Diabetic retinopathy as a potential risk factor for ptosis: A 13-year nationwide population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

Purpose: To determine the risk of ptosis among diabetic retinopathy (DR) patients.

Methods: This is a population-based, retrospective, matched-cohort study where DR patients were recruited from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to investigate the risk of developing ptosis. Preexisting co-factors of interest included smoking status and medical comorbidities of hyperlipidemia and hypertension.

Incidence of Hip Fractures among Patients with Chronic Otitis Media: The Real-World Data.

Chronic otitis media (COM) has been considered as a localized disease, and its systemic impact is poorly understood. Whether COM-induced inflammation could be associated with systemic bone loss and hip fracture is unknown at present. Our study tried to determine the risk of hip fracture among COM patients.

Higher risk of type 2 diabetes in young women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A 10-year retrospective cohort study.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder in women of reproductive age. Over the last few decades, research studies have revealed that PCOS is strongly associated with metabolic disorders, including metabolic syndrome, obesity, insulin resistance and prediabetes. Clinical observation has shown that women with PCOS are expected to have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in the future.

Asthma Therapies on Pulmonary Tuberculosis Pneumonia in Predominant Bronchiectasis-Asthma Combination.

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish between asthma and bronchiectasis as their symptoms overlap, and these two diseases are associated with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) or pneumonia. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of bronchodilator drugs, steroids, antidepressants drugs, and antianxiety drugs on the risks of PTB or pneumonia in patients with bronchiectasis-asthma combination or bronchiectasis-asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease combination-BCAS cohort. After propensity score matching, we retrospectively studied patients with BCAS ( = 620) and without BCAS ( = 2,314) through an analysis.

High-Intensity Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Is Associated with Lower Risk of Pressure Ulcer Development in Patients with Stroke: Real-World Evidence from a Nationwide, Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background and Objectives: Multiple factors are associated with pressure ulcer (PU) development, including limited mobility following stroke. We performed a nationwide cohort study to investigate the impact of rehabilitation intensity on the incidence of post-stroke PU. Materials and Methods: Data of patients diagnosed with stroke between 2000 and 2012 were collected from the 2000 Longitudinal Health Insurance Database (Taiwan).

Relationships Between Bronchodilators, Steroids, Antiarrhythmic Drugs, Antidepressants, and Benzodiazepines and Heart Disease and Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Predominant Bronchiectasis and Asthma.

Objective: We investigated the effects of medication on heart disease and ischemic stroke (HDS) risk in patients with predominant bronchiectasis-asthma combination (BCAS).

Methods: BCAS and non-BCAS cohorts ( = 588 and 1,118, respectively) were retrospectively enrolled. The cumulative incidence of HDS was analyzed using Cox proportional regression; propensity scores were estimated using non-parsimonious multivariable logistic regression.

Quality assurance of integrative big data for medical research within a multihospital system.

Background: The need is growing to create medical big data based on the electronic health records collected from different hospitals. Errors for sure occur and how to correct them should be explored.

Methods: Electronic health records of 9,197,817 patients and 53,081,148 visits, totaling about 500 million records for 2006-2016, were transmitted from eight hospitals into an integrated database.

Thiazolidinedione Use in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Few studies have investigated the effects of various antidiabetic agents on individuals with both type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study compared mortality, cardiovascular events and respiratory outcomes in individuals with both T2DM and COPD taking TZD vs. those not taking TZD.

Endometriosis Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Coronary Artery Disease in Asian Women.

Endometriosis is a common systemic chronic inflammatory disease. Inflammation is the key mechanism responsible for the development of endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. We aimed to investigate the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) among Asian women with endometriosis.

Population-based retrospective cohort study on risk of age-related macular degeneration in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are both common diseases of the elderly people. COPD induced systemic inflammation and hypoxia may have an impact on the development of AMD. This study investigated the possible association between COPD and subsequent risk of AMD.

Increased Incidence of Dysmenorrhea in Women Exposed to Higher Concentrations of NO, NO, NO, CO, and PM: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Air pollution is speculated to affect the reproductive health of women. However, a longitudinal association between exposure to air pollution and dysmenorrhea has not been identified, which this study aimed to examine this point. Two nationwide databases, namely the Taiwan Air Quality Monitoring database and the Taiwan National Health Research Institutes database were linked.

Incidence of dementia after dengue fever: Results of a longitudinal population-based study.

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological relationship between dengue fever and the subsequent development of dementia.

Methods: Using nationwide Taiwan registries from the National Health Insurance Research (NHIRD), we identified adults aged over 40 years who received a dengue fever diagnosis from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2012 and who did not have a history of dementia. We used a propensity score match (PSM) to balance the baseline characteristics between groups.

Association Between Preeclampsia Risk and Fine Air Pollutants and Acidic Gases: A Cohort Analysis in Taiwan.

Fine air pollutant particles have been reported to be associated with risk of preeclampsia. The association between air pollutant exposure and preeclampsia risk in heavily air polluted Taiwan warrants investigation. We combined data from Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI) Research Database (NHIRD) and Taiwan Air Quality Monitoring Database.

Use of bladder antimuscarinics is associated with an increased risk of dementia: a retrospective population-based case-control study.

The association between bladder antimuscarinic use and dementia development is unclear. We used data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database to determine the association between the exposure dose and duration of bladder antimuscarinics and the subsequent dementia risk. We enrolled participants aged 55 years or more and defined a dementia cohort (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes 290, 294.

Association between hyperthyroidism and risk of incident in Parkinson's disease.

Hyperthyroidism contributes to many other disease conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases. Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk of PD in patients with hyperthyroidism.

Hysterectomies are associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis and bone fracture: A population-based cohort study.

Aim: This study investigated the risk of osteoporosis or bone fractures (vertebrae, hip and others) in hysterectomized women in Taiwan.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective population-based cohort study from 2000 to 2013. Women aged ≥30 years who underwent hysterectomy between 2000 and 2012 were included in this study.

Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Patients with Endometriosis: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Abnormalities in the immune system of endometriosis has been demonstrated and may reflect the chronic inflammatory response or the autoimmune reaction to the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease of an autoimmune nature. The study aimed to investigate the risk of incident RA in patients with endometriosis.

Association between Graves' disease and risk of incident systemic lupus erythematosus: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Objective: Previous case reports have linked Graves' disease to incident systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It has also been reported that antithyroid drugs used to treat Graves' disease can induce SLE development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk of SLE in patients with Graves' disease.

Association of laparoscopy and laparotomy with adverse fetal outcomes: a retrospective population-based case-control study.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate fetal adverse outcomes of laparoscopy and laparotomy in pregnant women to determine the safety of these surgical approaches.

Methods: This was a retrospective nationwide case-control study of women who became pregnant for the first time between 2000 and 2012 in Taiwan. The case (with adverse fetal outcomes) and control groups comprised 208,604 and 417,124 participants, respectively.

Risk of systemic lupus erythematosus in patients with endometriosis: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Purpose: The etiology of endometriosis is mostly under-explored, but abnormalities in the immune system leading to an autoimmune reaction have been suggested. The systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk of SLE in patients with endometriosis.

Aspirin associated with a decreased incidence of uterine cancer: A retrospective population-based cohort study.

Aspirin (ASA) exerts an anti-tumor effect via the COX pathway. Clinical studies on the chemopreventive effects of ASA on uterine cancer (UC) remain inconsistent. We used population-based retrospective cohort study to evaluate the UC in ASA users in Taiwanese women.

Acupuncture Decreased the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Patients with Osteoarthritis in Taiwan: A Nationwide Matched Cohort Study.

Patients with osteoarthritis (OA) are more likely to develop coronary heart disease (CHD) than the general population. Acupuncture is commonly used in OA patients; however, the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on the risk of CHD in patients with OA and the association between OA patients and their risk to develop CHD in Taiwan are unknown. We investigated the risk of CHD according to acupuncture use in OA patients and compared it with the general population.