scholarly journals 761Characterisation and clustering of diseases by their association with well-known risk factors

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Webster ◽  
Kezia Gaitskell ◽  
Iain Turnbull ◽  
Ben Cairns ◽  
Robert Clarke

Abstract Background Data-driven classifications are improving statistical power, refining prognoses, and improving our understanding of autoimmune, respiratory, infectious, and neurological diseases. Classifications have used molecular information, age of incidence, and sequences of disease onset (“disease trajectories”). Here we consider whether associations with easily-measured established risk factors such as height and BMI can usefully characterise disease. Methods UK Biobank data and their linked hospital episode statistics were used to study 172 common age-related diseases. A proportional hazards model was used to estimate associations with potential risk-factors and to adjust for well-known confounders. Diseases were compared and hierarchically clustered using novel but rigorous multivariate statistical methods. Results For diseases affecting both sexes, over 38% can be uniquely identified by their associations with risk factors. Equivalent diseases often clustered adjacently. After an FDR multiple-testing adjustment, roughly 5% have statistically significant differences. Similar remarks applied to several symptoms of unknown cause. Many clustered diseases are associated with a shared, known pathogenesis, others suggest likely but unconfirmed causes. Conclusions Risk factors for disease can be surprisingly precise and can be used to cluster diseases in a meaningful way. Risk factors for men and women may differ for some diseases. Several symptoms of unknown cause have disease-specific, statistically significant risk factors. Key messages Big datasets and modern statistics are providing new insights into the relationships between diseases and their associations with risk-factors. Diseases can be identified and clustered by their associations with well-known risk factors.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.J. Webster ◽  
K. Gaitskell ◽  
I. Turnbull ◽  
B.J. Cairns ◽  
R. Clarke

Data-driven classifications are improving statistical power and refining prognoses for a range of respiratory, infectious, autoimmune, and neurological diseases. Studies have used molecular information, age of disease incidence, and sequences of disease onset (“disease trajectories”). Here we consider whether easily measured risk factors such as height and BMI can usefully characterise diseases in UK Biobank data, combining established statistical methods in new but rigorous ways to provide clinically relevant comparisons and clusters of disease. Over 400 common diseases were selected for study on the basis of clinical and epidemiological criteria, and a conventional proportional hazards model was used to estimate associations with 12 established risk factors. Comparing men and women, several diseases had strongly sex-dependent associations of disease risk with BMI. Despite this, a large proportion of diseases affecting both sexes could be identified by their risk factors, and equivalent diseases tended to cluster adjacently. This included 10 diseases presently classified as “Symptoms, signs, and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified”. Many clusters are associated with a shared, known pathogenesis, others suggest likely but presently unconfirmed causes. The specificity of associations and shared pathogenesis of many clustered diseases, provide a new perspective on the interactions between biological pathways, risk factors, and patterns of disease such as multimorbidity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Webster ◽  
K. Gaitskell ◽  
I. Turnbull ◽  
B. J. Cairns ◽  
R. Clarke

AbstractThe importance of quantifying the distribution and determinants of multimorbidity has prompted novel data-driven classifications of disease. Applications have included improved statistical power and refined prognoses for a range of respiratory, infectious, autoimmune, and neurological diseases, with studies using molecular information, age of disease incidence, and sequences of disease onset (“disease trajectories”) to classify disease clusters. Here we consider whether easily measured risk factors such as height and BMI can effectively characterise diseases in UK Biobank data, combining established statistical methods in new but rigorous ways to provide clinically relevant comparisons and clusters of disease. Over 400 common diseases were selected for analysis using clinical and epidemiological criteria, and conventional proportional hazards models were used to estimate associations with 12 established risk factors. Several diseases had strongly sex-dependent associations of disease risk with BMI. Importantly, a large proportion of diseases affecting both sexes could be identified by their risk factors, and equivalent diseases tended to cluster adjacently. These included 10 diseases presently classified as “Symptoms, signs, and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified”. Many clusters are associated with a shared, known pathogenesis, others suggest likely but presently unconfirmed causes. The specificity of associations and shared pathogenesis of many clustered diseases provide a new perspective on the interactions between biological pathways, risk factors, and patterns of disease such as multimorbidity.


Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Jatapat Hemapanpairoa ◽  
Dhitiwat Changpradub ◽  
Sudaluck Thunyaharn ◽  
Wichai Santimaleeworagun

The prevalence of enterococcal infection, especially E. faecium, is increasing, and the issue of the impact of vancomycin resistance on clinical outcomes is controversial. This study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of infection caused by E. faecium and determine the risk factors associated with mortality. This retrospective study was performed at the Phramongkutklao Hospital during the period from 2014 to 2018. One hundred and forty-five patients with E. faecium infections were enrolled. The 30-day and 90-day mortality rates of patients infected with vancomycin resistant (VR)-E. faecium vs. vancomycin susceptible (VS)-E. faecium were 57.7% vs. 38.7% and 69.2% vs. 47.1%, respectively. The median length of hospitalization was significantly longer in patients with VR-E. faecium infection. In logistic regression analysis, VR-E. faecium, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores, and bone and joint infections were significant risk factors associated with both 30-day and 90-day mortality. Moreover, Cox proportional hazards model showed that VR-E. faecium infection (HR 1.91; 95%CI 1.09–3.37), SOFA scores of 6–9 points (HR 2.69; 95%CI 1.15–6.29), SOFA scores ≥ 10 points (HR 3.71; 95%CI 1.70–8.13), and bone and joint infections (HR 0.08; 95%CI 0.01–0.62) were significant risk factors for mortality. In conclusion, the present study confirmed the impact of VR-E. faecium infection on mortality and hospitalization duration. Thus, the appropriate antibiotic regimen for VR-E. faecium infection, especially for severely ill patients, is an effective strategy for improving treatment outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuejin Gao ◽  
Li Zhang ◽  
Siwen Wang ◽  
Yaqin Xiao ◽  
Deshuai Song ◽  
...  

Background: Patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) are at a high risk of cholestasis or cholelithiasis. This study aimed to determine the incidence, risk factors, and clinical consequences of cholelithiasis in adults with SBS over an extended period.Methods: All eligible adults diagnosed with SBS and admitted to a tertiary hospital center between January 2010 and December 2019 were retrospectively identified from the hospital records database. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to estimate the cumulative incidence of SBS during the 10-year period. For assessment the risk factors for cholelithiasis, we used multivariate Cox proportional hazards model with estimation of hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95 %CI).Results: This study enrolled 345 eligible patients with SBS. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that 72 patients (20.9%) developed cholelithiasis during the 10-year observation period. In multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazard model revealed that the remnant jejunum (HR = 2.163; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.156–4.047, p = 0.016) and parenteral nutrition dependence (HR = 1.783; 95% CI: 1.077–2.952, p = 0.025) were independent risk factors for cholelithiasis in adults with SBS. Twenty-eight patients developed symptoms and/or complications in the cholelithiasis group. Proportions of acute cholecystitis or cholangitis and acute pancreatitis were significantly increased in the cholelithiasis group compared with the non-cholelithiasis group (31.9 vs. 7.7%, p < 0.01; and 6.9 vs. 1.1%, p = 0.003, respectively).Conclusion: Because of the adverse clinical consequences of cholelithiasis, adult patients with SBS should be closely monitored, and preventive interventions should be considered.Clinical Trial Registration:www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04867538.


Author(s):  
Erwin Chiquete ◽  
Jesus Alegre-Díaz ◽  
Ana Ochoa-Guzmán ◽  
Liz Nicole Toapanta-Yanchapaxi ◽  
Carlos González-Carballo ◽  
...  

IntroductionPatients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may develop coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Risk factors associated with death vary among countries with different ethnic backgrounds. We aimed to describe the factors associated with death in Mexicans with confirmed COVID-19.Material and methodsWe analysed the Mexican Ministry of Health’s official database on people tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection by real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (rtRT-PCR) of nasopharyngeal fluids. Bivariate analyses were performed to select characteristics potentially associated with death, to integrate a Cox-proportional hazards model.ResultsAs of May 18, 2020, a total of 177,133 persons (90,586 men and 86,551 women) in Mexico received rtRT-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2. There were 5332 deaths among the 51,633 rtRT-PCR-confirmed cases (10.33%, 95% CI: 10.07–10.59%). The median time (interquartile range, IQR) from symptoms onset to death was nine days (5–13 days), and from hospital admission to death 4 days (2–8 days). The analysis by age groups revealed that the significant risk of death started gradually at the age of 40 years. Independent death risk factors were obesity, hypertension, male sex, indigenous ethnicity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, immunosuppression, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, age > 40 years, and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Only 1959 (3.8%) cases received IVM, of whom 1893 were admitted to the intensive care unit (96.6% of those who received IMV).ConclusionsIn Mexico, highly prevalent chronic diseases are risk factors for death among persons with COVID-19. Indigenous ethnicity is a poorly studied factor that needs more investigation.


1999 ◽  
Vol 175 (6) ◽  
pp. 576-580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Munro ◽  
Desmond O'Sullivan ◽  
Christopher Andrews ◽  
Alejandro Arana ◽  
Ann Mortimer ◽  
...  

BackgroundPeople prescribed clozapine for treatment-resistant schizophrenia have mandatory haematological monitoring through a case register for identifying reversible neutropenia.AimsTo quantify risk factors for agranulocytosis in subjects receiving clozapine.MethodData from 12 760 subjects registered to receive clozapine from January 1990 to April 1997 were analysed. Risk factors for agranulocytosis were quantified using a Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis.ResultsThe risk for agranulocytosis in Asian subjects was 2.4 times that in Caucasians (P=0.03). There was an age-related increase in risk of 53% per decade (P=0.0001).ConclusionsThe case register yielded valuable information for guiding research into the causes of the haematological reactions.


Stroke ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hope E Buell ◽  
Patricia Metcalf ◽  
Daniel Exeter

This analysis aims to assess the impact of urban and rural risk factors on a model of stroke incidence in a New Zealand workforce population. The New Zealand study consisted of 4,926 subjects prospectively enrolled at 46 worksites. The subjects were aged 40-78 years at baseline and had no prior history of stroke. This prospective study defines stroke events experienced by the study subjects during follow-up between 1988 and 2012 based on hospital admission coding. Proportional hazards regression models were fit using baseline characteristics. The difference in stroke outcomes for urban and rural worksites was also evaluated. Results demonstrate that baseline demographic, physical exam, and behavioural measures impact stroke outcomes. While the baseline distribution of stroke risk factors such as Pacific Island ethnicity, smoking status, and increased blood pressure indicates a potentially higher risk of stroke in the rural population, the proportional hazards model does not identify increased stroke risk for rural workers. Additional analysis of the diet, exercise and Quality of Life measures for these subjects may provide further information into the stroke risk profiles of individuals working in different locales.


2019 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung Uk Baek ◽  
Ahnul Ha ◽  
Dai Woo Kim ◽  
Jin Wook Jeoung ◽  
Ki Ho Park ◽  
...  

Background/AimsTo investigate the risk factors for disease progression of normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) with pretreatment intraocular pressure (IOP) in the low-teens.MethodsOne-hundred and two (102) eyes of 102 patients with NTG with pretreatment IOP≤12 mm Hg who had been followed up for more than 60 months were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were divided into progressor and non-progressor groups according to visual field (VF) progression as correlated with change of optic disc or retinal nerve fibre layer defect. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics including diurnal IOP and 24 hours blood pressure (BP) were compared between the two groups. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify the risk factors for disease progression.ResultsThirty-six patients (35.3%) were classified as progressors and 66 (64.7%) as non-progressors. Between the two groups, no significant differences were found in the follow-up periods (8.7±3.4 vs 7.7±3.2 years; p=0.138), baseline VF mean deviation (−4.50±5.65 vs −3.56±4.30 dB; p=0.348) or pretreatment IOP (11.34±1.21 vs 11.17±1.06 mm Hg; p=0.121). The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model indicated that greater diurnal IOP at baseline (HR=1.609; p=0.004), greater fluctuation of diastolic BP (DBP; HR=1.058; p=0.002) and presence of optic disc haemorrhage during follow-up (DH; HR=3.664; p=0.001) were risk factors for glaucoma progression.ConclusionIn the low-teens NTG eyes, 35.3% showed glaucoma progression during the average 8.7 years of follow-up. Fluctuation of DBP and diurnal IOP as well as DH were significantly associated with greater probability of disease progression.


2019 ◽  
Vol 53 (10) ◽  
pp. 1020-1025
Author(s):  
Margaret R. Jorgenson ◽  
Jillian L. Descourouez ◽  
Dou-Yan Yang ◽  
Glen E. Leverson ◽  
Christopher M. Saddler ◽  
...  

Background: Modifiable risk-factors associated with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in renal-transplant (RTX) have not been clearly established and peri-transplant risk has not been described. Objective: Evaluate epidemiology, risk-factors and outcomes after CDI occurring in the first 90 days after RTX (CDI-90).Methods: Observational cohort study/survival analysis of adult RTX recipients from 1/1/2012-12/31/2015. Primary outcome was CDI-90 incidence/risk-factors. Secondary outcome was evaluation of post-90 day transplant outcomes. Results: 982 patients met inclusion criteria; 46 with CDI-90 and 936 without (comparator). CDI incidence in the total population was 4.7% at 90 days, 6.3% at 1 year, and 6.4% at 3 years. Incidence of CDI-90 was 5%; time to diagnosis was 19.4±25 days (median 7). Risk-factors for CDI-90 were alemtuzumab induction (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.5, 95% CI(1.1-2.0), p = 0.005) and age at transplant (HR 1.007/year, 95% CI (1.002-1.012), p= 0.007). However, risk-factors for CDI at any time were different; donation-after-circulatory-death (DCD) donor (HR 2.5 95% CI (1.3-4.9), p = 0.008) and female gender (HR 1.6 95% CI (1.0-2.7), p = 0.049). On Kaplan-Meier, CDI-90 appeared to have an impact on patient/graft survival, however when analyzed in a multivariable stepwise Cox proportional hazards model, only age was significantly associated with survival ( p = 0.002). Conclusion and Relevance: Incidence of CDI-90 is low, mostly occurring in the first post-operative month. Risk-factors vary temporally based on time from transplant. In the early post-op period induction agent and age at transplant are significant, but not after. Associations between CDI and negative graft outcomes appear to be largely driven by age. Future studies validating these risk-factors as well as targeted prophylaxis strategies and their effect on long term graft outcomes and the host microbiome are needed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 1159-1166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aiko Saku ◽  
Shunsuke Furuta ◽  
Masaki Hiraguri ◽  
Kei Ikeda ◽  
Yoshihisa Kobayashi ◽  
...  

Objective.Patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) frequently experience relapses, which lead to cumulative organ damage. In this retrospective observational study, we aimed to reveal the risk factors for relapse in EGPA.Methods.A total of 188 Japanese patients with EGPA diagnosed between 1996 and 2015 were identified from medical records in 10 hospitals. The diagnosis was based on the American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria or Lanham’s criteria. Baseline characteristics, treatments, asthma exacerbation, and relapses were evaluated by retrospective chart review.Results.The median followup period was 56 months. The median age at disease onset was 59.7 years. At the disease onset, 95.2% of the patients had a history of bronchial asthma and 44.7% were positive for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. The cumulative survival and relapse-free survival rates at 5 years were 89.6% and 64.0%, respectively. Multivariate analysis with 2 models, proportional hazards, and competing risk models, was performed to identify the factors associated with relapse. The proportional hazards model identified azathioprine (AZA) maintenance therapy and high eosinophil counts at onset as independent factors with lower relapse risks, and high immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels at onset as a risk factor for relapse. The competing risk model identified no statistically significant factors.Conclusion.Although potential benefit of AZA maintenance therapy in preventing relapse of EGPA was suggested by the proportional hazards model, there was a discrepancy in the results between the models. Eosinophil counts and IgE levels at onset were also identified as candidates of factors associated with relapse in EGPA.


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