Poisson Log-linear Regression Research Articles

Trends and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes associated with stimulant-related disorder diagnosis.

Stimulant-related disorders (SRD), or the continued misuse of illicit or prescribed stimulants, during pregnancy can have adverse health effects for mothers and infants. This study aimed to measure prevalence and trends of SRD diagnosis in pregnancy, and associations between SRD diagnosis and adverse maternal and infant health outcomes, among pregnant individuals in California. Retrospective cohort study. California, USA. Pregnant individuals from the Study of Outcomes in Mothers and Infants (SOMI) with singleton live births between 2012 and 2020 (n = 3 740 079). SRD diagnosis (excluding cocaine) and maternal (gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension [gHTN], severe maternal morbidity [SMM]) and infant (very preterm birth [gestational age <32 weeks], preterm birth [gestational age 32-37 weeks], neonatal intensive care unit [NICU] admission, small for gestational age [SGA]) outcomes were classified using International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes and vital statistics. Risk ratios were estimated with modified Poisson log linear regression that accounted for sibling pregnancies. Covariates included maternal sociodemographic characteristics, mental and physical health problems, nicotine use and co-occurrence of other diagnosed substance use disorders. Bias analyses were conducted to address unmeasured confounding and exposure misclassification. SRD diagnosis among pregnant individuals increased from 2012 to 2020 (554 to 748 per 100 000 births). SRD diagnosis was associated with an increased risk of SMM (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] = 2.3; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.2-2.5), gHTN (aRR = 1.8; 95% CI = 1.7-1.9), very preterm birth (aRR = 2.2, 95% CI = 2.0-2.5), preterm birth (aRR = 2.1, 95% CI = 2.1-2.2) and NICU admission (aRR = 2.0, 95%CI = 1.9-2.0), and a decreased risk of gestational diabetes (aRR = 0.8; 95% CI = 0.8-0.9). SRD diagnosis was not associated with infants born SGA. Findings were generally robust to unmeasured confounding and misclassification of diagnosis. Stimulant-related disorder diagnosis during pregnancy appears to be associated with an increased risk for select adverse maternal and infant health outcomes including severe maternal morbidity, gestational hypertension, very preterm birth, preterm birth and neonatal intensive care unit admission.

Periconceptional Supplementation with Folic Acid or Multiple Micronutrients Containing Folic Acid and the Risk for Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between supplementation containing folic acid only (FAO) or multiple micronutrients containing folic acid and the risk for hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP). Subjects and Methods: The retrospective cohort study was based on data from women who gave birth from 2016 to 2018 at Tongzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Beijing, China. The outcomes were HDP diagnosed after the 20th week of pregnancy, including gestational hypertension (GH), preeclampsia, and eclampsia. Associations between supplementation patterns and HDP were estimated by Poisson loglinear regression models. Sensitivity analyses were based on prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and maternal age. Results: Among the 25,866 women included in the study, periconceptional use of FA supplementation marginally reduced the risk for HDP (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] = 0.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.73–1.04). Women who began FAO supplementation before conception had a lower risk for GH compared to those who began after conception (aRR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.45–0.78). The risk for HDP also reduced among FAO users who began supplementation before conception with a normal prepregnancy BMI (aRR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.49–0.84) and users ≥30 years old (aRR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.58–0.98). Conclusions: Periconceptional FAO supplementation may reduce the risk for HDP, especially GH. The protective effects are greater among women with a normal prepregnancy BMI and those ≥30 years old.

Prostate size ≥ 100g and its association with long-term outcomes of Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy.

It is unknown whether perioperative and functional outcomes of Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RS-RARP) may be affected by large prostate sizes (PS). All patients treated with RS-RARP were identified and compared according to PS. The definition of PS relied on the prostatic weight at final pathology (PS < 100g vs ≥ 100g). Multivariable logistic regression models tested immediate and 12-month urinary continence recovery (UCR, namely, 0-1 safety pad per-day), and positive surgical margins (PSM). Multivariable Poisson log-linear regression analyses tested operative time (OT), estimated blood loss (EBL), and length of stay (LOS). The analyses relied on the database of a high-volume European institution (2010-2022). Of 1,555 overall patients, 1503 (96.7%) had a PS < 100g and 52 (3.3%) had a PS ≥ 100g. No differences were recorded in LOS (3days), and intraoperative (1.9 vs 2.3%) as well as postoperative complications (13 vs 12%; all p values > 0.05). No significant difference was recorded in PSM (25 vs 23%, p = 0.6). In patients with PS ≥ 100g vs < 100g, immediate UCR rate was 42 vs 64% (p = 0.002), and 12-month UCR rate was 87 vs 88% (p = 0.3). PV ≥ 100g independently predicted worse immediate UCR (odds ratio 0.55, 95% CI 0.30-0.98, p = 0.044), but not worse 12-month UCR (p = 0.3) or higher PSM (p = 0.7). PV ≥ 100g independently predicted longer OT (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.12, 95% CI 1.10-1.15, p < 0.001) and higher EBL (IRR 1.26, 95% CI 1.24-1.28, p < 0.001), but not longer LOS (p = 0.3). RS-RARP is a valid option for prostate cancer treatment, even in case of very large prostates. Specifically, no significant association was recognized between PS ≥ 100g and PSM or 12-month UCR.

Exploring the role of in-patient magnetic resonance imaging use among admitted ischemic stroke patients in improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare resource utilization.

Despite the diagnostic and etiological significance of in-patient MRI in ischemic stroke (IS), its utilization is considered resource-intensive, expensive, and thus limiting feasibility and relevance. This study investigated the utilization of in-patient MRI for IS patients and its impact on patient and healthcare resource utilization outcomes. This retrospective registry-based study analyzed 1,956 IS patients admitted to Halifax's QEII Health Centre between 2015 and 2019. Firstly, temporal trends of MRI and other neuroimaging utilization were evaluated. Secondly, we categorized the cohort into two groups (MRI vs. No MRI; in addition to a non-contrast CT) and investigated adjusted differences in patient outcomes at admission, discharge, and post-discharge using logistic regression. Additionally, we analyzed healthcare resource utilization using Poisson log-linear regression. Furthermore, patient outcomes significantly associated with MRI use underwent subgroup analysis for stroke severity (mild stroke including transient ischemic attack vs. moderate and severe stroke) and any acute stage treatment (thrombolytic or thrombectomy or both vs. no treatment) subgroups, while using an age and sex-adjusted logistic regression model. MRI was used in 40.5% patients; non-contrast CT in 99.3%, CT angiogram in 61.8%, and CT perfusion in 50.3%. Higher MRI utilization was associated with male sex, younger age, mild stroke, wake-up stroke, and no thrombolytic or thrombectomy treatment. MRI use was independently associated with lower in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.15-0.36), lower symptomatic neurological status changes (0.64; 0.43-0.94), higher home discharge (1.32; 1.07-1.63), good functional outcomes at discharge (mRS score 0-2) (1.38; 1.11-1.72), lower 30-day stroke re-admission rates (0.48; 0.26-0.89), shorter hospital stays (regression coefficient, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.90-0.94), and reduced direct costs of hospitalization (0.90; 0.89-0.91). Subgroup analysis revealed significantly positive association of MRI use with most patient outcomes in moderate and severe strokes subgroup and non-acutely treated subgroup. Conversely, outcomes in mild strokes (including TIAs) subgroup and acute treatment subgroup were comparable regardless of MRI use. A substantial proportion of admitted IS patients underwent MRI, and MRI use was associated with improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare resource utilization. Considering the multifactorial nature of IS patient outcomes, further randomized controlled trials are suggested to investigate the role of increased MRI utilization in optimizing in-patient IS management.

Infant mortality in Italy: large geographic and ethnic inequalities

BackgroundNeonatal and infant mortality rates are among the most significant indicators for assessing a country's healthcare and social development.This study examined the trends in neonatal, post-neonatal, and infant mortality in Italy from 2016 to 2020 and analysed differences between children of Italian and foreign parents based on areas of residence, as well as the leading causes of death. Special attention was given to the analysis of mortality in 2020, the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, and its comparison with previous years.MethodsData from 2016 to 2020 were collected by the Italian National Institute of Statistics and extracted from two national databases, the Causes of Death register and Live births registered in the population register. Neonatal, post-neonatal, and infant mortality rates were calculated using conventional definitions. The main analyses were conducted by comparing Italian citizens to foreigners and contrasting residents of the North with those of the South. Group comparisons were made using mortality rate ratios. The main causes of death were examined, and Poisson log-linear regression models were employed to investigate the relationships between mortality rate ratios for each cause of death and citizenship, place of residence and calendar year.ResultsIn Italy, in 2020, the neonatal mortality rate was 1.76 deaths per thousand live births and it was 55% higher in foreign children than in Italian children. Foreign children had a higher mortality rate than Italians for almost all significant causes of death. Children born in the South of Italy, both Italian and foreign, had an infant mortality rate about 70% higher than residents in the North. Regions with higher infant mortality were Calabria, Sicily, Campania, and Apulia. In the South, mortality from neonatal respiratory distress and prematurity was higher.In the first months of 2020, between March and June, the first Covid-19 wave, Italy experienced an increase in neonatal and infant mortality compared to the same period in 2016–2019, not directly related to SARS-CoV-19 infection. The primary cause was neonatal respiratory distress.ConclusionsThe neonatal and infant mortality rates indicate the persistence of profound inequalities in Italy between the North and the South and between Italian and foreign children.

Abstract A091: County-level analysis of the link between historical slavery and prostate cancer incidence

Abstract Background: Black individuals with prostate cancer in the US experience the widest racial disparity in both cancer incidence and mortality when compared to the average population. These differences are driven by the intersection of race and a wide range of structural and social determinants of health and equity. Structural and social inequities can drive disproportionate and adverse exposure to violence, poverty, and physical and emotional stress—among other exposures—which may impact biologic risk, health behaviors, and healthcare access. We hypothesize that the impacts of these structural and social determinants are rooted in historical events that continue to inform present day prostate cancer events and outcomes. Methods: This is an ecological study assessing county-level data from 13 states in the Southeastern US. Data on prostate cancer incidence and mortality (NCI: 2018), population estimates (CDC: 2015-2019), structural and social determinants (AHRQ: 2018), and the percentage enslaved individuals (NHGIS: 1860) were obtained. County data were linked across datasets using federal identifiers. Our primary exposure was the legacy of US slavery represented by the percentage of enslaved individuals by county. Random variables such as water access and rail transport (NHGIS: 1860) were used as controls. Variable selection for our multivariable model was informed by a directed acyclical graph that defined the causal relationship between historical slavery and present-day prostate cancer outcomes. Our primary dependent variable was prostate cancer counts per 100,000. We utilized Poisson log-linear regression models to estimate the difference in cancer counts by 10% increase of slave population by county (NHGIS: 1860). Results: Our data included over 3000 counties. In our fully adjusted model, a 10% increase in county slave population was associated with a 1.5% increase in prostate cancer incidence (p&amp;lt;0.001). In this same model, Black race, and age (&amp;gt; 50 years) were associated with a 77% and over 300% increase in cancer incidence (p&amp;lt;0.001). Among Black men, every 10% increase in county slave population was associated with a 1.1% increase in cancer incidence (p &amp;lt; 0.05). Among White men, every 10% increase in county slave population was associated with a 1.5% increase in cancer incidence (p&amp;lt;0.0001). Our adjusted models demonstrated significant increased associations between prostate cancer incidence and education, access to food, segregation index, and social vulnerability index. Conclusions: Our results indicate that a history of slavery is significantly associated with increased county-level prostate cancer incidence for all men in the US, irrespective of their race/ethnicity. The effect of historic slavery persists even after adjusting for present day structural/social determinants of equity and health. These findings demonstrate the importance in acknowledging and incorporating historical inequities and context in evaluating present days inequities in prostate cancer risk, care, and outcomes. Citation Format: Maheetha C. Bharadwaj, Sarah C. Holt, Hari Iyer, John Gore, Tim Rebbeck, Yaw Nyame. County-level analysis of the link between historical slavery and prostate cancer incidence [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A091.

US air pollution is associated with increased incidence of non-syndromic cleft lip/palate

The incidence of NSCLP and NSCP per 1000 live births from 2016 to 2020 was extracted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vital Statistics Database and merged with national reports on air pollution using the Environmental Protection Agency Air Quality Systems annual data. The most commonly reported pollutants were analyzed including benzene, sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM) 2.5, PM 10, ozone (O3), and carbon monoxide (CO). Multivariable negative binomial and Poisson log-linear regression models evaluated the incidence of NSCLP and NSCP as a function of the pollutants, adjusting for race. All p-values are reported with Bonferroni correction. The median NSCLP incidence was 0.22/1000 births, and isolated NSCP incidence was 0.18/1000 births. For NSCLP, SO2 had a coefficient estimate (CE) of 0.60 (95% CI [0.23, 0.98], p<0.007) and PM 2.5 had a CE of 0.20 (95% CI [0.10, 0.31], p<0.005). Among isolated NSCP, no pollutants were found to be significantly associated. SO2 and PM 2.5 were significantly correlated with increased incidence of NSCLP. The American people and perinatal practitioners should be aware of the connection to allow for risk reduction and in utero screening.

Cystic echinococcosis in humans and ruminants in Portugal: a one health approach

Abstract Background Cystic echinococcosis or hydatid disease is an important parasitic zoonosis for public health, although neglected. Despite being a mandatory notification disease both in humans and animals, data in Portugal are almost absent. A collaborative One Health retrospective nationwide study was conducted, bringing together the expertise of public health doctors, veterinarians and epidemiologists. Methods Human hospitalizations caused by cystic echinococcosis and slaughterhouse records of echinococcosis from bovine, ovine and caprine species were obtained. Poisson loglinear regression model was used. Occurrence maps were generated combining animal and human cases. Results From 2008 to 2022, 298 cases of echinococcosis were identified in post-mortem inspection in Portuguese slaughterhouses (bovines n = 125, ovines=288 cases, caprines n = 14). Between 2008 and 2018, cystic echinococcosis caused 582 hospitalizations in Portuguese public hospital, with an average length of 11 (± 15.66) days, resulting in 13 deaths (2.23%). Alentejo was the region with the highest hospitalizations. For every infected animal, a 7% increase in the incidence rate of human hospitalization was found (p = 0.002, Exp(B)=1.070, 95% CI: 1.025 - 1.117). Residing in the Alentejo increased the incidence rate of human hospitalizations by 5.3 times when compared to other regions (p = 0.000, Exp(B)=5.290, 95% CI: 3.835 - 7.296). For every 100,000 person-years, there was a total of 0.528 hospitalizations and the risk of death from echinococcosis was 8 times higher for those living in the Alentejo (p &amp;lt; 0.001, Exp(B)=8.259, 95% CI: 2.427 - 28.106). Conclusions Living in the Alentejo region has shown to be a high-risk factor for echinococcosis. This work gives an accurate recognition of the situation in Portugal, allowing the development of effective health control and education programs to face an important but neglected zoonotic disease under a One Health approach. Key messages • Considering that echinococcosis is still one of the 20 neglected tropical diseases of global health importance, is critical to map and monitor its prevalence and trends. • This study highlights the impact of this neglected zoonosis in humans and livestock, allowing the identification of the most problematic areas for echinococcosis in Portugal.

Sinonasal Organizing Hematoma: Demographics, Diagnosis, and Treatment Outcomes of 112 patients.

Sinonasal organizing hematoma (OH) is a rare, nonneoplastic lesion that often presents with epistaxis, a reddish mass, and destruction of the involved sinonasal structures. Due to its rarity, the demographics, diagnostic modalities, treatment strategies, and outcomes have not yet been studied in a large, long-term study. Retrospect cohort of 112 sinonasal OH patients treated between 1997 and 2020 in a tertiary, university hospital were evaluated. Demographics, systemic comorbidities, sinonasal surgery history, serum laboratory tests, radiological findings, and treatment results were collected. The present study aimed to assess the accuracy of preoperative computed tomography (CT), Gadolinum-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR), and punch biopsies in detecting sinonasal OH as the most likely diagnosis. In addition, incidental differences by age and year of diagnosis were calculated using the Poisson log-linear regression model. The median age was 44, and 58% were male. Fewer than 20% of these cases had a chronic systemic comorbidity, bleeding tendency, or sinonasal surgery history. MR had the highest accuracy of (87%) to detect sinonasal OH as the most likely diagnosis, compared with contrast-enhanced-CT (53%), punch biopsy (49%), and non-enhanced-CT (16%) (all <0.05). Sinonasal OH incidence did not vary by age, but the yearly rate significantly increased by 1.05 times over 23 years (p < 0.05). Notably, 84% of 112 patients received surgical removal through the assistance of an endoscope, and none had substantial bleeding without preoperative embolization. Sinonasal OH was observed regardless of age, sex, systemic comorbidities, bleeding tendency, prior sinonasal surgery, or trauma. Preoperative MR gives the highest accuracy for detecting this disease. Sinonasal OH may be safely managed with endoscopic-assisted surgery removal without embolization. 4 Laryngoscope, 134:1581-1590, 2024.

Coverage and predictors of influenza and pertussis vaccination during pregnancy: a whole of population-based study

BackgroundRespiratory infections including influenza and pertussis are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in mothers and newborns. Vaccination during pregnancy against influenza and pertussis is recommended for all women but data on uptake in Australia is limited. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study in Australia’s largest state, New South Wales (NSW), using a Perinatal Data Collection (PDC). Data included demographic, pregnancy, and birth details including pertussis and influenza vaccination during pregnancy for all women giving birth between 01 January 2016 and 31 December 2020. We used descriptive statistics to assess uptake of influenza and pertussis vaccination during pregnancy and Poisson loglinear regression to estimate associations between maternal characteristics and vaccine receipt. ResultsDuring 2016–2020, there were 477,776 births (mean maternal age 32.25 years). In 176,255 (36.9%) births the mother received both vaccines; 202,922 (42.5%) influenza and 315,620 (66.1%) pertussis vaccine. From 2016 to 2020, reported coverage increased from 26.7% to 58.7% for influenza and 43.1% to 78.8% for pertussis, respectively. After adjustment, characteristics associated with lower likelihood of receiving influenza and pertussis vaccination included: younger age (<30 years), being born in Australia/New Zealand, from lower socio-economic strata, having previous pregnancies, being later to first antenatal care, utilising the public hospital care model, smoking, having chronic hypertension and BMI > 25 kg/m2. ConclusionsWhile reported coverage of both influenza and pertussis vaccine in birthing women in NSW has increased over time, disparities in coverage exist and they highlight areas where evidence-based interventions to improve maternal vaccination could be targeted.

MP61-11 RETZIUS-SPARING ROBOT-ASSISTED RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY AFTER PREVIOUS TRANS-URETHRAL RESECTION OF THE PROSTATE: ASSESSMENT OF FUNCTIONAL AND ONCOLOGICAL OUTCOMES

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023MP61-11 RETZIUS-SPARING ROBOT-ASSISTED RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY AFTER PREVIOUS TRANS-URETHRAL RESECTION OF THE PROSTATE: ASSESSMENT OF FUNCTIONAL AND ONCOLOGICAL OUTCOMES Stefano Tappero, Enrico Vecchio, Erika Palagonia, Giorgia Granelli, Marco Martiriggiano, Ofir Maltzman, Alberto Olivero, Silvia Secco, Aldo Massimo Bocciardi, Antonio Galfano, and Paolo Dell'oglio Stefano TapperoStefano Tappero More articles by this author , Enrico VecchioEnrico Vecchio More articles by this author , Erika PalagoniaErika Palagonia More articles by this author , Giorgia GranelliGiorgia Granelli More articles by this author , Marco MartiriggianoMarco Martiriggiano More articles by this author , Ofir MaltzmanOfir Maltzman More articles by this author , Alberto OliveroAlberto Olivero More articles by this author , Silvia SeccoSilvia Secco More articles by this author , Aldo Massimo BocciardiAldo Massimo Bocciardi More articles by this author , Antonio GalfanoAntonio Galfano More articles by this author , and Paolo Dell'oglioPaolo Dell'oglio More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003319.11AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: To date, no data exist concerning functional and oncological outcomes of Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RS-RARP) in patients previously treated with trans-urethral resection of the prostate (p-TURP) for benign prostate obstruction. The current study aimed to address the impact of p-TURP on immediate and 12-months urinary continence recovery (UCR), as well as perioperative outcomes and surgical margins after RS-RARP. METHODS: Patients treated with RS-RARP for prostate cancer at a single high-volume European institution were identified and stratified according to p-TURP. Intraoperative and postoperative complications were reported according to EAU guidelines standardized methodology. Univariable and multivariable logistic, Poisson log-linear and Cox regression models were performed. RESULTS: Of 1,386 RS-RARP patients, 99 (7%) had history of p-TURP. According to EAU intraoperative adverse events classification (EAUiaiC), the most common intraoperative complications were EAUiaiC grade 1 (n=26/31, 84%). The most common postoperative complications were Clavien-Dindo grade 2 (n=67/174, 39%), and the most common reason of readmission was infected lymphocele (n=8/16, 50%). Between p-TURP and no-TURP patients no differences were detected in terms of rates of intraoperative complications (2 vs 2%), in-hospital postoperative complications (12 vs 11%), and readmissions (1 vs 1%; all p values≥0.8). At catheter removal, the rates of immediate UCR were 40 vs 67% in p-TURP vs no-TURP patients (p<0.001). At 12 months from RS-RARP, the rates of UCR were 68 vs 94% in p-TURP vs no-TURP patients (p<0.001). At multivariable logistic and Cox regression models, p-TURP was independently associated, respectively, with lower immediate (odds ratio [OR]: 0.32, p<0.001) and 12-months UCR (hazard ratio: 0.54, p<0.001). At multivariable Poisson analyses, p-TURP predicted longer operative time (rate ratio: 1.08, p<0.001) but not longer length of stay or time to catheter removal (p values>0.05). Positive surgical margins rates were 23 vs 17% in p-TURP vs no-TURP patients (p=0.1), which translated in a non significant multivariable OR of 1.14 (p=0.58). CONCLUSIONS: RS-RARP in patients with history of TURP for BPO may be longer and associated with worse urinary continence recovery both at bladder catheter removal and at subsequent time-points. In the current series, p-TURP patients harbored low complication rates, and surgical margins rates comparable to their no-TURP counterparts. Source of Funding: None © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e856 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Stefano Tappero More articles by this author Enrico Vecchio More articles by this author Erika Palagonia More articles by this author Giorgia Granelli More articles by this author Marco Martiriggiano More articles by this author Ofir Maltzman More articles by this author Alberto Olivero More articles by this author Silvia Secco More articles by this author Aldo Massimo Bocciardi More articles by this author Antonio Galfano More articles by this author Paolo Dell'oglio More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Safety incidents and obstructive sleep apnoea in railway workers.

Current evidence is lacking to justify more stringent screening for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in the rail industry. Population-based studies indicate a complex association between body mass index, age, apnoea-hypopnoea index and vehicle crash risk. To study the association between OSA severity and the occurrence of safety incidents in safety-critical rail workers with a confirmed diagnosis of OSA, and to identify if OSA treatment is associated with the occurrence of fewer safety incidents. A retrospective medical file audit was conducted on railway workers attending health assessments between 2016 and 2018, who met the criteria to be referred for sleep studies. The association between OSA severity, treatment and the number of incidents in the 3 years before their health assessment appointment was explored using a Poisson log-linear regression. A substantial proportion (44%, 274/630) of railway workers with confirmed OSA had at least one incident in the 3 years prior to appointment. The odds of an incident were significantly reduced in those with moderate OSA compared with severe OSA (odds ratio [OR] 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.64-0.98), but not those with mild OSA (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.76-1.24). There was a statistically significant relationship between combined OSA severity and treatment status, where the likelihood of an incident increased in those with severe untreated OSA compared with those receiving treatment (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.16-2.64). Our results suggest that more stringent screening to identify severe OSA early, and close surveillance of treatment of those with severe OSA, should be considered.

Delayed Medical Care of Underserved Middle-Aged and Older African Americans with Chronic Disease during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: While African American middle-aged and older adults with chronic disease are particularly vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unknown which subgroups of this population may delay seeking care. The aim of this study was to examine demographic, socioeconomic, COVID-19-related, and health-related factors that correlate with delayed care in African American middle-aged and older adults with chronic disease. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 150 African American middle-aged and older adults who had at least one chronic disease were recruited from faith-based organizations. We measured the following exploratory variables: demographic factors (age and gender), socioeconomic status (education), marital status, number of chronic diseases, depressive symptoms, financial strain, health literacy, COVID-19 vaccination history, COVID-19 diagnosis history, COVID-19 knowledge, and COVID-19 perceived threat. The outcome was delay in chronic disease care. Results: According to the Poisson log-linear regression, higher level of education, higher number of chronic diseases, and depressive symptoms were associated with a higher level of delayed care. Age, gender, COVID-19 vaccination history, COVID-19 diagnosis history, COVID-19 perceived threat, COVID-19 knowledge, financial strain, marital status, and health literacy were not correlated with delayed care. Discussion: Given that higher healthcare needs in terms of multiple chronic medical diseases and depressive symptomatology but not COVID-19-related constructs (i.e., vaccination history, diagnosis history, and perceived threat) were associated with delayed care, there is a need for programs and interventions that assist African American middle-aged and older adults with chronic disease to seek the care that they need. More research is needed to understand why educational attainment is associated with more delayed care of chronic disease in African American middle-aged and older adults with chronic illness.

Temporal variation of excess deaths from diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States

BackgroundAlthough the COVID-19 pandemic has persisted for more than two years with the evident excess mortality from diabetes, few studies have investigated its temporal patterns. This study aims to estimate the excess deaths from diabetes in the United States (US) during the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluate the excess deaths by spatiotemporal pattern, age groups, sex, and race/ethnicity. MethodsDiabetes as one of multiple causes of death or an underlying cause of death were both considered into analyses. The Poisson log-linear regression model was used to estimate weekly expected counts of deaths during the pandemic with adjustments for long-term trend and seasonality. Excess deaths were measured by the difference between observed and expected death counts, including weekly average excess deaths, excess death rate, and excess risk. We calculated the excess estimates by pandemic wave, US state, and demographic characteristic. ResultsFrom March 2020 to March 2022, deaths that diabetes as one of multiple causes of death and an underlying cause of death were about 47.6 % and 18.4 % higher than the expected. The excess deaths of diabetes had evident temporal patterns with two large percentage increases observed during March 2020, to June 2020, and June 2021 to November 2021. The regional heterogeneity and underlying age and racial/ethnic disparities of the excess deaths were also clearly observed. ConclusionsThis study highlighted the increased risks of diabetes mortality, heterogeneous spatiotemporal patterns, and associated demographic disparities during the pandemic. Practical actions are warranted to monitor disease progression, and lessen health disparities in patients with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Extension of generalized Poisson log-linear regression models for analysing three-way contingency table: Application to malaria data

This study presents the extension of generalized Poisson (GP-1 and GP-2) models for three-way contingency table. We assume a mixed systematic component of the log-linear models for contingency tables to produce a linear transformation for the link function of Generalized Linear Models (GLMs). Maximum likelihood estimation method was derived for the parameters estimates of the models. An over-dispersed malaria data of 2019 was considered for the study. The GP-1 and GP-2 models for three-way contingency table was used to model the data. Based on Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) goodness-of-fits measures, the GP-2 model outperformed the GP-1 model for three-way contingency table on malaria data. We found that some parameters of the full model were statistically significant as; malaria cases was sensitive to all ages considered in the study, and people were more infected with malaria in the month of April, June, and July 2019.

Miniscrews for orthodontic anchorage: analysis of risk factors correlated with the progressive susceptibility to failure

The phenomenon of orthodontic anchorage miniscrews loosening after being implanted several times happens in daily clinical practice, and the reasons need to be traced. This study aimed to investigate the underlying risk factors influencing the progressive susceptibility of orthodontic miniscrews to failure. Overall, 889 miniscrews were successively inserted into 347 patients because some loosened or fell off once, twice, or more before achieving their purposes. The number of miniscrew failures (ie, once, twice, or more) was defined as progressive susceptibility to failure. The clinical indicators were assessed via univariate analysis, multicollinearity diagnosis, and Poisson log-linear regression model with stepwise calculation to screen out. The progressive susceptibility of miniscrews to failure was proved to be affected by the age of patients, the onset of force application, site of placement, and appliance type. Age and onset of force application presented a negative relationship with susceptibility. Miniscrews inserted in the palatal region appeared to be more stable than the forepart of the arch. In contrast, the retromaxillary and retromandibular areas obtained the lowest stability. The patients with fixed appliances were more unlikely to suffer progressive failure than removable appliances. In addition, the larger number of screws inserted in each patient, the greater probability of failure. Younger people with removable appliances that miniscrews inserted in the retromaxillary or retromandibular regions and earlier onsets of loading had a higher progressive susceptibility to loosening. Meanwhile, the failure rate was elevated with the increasing number of screws per patient received.

HRM Practices, Organizational Culture and Nurse Staffing Turnover among High-Medicaid Nursing Homes

Nurse staffing turnover has been associated with nursing home quality, such as worse resident outcomes, higher rates of infection, and hospitalizations. Nurse staffing turnover can be worse in under-resourced nursing homes, such as those with a high proportion of Medicaid residents. These organizations may lack the resources to attract and retain nurse staff, and this could contribute to higher nurse turnover. However, even within this group of under-resourced nursing homes, we observe variations in nurse turnover rates. Using the resource-based view of the firm (RBV), we explored the role that both human resource management (HRM) practices and organizational culture may have in explaining the variations in nursing staff turnover among high Medicaid nursing homes. Data consisted of survey and secondary data sources for 2017-2018. Survey data comprised 348 responses (33% response rate) from a national mailer of US nursing home administrators in high-Medicaid (85% or higher) facilities. Survey data were merged with secondary datasets including Long-Term Care Focus (LTCFocus) and the Area Health Resource File (AHRF). The dependent variables (nurse staffing turnover rates) consisted of the percentages of registered nurses (RNs)/licensed practical nurses (LPNs)/certified nurse aides (CNAs) that had voluntarily quit the organization during the past year. The first independent variable, HRM practices, consisted of three sub-scales: traditional, employee-centered, and high involvement practices. The second independent variable consisted of nursing homes’ classification into one of four organizational cultures: clan, market, hierarchical, and non-dominant. Organizational and market variables were controlled for. Data were modeled using Poisson log-linear regression, and propensity score weights were used to adjust for potential survey non-response bias. Results show that high involvement HRM practices and having a clan culture (compared to a market, hierarchical, and non-dominant culture) are associated with lower RN, LPN, and CNA staffing turnover. The findings of this study highlight the importance of organizational culture as well as HRM practices for practitioners and policy makers to more effectively target their efforts to reduce nurse turnover in high Medicaid nursing homes. By reducing turnover, these under-resourced facilities may be able to lower costs and improve their financial performance, which may ultimately reduce the likelihood of closure with implications for access to long-term care. Similarly, lower nurse staffing turnover rates may improve quality of care for a particularly vulnerable nursing home population, i.e. those with lower SES and racial/ethnic minorities.

Analyzing travel destinations distribution using large-scaled GPS trajectories: A spatio-temporal Log-Gaussian Cox process

Under the increasingly serious city diseases, it is very important to deeply understand the spatio-temporal correlation between travel destination and urban built environment. The spatio-temporal point process has been widely used in many specific fields to explore the evolution of events. We employ a spatio-temporal Log-Gaussian Cox process model (LGCP) to analyze travel destination, which consists of three different components: a spatial component λ(s), a temporal component μ(t), and a separable log-Gaussian stochastic intensity field exp{Υ(s,t)}, to model and predict the destination. The spatial component and temporal component are modeled by the Poisson log linear regression model combined with covariates of interest separately. Spatial covariates including land use, demographics, travel origins and road network, and temporal covariates including the periodic function, weekdays and weekend variation, are selected as influencing factors to analyze the impact of building environment on travel destinations under different combinations of spatial and temporal covariates. Then, an extensible Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm is applied to simulate Gaussian random field, and the fitted LGCP model can be used to obtain the prediction distribution of Gaussian random field beyond the last time point of data observation. In the experiment, taxi destination data collected in Shenzhen city May 6 to May 23, 2019 are used to validate modeling performance. The results in experiment shows the space–time positions of destination simulated by LGCP model are very similar to those observed. This study can provide strategy for urban planners and transportation administration to conduct reasonable policy to balance travel demand and public resources.

Linking farm production diversity to household dietary diversity controlling market access and agricultural technology usage: evidence from Noakhali district, Bangladesh

Background and objectiveDiversified agricultural production is considered a means to enhance food diversity at the household level, particularly in developing countries where subsistence farming is common. Given the importance of a diversified diet for human health and the persistent malnutrition problem in Bangladesh, a pressing issue is how different crops and livestock production affect household food diversification, and this study sought to answer that question. MethodsUsing a multistage sampling procedure, data were collected from 190 small farm holder households from Hatiya (a coastal rural sub-district of Noakhali, Bangladesh). Farm production diversity (FPD) is measured using the household biodiversity index (HBI), a simple count of all crops and livestock produced on the farm. The household dietary diversity score (HDDS) is calculated, according to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) guidelines, by counting 12 food groups consumed by the households in the last 24 h preceding the survey. ResultsOn average, households consumed 6.49 food groups during the reference day, according to the household biodiversity index (HBI). The generalized Poisson log-linear regression results indicated that farm production diversity had a positive association with HDDS; one group of farm production increased the household dietary diversity (HDD) by 0.084 unit [β: 0.084, 95% CI: 0.064, 0.106; Exp (B): 1.087], an 8.7% increase in dietary diversity. Total land size, less time to reach the district market, and improved irrigation process affect dietary diversity in bivariate analysis. Farmer's reliance on production diversity reduces when the market is more accessible and improved irrigation is used for production. ConclusionSmallholder farm households in Bangladesh could benefit from context-specific, food-based nutrition-sensitive agriculture policies that focus on triangulation of diversified production, greater market access, and updated agricultural technology utilization.

Decreased Incidence of Pediatric Intussusception during COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) changed the epidemiology of various diseases. The present study retrospectively investigates the epidemiologic and clinical changes in pediatric intussusception for ages ≤ 7 years before (February 2019–January 2020) and after (February 2020–January 2021) the COVID-19 outbreak in a single pediatric emergency department of a university-affiliated tertiary hospital. The incidence of communicable diseases—defined as infectious diseases with the potential for human-to-human transmission via all methods, non-communicable diseases, and intussusception were decreased following the COVID-19 outbreak (15,932 to 3880 (24.4%), 12,994 to 8050 (62.0%), and 87 to 27 (31.0%), respectively). The incidence of intussusception correlated significantly with the change in incidence of communicable diseases (Poisson log-linear regression, odds ratio = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.08–4.26, and p = 0.029). Compared with the pre-pandemic period, patients of the pandemic period showed higher proportions of pathologic leading point (PLP) and hospitalization (14.8% vs. 2.3% and 18.5% vs. 4.6%, respectively), lower base excesses (−4.8 mmol/L vs. −3.6 mmol/L), and higher lactate concentrations (1.7 mmol/L vs. 1.5 mmol/L). The incidence of pediatric intussusception decreased after the COVID-19 pandemic. This reduced incidence may be related to the reduced incidence of communicable diseases. However, the proportions of more severe diseases and PLPs were higher after the COVID-19 pandemic.