All-Cause Mortality Risk Associated With Solid Fuel Use Among Chinese Elderly People: A National Retrospective Longitudinal Study

Background: The adverse health effects of air pollutants are widely reported, and the elderly are susceptible to toxic environments. This study aimed to evaluate the association between use of solid fuels for cooking and mortality among the elderly.Methods: A total of 5,732 and 3,869 participants from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey were enrolled in two (2014 and 2018) and three surveys (2011, 2014, and 2018) of survey. Cooking fuel was divided into clean and solid fuel. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the mortality hazard ratio (HR). Subgroup analyses were performed to assess the potential interaction effect.Results: Among the participants in the 2011–2018 survey, 53% reported using solid fuel. Such group was associated with a 9% increase in mortality risk relative to clean fuel users (HR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.01–1.18). Among participants in the 2014–2018 survey, 339 reported a switch from solid to clean fuels and they were not at increased mortality risk relative to the 488 people that reported a stable use of clean fuels (HR = 1.14, 95% CI = 0.99–1.31) although the estimated HR was similar to the one for stable solid fuel users (HR = 1.19, 95%CI = 1.04–1.36 n = 509). Interaction and stratified analyses showed that solid fuel use had an impact on mortality in participants who were non-current smokers, had low dietary diversity scores, and were living in areas with high PM2.5 concentrations (>50 μg/m3) and city population below 8 million (P for interaction < 0.05). The association was robust in the three sensitivity analyses.Conclusion: The finding showed a clear association between solid fuel use and mortality among older Chinese, and an even stronger association between risk of mortality and solid fuel use among individuals exposed to high levels of PM2.5.

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Use of Phosphorus Binders among Non-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients and Mortality Outcomes

American Journal of Nephrology ◽

10.1159/000474959 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 45 (5) ◽

pp. 431-441 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Simran K. Bhandari ◽

In-Lu A. Liu ◽

Dean A. Kujubu ◽

Trung Huynh ◽

Hind Behayaa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Kidney Disease ◽

Kidney Disease ◽

Mortality Risk ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Clinical Environment ◽

Inverse Probability ◽

Immortal Time Bias ◽

Stage Renal Disease

Background: Whether the benefits of phosphorus binders extend to those without end stage renal disease is uncertain. Among a large diverse non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) population with hyperphosphatemia, we sought to evaluate phosphorus binder use and compare mortality risk between patients prescribed and not prescribed binders. Methods: A retrospective cohort study within an integrated health system (January 1, 1998 - December 31, 2012) among CKD patients (age ≥18) was performed. Non-dialysis CKD patients with 2 separate estimated glomerular filtrate rate (eGFR) <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 and serum phosphorus ≥5.0 mg/dL within 180 days of eGFR were included. Multivariable cox proportional hazards and inverse probability of treatment-weighted models were used to estimate mortality hazard ratios (HRs) for patients who received phosphorus binders compared to no binders. Results: Among 10,165 study patients, 2,733 subjects (27%) received phosphorus binders. Compared to the no-phosphorus-binder group, the binder group had mortality HRs (95% CI) of 0.86 (0.79-0.94) and 0.86 (0.80-0.93) using traditional multivariable and inverse probability of treatment-weighted models respectively. Sensitivity analyses removing patients who were prescribed binders >180 days after index date revealed no difference in mortality between those with binders and with no binders. Conclusion: Our findings from a real-world clinical environment revealed that 27% of hyperphosphatemic non-dialysis CKD patients were prescribed binders. They also had lower risk of mortality compared to those not prescribed phosphorus binders. However, the lower mortality risk was not observed when we accounted for immortal time bias. Whether phosphorus binder use in CKD improves survival remains to be determined.

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Effect of Leptin Therapy on Survival in Generalized and Partial Lipodystrophy: A Matched Cohort Analysis

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism ◽

10.1210/clinem/dgab216 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Keziah Cook ◽

Omer Ali ◽

Baris Akinci ◽

Maria Cristina Foss de Freitas ◽

Renan Magalhães Montenegro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mortality Risk ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Proportional Hazards Model ◽

Cohort Analysis ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards Model ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Naive Patient ◽

Partial Lipodystrophy ◽

The Impact

Abstract Context Data quantifying the impact of metreleptin therapy on survival in nonHIVrelated generalized lipodystrophy (GL) and partial lipodystrophy (PL) are unavailable. Objective This study aimed to estimate the treatment effect of metreleptin on survival in patients with GL and PL. Design/Setting/Patients Demographic and clinical characteristics were used to match metreleptin-treated and metreleptin-naïve patients with GL and PL. Differences in mortality risk were estimated between matched cohorts of metreleptin-treated and metreleptin-naïve patient cohorts using Cox proportional hazard models. Sensitivity analyses assessed the impact of study assumptions and robustness of results. Outcome Measures This study assessed time to mortality and risk of mortality. Results The analysis evaluated 103 metreleptin-naïve patients with characteristics matched to 103 metreleptin-treated patients at treatment initiation. Even after matching, some metabolic and organ abnormalities were more prevalent in the metreleptin-treated cohort due to bias toward treating more severely affected patients. A Cox proportional hazards model associated metreleptin therapy with an estimated 65% decrease in mortality risk (HR 0.348, 95% CI: 0.134-0.900; P = 0.029) even though the actual number of events were relatively small. Results were robust across a broad range of alternate methodological assumptions. Kaplan-Meier estimates of time to mortality for the metreleptin-treated and the matched metreleptin-naïve cohorts were comparable. Conclusions Metreleptin therapy was associated with a reduction in mortality risk in patients with lipodystrophy syndromes despite greater disease severity in treated patients, supporting the view that metreleptin can have a positive disease-modifying impact. Confirmatory studies in additional real-world and clinical datasets are warranted.

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Determinants of Infant Mortality in Bhutan: Evidence from the 2012 National Health Survey Data

Journal of Population and Social Studies ◽

10.25133/jpssv292021.016 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

pp. 255-273

Author(s):

Tashi Dendup ◽

◽

I Gusti Ngurah Edi Putra ◽

Tashi Tobgay ◽

Sonam Wangdi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Domestic Violence ◽

Infant Mortality ◽

National Health ◽

Health Survey ◽

Solid Fuel ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

National Health Survey ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Infant Mortality Rate ◽

Fuel Use

This study examined the bio-demographic, socioeconomic, environmental, and health-related determinants of infant mortality in the Kingdom of Bhutan. The nationally representative dataset of the 2012 National Health Survey (NHS), Ministry of Health of Bhutan, was used. Cox proportional hazards regression from survival analysis, accounting for the complex study design of the NHS, was performed using a stepwise approach to identify the determinants associated with infant mortality. The weighted infant mortality rate from November 2009 to October 2011 was 34 per 1,000 live births. Children born to uneducated mothers (aHR=2.27; 95%CI=1.16-4.47) and mothers who experienced domestic violence during pregnancy (aHR=4.24; 95%CI=1.45-12.41) were more likely to die before reaching their first birthday. Those infants born in households that used solid fuel were 2.16 times (95%CI=1.21-3.85) more likely to die than their counterparts. Relative to those born in the central region, children born in western (aHR=6.13; 95%CI=2.84-13.20) and the eastern (aHR=5.13; 95%CI=2.81-9.35) regions had a greater risk of dying. The results showed that education, domestic violence experience, solid fuel use, and region of residence are the key determinants of infant mortality in Bhutan. Policies that facilitate education and empowerment of women, prevent domestic violence, reduce solid fuel use, and equitable regional socioeconomic development policies may help accelerate the reduction of child mortality.

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The Modified Healthy Ageing Index Is Associated with Mortality and Disability: The Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study

Gerontology ◽

10.1159/000513931 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Hui Zhang ◽

Yinsheng Zhu ◽

Meng Hao ◽

Jiucun Wang ◽

Zhengdong Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Predictive Ability ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Healthy Ageing ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Ageing Study

Introduction: The Healthy Ageing Index (HAI) has been shown not only to have wider applicability and predictive ability but also to adequately predict mortality in Western populations. There is still a lack of studies validating the applicability of the HAI in China. Objective: To evaluate the applicability of the HAI and validate whether the HAI is suitable for monitoring ageing in the elderly population in China. Methods: Data were obtained from the Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study. The modified HAI was constructed based on systolic blood pressure, chronic pulmonary diseases, cognitive function, fasting glucose, and kidney function. It was calculated in 1719 individuals aged 70–84 years at baseline. The adverse outcomes were mortality and disability. Demographic, physiologic, and clinical data were collected. Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between the modified HAI and adverse outcomes. Results: A total of 1,719 older adults were analyzed in our study. A total of 793 (46.13%) males were recruited. The mean age was 75.69 ± 3.93 years. At the 5-year follow-up, there were 266 deaths and 275 individuals with disabilities. In the multivariable models, the modified HAI was associated with mortality (hazard ratio = 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–1.20) and disability (odds ratio = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.05–1.18). In the sensitivity analyses, similar associations remained after imputing missing data using multiple imputation and excluding participants with major cardiovascular disease at baseline. Conclusion: The modified HAI was a robust and independent predictor of adverse outcomes. It is a valid and feasible tool for monitoring ageing in older adults.

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High School Quality and 56-Year All-Cause Mortality Risk Across Race and Ethnicity

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1632 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 505-506

Author(s):

Dominika Seblova ◽

Kelly Peters ◽

Susan Lapham ◽

Laura Zahodne ◽

Tara Gruenewald ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Mortality Risk ◽

Race And Ethnicity ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

School Quality ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

School Level ◽

Lower Mortality ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Race Ethnicity

Abstract Having more years of education is independently associated with lower mortality, but it is unclear whether other attributes of schooling matter. We examined the association of high school quality and all-cause mortality across race/ethnicity. In 1960, about 5% of US high schools participated in Project Talent (PT), which collected information about students and their schools. Over 21,000 PT respondents were followed for mortality into their eighth decade of life using the National Death Index. A school quality factor, capturing term length, class size, and teacher qualifications, was used as the main predictor. First, we estimated overall and sex-stratified Cox proportional hazards models with standard errors clustered at the school level, adjusting for age, sex, composite measure of parental socioeconomic status, and 1960 cognitive ability. Second, we added an interaction between school quality and race/ethnicity. Among this diverse cohort (60% non-Hispanic Whites, 23% non-Hispanic Blacks, 7% Hispanics, 10% classified as another race/s) there were 3,476 deaths (16.5%). School quality was highest for Hispanic respondents and lowest for non-Hispanic Blacks. Non-Hispanic Blacks also had the highest mortality risk. In the whole sample, school quality was not associated with mortality risk. However, higher school quality was associated with lower mortality among those classified as another race/s (HR 0.75, 95% CI: 0.56-0.99). For non-Hispanic Blacks and Whites, the HR point estimates were unreliable, but suggest that higher school quality is associated with increased mortality. Future work will disentangle these differences in association of school quality across race/ethnicity and examine cause-specific mortality.

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Dementia Adjudication Triggers Associated With Increased Mortality for Older Australians: Evidence From ASPREE

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.523 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 161-161

Author(s):

Jane Banaszak-Holl ◽

Xiaoping Lin ◽

Jing Xie ◽

Stephanie Ward ◽

Henry Brodaty ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Proportional Hazards ◽

Proportional Hazards Model ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Service Planning ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards Model ◽

Cognitive Test ◽

Risk Of Death ◽

Hazards Model ◽

Using Data

Abstract Research Aims: This study seeks to understand whether those with dementia experience higher risk of death, using data from the ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) clinical trial study. Methods: ASPREE was a primary intervention trial of low-dose aspirin among healthy older people. The Australian cohort included 16,703 dementia-free participants aged 70 years and over at enrolment. Participants were triggered for dementia adjudication if cognitive test results were poorer than expected, self-reporting dementia diagnosis or memory problems, or dementia medications were detected. Incidental dementia was adjudicated by an international adjudication committee using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria and results of a neuropsychological battery and functional measures with medical record substantiation. Statistical analyses used a cox proportional hazards model. Results: As previously reported, 1052 participants (5.5%) died during a median of 4.7 years of follow-up and 964 participants had a dementia trigger, of whom, 575 (60%) were adjucated as having dementia. Preliminary analyses has shown that the mortality rate was higher among participants with a dementia trigger, regardless of dementia adjudication outcome, than those without (15% vs 5%, Χ2 = 205, p <.001). Conclusion: This study will provide important analyses of differences in the hazard ratio for mortality and causes of death among people with and without cognitive impairment and has important implications on service planning.

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The Joint Effects of Loneliness and Depression on Mortality: Does Gender Matter?

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.1034 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 323-323

Author(s):

Ted Kheng Siang Ng ◽

Abhijit Visaria ◽

Angelique W M Chan ◽

Kheng Siang Ted Ng

Keyword(s):

Los Angeles ◽

Mortality Risk ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Well Being ◽

Joint Effect ◽

Epidemiologic Studies ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Community Dwelling ◽

Increased Risk

Abstract Loneliness and depression are both associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality among older adults. However, the evidence on the joint effect of loneliness and depression is scarce. Furthermore, previous research has rarely examined the modifying effects of gender. We investigated these questions using the Panel on Health and Aging of Singaporean Elderly, a nationally-representative cohort study of community-dwelling older Singaporean adults aged 60 and above, conducted in 2009 with two follow-up waves in 2011 and 2015 (N=4536). We operationalized six groups based on three categories of loneliness measured using the 3-item University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) loneliness scale: always lonely, sometimes lonely, and never lonely; Two categories of depressive symptom scores were measured using the 11-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) scale: depressed and not depressed. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to estimate the mortality risks for each group, with an extensive set of covariates. Due to significant differences in the prevalence of loneliness and depression in different genders, we conducted gender-stratified analyses. Compared to being not depressed and never lonely, women who were depressed and sometimes lonely and who were not depressed but always lonely had a higher mortality risk. Men who were not depressed but sometimes lonely had a higher mortality risk. We conclude that loneliness appears to be the predominant construct in conferring excess mortality risk. Health policies and interventions addressing the factors common and unique to each gender may improve psychological well-being at older ages, thereby extending the lifespan.

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Theoretical substitutions between dairy products and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Results from the Danish diet, cancer and health cohort

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114521002464 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Anne Sofie D. Laursen ◽

Anne L. Thomsen ◽

Anne Beck ◽

Kim Overvad ◽

Marianne U. Jakobsen

Keyword(s):

Cancer Mortality ◽

Dairy Products ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Dairy Product ◽

Daily Intake ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Low Fat ◽

Specific Mortality ◽

Optimal Health

Abstract A daily intake of dairy products is recommended in many countries in order to maintain optimal health throughout life. However, evidence regarding the association between intake of individual dairy products and mortality is limited. We therfore, explored associations between intake of different dairy products and all-cause and cause-specific mortality using specified theoretical substitution analyses. We analysed data from 55 775 Danish men and women aged 50–64 years between 1993 and 1997. Information about dairy product intake at baseline was collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Information about vital status and causes of death was obtained through national registers. Measures of associations were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression. During a median follow-up of 19·0 years, 11 586 participants died. For all-cause mortality, we observed that the intake of low-fat milk, whole-fat milk or low-fat yogurt products in place of cheese was associated with a higher rate of death (hazard ratios between 1·03 and 1·12 per serving/d substituted). The same pattern was present for CVD mortality. For cancer mortality, whole-fat milk and low-fat yogurt products in place of cheese were also associated with a higher rate of death for men while for women, whole-fat milk in place of buttermilk was associated with a higher cancer mortality rate. The results appeared robust in several sensitivity analyses. Our results suggest that intake of low-fat milk, whole-fat milk or low-fat yogurt products in place of cheese is associated with a higher rate of all-cause and cause-specific mortality.

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Abstract MP35: Association Of Orthostatic Blood Pressure Response With Incident Heart Failure: The Framingham Heart Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.143.suppl_1.mp35 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 143 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Tara A Shrout ◽

Vasan S Ramachandran ◽

Vanessa Xanthakis

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Framingham Heart Study ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Blood Pressure Response ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Heart Study ◽

Orthostatic Blood Pressure

Introduction: Orthostatic hypotension (OH) and hypertension (OHT) are associated with cardiovascular disease and mortality. The relation of OH and OHT with heart failure (HF) in the community is not well explored, particularly among the elderly and those with hypertension. Moreover, there remains a paucity of longitudinal data on the development of HF subtypes (HF with reduced ejection fraction [HFrEF] and HF with preserved ejection fraction [HFpEF]) in those with OH and OHT. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that OH and OHT are associated with a higher risk of HF. Methods: We evaluated 1914 Framingham Heart Study participants (mean age 72 years, 1159 women [61%]), with available orthostatic blood pressure (BP) measurements. OH was defined as a decrease and OHT as an increase of 20/10 mmHg in systolic/diastolic BP from supine to standing position, respectively. We used a categorical variable (OH, OHT, absence of OH and OHT [referent]). Using Cox proportional hazards regression, we related OH and OHT to risk of HF and its subtypes (HFrEF, HFpEF), compared to the referent group, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, systolic BP, diastolic BP, hypertension treatment, smoking, and diabetes. Results: There were 275 participants with OH (181 women, 66%) and 411 with OHT (236 women, 57%). On median follow-up of 13 years, 492 developed HF (292 women, 59%). In multivariable-adjusted analyses, OH was associated with higher risk of HF (Hazards Ratio [HR] 1.47; 95% CI, 1.13-1.92; Figure ) compared to referent. Further, OH was associated with higher risk of HFrEF (HR 2.56; 95% CI, 1.46-4.48), but not HFpEF. OHT was not associated with incident HF. Conclusions: Assessment of orthostatic BP response in the elderly may identify future HF risk. Further studies are warranted to investigate mechanisms underlying the observed associations.

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Abstract 25: Six-year Change in C-reactive Protein Levels and Risk of Incident Diabetes, Cardiovascular Events and Mortality

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.129.suppl_1.25 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Christina M Parrinello ◽

Pamela L Lutsey ◽

Christie M Ballantyne ◽

Aaron R Folsom ◽

James S Pankow ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Proportional Hazards ◽

Cohort Analysis ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Baseline Measure ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Inflammatory Status ◽

Increased Risk

Background: High levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mortality. It is unclear whether changes in CRP or persistently high CRP are associated with these outcomes beyond the baseline measure. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort analysis of 10,229 participants from the ARIC Study with two measurements of CRP six years apart (at visits 2 and 4, 1990-92 and 1996-98, respectively). CRP was categorized into two groups using a standard cut-point for defining high levels (≥3 vs. <3 mg/L). Six-year change in CRP was categorized as: persistently not high (<3 mg/L), decreasing (≥3 to <3 mg/L), increasing (<3 to ≥3 mg/L), and persistently high (≥3 mg/L). Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between visit 2 CRP, visit 4 CRP and six-year change in CRP and each of the following outcomes from visit 4 through 2010: diabetes, coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke, heart failure and all-cause mortality. Models were adjusted for traditional risk factors at visit 2. Sensitivity analyses additionally adjusted for visit 4 covariates. Results: Persons with CRP ≥3 mg/L at visit 2 or 4 had higher risk of each outcome compared to those with CRP <3 mg/L ( Table ). We observed higher risk of all outcomes in persons with persistently high CRP, and of all outcomes except stroke in persons with increasing CRP, compared to those with CRP <3 mg/L at both visits ( Table ). Persons whose CRP decreased from high to <3 mg/L did not have significantly increased risk of cardiovascular outcomes or diabetes compared to those with CRP persistently <3 mg/L. Results were similar after adjusting for visit 4 covariates. Conclusions: Persons with sustained high levels of CRP or whose CRP increased to high levels had higher risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and death, while those whose levels decreased from high to moderate or low were at lower risk. Multiple measures of CRP may better characterize inflammatory status and provide more comprehensive information regarding long-term risk.

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