Gender and Age Differences and the Trend in the Incidence and Prevalence of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease in Taiwan: A 7-Year National Population-Based Study

Background. Very few nationwide studies have focused on the variations in the incidence and prevalence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in Asian countries. This study aims to describe the gender and age differences in the incidence and prevalence of dementia and AD in Taiwan. Methods. The data on dementia and AD were acquired from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from 2004 to 2010. The sex and age-specific rates were standardized, and the differences of gender and age on dementia or AD were assessed using Poisson regression analysis. Results. Over seven years, the prevalence of dementia and AD significantly increased from 4.7 to 7.6 per hundred people (β = 0.0784, p<0.0001) and 2.3 to 3.5 per hundred people (β = 0.0696, p<0.0001), respectively. However, the incidence of both dementia and AD decreased but not significantly from 10.9 to 10.7 and 4.9 to 4.6 per thousand person-years, respectively. Noticeably, both incidence and prevalence increased with age and were higher in women than in men. Conclusions. The standardized incidence rates of dementia and AD are much lower than the data reported in some studies from Europe, the US, and Japan. Further studies are warranted to explore which factors are associated with the differences in the incidence of dementia and AD in Taiwan.

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Glaucoma may be a non-memory manifestation of Alzheimer's disease in older people

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610217000801 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (9) ◽

pp. 1535-1541 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Shih-Wei Lai ◽

Cheng-Li Lin ◽

Kuan-Fu Liao

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Older People ◽

Regression Model ◽

Logistic Regression Model ◽

Population Based ◽

Multivariable Logistic Regression Model ◽

Retrospective Case ◽

Taiwan National Health Insurance

ABSTRACTBackground:The purpose of this paper was to examine whether glaucoma could be a non-memory manifestation of Alzheimer's disease in older people.Methods:We conducted a population-based, retrospective, case-control study to analyze the database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. There were 1,351 subjects ≥65 years old with newly diagnosed Alzheimer's disease as the cases, and 5,329 subjects without any type of dementias as the controls during 2000–2011. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the risk of Alzheimer's disease associated with glaucoma was estimated by the multivariable unconditional logistic regression model.Results:After controlling for confounders, the multivariable logistic regression model demonstrated that the adjusted OR of Alzheimer's disease was 1.50 in subjects with glaucoma (95% CI 1.19, 1.89), compared to subjects without glaucoma.Conclusions:Older people with glaucoma are associated with 1.5-fold increased odds of Alzheimer's disease in Taiwan. Glaucoma may be a non-memory manifestation of Alzheimer's disease in older people. Further research is needed to confirm this issue.

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Risk of breast cancer in women with non-lactational mastitis

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-52046-3 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Chun-Ming Chang ◽

Mei-Chen Lin ◽

Wen-Yao Yin

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Breast Cancer Risk ◽

Cancer Risk ◽

Comparison Group ◽

Population Based ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Research Database ◽

Taiwan National Health Insurance ◽

Lactational Mastitis

Abstract Little is known regarding the association of non-lactational mastitis women with breast cancer risk. This population-based cohort study examined the breast cancer risk in women with non-lactational mastitis. We identified 3,091 women with non-lactational mastitis between 2000 and 2011 using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. We performed 1:4 propensity score matching by age, socioeconomic status and comorbidities and identified 12,364 women without non-lactational mastitis. The mean age of women with non-lactational mastitis was 37.9 years; these women had a higher breast cancer risk than the comparison group (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.94, 95% confidence interval: 1.30–2.90). The incidence rates of breast cancer in women with non-lactational mastitis and the comparison group were 14.79 and 7.57 per 10,000 person-years, respectively. Furthermore, non-lactational mastitis was a risk factor for breast cancer in women aged <50 years, women with lower socioeconomic status and women with hormonal medication (p < 0.05). Women who had more episodes of non-lactational mastitis had a higher risk of developing a breast cancer. Thus, the risk of breast cancer in women with non-lactational mastitis is significantly higher than those without non-lactational mastitis.

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Influence of PM2.5 Exposure Level on the Association between Alzheimer’s Disease and Allergic Rhinitis: A National Population-Based Cohort Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16183357 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (18) ◽

pp. 3357 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Ruo-Ling Li ◽

Yung-Chyuan Ho ◽

Ci-Wen Luo ◽

Shiuan-Shinn Lee ◽

Yu-Hsiang Kuan

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Allergic Rhinitis ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Population Based ◽

Exposure Level ◽

Research Database ◽

National Population ◽

Pm2.5 Exposure

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease that leads to dementia, health impairment, and high economic cost. Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory and allergic disease of the respiratory system that leads to health problems and has major effects on the daily lives of patients and their caregivers. Particulate matter (PM) refers to air pollutants 2.5 μm or less in diameter that are a source of concern because of their role in numerous diseases, including AR and other neurodegenerative diseases. To date, no study has demonstrated how PM2.5 exacerbates AR and results in AD. We conducted a national population-based cohort study by obtaining patient data from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan for the 2008–2013 period. PM2.5 concentration data were obtained from the ambient air quality monitoring network established by the Environmental Protection Administration of Taiwan. Monthly PM2.5 exposure levels were categorized into quartiles from Q1–Q4. The Cox proportional hazards analysis, after adjusting for age, sex, low income, and urbanization level, revealed that patients with AR had an elevated risk of developing AD (hazard ratio (HR): 2.008). In addition, the cumulative incidence of AD in the AR group was significantly higher than in the comparison group. The PM2.5 levels at Q2–Q4 (crude HR: 1.663–8.315; adjusted HR: 1.812–8.981) were stratified on the basis of the PM2.5 exposure group and revealed that AR patients exposed to PM2.5 are significantly prone to develop AD. In addition, the logistic regression analyses, after adjustment, demonstrated that an increase in the PM2.5 exposure level at Q2–Q4 (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 2.656–5.604) increased the risk of AR in AD patients. In conclusion, an increased PM2.5 exposure level could be correlated with AR, which could in turn cause AD. AR increased the risk of AD, in which exposure to PM2.5 increases the higher probability of AD.

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Gender and age differences in suicide mortality in the context of violent death: Findings from a multi-state population-based surveillance system

Comprehensive Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.comppsych.2014.03.017 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 55 (5) ◽

pp. 1077-1084 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Melanie L. Bozzay ◽

Richard T. Liu ◽

Evan M. Kleiman

Keyword(s):

Age Differences ◽

Surveillance System ◽

Population Based ◽

Suicide Mortality ◽

Violent Death ◽

State Population ◽

Gender And Age ◽

Gender And Age Differences

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Epidemiology and Medication Pattern Change of Psoriatic Diseases in Taiwan from 2000 to 2013: A Nationwide, Population-based Cohort Study

The Journal of Rheumatology ◽

10.3899/jrheum.170516 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 45 (3) ◽

pp. 385-392 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

James Cheng-Chung Wei ◽

Lin-Hong Shi ◽

Jing-Yang Huang ◽

Xue-Fen Wu ◽

Rui Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical ◽

International Classification Of Diseases ◽

Population Based ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Research Database ◽

Chi Square ◽

Classification Code ◽

Classification Of Diseases ◽

Taiwan National Health Insurance

Objective.To analyze the trend of prevalence and incidence rates for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and psoriasis in Taiwan, and to determine the changes in medication patterns.Methods.Data were collected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, which covered at least 95% of the population from 2000 to 2013. International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition (ICD-9) was used to identify PsA (ICD-9 696.0) and other psoriasis (ICD-9 696.1). Medications were identified by Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification code. We calculated the annual age standardized prevalence and incidence rate of PsA and psoriasis in individuals aged ≥ 16 years from 2000 to 2013, and used the Poisson regression to test the trends by Wald chi-square statistic.Results.The prevalence (per 100,000 population) of psoriatic diseases between 2000 and 2013 increased from 11.12 to 37.75 for PsA, and from 179.2 to 281.5 for psoriasis. The incidence (per 100,000 person-yrs) increased from 3.64 to 6.91 in PsA, while there was no significant change in psoriasis. Prevalence and incidence in PsA were more rapidly increased than in psoriasis. Sex ratio (men to women) of PsA decreased from 2.0 to 1.5 in 2000 and 2013, respectively. There was an increase in the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD), especially biologics, which is significantly different from topical therapies.Conclusion.The prevalence and incidence rates of psoriatic disease, especially PsA, were increasing in Taiwan. The medication pattern showed an increase in DMARD and biologics, while use of topical therapies decreased.

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Revisit incidence of complications after impacted mandibular third molar extraction: A nationwide population-based cohort study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0246625 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. e0246625

Author(s):

Ya-Wei Chen ◽

Lin-Yang Chi ◽

Oscar Kuang-Sheng Lee

Keyword(s):

Third Molar ◽

Population Based ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Research Database ◽

Third Molar Extraction ◽

Impacted Mandibular Third Molar ◽

Real World Evidence ◽

Mandibular Third Molar ◽

Taiwan National Health Insurance ◽

History Of

Most of complications after impacted mandibular third molar (iLM3) extraction surgeries are transient and resolved spontaneously within one or two weeks, but some of them are more complicated and required further treatments to alleviate the symptoms. The aim of study is to revisit incidence and predictors of complications after iLM3 surgery by reviewing previous literature and investigating a population-based data. From Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, records of 16,609 patients who had received iLM3 extraction under ambulatory settings were retrieved for analysis. Outcomes of interest included dry socket (DS), prolonged temporomandibular joint symptoms (TMD), and surgical site infection (SSI), which necessitated additional appointments to manage. Odds ratios of having those complications between different variables were analyzed. The incidence rates of DS, TMD, and SSI were 3.6%, 0.41%, 0.17%, respectively; while they ranged from 0.33–19.14% (DS), 0–4.17% (TMD), and 0.2–5.17% (SSI) in previous studies. Logistic regression revealed DS significantly correlated with complexity of odontectomy (2.5-fold of risk) and history of gingivitis or pericoronitis (1.3-fold of risk). More TMD was found in female than male patients (0.5% versus 0.3%). However, no factors associated with SSI was found; neither did we find aging as a risk in association with any of above complications. Compared to previous studies, our data supports that surgical intervention should be considered in iLM3 with risk of gingivitis or pericoronitis to reduce the occurrence of DS. The original information in this article, which provides a “real-world” evidence, along with the organizing data we summarized from previous article, can serve as a reference for clinicians in assessing the complication risks before treatment of iLM3.

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Increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease among patients with age-related macular degeneration: A nationwide population-based study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0250440 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (5) ◽

pp. e0250440

Author(s):

Li-Yen Wen ◽

Lei Wan ◽

Jung-Nien Lai ◽

Chih Sheng Chen ◽

Jamie Jiin-Yi Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Population Based ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Research Database ◽

Age Group ◽

Age Related ◽

Increased Risk

Objective This study aimed to investigate the risk of Alzheimer’s disease among patients with age-related macular degeneration and its association with confounding comorbidities. Method This was a population-based, retrospective cohort study. By accessing data from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, we identified 10,578 patients aged 50–100 years who were newly diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration between 2000 and 2012 and 10,578 non- age-related macular degeneration individuals. The comorbidities assessed were osteoporosis, diabetes, cirrhosis, cerebrovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Results Patients with age-related macular degeneration had a 1.23-fold increased risk of their condition advancing to Alzheimer’s disease (aHR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.04–1.46). The younger patients were diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration, the more likely patients got Alzheimer’s disease (50–64 age group: aHR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.04–3.73; 65–79 age group: aHR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.02–1.58; 80–100 age group: aHR = 1.06, 95% CI = 0.78–1.45). In addition, there were significantly higher risks of Alzheimer’s disease for patients with cirrhosis (aHR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.09–2.06) in the age-related macular degeneration cohort than in the non-age-related macular degeneration cohort. Conclusion Patients with age-related macular degeneration may exhibit a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease than people without age-related macular degeneration.

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