Associations between subclinical thyroid dysfunction and cardiovascular risk factors according to age and sex.

Context: Subclinical thyroid dysfunction (ScTD) comprising subclinical hypothyroidism (SHypo) and subclinical hyperthyroidism (SHyper) has been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events.

Objective: To assess associations between ScTD and cardiovascular risk factors (cvRFs) according to age and sex.

Design And Setting: Pooled individual participant data analysis of large prospective cohort studies from the Thyroid Studies Collaboration.

Associations of cannabis use and body mass index-The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study.

Background: With increasing use of cannabis, we need to know if cannabis use and Body Mass Index (BMI) are associated.

Methods: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study followed Black and White adults over 30 years with assessments every 2 to 5 years in four centers in the USA. We assessed self-reported current and computed cumulative cannabis exposure at every visit, and studied associations with BMI, adjusted for relevant covariables in mixed longitudinal models.

The use of diagnostic ultrasound by primary care physicians in Switzerland - a cross-sectional study.

Background: Diagnostic ultrasound has become a bedside tool widely available to many primary care physicians (PCPs) in Europe. It is often used as point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) in this setting. In Switzerland, certain POCUS examinations are listed as learning objectives in existing ultrasound training programs (we defined these examinations as swissPOCUS = sPOCUS).

Electronic Nicotine-Delivery Systems for Smoking Cessation.

Background: Electronic nicotine-delivery systems - also called e-cigarettes - are used by some tobacco smokers to assist with quitting. Evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of these systems is needed.

Methods: In this open-label, controlled trial, we randomly assigned adults who were smoking at least five tobacco cigarettes per day and who wanted to set a quit date to an intervention group, which received free e-cigarettes and e-liquids, standard-of-care smoking-cessation counseling, and optional (not free) nicotine-replacement therapy, or to a control group, which received standard counseling and a voucher, which they could use for any purpose, including nicotine-replacement therapy.

Sex Differences in the Association Between Cumulative Use of Cannabis and Cognitive Function in Middle Age: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study.

Cannabis use may impair cognitive function (CF) differently in men and women, due to sex-specific differences in neurobiological mechanisms and environmental risk factors. Assess sex differences in the association between cumulative exposure to cannabis and cognitive performance in middle age. We studied participants from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study, including Black and White men and women 18-30 years old at baseline followed over 30 years.

Near-peer compared to faculty teaching of abdominal ultrasound for medical students - A randomized-controlled trial.

Purpose: Medical schools increasingly rely on near-peer tutors for ultrasound teaching. We set out to compare the efficacy of a blended near-peer ultrasound teaching program to that of a faculty course in a randomized controlled trial.

Methods: 152 medical students received 21 hours of ultrasound teaching either by near-peer teachers or medical doctors.

Use of tobacco, nicotine and cannabis products among students in Switzerland.

Introduction: Most people who smoke cigarettes begin in their teens and teens may also be attracted to new tobacco, nicotine, and cannabis products. We describe use prevalence among upper-secondary school students in Switzerland, including daily use, of tobacco, nicotine, and cannabis products.

Methods: We invited secondary school students (age 15 to 21) in two Swiss cantons to take an online survey between October 2021 and February 2022.

Colorectal cancer testing rates after implementation of an organised screening programme in Vaud, Switzerland.

Aims Of The Study: Canton Vaud, Switzerland, implemented an organised colorectal cancer  screening programme with colonoscopy and faecal occult blood tests in 2015, 4 to 6 years ahead of neighbouring cantons. Before its implementation, nearly half of Swiss citizens were already up to date with screening, primarily from opportunistic colonoscopies. We hypothesised that earlier implementation of an organised programme would be associated with greater increases in colorectal cancer testing rates.

The price of nicotine dependence: A comparison of the cost of nicotine across products in Switzerland, Germany, USA, Sweden, France and the UK, in 2019.

Introduction: Tobacco cigarette taxes aim at reducing smoking, but smokers are still dependent on nicotine and need safe and cheap alternatives. As the costs play a role in the product chosen, we compared standardized nicotine costs across products and countries.

Methods: We gathered prices of tobacco cigarettes, heated tobacco products (HTP), pharmaceutical nicotine replacement therapy (pNRT) gums, snus, and open and closed electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) in 6 countries (Switzerland, Germany, USA, Sweden, France, UK) in 2019.

Long-term effects of systematic smoking cessation counselling during acute coronary syndrome, a multicentre before-after study.

Trial Design: In the Special Program University Medicine-Acute Coronary Syndromes (SPUM-ACS) observational study (clinical trial registration: NCT01000701), a multicentre before-after clinical trial, we assessed 5-year outcome after acute coronary syndrome, comparing a systematic with an opportunistic smoking cessation counselling phase.

Methods: We studied smokers who were hospitalised for acute coronary syndromes (ACS), and we assessed self-reported smoking cessation, incidence of cardiovascular events and mortality 5 years after hospital discharge. In the observational phase, from August 2009 to October 2010, only smokers who requested smoking cessation counselling received it during hospitalisation.

Change in colorectal cancer (CRC) testing rates associated with the introduction of the first organized screening program in canton Uri, Switzerland: Evidence from insurance claims data analyses from 2010 to 2018.

The first canton in Switzerland to implement an organized colorectal cancer screening program (OSP) was Uri. Starting in 2013, it offered 50-69-year-olds free testing with colonoscopy every 10 years or fecal occult blood test (FOBT) every 2 years. We tested the association between the OSP and testing rates over time.

Ten-year changes in colorectal cancer screening in Switzerland: The Swiss Health Interview Survey 2007, 2012 and 2017.

Recent recommendations for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening suggest fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or colonoscopy. Since 2013, mandatory health insurance in Switzerland reimburse CRC screening. We set out to determine if CRC testing rate and type of CRC screening changed in Switzerland from 2007 to 2017 and between the three main language regions.

Change in Colorectal Cancer Tests Submitted for Reimbursement in Switzerland 2012-2018: Evidence from Claims Data of a Large Insurance.

Guidelines recommend colorectal cancer (CRC) screening by fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or colonoscopy. In 2013, Switzerland introduced reimbursement of CRC screening by mandatory health insurance for 50-69-years-olds, after they met their deductible. We hypothesized that the 2013 reimbursement policy increased testing rate.

Counseling in Vape Shops: A Survey of Vape Shop Managers in Switzerland.

Vaporizers (e-cigarettes) are the most common smoking cessation aids in Switzerland, but we do not know what information customers receive in vape shops. We surveyed vape-shop managers to find out what recommendations they make to their customers. An interdisciplinary group developed the questionnaire.

Cumulative Marijuana Use and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness at Middle Age: The CARDIA Study.

Background: Long-term cardiovascular health effects of marijuana are understudied. Future cardiovascular disease is often indicated by subclinical atherosclerosis for which carotid intima-media thickness is an established parameter.

Methods: Using the data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a cohort of 5115 Black and white women and men at Year 20 visit, we studied the association between carotid intima-media thickness in midlife and lifetime exposure to marijuana (1 marijuana year = 365 days of use) and tobacco smoking (1 pack-year = 20 cigarettes/day for 365 days).

Treating insomnia in Swiss primary care practices: A survey study based on case vignettes.

Guidelines recommend cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) as first-line treatment for chronic insomnia, but it is not clear how many primary care physicians (PCPs) in Switzerland prescribe this treatment. We created a survey that asked PCPs how they would treat chronic insomnia and how much they knew about CBT-I. The survey included two case vignettes that described patients with chronic insomnia, one with and one without comorbid depression.

Social, Behavioral, and Cultural factors of HIV in Malawi: Semi-Automated Systematic Review.

Background: Demographic and sociobehavioral factors are strong drivers of HIV infection rates in sub-Saharan Africa. These factors are often studied in qualitative research but ignored in quantitative analyses. However, they provide in-depth insight into the local behavior and may help to improve HIV prevention.

Association between marijuana use and electrocardiographic abnormalities by middle age: the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study.

Aims: To evaluate the prevalence of electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities in marijuana users as an indirect measure of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Design: Longitudinal and cross-sectional secondary data analysis from the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) study.

Setting: Four communities in the United States.

Prevalence and management of chronic insomnia in Swiss primary care: Cross-sectional data from the "Sentinella" practice-based research network.

We investigated the prevalence and treatment of patients with chronic insomnia presenting to Swiss primary care physicians (PCPs) part of "Sentinella", a nationwide practice-based research network. Each PCP consecutively asked 40 patients if they had sleep complaints, documented frequency, duration, comorbidities, and reported ongoing treatment. We analysed data of 63% (83/132) of the PCPs invited.

Association between colorectal cancer testing and insurance type: Evidence from the Swiss Health Interview Survey 2012.

Both colonoscopy and fecal occult blood test (FOBT) are commonly used for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, but colonoscopy costs much more than FOBT. Swiss insurance offers high or low deductibles and choice of basic or private insurance. We hypothesized that high deductibles and basic insurance discourage colonoscopy, but do not change FOBT rates.

Offering patients a choice for colorectal cancer screening: a quality improvement pilot study in a quality circle of primary care physicians.

Background: Guidelines recommend primary care physicians (PCPs) offer patients a choice between colonoscopy and faecal immunochemical test (FIT) for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Patients choose almost evenly between both tests but in Switzerland, most are tested with colonoscopy while screening rates are low. A quality circle (QC) of PCPs is an ideal site to train physicians in shared decision-making (SDM) that will help more patients decide if they want to be tested and choose the test they prefer.