scholarly journals Effect of an increased dosage of statins on spinal degenerative joint disease: a retrospective cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e017442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan-Yang Cheng ◽  
Chung-Lan Kao ◽  
Shih-Yi Lin ◽  
Shin-Tsu Chang ◽  
Tz-Shiang Wei ◽  
...  

ObjectivesIt has been proven that statin can protect synovial joints from developing osteoarthritis through its anti-inflammatory effects. However, studies on the effect of statins on spinal degenerative joint diseases are few and limited to in vitro studies. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between the statin dosage and the development of spinal degenerative joint diseases.DesignA retrospective cohort study.SettingPatients registered in Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.ParticipantsPatients aged 40–65 years old from 2001 to 2010 were included. Those who received statin treatment before 2001, were diagnosed with spinal degenerative joint diseases or received any spinal surgery before 2004 or had any spinal trauma before 2011 were excluded. A total of 7238 statin users and 164 454 non-users were identified and followed up for the next 7 years to trace the development of spinal degenerative joint disease.Outcome measuresThe incident rate of spinal degenerative joint diseases and HRs among the groups treated with different statin dosages.ResultsA higher dosage of statins was associated with a significantly lower risk of developing spinal degenerative joint disease in patients with hypercholesterolaemia. Compared with the group receiving less than 5400 mg of a statin, the HR of the 11 900–28 000 mg group was 0.83 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.99), and that of the group receiving more than 28 000 mg was 0.81 (95% CI 0.68 to 0.97). Results of subgroup analysis showed a significantly lower risk in men, those aged 50–59 years and those with a monthly income less than US$600.ConclusionsOur study’s findings clearly indicated that a higher dosage of statins can reduce the incidence of spinal degenerative joint disease in patients with hypercholesterolaemia, and it can be beneficial for people with a higher risk of spine degeneration.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karoline Freeman ◽  
Ronan Ryan ◽  
Nicholas Parsons ◽  
Sian Taylor-Phillips ◽  
Brian H. Willis ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Our knowledge of the incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is uncertain. Recent studies reported an increase in prevalence. However, they excluded a high proportion of ambiguous cases from general practice. Estimates are needed to inform health care providers who plan the provision of services for IBD patients. We aimed to estimate the IBD incidence and prevalence in UK general practice. Methods We undertook a retrospective cohort study of routine electronic health records from the IQVIA Medical Research Database covering 14 million patients. Adult patients from 2006 to 2016 were included. IBD was defined as an IBD related Read code or record of IBD specific medication. Annual incidence and 12-month period prevalence were calculated. Results The prevalence of IBD increased between 2006 and 2016 from 106.2 (95% CI 105.2–107.3) to 142.1 (95% CI 140.7–143.5) IBD cases per 10,000 patients which is a 33.8% increase. Incidence varied across the years. The incidence across the full study period was 69.5 (95% CI 68.6–70.4) per 100,000 person years. Conclusions In this large study we found higher estimates of IBD incidence and prevalence than previously reported. Estimates are highly dependent on definitions of disease and previously may have been underestimated.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Hoon Shin ◽  
Jaehun Jung ◽  
Gi Hwan Bae

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) should be treated with anticoagulants to prevent stroke and systemic embolism. Resuming anticoagulation after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) poses a clinical conundrum. The absence of evidence-based guidelines to address this issue has led to wide variations in restarting anticoagulation after ICH. This study aimed to evaluate the risks and benefits of anticoagulation therapy on all-cause mortality, severe thromboembolism, and severe hemorrhage and compare the effect of novel direct oral anticoagulants (NOACs) with warfarin on post-ICH mortality in patients with AF. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was performed using health insurance claim data obtained between 2002 and 2017 from individuals with newly developed ICH with comorbid AF. We excluded participants aged < 40 years and those with traumatic ICH, subdural hemorrhage, or subarachnoid hemorrhage. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality, and the secondary endpoints were severe thrombotic and hemorrhagic events. Anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, and non-users were analyzed for survival with propensity score matching. Results: Among 6735 participants, 1743 (25.9%) and 1690 (25.1%) used anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents, respectively. Anticoagulant (HR, 0.321; 95% CI, 0.264-0.390; P < 0.0001) or antiplatelet users (HR, 0.393; 95% CI, 0.330-0.468; P < 0.0001) had a lower risk of all-cause mortality than non-users. However, there was no difference between the two drug users (HR, 1.183; 95% CI, 0.94-1.487; P = 0.152; reference: anticoagulant). The risk of acute thrombotic events, although not hemorrhagic events, was significantly lower in anticoagulant users than in antiplatelet users. In addition, anticoagulation between 6 to 8 weeks post-ICH showed a tendency of the lowest risk of death. Further, NOACs were associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality than warfarin. Conclusions: Our results showed that in patients with AF, resuming anticoagulants between 6 and 8 weeks after ICH improved all-cause mortality, severe thromboembolism, and severe hemorrhage. Further, compared with warfarin, NOAC had additional benefits.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shao-Ang Chu ◽  
Te-Yuan Chen ◽  
Po-Yuan Chen ◽  
Wei-Jie Tzeng ◽  
Cheng-Loong Liang ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND Stroke has been recognized as one of the major causes of adult disability worldwide, and post-stroke dementia may affect up to one-third of stroke survivors. This condition could be prevented if we could recognize and treat it earlier. Acupuncture as a complementary treatment for stroke has been shown to be beneficial for subsequent post-stroke rehabilitation. Our study investigated if acupuncture served additional advantages to decreasing the incidence of post-stroke dementia. METHODS We provide a retrospective cohort study from Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. This study compared the incidence of post-stroke dementia between cohorts with and without acupuncture treatment by calculating adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of acupuncture associated with post-stroke dementia using Cox proportional hazard regressions. The study group was composed of 9,547 patients who received first hospitalization for the treatment of stroke between 2002 and 2004; of which, 47,735 comparison patients were defined as the control group. The two groups were followed-up until the diagnosis of dementia presented or until the end of 2007. RESULTS The adjusted HRs of developing dementia among patients with stroke was 4.705 times the average (range, 4.353–5.085), and the incidence of dementia was higher in males. The study group tended to have less incidence of all kinds of dementia after acupuncture treatment, and patients without stroke receiving acupuncture had a lower probability of dementia than those untreated during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS This study presents evidence that acupuncture serves as an effective and alternative procedure to lower the risk of post-stroke dementia and the overall incidence of dementia in Taiwanese population.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e038295
Author(s):  
Anna Zanetti ◽  
Carlo Alberto Scirè ◽  
Lisa Argnani ◽  
Greta Carrara ◽  
Antonella Zambon

ObjectiveTo describe the adherence to quality of care indicators in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to evaluate its impact on the risk of hospitalisation in a real-world setting.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingPatients with early-onset RA identified from healthcare regional administrative databases by means of a validated algorithm between 2006 and 2012 in the Lombardy region (Italy).ParticipantsThe study cohort included 14 203 early-onset RA (71% female, mean age 60 years).Outcome measuresFor each patient, a summary adherence score was calculated starting from the compliance to six quality indicators: (1–2) methotrexate or sulfasalazine or leflunomide with/without glucocorticoids, (3–4) other disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) with/without glucocorticoids, (5) early interruption of glucocorticoids, (6) early clinical assessment.The relationship between low, intermediate and high categories of the summary score and the 12-month risk of hospitalisation for all causes and for RA was assessed.ResultsDuring a follow-up of 1 year, 2609 hospitalisations occurred, of which 704 were for RA (main or secondary diagnosis) and 252 primarily for RA. In a 7-year period (2006–2012), early DMARDs and timely clinical monitoring treatment increased (from 52% to 62% p trend <0.001 and from 25% to 30% p trend 0.009, respectively).Intermediate and high summary adherence score categories (compared with the low category) were related significantly with a lower risk of hospitalisation (adjusted HR 0.85 (95% CI 0.77 to 0.93), p<0.001 and HR 0.76 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.84), p<0.001, respectively). Among the indicators of the adherence score, early DMARD prescription showed the strongest positive impact, while long-term use of glucocorticoids was the worst negative one.ConclusionIn early RA, adherence to quality standards of care is associated with a lower risk of hospitalisation. Future interventions to improve the adherence to quality standards of care in this setting should decrease the risk of hospitalisation with a significant impact on individual and population health.


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