The impact of inter-cycle treatment delays on 5-year all-cause mortality in early-stage breast cancer: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Inter-cycle delays to chemotherapy are often required to manage drug toxicity. The impact of delays on mortality is poorly characterised. This retrospective cohort study examined the association of treatment delay with all-cause mortality in early-stage breast cancer.

SABINA + Hong Kong: a territory wide study of prescribing trends and outcomes associated with the use of short-acting β2 agonists in the Chinese population.

Background: Excessive use of short-acting β2 agonists (SABA) in patients with asthma continues to be a notable concern due to its link to higher mortality rates. Global relevance of SABA overuse in asthma management cannot be understated, it poses significant health risk to patients with asthma and imposes burden on healthcare systems. This study, as part of global SABINA progamme, aimed to describe the prescribing patterns and clinical outcomes associated with SABA use in the Chinese population.

Association between prenatal antipsychotic exposure and the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The paucity of evidence regarding the safety of gestational antipsychotic exposure has led to treatment discontinuation in pregnant women with severe mental health conditions. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to summarise the current evidence on the association between gestational antipsychotic exposure and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children (Study protocol registered in PROSPERO:CRD42022311354). Five studies included in our meta-analysis with around 8.

The trends in lung cancer prevalence, incidence, and survival in Hong Kong over the past two decades (2002-2021): a population-based study.

Background: Over the past decades, significant progress in lung cancer management has been made. However, the trends in prevalence and survival of lung cancer in the Chinese population over the last decade remain unexplored. This study utilised a territory-wide electronic medical database in Hong Kong to provide the most up-to-date and comprehensive analysis of the trends in prevalence, incidence, and survival over the past two decades.

ADHD medication discontinuation and persistence across the lifespan: a retrospective observational study using population-based databases.

Background: Although often intended for long-term treatment, discontinuation of medication for ADHD is common. However, cross-national estimates of discontinuation are missing due to the absence of standardised measures. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of ADHD treatment discontinuation across the lifespan and to describe similarities and differences across countries to guide clinical practice.

Polypharmacy and antidepressant acceptability in comorbid depression and type 2 diabetes: a cohort study using UK primary care data.

Background: Polypharmacy may increase the risk of drug interactions, side effects, and poor adherence; however, the impact of polypharmacy on antidepressant acceptability in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is unknown.

Aim: To investigate the association between number of prescribed medications and early antidepressant discontinuation in adults with T2DM.

Design And Setting: Cohort study using UK primary care data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2018.

Prevalence and predictive factors of tuberculosis treatment interruption in the Asia region: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) treatment interruption remains a critical challenge leading to poor treatment outcomes. Two-thirds of global new TB cases are mostly contributed by Asian countries, prompting systematic analysis of predictors for treatment interruption due to the variable findings.

Methods: Articles published from 2012 to 2021 were searched through seven databases.

Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Treatment Target Achievement in Patients with Myocardial Infarction, Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, or Stroke in Hong Kong.

Background: Elevated concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are an important cause of recurrent cardiovascular events. This study aimed to describe the distribution and achieved concentrations of LDL-C among patients with myocardial infarction (MI), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), stroke, or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) in Hong Kong.

Methods: Patients with a lipid test from a public hospital were identified from the Clinical Database and Analysis Reporting System of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority.

Mortality-causing mechanisms and healthcare resource utilisation of treatment-resistant depression: A six-year population-based cohort study.

Background: Few studies investigated the mechanisms of treatment-resistant depression (TRD) leading to the worsened survival outcome, and economic evidence was mostly restricted to short follow-ups. We aimed to examine the association and potential mediators between TRD and all-cause mortality, and estimate a longer-term associated health resource utilisation pattern.

Methods: This was a population-based cohort study using territory-wide electronic medical records in Hong Kong.

Pain assessment tools in paediatric palliative care: A systematic review of psychometric properties and recommendations for clinical practice.

Background: Assessing pain in infants, children and young people with life-limiting conditions remains a challenge due to diverse patient conditions, types of pain and often a reduced ability or inability of patients to communicate verbally.

Aim: To systematically identify pain assessment tools that are currently used in paediatric palliative care and examine their psychometric properties and feasibility and make recommendations for clinical practice.

Design: A systematic literature review and evaluation of psychometric properties of pain assessment tools of original peer-reviewed research published from inception of data sources to April 2021.

Relation of substance use disorders to mortality, accident and emergency department attendances, and hospital admissions: A 13-year population-based cohort study in Hong Kong.

Background: The impact of substance use disorders (SUD) in an Asian population has not been fully explored. We aimed to assess the risk of mortality, accident and emergency (A&E) department attendances, and hospital admissions associated with SUD in a population-based cohort study.

Method: Patients diagnosed with SUD in public A&E departments from 2004 to 2016 (N = 8,423) were identified in the Clinical Database Analysis and Reporting System of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority and 1:1 matched to patients without SUD by propensity score (N = 6,074 in each group).

Global changes to the chemotherapy service during the covid-19 pandemic.

Purpose: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, changes to chemotherapy services were implemented as a means of managing imposed workload strains within health services and protecting patients from contracting COVID-19. Given the rapidly evolving nature of the pandemic many changes were rapidly adopted and were not substantiated by robust evidence. This study aimed to describe the changes adopted internationally to chemotherapy services, which may be used to guide future changes to treatment delivery.

Healthcare professionals' views of the use of oral morphine and transmucosal diamorphine in the management of paediatric breakthrough pain and the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial: A focus group study (DIPPER).

Background: Oral morphine is frequently used for breakthrough pain but the oral route is not always available and absorption is slow. Transmucosal diamorphine is administered by buccal, sublingual or intranasal routes, and rapidly absorbed.

Aim: To explore the perspectives of healthcare professionals in the UK caring for children with life-limiting conditions concerning the assessment and management of breakthrough pain; prescribing and administration of transmucosal diamorphine compared with oral morphine; and the feasibility of a comparative clinical trial.

Lipid levels and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients initiated on statins for primary prevention: an international population-based cohort study protocol.

Background: Clinical guidelines recommend specific targets for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Furthermore, individual variability in lipid response to statin therapy requires assessment of the association in diverse populations.

Aim: To assess whether lower concentrations of LDL-C and non-HDL-C are associated with a reduced risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in primary prevention of CVD.

False-positive SARS-CoV-2 serology in 3 children with Kawasaki disease.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile and eruptive disease with systemic vasculitis predominantly affecting young East Asian children. Recent reports showed that children with KD-like disease from KD low prevalence regions had positive SARS-CoV-2 serology despite a negative SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in respiratory samples.

Objectives: To describe 3 pediatric Kawasaki Disease patients with false positive SARS-CoV-2 serology.

Associations between usual glycated haemoglobin and cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A 10-year diabetes cohort study.

Aim: To investigate the assocation between glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study conducted in Hong Kong selected patients aged 45 to 84 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus and without CVD from primary care clinics during the period 2008 to 2010. Usual HbA1c measurement was calculated using a mixed-effects model to minimize regression dilution bias.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): latest developments in potential treatments.

Many viral respiratory infections can cause severe acute respiratory symptoms leading to mortality and morbidity. In the spring of 2003, the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak caused by SARS-CoV spread globally. In the summer of 2012, the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak caused by MERS-CoV occurred in Saudi Arabia.

Nitrogen-Containing Bisphosphonates Are Associated With Reduced Risk of Pneumonia in Patients With Hip Fracture.

The objective of this work was to study the risk of pneumonia and pneumonia mortality among patients receiving nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs), non-N-BP anti-osteoporosis medications, and no anti-osteoporosis medications after hip fracture. We studied a historical cohort using a population-wide database. Patients with first hip fracture during 2005-2015 were identified and matched by time-dependent propensity score.

Incidences, temporal trends and risks of hospitalisation for gastrointestinal bleeding in new or chronic low-dose aspirin users after treatment for : a territory-wide cohort study.

Objective: The risk of GI bleeding (GIB) in aspirin users after (HP) eradication remains poorly defined. We characterised the incidences and temporal trends of hospitalisations for all GIB in aspirin users after HP eradication therapy.

Design: Based on a territory-wide health database, we identified all patients who had received the first course of clarithromycin-based triple therapy between 2003 and 2012.

Risk factors for drug allergies in Chinese children.

Background: Drug allergy, or drug hypersensitivity, is a potentially fatal disorder, and patients labeled with drug allergies have restricted access to first-line treatments. Full knowledge of the characteristics associated with drug allergies and severe reactions during allergy evaluation is beneficial for appropriate risk stratification.

Objective: We sought to determine whether certain clinical characteristics are associated with drug allergies in Chinese children.

Medication error trends and effects of person-related, environment-related and communication-related factors on medication errors in a paediatric hospital.

Aim: This study aimed to examine reported medication error trends in an Australian paediatric hospital over a 5-year period and to determine the effects of person-related, environment-related and communication-related factors on the severity of medication outcomes. In particular, the focus was on the influence of changes to a hospital site and structure on the severity of medication errors.

Methods: A retrospective clinical audit was undertaken over a 5-year period of paediatric medication errors submitted to an online voluntary reporting system of an Australian, tertiary, public teaching paediatric hospital.