Prognosis Of Japanese Patients Research Articles

Cardiovascular Outcome and Mortality in Patients Undergoing Endovascular Treatment for Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease - Short-Term Results of the Toma-Code Registry.

The present study was performed to clarify whether the preoperative clinical symptoms for endovascular therapy (EVT) can predict post-EVT death and cardiovascular prognosis in Japanese patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), including acute disease.Methods and Results:The TOkyo taMA peripheral vascular intervention research COmraDE (Toma-Code) Registry is a Japanese prospective cohort of 2,321 consecutive patients with PAD treated with EVT, in 34 hospitals in the Kanto and Kōshin'etsu regions, from August 2014 to August 2016. In total, 2,173 symptomatic patients were followed up for a median of 10.4 months, including 1,370 with claudication, 719 with critical limb ischemia (CLI), and 84 with acute limb ischemia (ALI) for EVT. The all-cause death rates per 100 person-years for claudication, CLI and ALI were 3.5, 26.2, and 24.5, respectively. Similarly, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) rates per 100 person-years for claudication, CLI, ALI, and others were 5.2, 31.2, and 29.7, respectively. After adjusting for the predictors of all-cause death and MACCE, namely, age, body mass index <18, diabetes mellitus, dialysis, cerebrovascular disease, and low left ventricular ejection fraction, it was determined that the preoperative indication for EVT was strongly associated with all-cause death and MACCE. The preoperative clinical symptoms for EVT can predict the prognosis in patients with PAD undergoing EVT.

Impact of Body Mass Index on Survival of Pancreatic Cancer Patients in Japan.

The impact of body mass index (BMI) on postoperative survival in Japanese patients with pancreatic cancer is unclear. We examined the relationship between preoperative BMI and the prognosis of Japanese patients who underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer to determine whether BMI affects these patients' prognosis. Of the patients who underwent pancreatectomy between January 2004 and August 2015 at our institution, 246 were pathologically diagnosed with pancreatic tubular adenocarcinoma; the cancer was located in the pancreatic head (n=161) and in the body and tail (n=85). We classified the patients by BMI: underweight (n=22), normal weight (n=190), and overweight/obese (n=34) groups. We retrospectively analyzed medical records for patient characteristics, lesion location, disease stage, postoperative complications, chemotherapy, and prognosis. Lesion location, disease stage, postoperative complications, and chemotherapy were not significantly different among the BMI groups. The median survival times were as follows (days): all patients, 686; underweight, 485; normal weight, 694; and overweight/obese, 839. In a multivariate analysis, after adjusting for competing risk factors, low BMI was associated with an increased risk of death (normal weight: HR 0.58, p=0.038; overweight/obese: HR 0.54, p=0.059). High BMI was not found to be a postoperative factor for poor prognosis in Japanese pancreatic cancer patients.

Association between aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 polymorphisms, alcohol consumption, and prognosis in Japanese patients with hypopharyngeal cancer

Association between aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 polymorphisms, alcohol consumption, and prognosis in Japanese patients with hypopharyngeal cancer

The association between high-dose loop diuretic use at discharge and cardiovascular mortality in patients with heart failure.

AimsFew studies have reported the impact of high‐dose loop diuretics at discharge on prognosis in Japanese patients with heart failure (HF). Our purpose was to assess the relationship between the dose of loop diuretics at discharge and cardiovascular mortality in patients with HF.Methods and resultsWe enrolled decompensated HF patients who were admitted to our hospital between March 2010 and March 2015, and compared HF patients who received high‐dose loop diuretics at discharge (HD group) with low‐dose loop diuretics at discharge (LD group) with regard to risk of cardiovascular mortality, and all‐cause mortality. High‐dose loop diuretic was defined as ≥40 mg/day of oral furosemide at discharge. A total of 215 patients were enrolled to the study. The median follow‐up duration was 641 days. All‐cause and cardiovascular mortality were significantly lower in the LD group than in the HD group (10.4% vs. 31.6%, P < 0.001; 2.2% vs. 24.6%, P < 0.001, respectively). High‐dose loop diuretics were associated with cardiovascular mortality in multivariate Cox proportional hazards model (hazard ratio, 16.06, 95% confidence interval 3.457 to 116.8; P < 0.001). The largest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.85) for cardiovascular death was obtained with a threshold of 40 mg furosemide.ConclusionsHigh‐dose loop diuretic use at discharge was one of the predictors of cardiovascular mortality in patients with HF. An oral furosemide dose of 40 mg daily may be defined as ‘high‐dose’ loop diuretics in Japanese patients with chronic HF.

Prognosis of japanese patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis according to motor phenotype

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a clinically heterogeneous disease. The prognosis and motor phenotype in ALS patients has been reported to be variable among different ethnic populations.

SP3-6 - A Multi-Center Observational Study of Dilated Phase of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Introduction: Clinical features of dilated phase of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (dHCM) have not been fully elucidated. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to reveal clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis in Japanese patients with dHCM. Methods and Results: Forty six dHCM patients (59.2 ± 15.6 years old, male 61%) were registered at multiple centers in Japan from April 2015 to June 2017. The interval from the onset of symptoms to the first diagnosis of HCM was 5.8 ± 8.0 years, and from HCM to the transition to dHCM was 11.7 ± 7.9 years thereafter. At the time of detection of HCM, the transition to dHCM, and the registration, left ventricular (LV) diastolic diameter, was 45.3 ± 9.8, 54.4 ± 6.5, and 56.4 ± 8.0 mm, respectively. LV ejection fraction (EF) was 70.1 ± 13.9, 44.8 ± 8.1, and 36.3 ± 9.5%, and the thickness of intraventricular septum was 21.0 ± 7.3, 14.8 ± 4.4, and 12.3 ± 3.7 mm. At registration, New York Heart Association functional class III or IV was 35%. dHCM patients were treated with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors in 82%, b-blocker in 96%, loop diuretics in 62%, and amiodarone in 38%. Twenty nine patients (63%) had prior heart failure hospitalization (HF). Patients with prior HF hospitalization were more likely to have a history of atrial fibrillation and showed lower LVEF compared with those without it. Conclusions: HCM slowly develops into dHCM over about 10 years. dHCM patients have a high rate of heart failure hospitalization.

Longterm Prognosis of 121 Patients with Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis in Japan.

We investigated the risk factors for relapse or prognosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) in Japanese patients presenting to our hospital. From June 1999 through March 2015, we retrospectively recruited 121 patients with EGPA according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria. Frequent relapse was defined as disease occurrence at least once every 2 years after a period of initial remission. The study endpoint was the last examination performed. We used multiple logistic regression to analyze risk factors for relapse or survival in EGPA. Gastrointestinal (GI) involvement with both abnormalities on endoscopy and biopsy (p < 0.01) and symptoms; myocardial involvement with both abnormalities on 1 or more cardiac investigations and symptoms (p < 0.01); and treatment at initial or maintenance with immunosuppressants (p < 0.01) or administration of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG; p < 0.01) were associated significantly more often with frequent relapse than with infrequent. Overall 5-, 10-, and 20-year survival rates were 91.1%, 83.7%, and 68.6%, respectively. Survival in EGPA was associated with age of onset < 65 years. Age at onset of EGPA was the only significant predictor of survival (p < 0.01). Myocardial or GI tract involvement did not affect mortality risk. Patients with myocardial or GI tract involvement had frequent relapses, but these conditions were not reflected in increased mortality. Treatment with immunosuppressants or IVIG in addition to corticosteroids might have improved the prognosis in Japanese patients with EGPA.

Impact of Body Mass Index on the Prognosis of Japanese Patients With Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation

Obesity is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF); however, obesity is associated with lower mortality in patients with established AF, a phenomenon known as the obesity paradox. Previous studies reported inconsistent results regarding effects of body weight on risk of cardiogenic embolism in patients with AF. To determine relation between body mass index (BMI) and prognosis among Japanese patients with nonvalvular AF (NVAF), a post hoc analysis was conducted using observational data in the J-RHYTHM Registry. Subjects were categorized as underweight (BMI <18.5), normal (18.5 to 24.9), overweight (25.0 to 29.9), or obese (≥30kg/m(2)). End points included thromboembolism, major hemorrhaging, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality. Of the 7,406 patients with NVAF, 6,379 patients (70 ± 10years old; BMI, 23.6 ± 3.9kg/m(2)) having baseline BMI data constituted the study group. During the 2-year follow-up period, 111 patients had thromboembolism, 124 experienced major hemorrhage, and 159 died. Multivariate analysis with the Cox proportional hazards model showed that none of the BMI categories were independent predictors of thromboembolism. However, being underweight was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 2.45; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.62 to 3.69; p <0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 3.00, 95% CI 1.52 to 5.91, p= 0.001) when normal weight was used as the reference. Additionally, being overweight was a predictor of lower all-cause mortality (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.95, p= 0.029). In conclusion, being underweight is associated with higher risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality compared with having a normal weight. Being overweight or obese is not associated with increased mortality among Japanese patients with NVAF.

Prognostic implications in patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis and preserved ejection fraction: Japanese multicenter aortic stenosis, retrospective (JUST-R) registry

BackgroundCurrent prognostic implication of symptomatic patients with aortic stenosis (AS) remains undetermined. This study investigated the current prognostic implications of AS-related symptoms and the effect of aortic valve replacement (AVR) on outcome. MethodsWe enrolled 586 consecutive patients with severe AS (aortic valve area <1.0cm2) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (≥50%). All patients were stratified into the following four groups based on the predominant symptoms: Group 1, asymptomatic (n=316); Group 2, chest pain (n=41); Group 3, heart failure (n=192); or Group 4, syncope (n=37). ResultsAS-related symptoms were diagnosed in 270 patients (46.1%), among whom 182 patients (32.2%) received AVR. Thirty-nine patients (6.7%) had cardiac death during the mean follow-up of 16±14 months. AVR was associated with significant reduction in cardiac death in Groups 3 (p<0.001) and 4 (p=0.004) whereas no significant prognostic advantage of AVR was observed in Groups 1 or 2. Cox proportional-hazard multivariate analysis revealed that age, heart failure, and mean pressure gradient (PG) were associated with increased risk of cardiac death in all patients regardless of AVR [hazard ratio (HR): 1.079, 2.090, and 1.008 respectively, all p<0.05]. In the patients without AVR, age, heart failure, syncope, and mean PG were independently associated with cardiac death (HR: 1.130, 3.639, 4.638, and 1.008, all p<0.05). ConclusionThis retrospective study demonstrated the current associations between the types of AS symptoms and prognosis in Japanese patients with severe AS.

"Frequent exacerbator" is a phenotype of poor prognosis in Japanese patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BackgroundThe prognosis of Japanese patients with COPD who suffer repeated exacerbations is unclear, although Westerners with such episodes have a poor prognosis.Materials and methodsWe conducted a 1-year prospective observational trial involving 90 Japanese patients with COPD: 58 nonexacerbators, 12 infrequent exacerbators, and 20 frequent exacerbators classified on the basis of exacerbation frequency (zero, one, and two or more exacerbations/year), respectively, during the previous year were observed prospectively for 1 year. The characteristics of frequent exacerbators, the frequency of exacerbation, and the period until the first event were then compared among the groups.ResultsA total of 78 patients completed the study. Frequent exacerbators had a significantly higher risk of frequent exacerbation in the following year than the case for nonexacerbators (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 2.94 [1.21–7.17], P=0.0340), but not in comparison with infrequent exacerbators (1.51 [0.49–4.63], P>0.05). The mean annual frequency of exacerbations in the following year was significantly (P=0.0020) higher in the frequent exacerbators (1.4 exacerbations/year) than in the nonexacerbators (0.4), but not in the infrequent exacerbators (0.9, P>0.05). The mean period until the first exacerbation was significantly shorter in the frequent exacerbators than in the infrequent or nonexacerbators (P=0.0012). Independent risk factors for future frequent exacerbation included the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease, more severe airflow obstruction, and use of inhaled corticosteroids.ConclusionOur present results indicate that Japanese COPD patients suffering frequent exacerbation have a poor prognosis. The characteristics of Japanese and Western COPD patients suffering frequent exacerbation are similar.

Natural course of congenital hypothyroidism by dual oxidase 2 mutations from the neonatal period through puberty.

We previously reported that biallelic mutations in dual oxidase 2 (DUOX2) cause transient hypothyroidism. Since then, many cases with DUOX2 mutations have been reported. However, the clinical features and prognosis of individuals with DUOX2 defects have not been clarified. We investigated the prognosis of patients with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) due to DUOX2 mutations. Twenty-five patients were identified by a neonatal screening program and included seven familial cases. Their serum TSH values ranged from 18.9 to 734.6 mU/l. Twenty-two of the patients had low serum free thyroxine (fT4) levels (0.17-1.1 ng/dl). Twenty-four of the patients were treated with L-thyroxine. We analyzed the DUOX2, thyroid peroxidase, Na(+)/I(-) symporter, and dual oxidase maturation factor 2 genes of these 25 patients by PCR-amplified direct sequencing. An additional 11 genes were analyzed in 11 of the 25 patients using next-generation sequencing. All patients had biallelic DUOX2 mutations, and seven novel alleles were detected. Fourteen of the patients were able to discontinue replacement therapy, and seven were receiving reduced L-thyroxine doses. Normalization of thyroglobulin lagged several years behind the completion of treatment. Two patients showed permanent hypothyroidism. Except for one case of a learning disability, growth and psychomotor development were normal. The prognosis of Japanese patients with DUOX2 defects was usually transient CH. Delayed improvement of thyroglobulin indicates that these patients have subclinical hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism did not recur in patients during the study period (up to 18 years old).

Prognostic Value of Major Cardiac Event Risk Score Estimated With Gated Myocardial Perfusion Imaging in Japanese Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.

We published a cardiac event risk score (CERS) predicting the risk of major cardiac events (MCEs) within 3 years. The purpose of this study was to verify the prognostic value of the CERS before and after treatment in Japanese patients with coronary artery disease.We retrospectively investigated 612 patients who underwent rest (201)Tl and stress (99m)Tc-tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) between October 2004 and March 2013 and who had a significant stenosis with ≥ 75% narrowing of the arterial diameter detected by coronary angiography performed after confirmation of ≥ 5% ischemia with the SPECT. The patients underwent treatment including revascularization and medication, and thereafter, were re-evaluated with SPECT during a chronic phase and followed-up to confirm prognosis for ≥ 1 year. The endpoint was the onset of MCEs during the follow-up.During the follow-up (36.7 ± 14.5 months), 50 patients (8.7%) experienced MCEs comprising cardiac death (n = 16), non-fatal myocardial infarction (n = 4), and unstable angina pectoris (n = 30). The multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis for the actual occurrence of MCEs showed the summed difference score % and MCE risks estimated with the CERS after treatment to be significant independent variables. Ischemic reduction after treatment contributed significantly to a decrease in the MCE risks. The MCE risks estimated with the CERS after treatment were generally consistent with the incidence of the MCEs actually observed.The CERS after treatment is a valuable formula for predicting prognosis in Japanese patients with coronary artery disease.

Prognosis of Japanese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma who underwent subsequent systemic therapy due to prior failure of VEGF-TKI therapy.

e15615 Background: The present study was conducted to clarify the prognosis of Japanese patients who failed prior VEGF-TKI therapy and to investigate prognostic factors in these patients. Methods: ...

Changes in the prognosis of Japanese patients who developed type 1 diabetes before the age of 30 years

AimsWe investigated changes in vital prognosis according to the year at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in a hospital-based survey. MethodsOf 1054 Japanese subjects diagnosed as T1DM between 1952 and 1999 before the age of 30 and consulted the diabetes center between 1962 and 1999, the survival status up to 2010 or 20 years of follow-up was investigated. Subjects were divided by the year at diagnosis of T1DM: before 1979 (Group A: n=359), 1980 to 1989 (Group B: n=400), and 1990 to 1999 (Group C: n=295). The mortality (/100,000 person years) and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) were calculated, and the effect of year at diagnosis of T1DM was explored by the Cox proportional hazard model. ResultsThe survival status was confirmed in 90.0%. The mortality rate (95%CI) and age and sex adjusted SMR (95%CI) were 457 (288–627) and 3.0 (1.9–4.2) in Group A, 265 (143–387) and 2.2 (1.2–3.2) in Group B, and 144 (29–259) and 1.6 (0.3–2.9) in Group C, respectively. The cumulative survival rate was significantly different according to the year at diagnosis of T1DM (p=0.0239). Cox's proportional hazard model revealed that Groups B and C had significantly lower risks of death than Group A after adjustment for gender and age at diagnosis of T1DM (HR 0.48 [95%CI 0.26–0.87] for Group B and HR 0.25 [95%CI 0.09–0.60] for Group C). ConclusionThis study indicated that vital prognosis is improving according to the year at diagnosis of T1DM and suggested the need of a nationwide survey.

Predictive value of biomarkers for the prognosis of acute pulmonary embolism in Japanese patients: Results of the Tokyo CCU Network registry

BackgroundSeveral studies from Western countries have reported associations between cardiac troponin and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and acute pulmonary embolism prognosis; however, the number of such reports from Asian countries, including Japan, is limited. Thus, we evaluated the relationship between blood biochemical findings and acute-phase pulmonary embolism prognosis in Japanese patients. MethodsThe subjects included 441 patients with acute pulmonary embolism (191 men, 250 women; average age, 65.8±16.0 years) treated at Tokyo CCU Network Institutions from 2009 to 2011 and registered via survey forms. The association between blood biochemical findings at admission and 30-day mortality was investigated. ResultsThe median BNP value was 186.5pg/mL (25th to 75th interquartile range: 49.8–500pg/mL) of 210 cases. No deaths were recorded among those with BNP levels <90pg/mL (n=70), whereas significantly higher mortality (10 deaths/140 cases, 7.1%; p=0.033) was observed among those with BNP levels ≥90pg/mL. A qualitative cardiac troponin test was positive in 58 of the 204 cases (28.4%), with a significantly higher mortality incidence (p=0.017) among the troponin-positive cases [6 (10.3%) versus 3 (2.1%) deaths among the 146 troponin-negative cases]. The overall mean blood glucose level at admission of 331 cases was 152.0±74.0mg/dL, and 30-day mortality significantly increased with blood glucose values (p=0.048). ConclusionsTroponin, BNP, and blood glucose levels are useful prognostic biomarkers for acute pulmonary embolism in Japanese patients.

Impact of Body Mass Index on Progression of IgA Nephropathy Among Japanese Patients.

The impact of being overweight remains unclear in Asian populations that tend to be lean. The objective of this study is to clarify the impact of body mass index (BMI) and metabolic factors on the prognosis of Japanese patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN). A total of 193 patients with IgAN were divided into three groups equally according to BMI: Group L (lean group, BMI: 15.6-20.1 kg/m(2) ), Group M (middle group, BMI: 20.2-23.0 kg/m(2) ), and Group O (obesity group, BMI: 23.1-31.9 kg/m(2) ). Clinical data at the time of renal biopsy and the progression of the patients after renal biopsy were analyzed. At the time of renal biopsy, hypertension, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, and hypercomplementemia in Group O were more significant compared with those in Group L and/or Group M. Uric acid, triglyceride, C3, C4, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, serum creatinine, systolic blood pressure (BP), and diastolic BP were significantly correlated with BMI. In Group O, the remission of urinary protein over 5 years was significantly delayed using a log-rank test. At the final observation, the BMI of each group was as similar as that at renal biopsy. The patients with aggressive therapy, such as steroid therapy and/or tonsillectomy in Group O did not have major side effects, except for a slight elevation of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Even slightly high BMI seems to be a risk factor for progress in Japanese patients with IgAN.

Clinical features and underlying causes of cerebral venous thrombosis in Japanese patients

The clinical symptoms, causative factors, and prognosis in Japanese patients with cerebral venous thrombosis have not been adequately characterized. The present study describes these features in patients in Japan. Twenty-two patients with cerebral venous thrombosis were retrospectively identified. Diagnosis was confirmed by either digital subtraction angiography, magnetic resonance venography, or contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Demographic data and clinical and radiological features were recorded and analyzed for each patient. Prognosis was evaluated by the modified Rankin scale (mRS) at the time of hospital discharge. The most frequent symptom of cerebral venous thrombosis was headache (59.1 %). Causative factors included congenital thrombophilia (31.8 %), acquired thrombophilia (27.3 %), and iron-deficiency anemia (13.6 %). Of seven patients with congenital thrombophilia, four had mutations in the protein S gene, two had mutations in the protein C gene, and one had mutations in the antithrombin gene. All patients were alive at discharge from hospital. Nineteen of the 22 patients (86.4 %) recovered completely or exhibited only mild residual symptoms (mRS 0-2). However, three patients (13.6 %) had a poor prognosis (mRS 3-5). Cerebral venous thrombosis in Japanese patients is frequently associated with congenital thrombophilia and protein S gene mutation.

Treatment pattern and prognosis in Japanese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) with favorable or intermediate MSKCC risk factors in the era of molecular targeted therapy.

532 Background: We investigated the prognosis of Japanese mRCC patients with favorable or intermediate MSKCC risk factors in the era of molecular targeted therapy Methods: Data on patients who started systemic therapies including cytokine and molecular targeted therapies at 18 hospitals between 2008 and 2010 was analyzed. Of these, 269 patients classified as favorable or intermediate prognosis according to MSKCC risk classification were the subject of this analysis. The endpoints of the present study were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Relationships between PFS or OS and clinical variables were assessed using the Cox-proportional hazard model. Results: The median OS of all 268 patients was 38 month, and 3-year OS rate was 51% (95%CI 45-58). Regarding the first-line therapy, IFN-alfa (IFN), sunitinib (SU), sorafenib (SO), and others were administered in 89 (33%), 104 (39%), 40 (15%), and 35 (13%). There were more patients without nephrectomy and with multiple organ metastases in patients received SU or SO compared to patients received IFN. Median PFS (mPFS) and 1-year PFS rate in patients who received IFN, SU, and SO were 5 months and 38%, 12 months and 50%, and 11 months and 48% (p=0.556), respectively. Second-line therapy was performed in 69 patients of first IFN group (mPFS: 9 months), 67 of first SU group (mPFS: 7 months), and 24 of first SO group (mPFS: 3 months). Third-line therapy was performed in 47 patients of first IFN group (mPFS: 11months), 35 of first SU group (mPFS: 5 months) and 12 of first SO group (mPFS 3 months). Median OS in patients who received IFN, SU, and SO as first-line therapy were 45, 29 and 27 months (p=0.093), respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that lower value of serum C-reactive protein and first IFN therapy were associated with more favorable OS (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: In Japanese mRCC patients with favorable or intermediate MSKCC risk factors, first IFN therapy would still be appropriate even in the era of molecular targeted therapy. Furthermore, more potent sequential strategy after first molecular targeted therapy should be established for the improvement of OS.

Impact of Gender on the Prognosis of Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation

Treatment guidelines for atrial fibrillation (AF) used in Western countries describe female gender as a risk factor for thromboembolic events in patients with nonvalvular AF (NVAF). The present study aimed to determine the impact of gender on prognosis of Japanese patients with NVAF. A subanalysis of 7,406 patients with NVAF (mean age 70 years) who were followed-up prospectively for 2 years was performed using data from the J-RHYTHM registry. The primary end points were thromboembolic events, major hemorrhaging, total mortality, and cardiovascular mortality. Compared with male subjects (n = 5,241), female subjects (n = 2,165) were older and displayed greater prevalences of paroxysmal AF, heart failure, and hypertension but less prevalences of diabetes, previous cerebral infarction, and coronary artery disease. Male and female patients had mean CHADS2 (Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age of 75 years or more, Diabetes mellitus and prior Stroke or transient ischemic attack) scores of 1.6 and 1.8, respectively (p <0.001). Warfarin was given to 87% of male patients and 86% of female patients (p = 0.760), and the 2 genders displayed similar mean international normalized ratio of prothrombin time values at baseline (1.91 vs 1.90, respectively, p = 0.756). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that male gender was an independent risk factor for major hemorrhaging (odds ratio 1.59, 95% confidence interval 1.05 to 2.40, p = 0.027) and all-cause mortality (odds ratio 1.78, 95% confidence interval 1.25 to 2.55, p <0.002) but not for thromboembolic events (odds ratio 1.24, 95% confidence interval 0.83 to 1.86, p = 0.297) or cardiovascular mortality (odds ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.56 to 1.66, p = 0.893). In conclusion, female gender is not a risk factor for thromboembolic events among Japanese patients with NVAF who were treated mostly with warfarin. However, male gender is a risk factor for major hemorrhaging and all-cause mortality.

Clinical and immunological predictors of prognosis for Japanese patients with thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis

Clinical and immunological predictors of prognosis for Japanese patients with thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis