Association between antidepressants and venous thromboembolism in Taiwan.

Objective: To investigate the association between venous thromboembolism (VTE) and antidepressant use in an Asian population.

Methods: The authors conducted a nested case-control study of 1888 patients with VTE and 11,222 matched controls enrolled in the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan from 2001 to 2009. The antidepressant exposure status and potential confounding factors were measured and included in the analyses.

Is high serum uric acid a risk marker or a target for treatment? Examination of its independent effect in a large cohort with low cardiovascular risk.

Background: Cohort studies evaluating increased uric acid level as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor have shown variable results; studies are particularly lacking in lower risk populations.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting & Participants: 484,568 adults participating in a medical screening program in Taiwan since 1994 were followed up for a median of 8.

Cancer risks from betel quid chewing beyond oral cancer: a multiple-site carcinogen when acting with smoking.

Objectives: This cohort study is to assess the extent of cancer risks of betel quid chewing (without tobacco added) beyond oral cancer, as such information was limited from case-control studies.

Methods: The cohort, selected from participants in a medical screening program since 1994, consisted of 177,271 adult men with 19.2% chewers of betel quid.

A 10-year experience with universal health insurance in Taiwan: measuring changes in health and health disparity.

Background: Universal national health insurance, financed jointly by payroll taxes, subsidies, and individual premiums, commenced in Taiwan in 1995. Coverage expanded from 57% of the population (before the introduction of national health insurance) to 98%.

Objective: To assess the role of national health insurance in improving life expectancy and reducing health disparities in Taiwan.

Bridging the gap in life expectancy of the aborigines in Taiwan.

Background: Similar to the general population in Taiwan, the health of aborigines has steadily improved over the last 30 years, but the gap remains wide, especially in males, despite an infusion of substantial medical resources. The objectives of this study are to quantify the contribution of major causes of death to the gap in life expectancy and to propose initiatives to bridge the health gap between aborigines and the general population.

Methods: This study included residents (slightly over 200000) from 30 'aboriginal townships' in Taiwan.