Exposure to incense burning, biomarkers, and the physical health of temple workers in Taiwan.

Incense burning releases heavy particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO), known to have adverse effects on human health. Long-term exposure to PM and NO increases inflammatory cytokine levels and can induce respiratory diseases. This study examined the association between incense burning exposure and the health status, especially inflammatory biomarkers, of temple workers and volunteers in Taiwan.

Growth mixture models: a case example of the longitudinal analysis of patient-reported outcomes data captured by a clinical registry.

Background: An assumption in many analyses of longitudinal patient-reported outcome (PRO) data is that there is a single population following a single health trajectory. One approach that may help researchers move beyond this traditional assumption, with its inherent limitations, is growth mixture modelling (GMM), which can identify and assess multiple unobserved trajectories of patients' health outcomes. We describe the process that was undertaken for a GMM analysis of longitudinal PRO data captured by a clinical registry for outpatients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Patient-reported outcomes and the identification of subgroups of atrial fibrillation patients: a retrospective cohort study of linked clinical registry and administrative data.

Purpose: Previous research about the health and quality of life of people with atrial fibrillation has typically identified a single health trajectory. Our study aimed to examine variability in health trajectories and patient characteristics associated with such variability.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data collected between 2008 and 2016 for a cardiac registry in British Columbia (Canada) linked with administrative health data.

Racism Is Not a Factor in Door-to-electrocardiogram Times of Patients With Symptoms of Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Prospective, Observational Study.

Background: Investigators have identified important racial identity/ethnicity-based differences in some aspects of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) care and outcomes (time to presentation, symptoms, receipt of coronary angiography/revascularization, repeat revascularization, mortality). Patient-based differences such as pathophysiology and treatment-seeking behavior account only partly for these outcome differences. We sought to investigate whether there are racial identity/ethnicity-based variations in the initial emergency department (ED) triage and care of patients with suspected ACS in Canadian hospitals.

A cross-sectional study of ethnicity-based differences in treatment seeking for symptoms of acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Patient-related delays in acquiring medical care for symptoms of acute coronary syndrome remain unacceptably long. Many clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with treatment-seeking delay are known; however, ethnicity has not been extensively evaluated.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine ethnicity-based differences in the time-to-treatment-seeking intervals of patients experiencing symptoms of acute coronary syndrome.