Risk Factors and Outcomes of Heart Failure Following First-Episode of Acute Myocardial Infarction-A Case Series Study of 161,384 Cases.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is one of the important complications of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but the epidemiology, associated risks and outcomes have not been well investigated in the era of broad use of fluoroscopy-guided angiographic intervention.

Methods: We analysed 161,384 subjects who had experienced the first episode of AMI during 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2012 using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.

Results: During the index AMI hospitalization, 23.

Effectiveness of a New 3D-Printed Dynamic Hand-Wrist Splint on Hand Motor Function and Spasticity in Chronic Stroke Patients.

Spasticity, a common stroke complication, can result in impairments and limitations in the performance of activities and participation. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of a new dynamic splint on wrist and finger flexor muscle spasticity in chronic stroke survivors, using a randomized controlled trial. Thirty chronic stroke survivors were recruited and randomly allocated to either an experimental or control group; 25 completed the 6-week intervention program.

Impact of Rehabilitation Intensity on 3-Year Mortality among Children with Moderate to Severe Cerebral Palsy: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Though numerous studies demonstrated the positive effect of rehabilitation on cerebral palsy (CP) children, there was no literature addressing the role of rehabilitation on mortality among children with CP. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the impact of rehabilitation intensity on mortality among children with moderate to severe CP. This retrospective cohort study was conducted by National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan.

Association Between Severity of Leptospirosis and Subsequent Major Autoimmune Diseases: A Nationwide Observational Cohort Study.

Introduction: Infections play a role in autoimmune diseases (AD). Leptospirosis has been linked to the trigger of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To investigate subsequent risk of major AD in hospitalized Taiwanese for Leptospirosis.

The Potential Role of Human Papillomavirus Infection in Bell's Palsy: A Hypothesis-Generating Study Based on a Nationwide Cohort.

Our purpose was to investigate whether people with a previous human papillomavirus (HPV) infection were associated with an increased risk of Bell's palsy (BP). By using Taiwan population-based data, patients aged > 18 years with HPV infection ( = 22,260) from 2000 to 2012 were enrolled and compared with control subjects who had never been diagnosed with an HPV infection at a 1:4 ratio matched by sex, age, index date, and co-morbidities ( = 89,040). The index date was the first date of HPV diagnosis.

Risk of non-typhoidal Salmonella infection in patients with cholecystectomy: Results from a nationwide matched cohort study in Taiwan.

Background: The current study was designed to investigate the association between cholecystectomy and the risk of non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) infection.

Methods: We obtained claims-based data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to perform a nationwide cohort study. A propensity score (PS)-matching analysis was performed with a ratio of 1:2 in the cholecystectomy cohort and cholecystectomy-free group to reduce selection bias.

The Effect of Group Music Therapy with Physical Activities to Prevent Frailty in Older People Living in the Community.

Background: The frail elderly are prone to falls and fractures, which can result in dependency, disability, admission to institutions, and even death. They are at increased risk of frailty due to decreased physical activity, cognitive decline, and depression. Some evidence suggests that music therapy with physical activities may be particularly beneficial.

Radiation Reduction and Protection for Radiosensitive Organs (Lens, Thyroid, and Genital Organs) of Patients Receiving Percutaneous Coronary Intervention-Real-World Measurement of Radiation Dose in a Single Center.

Backgrounds: Reducing radiation exposure is the basic principle for performing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Many studies have confirmed the effect of radiation protection for medical staff, but studies about the effectiveness of protection for patients and real measurement of radiation dose in patients' specific organs are lacking.

Aim: To measure the radiation doses absorbed by patients' radiosensitive organs during PCI and the effectiveness of radiation protection.

Multidisciplinary Care after Acute Care for Stroke: A Prospective Comparison between a Multidisciplinary Post-Acute Care Group and a Standard Group Matched by Propensity Score.

In this large-scale prospective cohort study, a propensity score matching method was applied in a natural experimental design to investigate how post-acute care (PAC) after stroke affects functional status and to identify predictors of functional status. The main objective of this study was to examine longitudinal changes in various measures of functional status in stroke patients and predictors of scores for these measures before and after PAC. A group of patients who had received PAC for stroke at one of two medical centers (PAC group, = 273) was compared with a group who had received standard care for stroke at one of four hospitals (three regional hospital and one district hospital; non-PAC group, = 273) in Taiwan from March, 2014, to October, 2018.

Endometriosis and New-Onset Coronary Artery Disease in Taiwan: A Nationwide Population-Based Study.

Endometriosis (EM) with chronic inflammation may accelerate the progression of atherosclerosis. Currently, no large or randomized clinical studies have assessed the incidence of cardiovascular events in patients with endometriosis in Asia to investigate whether incident EM is associated with a higher risk of new-onset coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study of a nationwide cohort in Taiwan, we identified 13,988 patients with newly diagnosed EM from 1 January, 2000, through 31 December, 2012.

Non-Typhoidal and the Risk of Kawasaki Disease: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between non-typhoidal (NTS) infection and the risk of Kawasaki disease (KD) by using a nationwide population-based data set in Taiwan.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we enrolled 69,116 patients under 18 years of age, with NTS from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2013, using the population-based National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. A comparison group without NTS was matched (at a 1:4 ratio) by propensity score.

Risk of subsequent atrial fibrillation in patients with myasthenia gravis: A population-based cohort study.

The purpose of this study was to explore the association between myasthenia gravis (MG) and the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in an Asian population. The risk was analyzed in a cohort of 5528 patients with history of MG and 5528 individuals without MG using a hospitalization claim dataset. Both groups were matched by age, sex, index year and baseline comorbidities as an original analysis.

Appendectomy and Non-Typhoidal Infection: A Population-Based Matched Cohort Study.

The potential association between appendectomy and non-typhoidal (NTS) infection has not been elucidated. We hypothesized that appendectomy may be associated with gut vulnerability to NTS. The data were retrospectively collected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database to describe the incidence rates of NTS infection requiring hospital admission among patients with and without an appendectomy.

Associations between Lifestyle Habits, Perceived Symptoms and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Patients Seeking Health Check-Ups.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common diseases. It mainly causes the stomach contents to flow back to the esophagus, thereby stimulating the esophagus and causing discomfort. From the results of our research, we intend to provide the general public with information related to preventing gastroesophageal reflux disease and medical personnel with information on the treatment and care of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Increased risk of glaucoma amongst new-onset gout patients aged 20-39 years: A nationwide population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

Objectives: To provide epidemiologic evidence of whether gout increases the risk of new-onset glaucoma.

Methods: We conducted a 13-year nationwide, population-based, retrospective cohort study to examine the association between the history of gout and risk of glaucoma by using the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database (LHID) of Taiwan. The gout cohort included 52 943 patients with newly diagnosed gout who were recruited between 2000 and 2012.

Obstructive sleep apnea and influenza infection: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Objectives: Influenza infection could trigger acute myocardial infarction. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases risk for myocardial infarction. Evidence evaluating the risk of influenza in patients with OSA is limited.

Human papillomavirus symptomatic infection associated with increased risk of new-onset alopecia areata: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

Background: We investigated the correlation between a history of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and alopecia areata risk.

Methods: The study cohort comprised 30,001 patients with newly diagnosed HPV infection between 2000 and 2012; and with use of computer-generated randomly numbers, patients not had HPV infection were randomly selected as the comparison cohort. HPV infection cohort were matched to comparison individuals at a 1:1 ratio by age, gender and index year.

Newly Diagnosed Leptospirosis and Subsequent Hemorrhagic Stroke: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background And Purpose: Preceding infection as an important risk factor for ischemic stroke has been reported but neglected for hemorrhagic stroke, especially in young and middle-aged patients. This study investigates whether newly diagnosed leptospirosis is associated with an increased risk of stroke.

Methods: We identified 3699 in-patients who were aged ≥18 years and newly diagnosed with leptospirosis.

Methotrexate at middle and high accumulative doses might be associated with lower risk of new-onset cancers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

Background: We investigated whether taking methotrexate (MTX) is associated with a lower risk of new-onset cancers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: We conducted a 12-year retrospective cohort study from a population-based National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. A total of 21,699 patients with newly diagnosed RA were enrolled during 2000-2009.

The association between bowel resection and the risk of nontyphoidal salmonella infection: a nationwide propensity score-matched cohort study.

Nontyphoidal salmonella (NTS) infection has a high mortality rate. Bowel resections affect gut microbiota and immune function, and the association between bowel resection and NTS infection in human beings has not been addressed. We conducted a nationwide propensity score (PS)-matched cohort study to clarify this association.

Flat foot and spinal degeneration: Evidence from nationwide population-based cohort study.

Background/purpose: Flat foot can alter the lower limb alignment and cause knee and back pain. To explore the association between flat foot and spinal degeneration.

Methods: By using a claims dataset containing 1 million random samples, individuals with flat foot were identified between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2013.

Tumor subsites and risk of osteoradionecrosis of the jaw in patients with oral cavity cancer: a national-based cohort study.

Purpose: The association between the tumor subsites of the oral cavity and the risk of osteoradionecrosis of the jaw (ORNJ) remains unclear. We study the correlation between oral cavity tumor subsites and the risk of ORNJ in a nationwide population-based database.

Methods: We enrolled 16,701 adult patients with oral cavity cancers who were treated with radiotherapy between 2000 and 2013.

Machine Learning Algorithms to Predict Recurrence within 10 Years after Breast Cancer Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study.

No studies have discussed machine learning algorithms to predict recurrence within 10 years after breast cancer surgery. This study purposed to compare the accuracy of forecasting models to predict recurrence within 10 years after breast cancer surgery and to identify significant predictors of recurrence. Registry data for breast cancer surgery patients were allocated to a training dataset ( = 798) for model development, a testing dataset ( = 171) for internal validation, and a validating dataset ( = 171) for external validation.