Comparison between high and low potency statins in the incidence of open-angle glaucoma: A retrospective cohort study in Japanese working-age population

While exposure to pesticides is a known risk factor for neurodegenerative brain diseases, little is known about the influence of environment on glaucoma neuropathy. We aimed to determine whether farmers are at higher risk of developing severe primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). This retrospective cohort study (tertiary referral center, Reims University Hospital, France) included patients diagnosed with POAG in the last two years. Univariate analysis and adjusted multivariate logistic regression were performed to evaluate the association between agricultural profession and all recorded data. Glaucoma severity (primary outcome) and the number of patients who underwent filtering surgery (secondary outcome) were analyzed. In total, 2065 records were screened, and 772 patients were included (66 in the farmer group and 706 in the nonfarmer group). The risk of severe glaucoma was higher in the farmer group (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.87, p = 0.03). More patients underwent filtering surgery in the farmer group in univariate analysis (p = 0.02) but with no statistical significance after adjustment (p = 0.08). These results suggest pesticide exposure may be a factor accelerating the neurodegeneration in POAG, although a direct link between the agricultural profession and the disease requires further extended studies to be demonstrated.

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Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Tafluprost, Travoprost, and Latanoprost in Korean Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma or Normal-Tension Glaucoma: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study (LOTUS Study)

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10122717 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 2717

Author(s):

Joon-Mo Kim ◽

Kyung-Rim Sung ◽

Hwang-Ki Kim ◽

Sang-Woo Park ◽

Eun-Ji Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma ◽

Open Angle Glaucoma ◽

Normal Tension Glaucoma ◽

Group Differences ◽

Open Angle ◽

Secondary Endpoints

This multicenter retrospective cohort study compared the effectiveness and safety of long-term tafluprost, travoprost, or latanoprost in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). Data were extracted from electronic medical records of 300 patients treated with tafluprost, travoprost, or latanoprost for >6 months. Propensity matching for age and sex was used for effectiveness and safety comparisons. The primary endpoint was visual field (VF) progression via mean deviation (MD) slope. Secondary endpoints were change of MD, intraocular pressure, pattern standard deviation, VF index, and advanced glaucoma intervention study score. Treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were also compared between groups. Overall, 216 POAG or NTG patients were matched into Match Set 1 (72 patients/group), and 177 NTG-only patients in Match Set 2 (59 patients/group) according to: age (mean: 61, 62 years) and sex (male: 53, 56%). There were no statistically significant between-group differences regarding MD slope (p = 0.413, p = 0.374 in Match Sets 1 and 2, respectively). There were no significant between-group differences/tendencies regarding secondary endpoints. No AEs were serious, and there were no significant between-group differences regarding reported AEs. In patients with POAG or NTG, long-term tafluprost, travoprost, or latanoprost showed similar effects. All three prostaglandin analogs had good long-term safety profiles.

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Trends in cause specific mortality across occupations in Japanese men of working age during period of economic stagnation, 1980-2005: retrospective cohort study

BMJ ◽

10.1136/bmj.e1191 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 344 (mar06 3) ◽

pp. e1191-e1191 ◽

Cited By ~ 68

Author(s):

K. Wada ◽

N. Kondo ◽

S. Gilmour ◽

Y. Ichida ◽

Y. Fujino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Japanese Men ◽

Economic Stagnation ◽

Specific Mortality ◽

Working Age

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Effects of Fibrates on Risk of Development of Diabetic Retinopathy in Japanese Working Age Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Dyslipidemia: a Retrospective Cohort Study

YAKUGAKU ZASSHI ◽

10.1248/yakushi.20-00259 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 141 (5) ◽

pp. 761-769

Author(s):

Hayato Akimoto ◽

Yasuo Takahashi ◽

Satoshi Asai

Keyword(s):

Type 2 Diabetes ◽

Diabetic Retinopathy ◽

Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Working Age

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Physician visits and medication prescriptions for major chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: retrospective cohort study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050938 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. e050938

Author(s):

Itsuki Osawa ◽

Tadahiro Goto ◽

Yuko Asami ◽

Noriharu Itoh ◽

Yasuyuki Kaga ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Chronic Diseases ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Population Level ◽

State Of Emergency ◽

Physician Visits ◽

Working Age ◽

Number Of Visits

ObjectivesThere have been concerns that patients with chronic conditions may be avoiding in-person physician visits due to fear of COVID-19, leading to lower quality of care. We aimed to investigate changes in physician visits and medication prescriptions for chronic diseases before and during the COVID-19 pandemic at the population level.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingNationwide claims data in Japan, 2018–2020.ParticipantsWorking-age population (aged 18–74 years) who visited physicians and received any prescriptions for major chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia) before the pandemic.Outcome measuresThe outcomes were the monthly number of physician visits, the monthly proportion of physician visits and the monthly proportion of days covered by prescribed medication (PDC) during the pandemic (April–May 2020, as the first state of emergency over COVID-19 was declared on 7 April, and withdrawn nationally on 25 May).ResultsAmong 10 346 patients who visited physicians for chronic diseases before the pandemic, we found a temporary decline in physician visits (mean number of visits was 1.9 in March vs 1.7 in April; p<0.001) and an increase in the proportion of patients who did not visit any physicians during the pandemic (15% in March vs 24% in April; p<0.001). Physician visits returned to the baseline in May (the mean number of visits: 1.8, and the proportion of patients who did not visit any physicians: 9%). We observed no clinically meaningful difference in PDC between before and during the pandemic (eg, 87% in March vs 87% in April; p=0.45). A temporary decline in physician visits was more salient in seven prefectures with a larger number of COVID-19 cases than in other areas.ConclusionsAlthough the number of physician visits declined right after the COVID-19 outbreak, it returned to the baseline one month later; patients were not skipping medications during the pandemic.

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