Underweight as a risk factor for respiratory death in the Whitehall cohort study: exploring reverse causality using a 45-year follow-up

Underweight adults have higher rates of respiratory death than the normal weight but it is unclear whether this association is causal or reflects illness-induced weight loss (reverse causality). Evidence from a 45-year follow-up of underweight participants for respiratory mortality in the Whitehall study (N=18 823; 2139 respiratory deaths) suggests that excess risk among the underweight is attributable to reverse causality. The age-adjusted and smoking-adjusted risk was 1.55-fold (95% CI 1.32 to 1.83) higher among underweight compared with normal weight participants, but attenuated in a stepwise manner to 1.14 (95% CI 0.76 to 1.71) after serial exclusions of deaths during the first 5–35 years of follow-up (Ptrend<0.001).

Download Full-text

Frequency of Self-Weighing and Weight Change: Cohort Study With 10,000 Smart Scale Users (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.25529 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Anna-Leena Vuorinen ◽

Elina Helander ◽

Julia Pietilä ◽

Ilkka Korhonen

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Weight Change ◽

Linear Models ◽

Measurement Data ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Free Living ◽

The Mean ◽

Weight Loss Interventions

BACKGROUND Frequent self-weighing is associated with successful weight loss and weight maintenance during and after weight loss interventions. Less is known about self-weighing behaviors and associated weight change in free-living settings. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the association between the frequency of self-weighing and changes in body weight in a large international cohort of smart scale users. METHODS This was an observational cohort study with 10,000 randomly selected smart scale users who had used the scale for at least 1 year. Longitudinal weight measurement data were analyzed. The association between the frequency of self-weighing and weight change over the follow-up was investigated among normal weight, overweight, and obese users using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and linear models. The association between the frequency of self-weighing and temporal weight change was analyzed using linear mixed effects models. RESULTS The eligible sample consisted of 9768 participants (6515/9768, 66.7% men; mean age 41.5 years; mean BMI 26.8 kg/m2). Of the participants, 4003 (4003/9768, 41.0%), 3748 (3748/9768, 38.4%), and 2017 (2017/9768, 20.6%) were normal weight, overweight, and obese, respectively. During the mean follow-up time of 1085 days, the mean weight change was –0.59 kg, and the mean percentage of days with a self-weigh was 39.98%, which equals 2.8 self-weighs per week. The percentage of self-weighing days correlated inversely with weight change, r=–0.111 (P<.001). Among normal weight, overweight, and obese individuals, the correlations were r=–0.100 (P<.001), r=–0.125 (P<.001), and r=–0.148 (P<.001), respectively. Of all participants, 72.5% (7085/9768) had at least one period of ≥30 days without weight measurements. During the break, weight increased, and weight gains were more pronounced among overweight and obese individuals: 0.58 kg in the normal weight group, 0.93 kg in the overweight group, and 1.37 kg in the obese group (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Frequent self-weighing was associated with favorable weight loss outcomes also in an uncontrolled, free-living setting, regardless of specific weight loss interventions. The beneficial associations of regular self-weighing were more pronounced for overweight or obese individuals.

Download Full-text

Traditional and Novel Adiposity Indicators and Pancreatic Cancer Risk: Findings from the UK Women’s Cohort Study

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13051036 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 1036

Author(s):

Sangeetha Shyam ◽

Darren Greenwood ◽

Chun-Wai Mai ◽

Seok Shin Tan ◽

Barakatun Nisak Mohd Yusof ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Cancer ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Cancer Risk ◽

Reverse Causality ◽

Hip Circumference ◽

Primary Analysis ◽

Pancreatic Cancer Risk ◽

Obesity Indices ◽

The Uk

(1) Background: We studied the association of both conventional (BMI, waist and hip circumference and waist–hip ratio) and novel (UK clothing sizes) obesity indices with pancreatic cancer risk in the UK women’s cohort study (UKWCS). (2) Methods: The UKWCS recruited 35,792 women from England, Wales and Scotland from 1995 to 1998. Cancer diagnosis and death information were obtained from the National Health Service (NHS) Central Register. Cox’s proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate the association between baseline obesity indicators and pancreatic cancer risk. (3) Results: This analysis included 35,364 participants with a median follow-up of 19.3 years. During the 654,566 person-years follow up, there were 136 incident pancreatic cancer cases. After adjustments for age, smoking, education and physical activity, each centimetre increase in hip circumference (HR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.05, p = 0.009) and each size increase in skirt size (HR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.02–1.23, p = 0.041) at baseline increased pancreatic cancer risk. Baseline BMI became a significant predictor of pancreatic cancer risk (HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00–1.08, p = 0.050) when latent pancreatic cancer cases were removed. Only baseline hip circumference was associated with pancreatic cancer risk (HR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00–1.05, p = 0.017) when participants with diabetes at baseline were excluded to control for reverse causality. (4) Conclusion: Hip circumference and skirt size were significant predictors of pancreatic cancer risk in the primary analysis. Thus, hip circumference is useful to assess body shape relationships. Additionally, standard skirt sizes offer an economical and objective alternative to conventional obesity indices for evaluating pancreatic cancer risk in women.

Download Full-text

Longitudinal cohort study on preoperative pain as a risk factor for chronic postoperative inguinal pain after groin hernia repair at 2-year follow-up

Hernia ◽

10.1007/s10029-021-02404-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

B. Romain ◽

◽

T. Fabacher ◽

P. Ortega-Deballon ◽

L. Montana ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Hernia Repair ◽

Groin Hernia ◽

Longitudinal Cohort Study ◽

Groin Hernia Repair ◽

Preoperative Pain ◽

Longitudinal Cohort ◽

Chronic Postoperative Inguinal Pain

Download Full-text

POS1383 THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN BARIATRIC SURGERY AND DUPUYTREN DISEASE: A COHORT STUDY FROM SWEDISH NATIONWIDE HEALTHCARE REGISTRIES

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.4067 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 974.3-975

Author(s):

T. Burkard ◽

J. Lane ◽

D. Holmberg ◽

A. M. Burden ◽

D. Furniss

Keyword(s):

Bariatric Surgery ◽

Body Mass Index ◽

Weight Loss ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Secondary Care ◽

High Body Mass Index ◽

Null Result ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Dupuytren Disease

Background:Dupuytren disease (DD) is multifactorial, with several genetic and environmental risk factors contributing to disease susceptibility. High body mass index, however, was suggested to be protective of DD.1 The impact of weight loss among obese patients on DD has not been assessed to date.Objectives:To assess the association between bariatric surgery and DD in a secondary care setting.Methods:We performed a propensity score (PS)-matched cohort study using data from Swedish nationwide healthcare registries (patient registry [secondary care], causes of death registry, prescribed drug registry). Patients aged 30-79 years who underwent bariatric surgery between 2006 and 2019 were matched to up to 2 obese bariatric surgery-free patients (called unexposed patients) based on their PS. PS-matching was carried out in risk set sampling to reduce selection bias, within 4 sequential cohort entry blocks to account for time trend biases. The outcome DD was defined as a diagnosis of DD in secondary care or partial or total fasciotomy of wrist or hand. After a 1-year run-in period, patients were followed in an “as-treated” approach. We applied Cox proportional hazard regression to calculate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of incident DD among bariatric surgery patients when compared to obese unexposed patients overall, and in subgroups of age, sex, bariatric surgery type, and by duration of follow-up.Results:A total of 34 959 bariatric surgery patients were PS-matched to 54 769 obese unexposed patients. A total of 71.6% of bariatric surgery patients were women. Bariatric surgery patients had a mean age of 45.5 years and a mean follow-up of 6.9 years. All patient characteristics in obese unexposed patients were highly similar. We observed 126 and 136 severe DD cases among bariatric surgery and obese unexposed patients, respectively. The risk of DD was significantly increased in bariatric surgery patients compared to obese unexposed patients (HR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.02-1.65). The risk of DD was higher in women (HR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.00-1.84) than in men (HR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.70-1.58). Age did not modify the risk of DD among bariatric surgery patients compared to obese unexposed patients. Malabsorptive bariatric surgery yielded an increased risk of DD when compared to obese unexposed patients (HR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.04-1.71), while restrictive bariatric surgery yielded a null result. The risk of DD increased with duration of follow-up (>5 years of follow-up: HR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.14-2.34, null result in earlier follow-up).Conclusion:Our results suggest that substantial weight loss is associated with a latent increased risk of severe DD in an obese population. This observation further strengthens current evidence that high body mass index is protective against DD. The latency of risk increase of DD after bariatric surgery may suggest that slowly adapting metabolic changes may be part of the mechanism of DD emergence.References:[1]Hacquebord JH, Chiu VY, Harness NG. The Risk of Dupuytren Surgery in Obese Individuals. J Hand Surg Am. 2017, 42: 149–55.Acknowledgements:We thank Prof. Dr. Jesper Lagergren (Karolinksa Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden) for hosting Dr. Theresa Burkard for a research stay at the Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery Group and making the data available for use. Furthermore, we thank Dr. Giola Santoni (Karolinksa Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden) for her technical support.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Download Full-text

Asthma and Immunoglobulin E Antibodies After Respiratory Syncytial Virus Bronchiolitis: A Prospective Cohort Study With Matched Controls

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.95.4.500 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 95 (4) ◽

pp. 500-505 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

N. Sigurs ◽

R. Bjarnason ◽

F. Sigurbergsson ◽

B. Kjellman ◽

B. Björkstén

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽

Prospective Cohort ◽

Egg White ◽

Control Group ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Ige Antibodies ◽

Syncytial Virus

Objective. To study the occurrence of bronchial obstructive symptoms and immunoglobulin (Ig) E antibodies after respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in infancy. Previous studies of this subject have mostly been retrospective or without controls, or the controls have not been followed prospectively. Design. This was a prospective cohort study with matched controls. Participants. Forty-seven infants had experienced RSV bronchiolitis severe enough to cause hospitalization at a mean age of 3½ months. For each child with RSV infection, two controls were acquired from the local Child Health Center and matched for date of birth, sex, and residence. Only one control was obtained for one RSV child, and the control group thus contained 93 children. Methods. All the children underwent two follow-up examinations, the first one at a mean age of 1 year and the second at a mean age of 3 years. At the first follow-up, a skin-prick test against egg white was performed, and serum IgG antibodies against RSV were measured. At the second follow-up, serum IgE antibodies were measured using screening tests for common food and inhalant antibodies, and skin-prick tests against egg white, cat, birch, and mite allergen were performed. Hereditary and environmental factors (passive smoking, indoor furred animals) and duration of breast-feeding were recorded. Results. At the first follow-up, 89% in the RSV group and 27% in the control group had IgG antibodies against RSV (P < .001). At the second follow-up, asthma, defined as three episodes of bronchial obstruction verified by a physician, was found in 11 of 47 children (23%) in the RSV group and in 1 of 93 children (1%) in the control group (P < .001). A positive test for IgE antibodies was noted in 14 of 44 (32%) RSV children and in 8 of 92 (9%) children in the control group (P = .002). An analysis of risk factors for the development of asthma and IgE antibodies on the whole group of 140 children showed that RSV bronchiolitis was the most important risk factor, and a family history of atopy or asthma further increased the risk. Conclusions. Respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis during the first year of life apparently is an important risk factor for the development of asthma and sensitization to common allergens during the subsequent 2 years, particularly in children with heredity for atopy/asthma.

Download Full-text

Potential Impact of BMI on the Aggressiveness of Presentation and Clinical Outcome of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism ◽

10.1210/clinem/dgz312 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 105 (4) ◽

pp. e1124-e1134

Author(s):

Antonio Matrone ◽

Giovanni Ceccarini ◽

Marianna Beghini ◽

Federica Ferrari ◽

Carla Gambale ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Thyroid Cancer ◽

Clinical Outcome ◽

Differentiated Thyroid Cancer ◽

Normal Weight ◽

American Thyroid Association ◽

131I Treatment ◽

Therapeutic Attitude ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Background Obesity is a risk factor for several cancers, including differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Moreover, it has also been investigated as a potential risk factor for aggressiveness of DTC, but the data gathered so far are conflicting. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI), aggressiveness of DTC at diagnosis, and clinical outcome. Methods We evaluated 1058 consecutive DTC patients treated with total thyroidectomy and enrolled at the time of first radioactive iodine (131I) treatment. Patients were divided into 4 groups based on their BMI: underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2), and obese (≥ 30 kg/m2). Histological aggressiveness of DTC at the time of diagnosis and clinical outcome according to 2015 American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines were evaluated. Results No differences in histological features, ATA risk of recurrence, activity of 131I administered and prevalence of 131I avid metastatic disease after first131I treatment, have been demonstrated among the groups. Furthermore, at the end of follow up (median = 5.7 years), no differences were evident in the number of further treatments performed as well as in the clinical response. Conclusions In our study group of Caucasian subjects, we could not demonstrate any association between BMI and aggressiveness of DTC, neither at the time of diagnosis nor during follow-up. These data indicate that postsurgical assessment and therapeutic attitude for treatment and follow-up of DTC should be based on the class of risk applied to the general population, with no concern for BMI.

Download Full-text

Headache as a risk factor for dementia: A prospective population-based study

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1177/0333102413513181 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 34 (5) ◽

pp. 327-335 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Knut Hagen ◽

Eystein Stordal ◽

Mattias Linde ◽

Timothy J Steiner ◽

John-Anker Zwart ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Subsequent Development ◽

Population Based ◽

Health Study ◽

Cox Regression Analysis ◽

Hazard Ratios ◽

Increased Risk

Background Headache has not been established as a risk factor for dementia. The aim of this study was to determine whether any headache was associated with subsequent development of vascular dementia (VaD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or other types of dementia. Methods This prospective population-based cohort study used baseline data from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT 2) performed during 1995–1997 and, from the same Norwegian county, a register of cases diagnosed with dementia during 1997–2010. Participants aged ≥20 years who responded to headache questions in HUNT 2 were categorized (headache free; with any headache; with migraine; with nonmigrainous headache). Hazard ratios (HRs) for later inclusion in the dementia register were estimated using Cox regression analysis. Results Of 51,383 participants providing headache data in HUNT 2, 378 appeared in the dementia register during the follow-up period. Compared to those who were headache free, participants with any headache had increased risk of VaD ( n = 63) (multivariate-adjusted HR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.4–3.8, p = 0.002) and of mixed dementia (VaD and AD ( n = 52)) (adjusted HR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.1–3.5, p = 0.018). There was no association between any headache and later development of AD ( n = 180). Conclusion In this prospective population-based cohort study, any headache was a risk factor for development of VaD.

Download Full-text

Underweight and mortality

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s136898001500302x ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 19 (10) ◽

pp. 1751-1756 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Joo Young Lee ◽

Hyeon Chang Kim ◽

Changsoo Kim ◽

Keeho Park ◽

Song Vogue Ahn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Normal Weight ◽

Reverse Causation ◽

Men And Women ◽

Hazard Ratios ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Per Se ◽

Never Smokers ◽

Smoking And Health

AbstractObjectiveAccording to most prospective studies, being underweight (BMI<18·5 kg/m2) is associated with significantly higher mortality than being of normal weight, especially among smokers. We aimed to explore in a generally lean population whether being underweight is significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality.DesignProspective cohort study.SettingKorea Medical Insurance Corporation study with 14 years of follow-up.SubjectsAfter excluding deaths within the first 5 years of follow-up (1993–1997) to minimize reverse causation and excluding participants without information about smoking and health status, 94 133 men and 48 496 women aged 35–59 years in 1990 were included.ResultsWe documented 5411 (5·7 %) deaths in men and 762 (1·6 %) in women. Among never smokers, hazard ratios (HR) for underweight individuals were not significantly higher than those for normal-weight individuals (BMI=18·5–22·9 kg/m2): HR=0·87 (95 % CI 0·41, 1·84, P=0·72) for underweight men and HR=1·12 (95 % CI 0·76, 1·65, P=0·58) for underweight women. Among ex-smokers, HR=0·86 (95 % CI 0·38, 1·93, P=0·72) for underweight men and HR=3·77 (95 % CI 0·42, 32·29, P=0·24) for underweight women. Among current smokers, HR=1·60 (95 % CI 1·28, 2·01, P<0·001) for underweight men and HR=2·07 (95 % CI 0·43, 9·94, P=0·36) for underweight women.ConclusionsThe present study does not support that being underweight per se is associated with increased all-cause mortality in Korean men and women.

Download Full-text

Abstract 146: Efficacy of a Nurse-Led Risk Factor Modification Program in Achieving Weight Loss in Obese Atrial Fibrillation Patients

Circulation Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes ◽

10.1161/circoutcomes.11.suppl_1.146 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Amaryah Yaeger ◽

Nancy R Cash ◽

Tara Parham ◽

Anastassia Amaro ◽

Rajat Deo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Weight Loss ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Lifestyle Modification ◽

Point Of Care ◽

Single Point ◽

Risk Factor Modification ◽

Care Approach ◽

Factor Modification

Objective: Weight loss (WL) can improve arrhythmia outcomes in obese patients (pts) with atrial fibrillation (AF). Although WL in this population has been achieved by strict dietary and lifestyle modification in physician-led research protocols, these resource intensive strategies have limited real-life applicability. We report the efficacy of a pragmatic outpatient based nurse-led risk factor modification (RFM) program that utilizes a high-touch, single point of care approach for achieving WL in AF pts at a tertiary care arrhythmia program. Methods: All new AF pts with obesity (defined as body mass index (BMI) ≥30kg/m 2 ) were offered enrollment. The pragmatic approach to WL focused on patient engagement and education, motivational interviewing, development of individualized lifestyle modification goals to improve dietary and exercise habits, and longitudinal telephonic care management to reinforce these changes. WL and compliance with established goals were assessed during ongoing biweekly (initial 2 months) then monthly follow-up support calls for up to 12 months. Continuing participation in RFM program was on a voluntary basis. Pts unable to achieve ≥3% WL by 3 months were referred for escalated care to a WL physician specialist. Pts who declined participation served as controls. Student t-test and chi-square tests were used to compare continuous and dichotomous variables. Results: Between 11/1/16 to 10/31/17, 189 pts (BMI 36.3±6) enrolled in RFM program, and 115 pts (BMI 35.5±5.4; P=NS) declined participation. The majority of enrolled pts (72%, n=136 of 189) had failed ≥1 previous WL attempts. Follow-up WL data (5.5±4.1 months for enrolled; 5.2±2.9 months for declined; P=NS) was available and compared in 162 enrolled (86%, n=162 of 189) and 59 declined (51%, n=59 of 115) pts. Pts enrolled in RFM program achieved significantly greater WL than declined pts (2.7±3.8% vs. 0.3±3.5%, respectively; p<0.05). See table for details. Conclusions: A pragmatic nurse-led risk factor modification strategy focusing on lifestyle changes reinforced by frequent patient follow-up can be effective in achieving weight loss in obese atrial fibrillation patients. This single point of care approach is a potentially sustainable model for maintaining weight loss in this population.

Download Full-text