Evaluation of a Population-Based Targeted Screening Approach for Skin Cancer with Long-Time Follow-Up in Austria including Potential Effects on Melanoma Mortality.

Background: whether screening for skin cancer affects melanoma-specific mortality in a population-based setting remains unclear.

Methods: in this population-based cohort study, we characterized and evaluated a skin cancer prevention program following a targeted screening approach conducted in 1989-1994 in the Austrian province Vorarlberg, with follow-up until 2019. The general population and attendees of a health examination program served for comparison.

The value of earlier-in-life systolic and diastolic blood pressure for cardiovascular risk prediction.

Blood pressure (BP) varies over a lifetime. This cardiovascular observation study (OS) compared the predictive value of earlier- and later-in-life blood pressure (BP) in 1,497 cardiovascular disease patients utilizing readings taken during a health survey (HS) and 15 years later from the same subjects at the baseline of this OS. Prediction of the cardiovascular risk during the OS follow-up (21 years) was significantly more effective if the earlier BP readings at HS were used instead of recent OS readings (NRI = 0.

Exposure to ambient air pollution and elevated blood levels of gamma-glutamyl transferase in a large Austrian cohort.

Gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) is related to oxidative stress and an indicator for liver damage. We investigated the association between air pollution and GGT in a large Austrian cohort (N = 116,109) to better understand how air pollution affects human health. Data come from voluntary prevention visits that were routinely collected within the Vorarlberg Health Monitoring and Prevention Program (VHM&PP).

Long-term air pollution exposure and Parkinson's disease mortality in a large pooled European cohort: An ELAPSE study.

Background: The link between exposure to ambient air pollution and mortality from cardiorespiratory diseases is well established, while evidence on neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's Disease (PD) remains limited.

Objective: We examined the association between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and PD mortality in seven European cohorts.

Methods: Within the project 'Effects of Low-Level Air Pollution: A Study in Europe' (ELAPSE), we pooled data from seven cohorts among six European countries.

Long-term Air Pollution Exposure and Pneumonia-related Mortality in a Large Pooled European Cohort.

Ambient air pollution exposure has been linked to mortality from chronic cardiorespiratory diseases, while evidence on respiratory infections remains more limited. We examined the association between long-term exposure to air pollution and pneumonia-related mortality in adults in a pool of eight European cohorts. Within the multicenter project ELAPSE (Effects of Low-Level Air Pollution: A Study in Europe), we pooled data from eight cohorts among six European countries.

Long term exposure to low level air pollution and mortality in eight European cohorts within the ELAPSE project: pooled analysis.

Objective: To investigate the associations between air pollution and mortality, focusing on associations below current European Union, United States, and World Health Organization standards and guidelines.

Design: Pooled analysis of eight cohorts.

Setting: Multicentre project Effects of Low-Level Air Pollution: A Study in Europe (ELAPSE) in six European countries.

Thirty years of hip fracture incidence in Austria: is the worst over?

Unlabelled: Nationwide hip fracture incidence in the Austrian population was assessed over a period of 30 years (1989-2018), including 20 years data from a previous study and a recent 10 years follow-up. While absolute numbers in men continued to increase, absolute numbers in women and age-standardized incidences in both men and women decreased.

Purpose: In the Austrian population ≥ 50 years, nationwide hip fracture incidences over a period of 20 years (1989-2008) have shown an initial steep increase, followed by a leveling-off during the last few years of observation.

Long-term exposure to air pollution and liver cancer incidence in six European cohorts.

Particulate matter air pollution and diesel engine exhaust have been classified as carcinogenic for lung cancer, yet few studies have explored associations with liver cancer. We used six European adult cohorts which were recruited between 1985 and 2005, pooled within the "Effects of low-level air pollution: A study in Europe" (ELAPSE) project, and followed for the incidence of liver cancer until 2011 to 2015. The annual average exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO ), particulate matter with diameter <2.

Value of total cholesterol readings earlier versus later in life to predict cardiovascular risk.

Background: Prognostic implications of blood cholesterol may differ at different stages of life. This cohort study compares the value of total cholesterol (TC) readings earlier versus later in life for the prediction of coronary atherosclerosis, cardiovascular events, and cardiovascular death.

Methods: In a cardiovascular observation study (CVOS) we performed coronary angiography and prospectively recorded cardiovascular events in 1090 patients over up to 19 years.

Long-Term Exposure to Fine Particle Elemental Components and Natural and Cause-Specific Mortality-a Pooled Analysis of Eight European Cohorts within the ELAPSE Project.

Background: Inconsistent associations between long-term exposure to particles with an aerodynamic diameter [fine particulate matter ()] components and mortality have been reported, partly related to challenges in exposure assessment.

Objectives: We investigated the associations between long-term exposure to elemental components and mortality in a large pooled European cohort; to compare health effects of components estimated with two exposure modeling approaches, namely, supervised linear regression (SLR) and random forest (RF) algorithms.

Methods: We pooled data from eight European cohorts with 323,782 participants, average age 49 y at baseline (1985-2005).

Serum uric acid is associated with incident hip fractures in women and men - Results from a large Austrian population-based cohort study.

Objectives: Serum markers that can be used to estimate the risk of bone fractures are rare, and findings for one candidate marker, uric acid, are heterogeneous. Our aim was to investigate the potential of serum uric acid (SUA) to predict hip fractures occurring in people aged 50 years and over.

Study Design: During a medical prevention program over the period 1985-2005 in Vorarlberg, baseline data were collected on SUA levels and covariates (age, BMI, blood pressure, smoking status, diabetes, triglycerides and cholesterol) from 185,397 individuals, of whom 42,488 women and 35,908 men met the inclusion criteria of this population-based cohort study.

The Triglyceride-Glucose Index and Obesity-Related Risk of End-Stage Kidney Disease in Austrian Adults.

Importance: It is unknown whether the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index as a measure of insulin resistance is associated with the risk of developing end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Because individuals who are overweight or obese often develop insulin resistance, mediation of the association between body mass index (BMI) and ESKD risk through the TyG index seems plausible but has not been investigated.

Objective: To evaluate whether the TyG index is associated with ESKD risk and, if so, to what extent the TyG index mediates the association between BMI and ESKD.

Metabolic factors and the risk of small intestine cancers: Pooled study of 800 000 individuals in the metabolic syndrome and cancer project.

To explore the largely unknown etiology of small intestine cancer, we examined metabolic factors and risk of small intestine cancer overall and by subtypes. Among 404 220 women and 403 265 men in six European cohorts, we applied Cox regression with adjustment for smoking and body mass index (BMI), to calculate sex-specific hazard ratios (HRs) of small intestine cancer by levels of BMI, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose. We also calculated HRs for these factors combined (metabolic score; MetS) and used Wald test statistics to investigate pairwise interactions between metabolic factors on risk.

Long-term exposure to fine particle elemental components and lung cancer incidence in the ELAPSE pooled cohort.

Background: An association between long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) and lung cancer has been established in previous studies. PM is a complex mixture of chemical components from various sources and little is known about whether certain components contribute specifically to the associated lung cancer risk. The present study builds on recent findings from the "Effects of Low-level Air Pollution: A Study in Europe" (ELAPSE) collaboration and addresses the potential association between specific elemental components of PM and lung cancer incidence.

Long-term low-level ambient air pollution exposure and risk of lung cancer - A pooled analysis of 7 European cohorts.

Background/aim: Ambient air pollution has been associated with lung cancer, but the shape of the exposure-response function - especially at low exposure levels - is not well described. The aim of this study was to address the relationship between long-term low-level air pollution exposure and lung cancer incidence.

Methods: The "Effects of Low-level Air Pollution: a Study in Europe" (ELAPSE) collaboration pools seven cohorts from across Europe.

Effect of Secular Trend, Age, and Length of Follow-up on Optimum Body Mass Index From 1985 Through 2015 in a Large Austrian Cohort.

Background: Obesity and its health consequences will dominate health care systems in many countries during the next decades. However, the body mass index (BMI) optimum in relation to all-cause mortality is still a matter of debate.

Material And Methods: Data of the Vorarlberg Health Monitoring & Prevention Program (VHM&PP, 1985-2005) and data provided by the Main Association of Austrian Social Security Institutions (MAASSI, 2005-2015) were analyzed.

Sex- and age-specific variations, temporal trends and metabolic determinants of serum uric acid concentrations in a large population-based Austrian cohort.

Little is known about sex- and age-specific variations and temporal trends in serum uric acid (SUA) concentrations, the prevalence of hyperuricemia and its association with metabolic risk factors in the general population. Between January 1, 1985 and June 30, 2005 146,873 participants (42% women) were recruited. Prevalence of hyperuricemia was estimated applying a common (SUA > 360 µmol/L) and sex-specific cut-off points (women > 340 µmol/L, men > 420 µmol/L).

Metabolic factors and hip fracture risk in a large Austrian cohort study.

To explore the association of incident hip fractures with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its single components, we designed a prospective cohort study of hip fracture incidence among 117,053 participants of a population-based health surveillance program in Vorarlberg, the westernmost Austrian province. Incident hip fractures were recorded between 5 and 10 years after inclusion at baseline from 2003 to 2009. Applying Cox proportional hazard models for each MetS component and for a composite z-score for MetS, hazards for fracture were estimated in quintiles, as continuous z-score variables, and as pathological cut off values.

The triglyceride-glucose index as a measure of insulin resistance and risk of obesity-related cancers.

Background: The role of insulin resistance as a mediator in the association of body mass index (BMI) with site-specific cancer risk has, to our knowledge, never been systematically quantified.

Methods: Altogether 510 471 individuals from six European cohorts, with a mean age of 43.1 years, were included.

Bone Mineral Density and Breast Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Postmenopausal Women: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study.

To examine whether bone mineral density (BMD) is predictive of breast cancer risk and mortality in a population of early postmenopausal women participating in a medical prevention program in western Austria. Between May 1991 and February 1999, lumbar spine BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry ( = 1163, mean age 56.9 ± 5.