Genetic proxies for clinical traits are associated with increased risk of severe COVID-19.

Routine use of genetic data in healthcare is much-discussed, yet little is known about its performance in epidemiological models including traditional risk factors. Using severe COVID-19 as an exemplar, we explore the integration of polygenic risk scores (PRS) into disease models alongside sociodemographic and clinical variables. PRS were optimized for 23 clinical variables and related traits previously-associated with severe COVID-19 in up to 450,449 UK Biobank participants, and tested in 9,560 individuals diagnosed in the pre-vaccination era.

Temporal trends in age and stage-specific incidence of colorectal cancer in Saudi Arabia: A registry-based cohort study between 1997 and 2017.

Background: In Saudi Arabia, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cancer in men and the third in women, posing a significant health burden. A comprehensive report of CRC incidence rates and trends in Saudi Arabia is lacking. This study aims to examine trends in CRC incidence among the Saudi population.

Demographic and clinical characteristics associated with advanced stage colorectal cancer: a registry-based cohort study in Saudi Arabia.

Background: In Saudi Arabia, approximately one-third of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Late diagnosis is often associated with a worse prognosis. Understanding the risk factors for late-stage presentation of CRC is crucial for developing targeted interventions enabling earlier detection and improved patient outcomes.

Exploring gender differences in risk factors for self-harm in adolescents using data from the Millennium Cohort Study.

Background: Self-harm is common in young people and girls have consistently higher rates of self-harm than boys. Differences in exposure and reactions to risk and protective factors, adverse events and problematic interpersonal relationships, and levels of wellbeing could contribute to the gender difference. This study aims to explore gender differences in risk factors associated with self-harm, to provide the foundation for developing more gender-sensitive approaches to self-harm management.

Statistical methods for measuring trends in colorectal cancer incidence in registries: A systematic review.

Background: Monitoring cancer trends in a population is essential for tracking the disease's burden, allocating resources, and informing public health policies. This review describes variations in commonly employed methods to estimate colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence trends.

Methods: We performed a systematic literature search in four databases to identify population-based studies reporting CRC incidence trends, published between January 2010 and May 2020.

Correction: Incidence of Lyme disease in the United Kingdom and association with fatigue: A population-based, historical cohort study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

A systematic review of methods to estimate colorectal cancer incidence using population-based cancer registries.

Background: Epidemiological studies of incidence play an essential role in quantifying disease burden, resource planning, and informing public health policies. A variety of measures for estimating cancer incidence have been used. Appropriate reporting of incidence calculations is essential to enable clear interpretation.

Systemic Inflammation Is Associated With Future Risk of Fatal Infection: An Observational Cohort Study.

Background: Many diseases are associated with chronic inflammation, resulting in widening application of anti-inflammatory therapies. Although they are effective as disease-modifying agents, these anti-inflammatory therapies increase the risk of serious infection; however, it remains unknown whether chronic systemic inflammation per se is also associated with fatal infection.

Methods: Using serum C-reactive protein (CRP) data from 461 052 UK Biobank participants, we defined incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for death from infection, cardiovascular disease, or other causes and adjusted for comorbidities and the use of anti-inflammatory therapies.

The Effect of Endogenous Cushing Syndrome on All-cause and Cause-specific Mortality.

Objective: We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of all-cause and cause-specific mortality of patients with benign endogenous Cushing syndrome (CS).

Methods: The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42017067530). PubMed, EMBASE, CINHAL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central searches were undertaken from inception to January 2021.

Cardiovascular outcomes associated with treatment of type 2 diabetes in patients with ischaemic heart failure.

Aim: The optimal strategy for diabetes control in patients with heart failure (HF) following myocardial infarction (MI) remains unknown. Metformin, a guideline-recommended therapy for patients with chronic HF and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), is associated with reduced mortality and HF hospitalizations. However, worse outcomes have been reported when used at the time of MI.

Incidence of Lyme disease in the United Kingdom and association with fatigue: A population-based, historical cohort study.

Background: Estimations of Lyme disease incidence rates in the United Kingdom vary. There is evidence that this disease is associated with fatigue in its early stage but reports are contradictory as far as long-term fatigue is concerned.

Methods And Findings: A population-based historical cohort study was conducted on patients treated in general practices contributing to IQVIA Medical Research Data: 2,130 patients with a first diagnosis of Lyme disease between 2000 and 2018 and 8,510 randomly-sampled patients matched by age, sex, and general practice, followed-up for a median time of 3 years and 8 months.

Incidence, morbidity, mortality and disparities in dementia: A population linked electronic health records study of 4.3 million individuals.

Introduction: We report dementia incidence, comorbidities, reasons for health-care visits, mortality, causes of death, and examined dementia patterns by relative deprivation in the UK.

Method: A longitudinal cohort analysis of linked electronic health records from 4.3 million people in the UK was conducted to investigate dementia incidence and mortality.

Changes in ankylosing spondylitis incidence, prevalence and time to diagnosis over two decades.

Objectives: To assess changes in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) incidence, prevalence and time to diagnosis, between 1998 and 2017.

Methods: Using UK GP data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, we identified patients diagnosed with AS between 1998 and 2017. We estimated the annual AS incidence, prevalence and length of time from first recorded symptom of back pain to rheumatology referral and diagnosis.

Causes of Death in People With Cardiovascular Disease: A UK Biobank Cohort Study.

Background Therapeutic advances have reduced cardiovascular death rates in people with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We aimed to define the rates of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular death in people with specified CVDs or accruing cardiovascular multimorbidity. Methods and Results We studied 493 280 UK residents enrolled in the UK Biobank cohort study.

Non-communicable disease, sociodemographic factors, and risk of death from infection: a UK Biobank observational cohort study.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been highlighted as important risk factors for COVID-19 mortality. However, insufficient data exist on the wider context of infectious diseases in people with NCDs. We aimed to investigate the association between NCDs and the risk of death from any infection before the COVID-19 pandemic (up to Dec 31, 2019).

Both incidence and prevalence of ischaemic heart disease are declining in parallel: a national data-linkage study in New Zealand (ANZACS-QI 52).

Aims: To examine trends in ischaemic heart disease (IHD) incidence and prevalence in New Zealand from 2005 to 2016, using comprehensive linked national hospitalization and mortality data as proxy measures of all significant events.

Methods And Results: Incident and prevalent cases of IHD in people aged ≥25 years were identified using individual patient-linkage of routinely collected ICD-10-coded hospitalization and mortality data. Incidence rates and prevalence proportions were calculated by sex and age group and then age-standardized to the 2016 New Zealand population.

Changes in the pharmacological management of rheumatoid arthritis over two decades.

Objectives: To assess whether modern management of RA has reduced the prescription of oral corticosteroids and NSAIDs and to evaluate use of pharmacological prophylaxis strategies.

Methods: Using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, we explored long-term (≥3/12 months; ≥6/12 in sub-analyses) DMARD, corticosteroid and NSAID prescribing (annually, in the year post-diagnosis and across the patient's life course to 15 years post-diagnosis), annual proportion with co-prescribing for prophylaxis of associated bone (corticosteroids, women only) and gastrointestinal (NSAIDs) comorbidity.

Results: Reported incidence of RA was 5.

Dose-dependent oral glucocorticoid cardiovascular risks in people with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: A population-based cohort study.

Background: Glucocorticoids are widely used to reduce disease activity and inflammation in patients with a range of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. It is uncertain whether or not low to moderate glucocorticoid dose increases cardiovascular risk. We aimed to quantify glucocorticoid dose-dependent cardiovascular risk in people with 6 immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

Glucocorticoid dose-dependent risk of type 2 diabetes in six immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: a population-based cohort analysis.

Introduction: In immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, there is a lack of -estimates of glucocorticoid dose-response diabetes risk that consider changes in prescribed dose over time and disease activity.

Research Design And Methods: Population-based longitudinal analysis of electronic health records from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink, linked to hospital admissions and the mortality registry (1998-2017). We included 100 722 adult patients without diabetes history, diagnosed with giant cell arteritis or polymyalgia rheumatica (n=32 593), inflammatory bowel disease (n=29 272), rheumatoid arthritis (n=28 365), vasculitis (n=6082), or systemic lupus erythematosus (n=4410).

Oral glucocorticoids and incidence of hypertension in people with chronic inflammatory diseases: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Only a few population-based studies have examined the association between glucocorticoids and hypertension, with inconsistent results. We aimed to investigate the effect of oral glucocorticoids on incidence of hypertension in adults with chronic inflammatory diseases.

Methods: We analyzed electronic health records from 389 practices in England during 1998-2017 of adults diagnosed with any of 6 chronic inflammatory diseases but with no previous diagnosis of hypertension.

Feasibility and Face Validity of Outcome Measures for Use in Future Studies of Polymyalgia Rheumatica: An OMERACT Study.

Objective: To survey participants with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) to evaluate the face validity, acceptability, and domain match of proposed candidate outcome measures.

Methods: A structured, online, anonymous survey was disseminated by patient support groups through their networks and online forums. The candidate outcome measures comprised (1) visual analog scale (VAS) and numerical rating score (NRS) to assess pain; (2) VAS, NRS, and duration to assess stiffness; (3) the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire and Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index to assess physical function; and (4) C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate to assess inflammation.

Metformin use and cardiovascular outcomes after acute myocardial infarction in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cohort study.

Background: The use of metformin after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been associated with reduced mortality in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, it is not known if it is acutely cardioprotective in patients taking metformin at the time of AMI. We compared patient outcomes according to metformin status at the time of admission for fatal and non-fatal AMI in a large cohort of patients in England.