Deriving and validating a risk prediction model for long COVID: a population-based, retrospective cohort study in Scotland.

Objectives: Using electronic health records, we derived and internally validated a prediction model to estimate risk factors for long COVID and predict individual risk of developing long COVID.

Design: Population-based, retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Scotland.

Evaluation of early fluoropyrimidine toxicity in solid organ cancer patients: a retrospective observational study in Australia.

Background: Despite common global usage, fluoropyrimidine (FP; 5-flurouracil and capecitabine)-related chemotherapy toxicity is poorly reported in the literature, with serious toxicity ranging from 10% to 40% and early toxicity (within 60 days of exposure) quoted at 14%. Data reflecting the incidence of Grades 3-5 FP-related toxicity in Australian cancer patients is scant, despite the significant impact of toxicity on patients (hospitalisations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and even death).

Aims: This retrospective audit evaluated Grades 3-5 toxicities in a contemporaneous cohort of 500 patients receiving FP chemotherapies within the Hunter-New England Local Health District from June 2020 to June 2022.

Association of Food Desert Residence and 5-Year Mortality in Lung Cancer Patients Undergoing Resection.

Introduction: Food desert (FD) residence has emerged as a risk factor for poor outcomes in breast, colon and esophageal cancers. The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine FD residence as an associated risk factor in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with anatomic lung resection (ALR).

Methods: All consecutive ALRs for stage I-III NSCLC from January 2015 to December 2017 at a single institution were reviewed.

Uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations amongst 3,433,483 children and young people: meta-analysis of UK prospective cohorts.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and young people (CYP) can lead to life-threatening COVID-19, transmission within households and schools, and the development of long COVID. Using linked health and administrative data, we investigated vaccine uptake among 3,433,483 CYP aged 5-17 years across all UK nations between 4th August 2021 and 31st May 2022. We constructed national cohorts and undertook multi-state modelling and meta-analysis to identify associations between demographic variables and vaccine uptake.

Risk of winter hospitalisation and death from acute respiratory infections in Scotland: national retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: We undertook a national analysis to characterise and identify risk factors for acute respiratory infections (ARIs) resulting in hospitalisation during the winter period in Scotland.

Design: A population-based retrospective cohort analysis.

Setting: Scotland.

External validation of the QCovid 2 and 3 risk prediction algorithms for risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation and mortality in adults: a national cohort study in Scotland.

Objective: The QCovid 2 and 3 algorithms are risk prediction tools developed during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic that can be used to predict the risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation and mortality, taking vaccination status into account. In this study, we assess their performance in Scotland.

Methods: We used the Early Pandemic Evaluation and Enhanced Surveillance of COVID-19 national data platform consisting of individual-level data for the population of Scotland (5.

Understanding and reporting odds ratios as rate-ratio estimates in case-control studies.

Background: We noted that there remains some confusion in the health-science literature on reporting sample odds ratios as estimated rate ratios in case-control studies.

Methods: We recap historical literature that definitively answered the question of when sample odds ratios (ORs) from a case-control study are consistent estimators for population rate ratios. We use numerical examples to illustrate the magnitude of the disparity between sample ORs in a case-control study and population rate ratios when sufficient conditions for them to be equal are not satisfied.

Food Deserts Increase Readmission After Esophagectomy for Cancer: A Multi-institutional Study.

Background: Food deserts are low-income census tracts with poor access to supermarkets and are associated with worse outcomes in breast, colon, and a small number of esophageal cancer patients. This study investigated residency in food deserts on readmission rates in a multi-institutional cohort of esophageal cancer patients undergoing trimodality therapy.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients who underwent trimodality therapy at 6 high-volume institutions from January 2015 to July 2019 was performed.

Reducing Unnecessary Type and Screens Prior to Thoracic Surgery: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Introduction: Previous work identified that routine preoperative type and screen (T&S) testing before elective thoracic surgery is overutilized. We hypothesized that instituting a quality improvement (QI) initiative to change practice would significantly reduce this unnecessary testing, reduce costs, and improve healthcare efficiency.

Materials And Methods: A QI initiative was developed at a single, academic center to reduce empiric T&S ordering before elective anatomic lung resections.

BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination uptake, safety, effectiveness and waning in children and young people aged 12-17 years in Scotland.

Background: The two-dose BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine has demonstrated high efficacy against COVID-19 disease in clinical trials of children and young people (CYP). Consequently, we investigated the uptake, safety, effectiveness and waning of the protective effect of the BNT162b2 against symptomatic COVID-19 in CYP aged 12-17 years in Scotland.

Methods: The analysis of the vaccine uptake was based on information from the Turas Vaccination Management Tool, inclusive of Mar 1, 2022.

An investigation into the effects and effectiveness of correlation network filtration methods with financial returns.

When studying financial markets, we often look at estimating a correlation matrix from asset returns. These tend to be noisy, with many more dimensions than samples, so often the resulting correlation matrix is filtered. Popular methods to do this include the minimum spanning tree, planar maximally filtered graph and the triangulated maximally filtered graph, which involve using the correlation network as the adjacency matrix of a graph and then using tools from graph theory.

Vaccine effectiveness of two-dose BNT162b2 against symptomatic and severe COVID-19 among adolescents in Brazil and Scotland over time: a test-negative case-control study.

Background: Little is known about vaccine effectiveness over time among adolescents, especially against the SARS-CoV-2 omicron (B.1.1.

Residing in a food desert is associated with an increased risk of readmission following esophagectomy for cancer.

Background: Nutritional status is related to treatment outcomes for esophageal cancer. Residing in a food desert (FD) has been associated with worse outcomes in breast and colon cancer. We assessed the association of residing in a FD on 30-day outcomes of esophageal cancer patients who received tri-modality therapy.

Lung Cancer Screening in a Surgical Lung Cancer Population: Analysis of a Rural, Quaternary, Academic Experience.

Background: Rural populations face many health disadvantages including higher rates of tobacco use and lung cancer than more populated areas. Given this, we specifically sought to understand the current screening landscape in a cohort of patients with resected lung cancer to help direct improvements in the screening process.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our prospective database at a rural, quaternary, academic institution from January 2015 to June 2018.

Rural barriers to early lung cancer detection: Exploring access to lung cancer screening programs in New Hampshire and Vermont.

Background: Rural populations face many health disadvantages compared to urban areas. There is a critical need to better understand the current lung cancer screening landscape in these communities to identify targeted areas to improve the impact of this proven tool.

Methods: Data from the County Health Rankings of New Hampshire and Vermont was reviewed for population density, distribution of adult smokers, and level of education compared to the distribution of Lung Cancer Screening Facilities throughout these two states.

Reducing Unnecessary Chest X-Ray Films After Thoracic Surgery: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Background: Previous work has identified that inpatient post-thoracic surgery chest x-ray films (CXR) are overutilized.

Methods: A three-phase rapid cycle quality improvement initiative was performed to reduce empiric post-thoracic surgery CXR use by 25% over 1 year. We adapted evidence-based guidelines and implemented "plan-do-study-act" (PDSA) cycle methodology.

Postoperative atrial fibrillation prophylaxis using a novel amiodarone order set.

Background: Studies have demonstrated that chemoprophylaxis following anatomic lung resection can reduce post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF). However, it is unclear if non-anatomic wedge resection warrants prophylaxis, as previously published rates vary widely. The primary goal of this study was to assess an institutional rate of POAF following anatomic resections with implementation of a novel amiodarone administration regimen compared to wedge resections without prophylaxis.

Preoperative Type and Screen is Unnecessary in Elective Anatomic Lung Resection and Esophagectomy.

Background: Preoperative type and screen (TS) is routinely performed before elective thoracic surgery. We sought to evaluate the utility of this practice by examining our institutional data related to intraoperative and postoperative transfusions for two common, complex procedures.

Materials And Methods: A single-center, retrospective review of a prospective thoracic surgery database was performed.

Long-Term Outcomes of a Preoperative Lung Resection Smoking Cessation Program.

Background: Smoking cessation programs for patients with cancer suggest 6-mo quit rates between 22% and 40%, and 1-y rates of 33%. We sought to investigate the long-term outcomes of an intensive, preoperative smoking cessation program in patients undergoing lung resection.

Material And Methods: A retrospective analysis of an IRB-approved, prospective database was performed.

Routine Chest X-Rays After Thoracic Surgery Are Unnecessary.

Background: Routine chest x-rays (CXRs) ordered on thoracic surgery inpatients are common, costly, and of unclear clinical utility. We sought to investigate CXR ordering practices and their impact on clinical care.

Materials And Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted after undergoing thoracic surgery with an intraoperative chest tube (CT) placed was performed over a 1-y period.

Outcomes of an Intensive, Preoperative Smoking Cessation Program.

The outcomes of an intensive, preoperative smoking cessation program in patients undergoing lung resection were evaluated. Of 340 patients undergoing resection, 82 were currently smoking. Sixty-one were involved in our smoking cessation program, and 45 patients (73.

National practice trends for the surgical management of lung cancer in the CMS population: an atlas of care.

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been established as a safe and effective alternative to an open approach for the treatment of early-stage lung cancer. Despite this, differences in utilization across the nation are present. The aims of this study were to: (I) characterize trends in the use of open surgery and VATS for the management of lung cancer across the United States, and (II) describe if particular regions of the country utilize minimally invasive surgery more frequently.