Quality indicators and clinical outcomes: the role of care quality in nondiabetic chronic kidney disease management.

Quality indicators (QIs) are essential for evaluating healthcare quality, but their validation for nondiabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) populations is limited. We aimed to assess the association between QIs and outcomes in nondiabetic CKD patients. Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance claims data and death registries, we analyzed 27,842 nondiabetic adults with stage 3B-5 CKD from 2016 to 2019.

Is History of Cardiovascular Disease Associated with Increased Caries Experience among Taiwanese Adults?

Introduction: This study examined the association between cardiovascular disease (CVD) history and their dental caries experience status.

Methods: Conducted from January 2021 to June 2023, this cross-sectional cohort study involved 7,138 participants who underwent oral examinations. Data on demographic background, oral health-related behaviors, and smoking status were collected using a structured questionnaire.

Assortative mating across nine psychiatric disorders is consistent and persistent over cultures and generations.

Emerging evidence has shown that assortative mating (AM) is a key factor that shapes the landscape of complex human traits. It can increase the overall prevalence of disorders, influence occurrences of comorbidities, and bias estimation of genetic architectures. However, there is lack of large-scale studies to examine the cultural differences and the generational trends of AM for psychiatric disorders.

Efficacy and safety of ketoanalogue supplementation combined with protein-restricted diets in advanced chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The benefits and harms of protein-restricted diets supplemented with ketoanalogues in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remain uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the effects of ketoanalogues supplemented to protein-restricted diets in patients with advanced CKD.

Methods: We conducted systematic literature searches of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library up to June 3, 2024.

Validation of Self-reported Medical Condition in the Taiwan Biobank.

Background: This study aimed to validate self-reported medical conditions in the Taiwan Biobank (TWBB), in which participants were inquired about 30 disease conditions, by comparing them with claims records from Taiwan's National Health Insurance (NHI) claims database.

Methods: We identified 30 clinical diagnoses using International Classification of Diseases - Clinical Modification codes from ambulatory and hospital claims within the NHI claims database, matching diseases included in the TWBB. The concordance between self-reports and claims records was evaluated using tetrachoric correlation to assess the correlation between binary variables.

Association between alcohol consumption and chronic kidney disease: a population-based survey.

Background: Alcohol consumption is associated with both beneficial and harmful effects, and the role of alcohol consumption in chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and CKD or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Methods: This study enrolled adults from the second Taiwanese Survey on Prevalences of Hypertension, Hyperglycemia, and Hyperlipidemia, conducted in 2007.

Widowhood and mortality risk in Taiwan: a population-based matched cohort study.

Background: Studying the causes of death among deceased spouses and surviving partners may provide insights into the underlying mechanisms of the association between widowhood and mortality. This study investigated the mortality risk of widowhood in Taiwan, examined the association of the cause of death between widowed individuals and their deceased spouses and explored potential modifying effects by age, gender and duration after widowhood.

Methods: This matched cohort study utilized Taiwan's National Health Insurance claims database and National Death Registry.

Association of vaccine-specific regulatory T cells with reduced antibody response to repeated influenza vaccination.

Repeated annual influenza vaccinations have been associated with reduced vaccine-induced antibody responses. This prospective study aimed to explore the role of vaccine antigen-specific regulatory T (Treg) cells in antibody response to repeated annual influenza vaccination. We analyzed pre- and postvaccination hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers, seroconversion rates, seroprotection rates, vaccine antigen hemagglutinin (HA)-specific Treg cells, and conventional T (Tconv) cells.

Tumor Marker Trajectories and Survival Analysis in Patients With Normal Carcinoembryonic Antigen Ranges After Colorectal Cancer Resection.

Background: Evidence regarding postoperative CEA for predicting long-term outcomes of colorectal cancer remains controversial, especially in patients with normal postoperative CEA.

Objective: To investigate the risk difference among different postoperative CEA trajectories in patients with normal postoperative CEA after curative colorectal cancer resection.

Design: This cohort study was conducted at a comprehensive cancer center and included data retrieved from a prospectively collected database between January 2006 and December 2018.

Real-world effectiveness of national pit and fissure sealants program in Taiwan.

Objectives: This study investigated the effectiveness of a national population-based pit and fissure sealants (PFS) program in Taiwan.

Methods: Part 1 (effectiveness of national PFS program) involved children who had participated in the PFS program from 2015 to 2019. After propensity score matching, 670,840 children were selected for analysis until the end of 2019.

Ultraviolet B phototherapy does not increase the risk of skin cancer among patients with atopic dermatitis: A population-based retrospective cohort study.

Background: UV-B phototherapy is a common treatment modality for patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), but its long-term safety in terms of cutaneous carcinogenic risk has not been studied.

Objective: To investigate the risk of skin cancer among patients with AD receiving UV-B phototherapy.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study from 2001 to 2018 to estimate the risk of UV-B phototherapy for skin cancer, nonmelanoma skin cancer, and cutaneous melanoma in patients with AD.

Comparative efficacy of treatments for molluscum contagiosum: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background And Objectives: Various interventions have been applied to treat molluscum contagiosum, but benefits and efficacy remain unclear. To assess the comparative efficacy and safety of interventions for molluscum contagiosum, a network meta-analysis was performed.

Patients And Methods: Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were searched for articles published between January 1, 1990, and November 31, 2020.

Quality of dental treatments under intravenous sedation among patients with disability: A self-matching study.

Background/purpose: Patients with disabilities usually have difficulties in communication and mobility, and the quality of the dental treatments are often inferior. This study uses the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database to analyze the quality of dental treatment for patients with disabilities who receive intravenous sedation (IVS).

Materials And Methods: This study selected patients with disabilities who received dental treatment under IVS.

Association between and dietary patterns and the risk of type 2 diabetes: a representative cohort study in Taiwan.

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among Taiwanese individuals. Data were collected using a nationwide cohort study (2001-15) from the Triple-High Database. Dietary intake was assessed using the twenty-group food frequency questionnaire and used to calculate alternate Mediterranean diet (aMED) and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) scores.

Paternal age and 13 psychiatric disorders in the offspring: a population-based cohort study of 7 million children in Taiwan.

Although paternal age has been linked to certain psychiatric disorders, the nature of any causal relationship remains elusive. Here, we aimed to comprehensively assess the magnitude of a wide range of offspring's psychiatric risk conferred by paternal age, leveraging a pedigree inferred from covered-insurance relationship (accuracy >98%) in Taiwan's single-payer compulsory insurance program. We also examined whether there is an independent role of paternal age and explored the potential effect of parental age difference.

The Influence of Diabetes Mellitus on the Risks of End-Stage Kidney Disease and Mortality After Liver Transplantation.

This retrospective study aimed to investigate the effect of diabetes mellitus (DM) on the risks of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and post-liver transplantation (post-LT) mortality. Using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database, Taiwan, 3,489 patients who received a LT between 1 January 2005, and 31 December 2015, were enrolled in this study and divided into the pre-existing DM, post-LT DM (PLTDM), and without DM groups. All subjects were followed up from 1 year after LT to the index date for ESKD, and the occurrence of death, or until 31 December 2016.

Metabolically healthy overweight/obesity and cancer risk: A representative cohort study in Taiwan.

Objective: Many cancers are caused by overweight; however, cancer risk varies among individuals with obesity. Few studies are addressing the relationship between metabolic obesity phenotypes and cancer. This study investigates the association between metabolically healthy overweight (MHOW) or metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and cancer incidence.

Comparison of four healthy lifestyle scores for predicting cardiovascular events in a national cohort study.

The protective effect of different healthy lifestyle scores for the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) was reported, although the comparisons of performance were lacking. We compared the performance measures of CVDs from different healthy lifestyle scores among Taiwanese adults. We conducted a nationwide prospective cohort study of 6042 participants (median age 43 years, 50.

Obesity phenotypes and their relationships with atrial fibrillation.

Background: This study assessed the associations of metabolic obesity phenotypes with the risk of atrial fibrillation (Afib).

Methods: This prospective cohort study categorized Taiwanese adults according to their body mass index (BMI) and metabolic health status at baseline. We assigned the participants to the underweight (BMI < 18.

Association between sugary drinks consumption and dental caries incidence among Taiwanese schoolchildren with mixed dentition.

Objectives: Dental caries is a multifactorial disease, and a sugary diet can generate an acidic plaque environment that advances its development. However, the specific effect of sugary drinks on the subsequent oral health of schoolchildren with mixed dentition is unclear. In this study, we investigated the association between the consumption of sugary drinks and 1 year incidence rate of caries in permanent teeth among Taiwanese schoolchildren with mixed dentition.

Associations Between Antidepressant Use and Advanced Diabetes Outcomes in Patients with Depression and Diabetes Mellitus.

Context: Comorbid depression in patients with diabetes deteriorates the prognosis. Antidepressants might attenuate the adverse effects of depression; however, they are associated with cardiometabolic adverse effects.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the association between antidepressant treatment and advanced diabetic complications and mortality among patients with depression and diabetes mellitus.