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).

Exploring the effects of acceptable palliative care models on survival time and healthcare expenditure among patients with cancer: a national longitudinal population-based study.

Objective: Hospice care ensures better end-of-life quality by relieving terminal symptoms. Prior research has indicated that hospice care could prolong survival and reduce end-of-life medical expenditures among patients with cancer. However, the dearth of studies on the effects of hospice care type and use sequence on survival time and end-of-life medical expenditures substantiates the need for investigation.

Association between 14 candidate genes, PM2.5, and affective disorders: a study of the Taiwan Biobank.

Background: Most studies have focused on the risk factors, treatment, and care of affective psychosis, and several have reported a relationship between ambient air quality and this psychosis. Although an association has been reported between psychosis and genes, studies mainly explored the associations between one type of psychosis and one gene; few have identified genes related to affective psychosis. This study investigates the genetic and environmental factors of affective psychosis.

Association between use of different long-term care services and risks of mental disorder and mortality as well as medical utilization.

Objective: This study sought to investigate mental disorder and mortality risks and medical utilization among various long-term care (LTC) services and examine the associated factors.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from the National Health Insurance Research Database of the entire population of Taiwan recorded between 2006 and 2017. A total of 41,407 patients using LTC (study group) were identified and propensity score-matched with 41,407 LTC nonusers (control group) at a ratio of 1:1 according to sex, age, salary-based premium, comorbidity index score, and urbanization level.

Disparities in the medical expenditures of patients with cancer and concomitant mental disorder: analyzing the effects of diagnosis sequence order.

Background: Cancer is the leading cause of death in Taiwan. Medical expenditures related to cancer accounted for 44.8% of all major illness insurance claims in Taiwan.

Patterns of Systemic Disease Diagnoses among Medical Professionals in Taiwan: Statistical Analysis and Data Mining.

Introduction: Although high-risk work environments and heavy workload expose medical professionals to long-term risks of disease, no comprehensive analysis has been conducted on the corresponding risks of diseases to each type of medical professionals. This study pre-analyzed the risks of medical professionals in developing various systemic diseases in Taiwan to provide a comprehensive examination of the differences between each type of systemic disease.

Methods: From the secondary databases of 2002-2013, 15,407 medical professionals were selected for analysis.

Spousal Concordance and Cross-Disorder Concordance of Mental Disorders: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Objective: Although both partners of a married couple can have mental disorders, the concordant and cross-concordant categories of disorders in couples remain unclear. Using national psychiatric population-based data only from patients with mental disorders, we examined married couples with mental disorders to examine spousal concordance and cross-disorder concordance across the full spectrum of mental disorders.

Methods: Data from the 1997 to 2012 Taiwan Psychiatric Inpatient Medical Claims data set were used and a total of 662 married couples were obtained.

Investigating Medical Cost and Mortality Among Psychiatric Patients Involuntary Admissions: A Nationwide Propensity Score-Matched Study.

Objective: Involuntary admission to psychiatric inpatient care can protect both patients with severe mental illnesses and individuals around them. This study analyzed annual healthcare costs per person for involuntary psychiatric admission and examined categories of mental disorders and other factors associated with mortality.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study collected 1 million randomly sampled beneficiaries from the National Health Insurance Database for 2002-2013.

The Association between Medical Utilization and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Severity: A Comparison of the 2007 and 2011 Guideline Staging Systems.

(1) Background: This study aimed to investigate the associations between the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) staging systems, medical costs, and mortality among patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). Predictions of the effectiveness of the two versions of the staging systems were also compared. (2) Purpose: this study investigated the associations between the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) staging systems, medical costs, and mortality among patients with COPD.

Stroke risk associated with NSAIDs uses in women with dysmenorrhea: A population-based cohort study.

Objective: Dysmenorrhea is among the most common type of gynecological problem, affecting young women across the globe. This study assessed the comparative risk of stroke associated with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and non-NSAIDs in women with dysmenorrhea while taking into account the following factors such as age, history of pregnancy, NSAIDs uses and its duration of use, and selected comorbidities.

Methodology: We used a quantitative research approach based on a comparative case-control study design.

Long-Term Survival and Medical Costs of Patients with Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation and Tracheostomy: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Few large-scale studies have focused on tracheostomy in patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation. This retrospective population-based study extracted data from the longitudinal National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan to compare long-term mortality between patients on prolonged mechanical ventilation with and without tracheostomy and their related medical expenditures. Data on newly developed respiratory failure in patients on ventilator support were extracted from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2008.

Association of health checkups with health-related quality of life among public servants: a nationwide survey in Taiwan.

Background: Preventive health checkups have gained in importance over the last decade. The association of health checkups and the number of diseases with health-related quality of life (HRQoL), including physical and mental health, remains unclear. We sought to investigate the aforementioned association among Taiwanese public servants.

Spousal Concordance in Dietary Behaviors and Metabolic Components, and Their Association: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aims to investigate spousal concordance in dietary behaviors, spousal concordance in metabolic components (MCs), and their association. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Taiwan from November 2014 to May 2015. Matched-pair analysis, McNemar's test, logistic regression analysis, and stratified analysis were performed.

The pharmaceutical practice of mask distribution by pharmacists in Taiwan's community pharmacies under the Mask Real-Name System, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Background: Pharmacists hold to their promise to foster, implement and promote the health of the population and to prevent disease, given their knowledge, skills, and proximity to the locals. The objective of this study was to foster equality and cost-effectiveness in the distribution and sale of masks to all Taiwanese citizens, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: All 6336 special community pharmacies participating in the NHI (National Health Insurance) served as mask-selling sites.

Sleep Duration and Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) Associated with Obesity and Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) among Taiwanese Middle-Aged Public Servants.

(1) Limited evidence has shown the mediating effects of work characteristics and sleep duration on obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among adults. The objective of this study is to assess the interaction effects between sleep duration and effort-reward imbalance (ERI) on the risk of obesity and T2DM among Taiwanese public servants aged 40-60. (2) A national survey for Taiwanese public servants was conducted by multistage stratified random cluster sampling based on proportional probabilistic sampling.

Older Age Is Associated With Better Compliance With Follow-up in Taiwan After Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery.

Background/aim: Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is frequently conducted for restoring sinus ventilation and function. Postoperative care is critical for success. However, loss to follow-up is disturbing.

Risk of mental illness after the diagnosis of occupational injury or disease: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: As studies on mental disorders in victims of occupational injury or disease are limited, this study aims to evaluate the risk of, and factors associated with, the development of mental illness in patients with occupational injury or disease using insurance claims data from Taiwan.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed insurance records in Taiwan to identify 18,285 adults who experienced occupational injury or disease in 2002-2013 and 18,285 adults without occupational injury or disease who were matched by propensity score. The risks of mental disorders during a follow-up period of up to 2 years were estimated and compared between the two cohorts.

Occupational health and safety hazards faced by healthcare professionals in Taiwan: A systematic review of risk factors and control strategies.

Background: Healthcare professionals in Taiwan are exposed to a myriad of occupational health and safety hazards, including physical, biological, chemical, ergonomic, and psychosocial hazards. Healthcare professionals working in hospitals and healthcare facilities are more likely to be subjected to these hazards than their counterparts working in other areas.

Objectives: This review aims to assess current research literature regarding this situation with a view to informing policy makers and practitioners about the risks of exposure and offer evidence-based recommendations on how to eliminate or reduce such risks.

Sleepiness and injury risk in emergency medical service workers in Taiwan.

Background: Insufficient sleep is a common health and safety risk factor in high-impact workplaces where workers are required to take rotating shifts. However, studies on sleepiness-related risks and incidents, particularly among emergency medical services (EMS) workers are limited.

Objective: This study sought to investigate the prevalence of sleepiness and related workplace incidents among EMS workers.

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and hyperlipidemia modified by perceived work stress.

Background: Accumulating evidence has shown that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) However, few studies have assessed both exposure to ETS and high-perceived work stress on hyperlipidemia. The aim of the present study is to assess the interaction effect of ETS exposure and high-perceived work stress on the risk of hyperlipidemia.

Methods: A total of 11,875 middle-aged civil servants from 647 registered institutions employed by the Taiwan government were randomly selected using multistage stratified cluster sampling based on proportional probabilistic sampling.

Stroke risks in women with dysmenorrhea by age and stroke subtype.

Background: Dysmenorrhea and stroke are health problems affecting women worldwide in their day-to-day lives; however, there is limited knowledge of the stroke risk in women with dysmenorrhea, and there have been no studies assessing the specific distribution of stroke subtypes. This case-control study assessed stroke subtypes by age and the role of comorbidities in women with dysmenorrhea.

Methods And Findings: Data obtained between 1997 and 2013 from Taiwan's health insurance database identified 514 stroke cases and 31,201 non-stroke controls in women with dysmenorrhea aged 15-49 years.