Comparison of Valvulopathy Risk with Lorcaserin and Phenterminetopiramate for Weight Loss

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-78
Author(s):  
Michael Guo ◽  
Mahyar Etminan ◽  
Bruce Carleton

Background: Lorcaserin and phentermine-topiramate are two drugs marketed for obesity that have shown moderate efficacy after one year of use. However, concerns over risks of serious cardiovascular harms including valvulopathy have been brought up for both drugs, prompting an epidemiologic investigation to quantify this adverse outcome using real-world clinical data. </P><P> Objective: To compare rates of valvulopathy between the weight-loss drugs lorcaserin and phentermine-topiramate. </P><P> Methods: A retrospective cohort study using the PharMetrics database from the United States was conducted. From approximately 9 million subjects captured in the database from 2006 to 2016, we identified all patients who had received at least one prescription for lorcaserin or phentermine-topiramate. Users of either drug were followed to the first mutually exclusive diagnosis of non-congenital valvulopathy defined as having received an international classification for diseases, ninth revision clinical modification [ICD-9- CM] code for valvulopathy, or to the end of the study period. A Cox Proportional Hazards model was then constructed to compute adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) to compare the rates of valvulopathy between users of the two drugs. </P><P> Results: We identified 1,981 lorcaserin users and 1,806 phentermine-topiramate users. Rates of valvulopathy for lorcaserin and phentermine-topiramate cohorts were 26 and 24 per 1000-person-years, respectively. The crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) comparing the two cohorts with respect to valvulopathy were 1.28 (95% CI: 0.73,2.26) and 1.16 (95% CI: 0.65-2.05), respectively. </P><P> Conclusion: Our analysis suggests comparable rates of valvulopathy between lorcaserin and phentermine-topiramate users. Clinicians are advised to consider the risk of valvular disease when medically managing obesity.

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhang Haiyu ◽  
Pei Xiaofeng ◽  
Mo Xiangqiong ◽  
Qiu Junlan ◽  
Zheng Xiaobin ◽  
...  

Purpose. The morbidity of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has significantly increased in Western countries. We aimed to identify trends in incidence and survival in patients with EAC in the recent 30 years and then analyzed potential risk factors, including race, sex, age, and socioeconomic status (SES). Methods. All data were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results or SEER database. Kaplan–Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model were conducted to compare the differences in survival between variables, including sex, race, age, and SES, as well as to evaluate the association of these factors with prognosis. Results. A total of 16,474 patients with EAC were identified from 1984 to 2013 in the United States. Overall incidence increased every 10 years from 1.8 to 3.1 to 3.9 per 100. Overall survival gradually improved (p<0.0001), which was evident in male patients ((hazard ratio (HR) = 1.111; 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.07, 1.15)); however, the 5-year survival rate remained low (20.1%). The Cox proportional hazards model identified old age, black ethnicity, and medium/high poverty as risk factors for EAC (HR = 1.018; 95% CI (1.017, 1.019; HR = 1.240, 95% CI (1.151,1.336), HR = 1.000, 95% CI (1.000, 1.000); respectively). Conclusions. The incidence of EAC in the United States increased over time. Survival advantage was observed in white patients and patients in the low-poverty group. Sex was an independent prognostic factor for EAC, but this finding has to be confirmed by further research.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Zhao ◽  
Deepika Dilip

Abstract Background: The outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has struck us in many ways and we observed that China and South Korea found an effective measure to contain the virus. Conversely, the United States and the European countries are struggling to fight the virus. China is not considered a democracy and South Korea is less democratic than the United States. Therefore, we want to explore the association between the deaths of COVID-19 and democracy. Methods: We collected COVID-19 deaths data for each country from the Johns Hopkins University website and democracy indices of 2018 from the Economist Intelligence Unit website in May 2020. Then we conducted a survival analysis, regarding each country as a subject, with the Cox Proportional Hazards Model, adjusting for other selected variables. Result: The result showed that the association between democracy and deaths of COVID-19 was significant (P=0.04), adjusting for other covariates. Conclusion: In conclusion, less democratic governments performed better in containing the virus and controlling the number of deaths.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 205435812090697
Author(s):  
Mohamed Shantier ◽  
Yanhong Li ◽  
Monika Ashwin ◽  
Olsegun Famure ◽  
Sunita K. Singh

Background: The Living Kidney Donor Profile Index (LKDPI) was derived in a cohort of kidney transplant recipients (KTR) from the United States to predict the risk of total graft failure. There are important differences in patient demographics, listing practices, access to transplantation, delivery of care, and posttransplant mortality in Canada as compared with the United States, and the generalizability of the LKDPI in the Canadian context is unknown. Objective: The purpose of this study was to externally validate the LKDPI in a large contemporary cohort of Canadian KTR. Design: Retrospective cohort validation study. Setting: Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Patients: A total of 645 adult (≥18 years old) living donor KTR between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2016 with follow-up until December 31, 2017 were included in the study. Measurements: The predictive performance of the LKDPI was evaluated. The outcome of interest was total graft failure, defined as the need for chronic dialysis, retransplantation, or death with graft function. Methods: The Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the relation between the LKDPI and total graft failure. The Cox proportional hazards model was also used for external validation and performance assessment of the model. Discrimination and calibration were used to assess model performance. Discrimination was assessed using Harrell’s C statistic and calibration was assessed graphically, comparing observed versus predicted probabilities of total graft failure. Results: A total of 645 living donor KTR were included in the study. The median LKDPI score was 13 (interquartile range [IQR] = 1.1, 29.9). Higher LKDPI scores were associated with an increased risk of total graft failure (hazard ratio = 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0-1.02; P = .02). Discrimination was poor (C statistic = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.48-0.61). Calibration was as good at 1-year posttransplant but suboptimal at 3- and 5-years posttransplant. Limitations: Limitations include a relatively small sample size, predicted probabilities for assessment of calibration only available for scores of 0 to 100, and some missing data handled by imputation. Conclusions: In this external validation study, the predictive ability of the LKDPI was modest in a cohort of Canadian KTR. Validation of prediction models is an important step to assess performance in external populations. Potential recalibration of the LKDPI may be useful prior to clinical use in external cohorts.


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (5_suppl5) ◽  
pp. 2325967117S0016
Author(s):  
Ben Parkinson ◽  
Michelle Lorimer ◽  
Peter Lewis

Introduction: The decision to use varus/valgus constrained or hinge knee prostheses in complex Total Knee Replacement (TKR) cases is difficult. There are few publications that compare survival rates, to aid this decision-making. This study compares the survival rates of unlinked fully constrained and hinge constrained prostheses in the primary and revision settings. Methods: Data from the AOANJRR to 31st of December 2013 was analysed to determine the survival rate of unlinked and hinge constrained TKR in the primary and revision settings (excluding the diagnosis of tumour and infection). Only first-time revisions of a known primary TKR were included in the revision analysis. Kaplan-Meier estimates of survivorship were calculated for the two categories of constraint and were matched for age and diagnosis in both primary and revision TKR situations. Hazard ratios using the Cox proportional-hazards model were used. The survivorship of individual prosthesis models was determined. Results: There were 3237 prostheses implanted during the study period that met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 1896 were for primary TKR and 1341 for revision TKR. There were 1349 unlinked fully constrained and 547 hinge prostheses for primary TKR and 991 unlinked fully constrained and 350 hinge prostheses for revision TKR. In both the primary and revision settings when matched by age, there was no difference in rates of revision for either level of constraint. When matched by indication in the primary setting, there was no difference in the rates of revision for either level of constraint. The rate of revision for both categories of constrained prosthesis was significantly higher in younger patients <55 years of age (p < 0.05). There were no differences in survival rates of individual models of constrained TKR. Conclusions: The survival rates of unlinked constrained and hinge knee prostheses are similar when matched by age or diagnosis. In complex TKR instability cases, surgeons should feel confident in choosing the appropriate prosthesis to gain a stable knee and need not be concerned that a hinge prosthesis may carry a higher revision rate.


Author(s):  
Massimiliano Cantinotti ◽  
Raffaele Giordano ◽  
Marco Scalese ◽  
Sabrina Molinaro ◽  
Francesca della Pina ◽  
...  

AbstractThe routine use of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in pediatric cardiac surgery remains controversial. Our aim was to test whether BNP adds information to predict risk in pediatric cardiac surgery.In all, 587 children undergoing cardiac surgery (median age 6.3 months; 1.2–35.9 months) were prospectively enrolled at a single institution. BNP was measured pre-operatively, on every post-operative day in the intensive care unit, and before discharge. The primary outcome was major complications and length ventilator stay >15 days. A first risk prediction model was fitted using Cox proportional hazards model with age, body surface area and Aristotle score as continuous predictors. A second model was built adding cardiopulmonary bypass time and arterial lactate at the end of operation to the first model. Then, peak post-operative log-BNP was added to both models. Analysis to test discrimination, calibration, and reclassification were performed.BNP increased after surgery (p<0.001), peaking at a mean of 63.7 h (median 36 h, interquartile range 12–84 h) post-operatively and decreased thereafter. The hazard ratios (HR) for peak-BNP were highly significant (first model HR=1.40, p=0.006, second model HR=1.44, p=0.008), and the log-likelihood improved with the addition of BNP at 12 h (p=0.006; p=0.009). The adjunction of peak-BNP significantly improved the area under the ROC curve (first model p<0.001; second model p<0.001). The adjunction of peak-BNP also resulted in a net gain in reclassification proportion (first model NRI=0.089, p<0.001; second model NRI=0.139, p=0.003).Our data indicates that BNP may improve the risk prediction in pediatric cardiac surgery, supporting its routine use in this setting.


2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Causada Calo ◽  
Federico Angriman ◽  
Manuel A Mahler-Spinelli ◽  
Sebastian Durán ◽  
Dante Manazzoni ◽  
...  

Background. Patients on chronic anticoagulation face a higher risk of peptic ulcer bleeding. In this setting, the risk-benefit equation of anticoagulation resumption remains undefined. Aims. To compare the risk of thrombosis and death between patients that resumed and did not resume anticoagulation after an index episode of peptic ulcer bleeding. The secondary objective was to compare time to re-bleeding between the groups. Methods. Retrospective cohort study of adult patients that suffered an index episode of peptic ulcer bleeding while on chronic anticoagulation. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they resumed or not anticoagulation and were followed-up for one year. A multivariable, propensity score-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model was used to adjust for confounding. Adjusted survival curves were constructed. Results. 70 patients were included in the analysis; 64.3% were men. Median age at the time of PUB was 79 years (interquartile range (IQR): 72-83). Forty patients (57.1%) resumed anticoagulation after a median time of 15 days (IQR 5.25-41.75). Restarting anticoagulation was associated with a lower risk of thrombosis or death (hazard ratio [HR] 0.14; 95%CI 0.05-0.43) and did not increase the risk of recurrent bleeding significantly (HR 1.42; 95% CI 0.10-19.8). Conclusions. Resuming anticoagulation appears to reduce the hazard of thrombosis and death without increasing the risk of recurrent bleeding significantly.


1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 357-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Fried ◽  
Judy Bernardini ◽  
Beth Piraino

Objective To determine if patient size or weight at the start of PO influences patient or technique survival. Design A prospective cohort study of adult PO patients. Setting A university and a Veterans Administration outpatient dialysis unit. Patients 343 adults patients with 660 years on PO enrolled from 1979 to 1995. Main Outcome Measures Patient survival (censoring for transplant, 60 days post -transfer to hemodialysis, and end of study) and technique survival (censoring for death, transplant, or end of the study) for patients as grouped by weight (≤ 64 kg vs. >64 kg or ≤82.7 kg vs. > 82.7 kg) or BSA (≤2.0 m2 vs >2.0 m2). Results Patient survival was 86.3% at one year, 77.0% at two years, 65.2% at three years, and 56.9% at 4 years. Technique survival was 84.9% at one year, 77.5% at two years, 63.5% at three years, and 58.3% at four years. The patient and technique survival curves were not significantly different for patients as grouped by weight or BSA. Using Cox proportional hazards model, age, diabetes, peritonitis rate, and albumin at the start of PO were independent predictors of patient survival, but BSA and weight were not. The only predictor of technique survival was the peritonitis rate. Larger patients had higher initial albumins, which may indicate better nutritional status that may offset the risk of underdialysis. Conclusions Large patients do as well as smaller patients on PO. Size alone should not preclude patients from PO.


2017 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 303-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Kropko ◽  
Jeffrey J. Harden

The Cox proportional hazards model is a commonly used method for duration analysis in political science. Typical quantities of interest used to communicate results come from the hazard function (for example, hazard ratios or percentage changes in the hazard rate). These quantities are substantively vague, difficult for many audiences to understand and incongruent with researchers’ substantive focus on duration. We propose methods for computing expected durations and marginal changes in duration for a specified change in a covariate from the Cox model. These duration-based quantities closely match researchers’ theoretical interests and are easily understood by most readers. We demonstrate the substantive improvements in interpretation of Cox model results afforded by the methods with reanalyses of articles from three subfields of political science.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 3608 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronak Jagdeep Shah ◽  
Lisa E. Vaughan ◽  
Felicity T. Enders ◽  
Dawn S. Milliner ◽  
John C. Lieske

This retrospective analysis investigated plasma oxalate (POx) as a potential predictor of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) among primary hyperoxaluria (PH) patients. PH patients with type 1, 2, and 3, age 2 or older, were identified in the Rare Kidney Stone Consortium (RKSC) PH Registry. Since POx increased with falling estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), patients were stratified by chronic kidney disease (CKD) subgroups (stages 1, 2, 3a, and 3b). POx values were categorized into quartiles for analysis. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for risk of ESKD were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards model with a time-dependent covariate. There were 118 patients in the CKD1 group (nine ESKD events during follow-up), 135 in the CKD 2 (29 events), 72 in CKD3a (34 events), and 45 patients in CKD 3b (31 events). During follow-up, POx Q4 was a significant predictor of ESKD compared to Q1 across CKD2 (HR 14.2, 95% CI 1.8–115), 3a (HR 13.7, 95% CI 3.0–62), and 3b stages (HR 5.2, 95% CI 1.1–25), p < 0.05 for all. Within each POx quartile, the ESKD rate was higher in Q4 compared to Q1–Q3. In conclusion, among patients with PH, higher POx concentration was a risk factor for ESKD, particularly in advanced CKD stages.


Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Deitelzweig ◽  
Amanda Bruno ◽  
Kiran Gupta ◽  
Jeffrey Trocio ◽  
Natalie Tate

To compare the risk of hospitalization among non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients newly initiated with an oral anticoagulant (OAC): apixaban, dabigatran, rivaroxaban, or warfarin. Retrospective cohort study using Humana Medicare Advantage data from 7/1/2009 - 9/30/2014. NVAF patients ≥18 years receiving one OAC on the index date with 6 months continuous enrollment prior to index prescription date and 3 months post-index were eligible. Hospitalizations were identified by standard codes for inpatient admission. Bleeding-related hospitalizations required an additional code for major/clinically relevant non-major (CRNM) bleeding. A cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) of hospitalizations adjusted for age, sex, region, comorbidities and comedications. Adherence for each OAC was also calculated using a proportion of days covered approach to understand medication taking behaviors. Among the 53,168 patients initiated on an OAC, 2,028 (3.8%) apixaban, 5,644 (10.6%) dabigatran, 7,667 (14.4%) rivaroxaban and 37,829 (71.1%) warfarin. Patients in apixaban cohort were older (mean 75.5 years, P <0.05) with higher mean CHA 2 DS 2- VASc score (P <0.05). Abixaban patients had a higher mean HAS-BLED score vs. dabigatran (P <0.0001), lower mean score vs. warfarin (P <0.0001) and did not differ significantly vs. rivaroxaban (P =0.46). Patients receiving apixaban had a significantly lower risk for all-cause hospitalization across cohorts, and a sig. lower risk for bleeding-related hospitalization vs. patients receiving rivaroxaban or warfarin (Table). Adherence ranged from 87.8% to 90.4% across cohorts. In a real-world setting, initiation with apixaban was associated with a significantly lower risk for all-cause hospitalization, and a significantly lower risk of bleeding-related hospitalization compared to rivaroxaban or warfarin. Table: Adjusted Hazard Ratios of All-cause and Bleeding-related Hospitalizations


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