We conducted a case-control study to evaluate the risk of severe complications and mortality following 1-3 doses of CoronaVac and BNT162b2 using electronic health records database.

Thromboembolic events and hemorrhagic stroke after mRNA (BNT162b2) and inactivated (CoronaVac) covid-19 vaccination: A self-controlled case series study.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the association between thromboembolic events and hemorrhagic stroke following BNT162b2 and CoronaVac vaccination.

Methods: Patients with incident thromboembolic events or hemorrhagic stroke within 28 days of covid-19 vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 positive test during 23 February to 30 September 2021 were included. The incidence per 100,000 covid-19 vaccine doses administered and SARS-CoV-2 test positive cases were estimated.

Messenger RNA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination With BNT162b2 Increased Risk of Bell's Palsy: A Nested Case-Control and Self-Controlled Case Series Study.

Background: Observable symptoms of Bell's palsy following vaccinations arouse concern over the safety profiles of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. However, there are only inconclusive findings on Bell's palsy following messenger (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccination. This study aims to update the previous analyses on the risk of Bell's palsy following mRNA (BNT162b2) COVID-19 vaccination.

Herpes zoster related hospitalization after inactivated (CoronaVac) and mRNA (BNT162b2) SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: A self-controlled case series and nested case-control study.

Background: Stimulation of immunity by vaccination may elicit adverse events. There is currently inconclusive evidence on the relationship between herpes zoster related hospitalization and COVID-19 vaccination. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of inactivated virus (CoronaVac, Sinovac) and mRNA (BNT162b2, BioNTech/Fosun Pharma) COVID-19 vaccine on the risk of herpes zoster related hospitalization.

Demographic and Epidemiological Contributions to Recent Trends in Cancer Incidence in Hong Kong.

Background: Hong Kong has an ageing Chinese population with high life expectancy and a rising number of cancer cases. While population ageing could lead to higher incidence, we aim to quantify the demographic and epidemiological contributions to this trend by disentangling the effect of these factors.

Methods: We analysed secular trends of cancer incidences of all cancer sites combined, including the five top cancers in men and women in Hong Kong in 1983-2017, by disentangling effects of demographics (ageing population and population growth) and cancer risk/rate change using the RiskDiff methodology.

Integrating Social Determinants in Decision-Making Processes for Health: Insights from Conceptual Frameworks-the 3-D Commission.

The inclusion of social determinants of health offers a more comprehensive lens to fully appreciate and effectively address health. However, decision-makers across sectors still struggle to appropriately recognise and act upon these determinants, as illustrated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, improving the health of populations remains challenging.

Improving Decision-Making for Population Health in Nonhealth Sectors in Urban Environments: the Example of the Transportation Sector in Three Megacities-the 3-D Commission.

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) represent a significant global public health burden. As more countries experience both epidemiologic transition and increasing urbanization, it is clear that we need approaches to mitigate the growing burden of NCDs. Large and growing urban environments play an important role in shaping risk factors that influence NCDs, pointing to the ineluctable need to engage sectors beyond the health sector in these settings if we are to improve health.

Bell's palsy following vaccination with mRNA (BNT162b2) and inactivated (CoronaVac) SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: a case series and nested case-control study.

Background: Bell's palsy is a rare adverse event reported in clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines. However, to our knowledge no population-based study has assessed the association between the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and Bell's palsy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of Bell's palsy after BNT162b2 and CoronaVac vaccination.

Association of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Frequency with Adiposity: Evidence from the "Children of 1997" Birth Cohort.

Background: Observationally, sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is associated with adiposity in Western children but could be confounded. We examined the association of SSB frequency with adiposity in the non-Western setting of Hong Kong.

Methods: We examined the associations of SSB consumption frequency at 11 and 13 years assessed by using a food frequency questionnaire with subsequent body mass index (BMI) z-score and overweight/obesity up to 18 years using generalized estimating equations, and with waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and body fat percentage at 16-19 years using linear regression in a population-representative Chinese birth cohort "Children of 1997" ( = 3628).

Age of puberty and Sleep duration: Observational and Mendelian randomization study.

Earlier age of puberty has detrimental consequences for many aspects of health. Here, for the first time, we assessed the association of earlier puberty with sleep duration observationally and with validation using Mendelian Randomization. In the "Children of 1997" birth cohort (n = 8,327), we used adjusted multivariable logistic regression to assess the associations of each clinically assessed marker of earlier puberty with self-report sleep duration in adolescence.

The effect of liver enzymes on body composition: A Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Higher alanine transaminase (ALT), indicating poor liver function, is positively associated with diabetes but inversely associated with body mass index (BMI) in Mendelian randomization (MR) studies, suggesting liver function affects muscle mass. To clarify, we assessed the associations of liver enzymes with muscle and fat mass observationally with two-sample MR as a validation.

Methods: In the population-representative "Children of 1997" birth cohort (n = 3,455), we used multivariable linear regression to assess the adjusted associations of ALT and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) at ~17.

The effect of sleep duration on hemoglobin and hematocrit: observational and Mendelian randomization study.

Study Objective: Observationally sleep duration is positively associated with hemoglobin (Hgb), whether this association is causal and consistent by sex remains unclear. Here, we assessed the association of sleep duration with Hgb and hematocrit (Hct) observationally in late adolescence in a population-representative Chinese birth cohort "Children of 1997" with validation using Mendelian randomization (MR) in adults.

Methods: In the "Children of 1997" birth cohort (recruited = 8327, included = 3144), we used multivariable linear regression to assess the adjusted associations of sleep duration (measured as time in bed) with Hgb and Hct at 17.

The effect of liver enzymes on adiposity: a Mendelian randomization study.

Poorer liver function is positively associated with diabetes in Mendelian randomization (MR) studies. Observationally, adiposity is associated with poorer liver function. To clarify the etiology, we assessed the association of liver enzymes with adiposity observationally and using two-sample MR for validation.

The effect of birth weight on body composition: Evidence from a birth cohort and a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Lower birth weight is associated with diabetes although the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Muscle mass could be a modifiable link and hence a target of intervention. We assessed the associations of birth weight with muscle and fat mass observationally in a population with little socio-economic patterning of birth weight and using Mendelian randomization (MR) for validation.

Sleep duration and risk of diabetes: Observational and Mendelian randomization studies.

Inadequate sleep could contribute to type 2 diabetes, but observational studies are inconsistent and open to biases, particularly from confounding. We used Mendelian randomization (MR) to obtain an unconfounded estimate of the effect of sleep duration on diabetes, fasting glucose (FG) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and an observation study to assess differences by sex. Using MR, we assessed the effects of genetically instrumented sleep on diabetes, based on 68 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), applied to the DIAbetes Genetics Replication and meta-analysis case (n = 26,676)-control (n = 132,532) study and on FG and HbA1c, based on 55 SNPs, applied to the Meta-Analyses of Glucose and Insulin-related traits Consortium (MAGIC) study of FG (n = 122,743) and HbA1c (n = 123,665).

Birth weight, gestational age and late adolescent liver function using twin status as instrumental variable in a Hong Kong Chinese birth cohort: "Children of 1997".

Birth weight (BW) is inversely associated with diabetes and liver function in Mendelian Randomization studies. Observationally, lower BW is usually also associated with poorer liver function. However, these studies could be confounded by socioeconomic position.

Age at menarche and depressive symptoms in older Southern Chinese women: A Mendelian randomization study in the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study.

To clarify the causal role of age at menarche in depressive symptoms we conducted a Mendelian randomization study using a large Southern Chinese cohort (n = 12,233). A genetic allele score was derived using stepwise regression with cross validation. Older age at menarche was not associated with geriatric depression scale score.

Age at menarche and cardiovascular risk factors using Mendelian randomization in the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study.

Observational studies show earlier age at menarche associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease although these studies could be confounded by childhood obesity or childhood socioeconomic position. We tested the hypothesis that earlier age at menarche is associated with poorer cardiovascular risk factors using a Mendelian randomization design. We conducted a Mendelian randomization study in a large Southern Chinese cohort, the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (n=12,279), to clarify the causal role of menarche in cardiovascular disease risk factors including blood pressure, lipids, fasting glucose, adiposity and type 2 diabetes.

The Effect of Birth Weight on Academic Performance: Instrumental Variable Analysis.

Observationally, lower birth weight is usually associated with poorer academic performance; whether this association is causal or the result of confounding is unknown. To investigate this question, we obtained an effect estimate, which can have a causal interpretation under specific assumptions, of birth weight on educational attainment using instrumental variable analysis based on single nucleotide polymorphisms determining birth weight combined with results from the Social Science Genetic Association Consortium study of 126,559 Caucasians. We similarly obtained an estimate of the effect of birth weight on academic performance in 4,067 adolescents from Hong Kong's (Chinese) Children of 1997 birth cohort (1997-2016), using twin status as an instrumental variable.

Longitudinal Patterns and Predictors of Depression Trajectories Related to the 2014 Occupy Central/Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong.

Objectives: To examine the longitudinal patterns and predictors of depression trajectories before, during, and after Hong Kong's 2014 Occupy Central/Umbrella Movement.

Methods: In a prospective study, between March 2009 and November 2015, we interviewed 1170 adults randomly sampled from the population-representative FAMILY Cohort. We used the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess depressive symptoms and probable major depression.

Environment-wide association study to identify factors associated with hematocrit: evidence from the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study.

Purpose: In randomized controlled trials reducing high hematocrit (Hct) in patients with polycythemia vera protects against cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, whereas increasing Hct in anemia patients causes CVD events. Hct is influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors. Given limited knowledge concerning the drivers of Hct, we took an agnostic approach to identify drivers of Hct.

Maternal Age of Menarche and Blood Pressure in Adolescence: Evidence from Hong Kong's "Children of 1997" Birth Cohort.

Background: Age of puberty has declined substantially in developed settings and is now declining in the rest of the world with economic development. Early age of puberty is associated with non-communicable diseases in adulthood, and may be a long-term driver of population health with effects over generations. In a non-Western setting, we examined the association of maternal age of menarche with blood pressure in late childhood/adolescence.