Conditional Odds Ratio Research Articles

Firefighters as first-responders in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest – A retrospective study of a time-gain selective dispatch system in the Skåne Region, Sweden

AimTo analyze the impact of a time-gain selective, first-responder dispatch system on the presence of a shockable initial rhythm (SIR), return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and 30-day survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). MethodA retrospective observational study comprising OHCA registry data and dispatch data in the Skåne Region, Sweden (2010–2018). Data were categorized according to dispatch procedures, two ambulances (AMB-only) versus two ambulances and firefighter first-responders (DUAL-dispatch), based on the dispatcher’s estimation of a time-gain. Dual dispatch was sub-categorized by arrival of first vehicle (first-responder or ambulance). Logistic regressions were used, additionally with groups matched (1:1) for age, sex, location, witnessed event, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and ambulance response time. Adjusted and conditional odds-ratios (aOR, cOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) are presented. ResultsOf 3,245 eligible cases, 43% were DUAL-dispatches with first-responders first on scene (FR-first) in 72%. Despite a five-minute median reduction in response time in the FR-first group, no association with SIR was found (aOR 0.83, 95%CI 0.64–1.07) nor improved 30-day survival (aOR 1.03, 95%CI 0.72–1.47). A positive association between ROSC and the FR-first group (aOR 1.25, 95%CI 1.02–1.54) disappeared in the matched analysis (cOR 1.12, 95%CI 0.87–1.43). Time to first monitored rhythm was 7:06 minutes in the FR-first group versus 3:01 in the combined AMB-only/AMB-first groups. ConclusionIn this time-gain selective first-responder dispatch system, a shorter response time was not associated with increased SIR, improved ROSC rate or survival. Process measures differed between the study groups which could account for the observed findings and requires further investigation.

The association of cognitive distortions and the type of gambling in problematic and disordered gambling

BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that particular types of gambling are related to the development of gambling-related problems. Further, gambling-related cognitive distortions contribute to the development of disordered gambling. The aim of the present study is to compare different gambling types with respect to cognitive distortions and the development of disordered gambling. MethodsBased on a proactively screened sample of vocational school students (N = 6718), 309 students were selected to undergo an in-depth interview. We assessed the Gamblers-Belief-Questionnaire (GBQ) to measure gambling-related cognitive distortions and the Stinchfield questionnaire for assessing gambling-related problems. Associations between cognitive distortions, gambling-related symptoms, and types of gambling were analysed using logistic regression analyses. ResultsHigher scores on the GBQ subscale “belief in luck/perseverance” led to a significantly higher chance to be classified as a person with Gambling Disorder (Conditional Odds Ratio (COR) = 1.05, Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.02–1.08) as well as problematic gambling (COR = 1.04, CI = 1.01–1.06). Higher scores on the subscale “illusion of control” were also associated with problematic gambling (COR = 1.04, CI = 1.00–1.08). The multivariate analyses of the gambling types identified only sports betting as a predictor for problematic gambling (COR = 1.91, CI = 1.05–3.49). When controlling for cognitive distortions, sports betting was not significant anymore. With respect to disordered gambling, gambling on electronic gambling machines (EGMs) turned out to be a risk factor besides cognitive distortions (COR = 2.59, CI = 1.04–6.49). DiscussionThe present study confirmed the high relevance of cognitive distortions for problematic and disordered gambling especially for sports betting and gambling on EGMs. Preventive measures and psychotherapy should take these relationships into account.

Deficits in emotion regulation strategies among problematic and pathological gamblers in a sample of vocational school students.

Background and aimsDeficits in emotion regulation (ER) are associated with mental disorders. To date, there are hardly any studies focusing on the role of ER strategies in the context of gambling behavior. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between specific ER strategies and pathological as well as problematic gambling in a proactively recruited sample.MethodsA large and unselected sample (n = 4,928) has been screened proactively and systematically in vocational schools. We assessed the Affective Style Questionnaire to measure ER strategies and the Stinchfield questionnaire for assessing problematic and pathological gambling. Associations were investigated with linear and multinomial logistic regression analyses.ResultsThe analyses showed a significant negative correlation between the subscales “Adjusting” and “Tolerating” and the Stinchfield sum score. Lower scores on these subscales were associated with a higher number of endorsed Stinchfield items. A lower score on the ER strategies “Adjusting” [conditional odds ratio (COR) = 0.95, confidence interval (CI) = 0.91–0.99] and “Tolerating” [COR = 0.95, CI = 0.92–99] led to a higher chance of being classified as a pathological gambler. In problematic gambling, on a subthreshold level, only “Tolerating” turned out to be significant [COR = 0.96, CI = 0.93–0.99].Discussion and conclusionsFor the first time, deficits in specific ER strategies were identified as independent risk factors for problematic and pathological gambling in a large and proactively recruited sample. ER skills, especially acceptance-focused strategies, should be considered in prevention and psychotherapy.

Nested case-control study of selected systemic autoimmune diseases in World Trade Center rescue/recovery workers.

To test the a priori hypothesis that acute and chronic work exposures to the World Trade Center (WTC) site on or after September 11, 2001 were associated with risk of new-onset systemic autoimmune diseases. A nested case-control study was performed in WTC rescue/recovery workers who had received a rheumatologist-confirmed systemic autoimmune disease diagnosis between September 12, 2001 and September 11, 2013 (n = 59), each of whom was individually matched to 4 randomly selected controls (n = 236) on the basis of year of hire (±1 year), sex, race, and work assignment (firefighter or emergency medical service). Acute exposure was defined according to the earliest time of arrival (morning of 9/11 versus later) at the WTC site, and chronic exposure was defined as duration (number of months) of WTC site-related work. Rheumatologists were blinded with regard to each subject's exposure status. The conditional odds ratios (CORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for incident autoimmune disease were derived from exact conditional logistic regression models. Rheumatoid arthritis was the most common autoimmune diagnosis (37% of subjects), followed by spondyloarthritis (22%), inflammatory myositis (14%), systemic lupus erythematosus (12%), systemic sclerosis (5%), Sjögren's syndrome (5%), antiphospholipid syndrome (3%), and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) (2%). The COR for incident autoimmune disease increased by 13% (COR 1.13, 95% CI 1.02-1.26) for each additional month worked at the WTC site. These odds were independent of the association between high acute exposure (working during the morning of 9/11) and disease outcome, which conveyed an elevated, but not statistically significant, risk (COR 1.85, 95% CI 0.86-3.89). Prolonged work at the WTC site, independent of acute exposure, was an important predictor of post-9/11 systemic autoimmune diseases. The WTC Health Program should expand surveillance efforts for those with extended exposures, as early detection can facilitate early treatment, which has been shown to minimize organ damage and improve quality of life.

Comorbid Axis I-disorders among subjects with pathological, problem, or at-risk gambling recruited from the general population in Germany: Results of the PAGE study

The aim of the present study was to analyze comorbid Axis I-disorders in a sample of individuals with at-risk, problem, and pathological gambling. A number of 164 adult gamblers derived from a random sample of 15,023 individuals were compared with a general population sample. The lifetime prevalence of any psychiatric disorder was 93.6% among pathological (five–10 criteria), 83.5% among problem (three or four criteria), and 81.0% among at-risk gamblers (one or two criteria). Substance use disorders were the most common comorbid disorders in gamblers. Logistic regression analyses revealed elevated odds ratios for having a comorbid disorder in at-risk (Conditional Odds Ratio (COR) 3.5, Confidence Interval (CI) 2.6–4.6), problem (COR 4.9, CI 3.3–7.3), and pathological gamblers (COR 4.6, CI 3.0–6.9) compared to the general population. No significant differences were found between at-risk and problem gamblers or problem and pathological gamblers. Compared to at-risk gamblers, pathological gamblers showed elevated rates of comorbid substance use disorders. The data suggest a linear association between gambling disorder severity and comorbid Axis I-disorders. In conclusion, comorbid disorders are very prevalent in individuals with gambling problems. Even at-risk gamblers with one or two DSM-IV criteria show high rates of Axis I-disorders. Therefore, this group should be included in further studies on problematic gambling.

HBV infection and familial aggregation of liver cancer: an analysis of case-control family study.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most important risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The specific aim of this study is to assess the influence of HBV infection on familial aggregation of HCC. We conducted a population-based case-control family study of liver cancer in Taixing, China, in 2001-2002, with a total of 3611 individuals from 202 case families and 202 control families. Conditional logistic regression was used for the case-control data. The approach of GEE2 was used to analyze the family data and age and sex were adjusted in all marginal regression models. The odds ratio for HBV associated with HCC was 41.39 (95% confidence interval (CI): 23.03-74.30). The relatives of cases had a higher risk of liver cancer compared with the relatives of controls with a conditional odds-ratio of 3.06 (95% CI: 1.48-6.33). The association parameters among first- and second-degree relatives were no longer statistically significant when HbsAg was taken into consideration. HBV infection was likely a main reason for the familial aggregation of liver cancer in Southern China.

Use of conditional and marginal odds-ratios for analysing familial aggregation of binary data.

We propose a method for measuring familial aggregation of binary outcomes that incorporates unconditional, i.e., marginal, odds-ratios, for measuring association between outcomes within generations while using conditional odds-ratios to measure association between generations. This method may be used together with marginal odds-ratio models to explore the strength of association between individuals within a generation while accounting for the outcomes of predecessors. Interpretation of resulting odds-ratios is straightforward and a number of features of the method are discussed. An example, using smoking status data from Busselton Health Study families, is used to illustrate our approach.