Rare but elevated incidence of hematological malignancy after clozapine use in schizophrenia: A population cohort study.

Background: Clozapine is widely regarded as a highly efficacious psychotropic drug that is largely underused worldwide. Recent disproportionality analyses and nationwide case-control studies suggested a potential association between clozapine use and hematological malignancy (HM). Nevertheless, the absolute rate difference is not well-established due to the absence of analytic cohort studies.

Longer Multimorbidity Intervals Are Associated With Lower Mortality in Diabetes: A Whole-Population Nested Case-Control Study.

Background: Approximately two-thirds of diabetes patients develop multimorbidity, which is associated with increased mortality. We aimed to examine whether, and to what extent, the time interval between pre-existing diabetes and a second chronic disease may be associated with the risk of mortality.

Methods: We carried out a territory-wide nested case-control study using incidence density sampling, utilizing electronic health records from Hong Kong's public healthcare facilities.

Injection Techniques to Reduce Adverse Effects of Subcutaneous Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin Among Patients With Cardiovascular Diseases: A Scoping Review.

Aim(s): To systematically review the existing literature and address the following research question: What are the most effective techniques used to minimise adverse effects resulting from subcutaneous injections of low-molecular-weight heparin among patients with cardiovascular diseases?

Design: A scoping review.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, including CINAHL, PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library, from 1 February 2014 to 31 January 2024. Participants were aged 18 years or older, diagnosed with venous thromboembolism or arterial thromboembolism and had prescribed subcutaneous injections of low-molecular-weight heparin.

Effectiveness of post-COVID-19 primary care attendance in improving survival in very old patients with multimorbidity: a territory-wide target trial emulation.

Objectives: Older individuals with multimorbidity are at an elevated risk of infection and complications from COVID-19. Effectiveness of post-COVID-19 interventions or care models in reducing subsequent adverse outcomes in these individuals have rarely been examined. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of attending general outpatient within 30 days after discharge from COVID-19 on 1-year survival among older adults aged 85 years or above with multimorbidity.

Association between cumulative exposure periods of flupentixol or any antipsychotics and risk of lung cancer.

Background: Preclinical evidence suggests that certain antipsychotic medications may inhibit the development of lung cancer. This study aims to investigate the association between incident lung cancer and different cumulative exposure periods of flupentixol or any antipsychotics.

Methods: Using electronic health records from the Hospital Authority in Hong Kong, this nested case-control study included case participants aged 18 years or older with newly diagnosed lung cancer after initiating antipsychotics between January 1, 2003, and August 31, 2022.

Breast cancer risks following antipsychotic use in women with bipolar disorder versus schizophrenia: A territory-wide nested case-control study spanning two decades.

Accrued epidemiologic data largely support an association of antipsychotic use with breast cancer in women with schizophrenia. No studies have specifically investigated such risks in women with bipolar disorder. This study aims to examine the association between antipsychotics and breast cancer in women with bipolar disorder and compare it against schizophrenia.

A global scale COVID-19 variants time-series analysis across 48 countries.

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is slowing down, and countries are discussing whether preventive measures have remained effective or not. This study aimed to investigate a particular property of the trend of COVID-19 that existed and if its variants of concern were cointegrated, determining its possible transformation into an endemic.

Methods: Biweekly expected new cases by variants of COVID-19 for 48 countries from 02 May 2020 to 29 August 2022 were acquired from the GISAID database.

Barriers and Determinants to the Underutilized Hypertension Screening in Primary Care Patients in Hong Kong: A Mixed-Method Study.

(1) Background: Hypertension (HT) is the most common chronic condition, affecting approximately 1.13 billion people worldwide. Despite freely available blood pressure (BP) devices in primary care (PC) clinics, many patients do not regularly screen for HT and are untreated.

Association of antipsychotic use with breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies with over 2 million individuals.

Aims: Despite reports of an elevated risk of breast cancer associated with antipsychotic use in women, existing evidence remains inconclusive. We aimed to examine existing observational data in the literature and determine this hypothesised association.

Methods: We searched Embase, PubMed and Web of Science™ databases on 27 January 2022 for articles reporting relevant cohort or case-control studies published since inception, supplemented with hand searches of the reference lists of the included articles.