Prescribing Trend of Antirheumatic Drugs in Taiwan and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Nationwide Cohort Study

We aimed to investigate the prescribing trend of antirheumatic drugs and assess the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Taiwan. This study was a retrospective cohort study, conducted based on the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. The study subjects were 15,366 new rheumatoid arthritis patients from 2003 to 2010. To avoid selection bias, we applied propensity score matching to obtain general patients, as the control group. Cox proportional hazard model was used to evaluate the risk of cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The most common prescriptions of rheumatoid arthritis were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. After controlling for related variables, rheumatoid arthritis patients had a higher risk of cardiovascular disease than general patients (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23-1.39). Age was the most significantly associated risk factor with the cardiovascular disease. Other observed risk factors for cardiovascular disease included hypertension (aHR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.48-1.65), diabetes mellitus (aHR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.38-1.57), and chronic kidney disease (aHR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.31-1.66). Patients with rheumatoid arthritis indeed had a higher risk of incident cardiovascular diseases. Besides, age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease were also associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

Download Full-text

Increased chronic kidney disease development and progression in diabetic patients after appendectomy: a population-based cohort study

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.5019 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e5019 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Chin-Hua Chang ◽

Chew-Teng Kor ◽

Chia-Lin Wu ◽

Ping-Fang Chiu ◽

Jhao-Rong Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Chronic Kidney Disease ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Propensity Score ◽

Population Based ◽

Incidence Rates ◽

Control Group ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Research Database

BackgroundThe vermiform appendix serves as a “safe house” for maintaining normal gut bacteria and appendectomy may impair the intestinal microbiota. Appendectomy is expected to profoundly alter the immune system and modulate the pathogenic inflammatory immune responses of the gut. Recent studies have shown that a dysbiotic gut increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Therefore, we hypothesized that appendectomy would increase the risk of CKD.MethodsThis nationwide, population-based, propensity-score-matched cohort study included 10,383 patients who underwent appendectomy and 41,532 propensity-score-matched controls. Data were collected by the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan from 2000 to 2013. We examined the associations between appendectomy and CKD and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The major outcome was a new diagnosis of CKD based on an outpatient diagnosis made at least three times or hospital discharge diagnosis made once during the follow-up period. ESRD was defined as undergoing dialysis therapy for at least 90 days, as in previous studies.ResultsThe incidence rates of CKD and ESRD were higher in the appendectomy group than in the control cohort (CKD: 6.52 vs. 5.93 per 1,000 person-years, respectively; ESRD: 0.49 vs. 0.31 per 1,000 person-years, respectively). Appendectomy patients also had a higher risk of developing CKD (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.13; 95% CI [1.01–1.26];P = 0.037) and ESRD (aHR 1.59; 95% CI [1.06–2.37];P = 0.024) than control group patients. Subgroup analysis showed that appendectomy patients with concomitant diabetes mellitus (aHR 2.08;P = 0.004) were at higher risk of incident ESRD than those without diabetes mellitus. The interaction effects of appendectomy and diabetes mellitus were significant for ESRD risk (P = 0.022); no interaction effect was found for CKD risk (P = 0.555).ConclusionsAppendectomy increases the risk of developing CKD and ESRD, especially in diabetic patients. Physicians should pay close attention to renal function prognosis in appendectomy patients.

Download Full-text

Migraine and subsequent chronic kidney disease risk: a nationwide population-based cohort study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-018483 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

pp. e018483 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Shuo-Chun Weng ◽

Chia-Lin Wu ◽

Chew-Teng Kor ◽

Ping-Fang Chiu ◽

Ming-Ju Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Kidney Disease ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Disease Risk ◽

Population Based ◽

Interactive Effects ◽

Control Group ◽

Research Database ◽

Control Subjects

ObjectiveWe compared the incidence and risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) between subjects with new-onset migraine and matched controls without migraine in this large-scale retrospective cohort study.DesignPopulation-based cohort study.Setting8880 subjects with migraine and 503 070 subjects without migraine were enrolled between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2013, all diagnosed to be without kidney disease. All the participants were registered in the National Health Insurance Research Database.ParticipantsFinally, data from 7156 subjects with migraine and 7156 propensity-score-matched control subjects were analysed.Primary outcome measureWe used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate adjusted HRs for incident CKD; subgroup analyses were performed to assess the interactive effects of migraine with demographics, comorbidities and long-term medications.ResultsThe incidence of CKD was higher in the migraine group than in the control group. The risk of developing CKD was significantly higher in subjects with migraine than without migraine (P=0.031). Subjects with migraine aged <65 years (age 40–64 (adjusted HR (aHR) 1.35; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.73); age <40 (aHR 1.55; 95% CI 1.02 to 2.36)), with ≥1 comorbid diseases (1–2 diseases (aHR 1.30; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.68); ≥3 diseases (aHR 1.45; 95% CI 1.01 to 2.07)), and not receiving anti-migraine agents (aHR 1.26; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.54) were at a higher risk of developing CKD compared with the control subjects. The interaction between migraine and comorbidities was not significant; age, male gender and long-term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were independent risk factors for CKD in subjects with migraine.ConclusionMigraine may be an independent risk factor for CKD. Young subjects with migraine, and those with comorbid conditions or without medical control, are likely to be at higher risk for CKD. Ageing, male sex and NSAIDs tend to have an association with CKD in subjects with migraine.

Download Full-text