Propensity Score-matched Control Research Articles

The impact of a lifestyle behaviour change program on healthcare costs: Quasi-experimental real-world evidence from an open-access mobile health app in the Netherlands

ObjectiveRecognizing the substantial role of modifiable risk factors such as physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, and substance use in driving global healthcare expenses, this study aims to assess the impact of a lifestyle behaviour change mobile health (mHealth) app on healthcare costs within a real-world setting. MethodsEmploying a difference-in-difference approach, this research compared healthcare costs between users of an mHealth app (treatment group) and a propensity score-matched control group of non-users. The study included data from 15,506 participants in the Netherlands, covering healthcare cost records collected from 2015 to 2019. ResultsThe implementation of the mHealth app was linked to a steady reduction in healthcare costs, achieving a 4.9 % decrease (β=−0.05,95%CI:−0.10to0.00) during the first year following the program's implementation, and a further 5.3 % decrease (β=−0.05,95%CI:−0.10to−0.00) in the second year. This healthcare costs reduction is associated with lower expenses for general practitioner services as well as diminished specialist visits. Additionally, increased app use led to further cost reductions, with frequency of use proving more important than intensity. ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that a behaviour change mHealth app is linked to significant reductions in healthcare costs, with more frequent and intense use leading to greater savings. Given their relatively low cost and ability to reach diverse population groups, such apps not only enhance individual health outcomes but can also serve as effective policy tools for large-scale health promotion, supporting broader societal health improvements.

The association of higher offspring early-childhood weight gain with prepregnancy metabolic and bariatric surgery.

The objective of this study was to assess maternal gestational outcomes and offspring growth trajectories following prepregnancy metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) compared with non-MBS controls. Single-center deliveries between January 2020 and March 2023 with prepregnancy Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (herein referred to as "bypass"), sleeve gastrectomy (herein referred to as "sleeve"), and non-MBS controls were included. Offspring growth trajectories were compared with the World Health Organization child growth standards. Linear mixed models assessed MBS-bypass and MBS-sleeve offspring weight, length, and BMI trajectories with a prepregnancy BMI 27 to 37 kg/m2 and propensity score-matched controls. The study included 440 participants with prepregnancy MBS (MBS-bypass, 185; MBS-sleeve, 225; 76% Hispanic/Latino) and 13,434 non-MBS controls. Gestational weight gain and gestational diabetes mellitus were similar, whereas hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were more common after MBS. The post-MBS offspring had lower birth weight but higher weight gain at 24 months (sleeve, +1.4 kg [95% CI: 1.0-1.9]; bypass, +0.5-0.7 kg [95% CI: 0.0-1.2]) compared with non-MBS groups. Male children had higher weight gain than females. The post-MBS-sleeve but not the post-MBS-bypass offspring had higher BMI z scores. The higher early-life weight gain and sex differences in the post-MBS-sleeve group compared with the post-MBS-bypass group provide a window toward elucidating pathways to mitigate intergenerational metabolic risk transfer.

Short- and long-term mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes after myocardial infarction– a nationwide registry study

BackgroundType 2 diabetes has traditionally been a risk factor for worse prognosis after myocardial infarction (MI), but major advances have been made in its treatment, and the use of secondary preventive measures has intensified. We evaluated the short- and long-term mortality rates of patients with type 2 diabetes after MI and explored the associations between the characteristics of patients with type 2 diabetes and MI mortality.MethodsMortality rates among consecutive MI patients with type 2 diabetes using oral antidiabetic medication (n = 13,152; 40% female; mean age 73.6 years) and MI patients without diabetes (n = 77,669) treated in Finland from 2004 to 2018 were retrospectively studied using a combination of national registries (median follow-up 5.7 years). Differences between groups were balanced with multivariable adjustments and propensity score matching.ResultsMortality was higher in patients with type 2 diabetes than in the propensity score-matched controls without diabetes at 30 days (12.6% versus 12.0%: p = 0.013), at 1 year (22.4% versus 21.4%; p = 0.001), and at 15 years (83.2% vs. 73.4%; HR 1.20; 95% CI 1.17–1.24; p < 0.0001) after MI. In subgroup analyses, type 2 diabetes was associated with a poorer prognosis across the spectrum of MI patients. The excess mortality risk was attenuated by increasing age but was similar in both sexes. Male sex, age, cardiovascular and noncardiovascular co-morbidities, lack of revascularization, a longer duration of diabetes, and baseline insulin therapy were associated with increased mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes. The one-year prognosis of patients with type 2 diabetes improved during the study period, but the mortality gap compared to patients without diabetes was not altered.ConclusionsType 2 diabetes had a negative impact on both short- and long-term outcome after MI, but effect sizes were relatively small. Patients with longer duration of diabetes or need for insulin therapy are still at particular risk.Graphic abstract

Residual cardiovascular risk in patients with acute coronary syndromes: from hs-CRP and LDL-C to JCAD

Abstract Background Patients with a recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remain at high residual cardiovascular risk to which cholesterol, inflammation, and yet-to-be-identified pathways jointly contribute (1). The novel Junctional Protein Associated with Coronary Artery Disease (JCAD) protein drives incident cardiovascular events via pathways, among them fibrinolysis, that act independently from lipid metabolism and inflammation (2). Purpose Whether circulating JCAD provides predictive utility over and above established risk factors among ACS patients at residual lipid risk (RLR), residual inflammatory risk (RIR), or both (RILR), remains unknown. Methods Among patients participating in the multicentre SPUM-ACS study, patients at RLR (on-statin LDL-C ≥70.0 mg/dl), RIR (on-statin hs-CRP ≥2.0 mg/l) or both (RILR; on-statin LDL-C ≥70.0 mg/dl and CRP ≥2.0 mg/l),(1,3) and propensity-score matched (PSM) controls were identified, and the contributions of plasma hs-CRP, LDL-C and JCAD toward recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke) were studied by fitting uni- and multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazard regression models. Results Patients at RLR, RIR, or both (RILR) were at higher MACE risk compared to controls (hazard ratio [HR] per log2 increase, 1.51; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-2.17; HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.23-2.58; and HR 1.75; 95% CI, 1.12-2.74; Figure 1). Among those at RLR, MACE risk increased with increasing levels of hs-CRP and JCAD, respectively, in uni- (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.06–1.30; HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.03-1.62) and multivariable-adjusted models (adjusted [a]HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.03–1.30; aHR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.01-1.60), whereas no association of LDL-C and future MACE risk was noted. Similarly, among patients at RIR, MACE risk increased by 1.28-fold per log2 increase in plasma JCAD (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.03–1.59), which prevailed in multivariable-adjusted models accounting for potential confounders (aHR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.04–1.65). In ACS patients at both residual inflammatory and lipid risk, MACE risk associated almost linearly with increasing JCAD levels (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.09–1.92), independently of potential confounders (aHR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.11–1.97). Meanwhile, no association of LDL-C or hs-CRP with MACE risk was identified among these high-risk patients (Figure 2). Conclusions ACS patients at RIR, RLR, or both are at high ischaemic risk, with JCAD ranking among the top predictors of MACE across the broad spectrum of residual risk. Our data highlight the importance of novel pathways to address residual cardiovascular risk, with JCAD ranking among most promising candidates.

Real-world effectiveness of primary care psychological therapy for depression and anxiety in patients with coronary heart disease

Abstract Background Depression and anxiety are often inadequately treated in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), despite mental health issues being associated with poorer quality of life, higher cardiovascular morbidity, and higher mortality. Talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, are the recommended first-line treatment for depression and anxiety symptoms in CHD patients. However, the evidence for their effectiveness was considered low in a recent Cochrane review, and trial participants may not represent patients treated in routine clinical settings. Purpose To assess the effectiveness of routinely-delivered talking therapies in patients with CHD from nationwide primary care talking therapy services in England, and to compare their treatment outcomes to patients without a CHD diagnosis. Methods Healthcare records from 1.9 million patients who completed a course of treatment (≥2 treatment sessions) via NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression (NHS TTad) between 2012-2019 were linked to Hospital Episode Statistics, the Mental Health Services Data Set, and death records. Standard NHS TTad outcome indicators (recovery, reliable improvement, and reliable deterioration) were examined in three groups, with (1) any CHD (n=41,317; ICD-10=I20-I25), (2) acute coronary syndromes (ACS, n=29,991; I21, I22, I20.0), and (3) chronic CHD (n=40,524; I20.1-I20.9, I23-I25) at baseline. Effect sizes for pre-post treatment changes in depression and anxiety symptom measures (PHQ-9 and GAD-7) were calculated using the adapted Cohen’s d for within-subjects design (dav). Outcomes were also compared to those of propensity-score matched control groups without the relevant diagnoses, using logistic regression. Results After completing a course of talking therapy, 49.8% (95%CI=49.3;50.3) of patients with CHD recovered from depression or anxiety, 69.4% (95%CI=69.0;69.9) saw reliable improvement in symptoms, and 7.3% (95%CI=7.0;7.5) experienced reliable deterioration in symptoms. There were large reductions in both depression (dav=-1.02) and anxiety symptoms (dav=-1.03) on average. Compared to a control sample of patients with no diagnosis of CHD, those with a CHD diagnosis were less likely to recover (OR=0.87[95%CI=0.84;0.89]) or reliably improve (OR=0.84[95%CI=0.81;0.87]) and more likely to reliably deteriorate (OR=1.28[95%CI=1.21;1.36]), when matched on age, sex, ethnicity, deprivation, baseline depression and anxiety symptom scores, self-reported long-term health condition, and waiting times between referral, assessment, and treatment. The findings were consistent for patients with ACS and those with chronic CHD. Conclusions Nearly half of CHD patients who received primary care talking therapy recovered, in line with the UK Government target of 50% recovery for the services. Nevertheless, compared to otherwise similar patients without CHD, those with CHD at baseline had worse psychological treatment outcomes.

Iodine Excess Is Associated with Thyroid Dysfunction Among the Elderly.

The relationship between high water iodine levels and thyroid dysfunction in the elderly remains poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate how excessive iodine in drinking water affects iodine nutrition and thyroid function in the elderly population. This cross-sectional study was performed in the elderly in Yuncheng, Heze, Shandong. We identified a total of 385 patients with thyroid dysfunction and 385 propensity score-matched controls with euthyroid. Water, urinary, and blood samples were collected to detect the concentrations of iodine in water and urine, as well as thyroid hormones. The median (IQR) iodine concentrations in cooking water and drinking water for the total population were 294.99 (48.99, 478.14) µg/L and 172.87 (20.87, 462.13) µg/L, respectively. Among the elderly, median (IQR) urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was 394.20 (169.47, 764.41) µg/L, and 24-h urinary iodine concentration (24-h UIE) was 523.04 (277.84, 910.76) µg/day. Subjects with thyroid dysfunction reported higher intake of iodine from water (P < 0.001) and urinary iodine levels (P < 0.001) than controls. Logistic regression analysis showed thyroid dysfunction was associated with higher risks of elevated iodine concentrations in cooking water (OR 1.957, 95% CI 1.413-2.711), drinking water (OR 2.206, 95% CI 1.607-3.027), UIC (OR 3.612, 95% CI 2.494-5.230), and 24-h UIE (OR 2.568, 95% CI 1.784-3.698), indicating increased thyroid dysfunction risk among the elderly with high water iodine levels. Elevated iodine levels in water are associated with an increased risk of thyroid dysfunction among the elderly. Clinical trial registry number: Medical Ethics Committee of Tianjin Medical University; Trial registration number: NCT05716191, date of registration was December 08, 2023.

Opportunities and challenges for identifying undiagnosed Rare Disease patients through analysis of primary care records: long QT syndrome as a test case.

Patients with rare genetic diseases frequently experience significant diagnostic delays. Routinely collected data in the electronic health record (EHR) may be used to help identify patients at risk of undiagnosed conditions. Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a rare inherited cardiac condition associated with significant morbidity and premature mortality. In this study, we examine LQTS as an exemplar disease to assess if clinical features recorded in the primary care EHR can be used to develop and validate a predictive model to aid earlier detection. 1495 patients with an LQTS diagnostic code and 7475 propensity-score matched controls were identified from 10.5million patients' electronic primary care records in the UK's Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). Associated clinical features recorded before diagnosis (with p < 0.05) were incorporated into a multivariable logistic regression model, the final model was determined by backwards regression and validated by bootstrapping to determine model optimism. The mean age at LQTS diagnosis was 58.4 (SD 19.41). 18 features were included in the final model. Discriminative accuracy, assessed by area under the curve (AUC), was 0.74, (95% CI 0.73, 0.75) (optimism 6%). Features occurring at significantly greater frequency before diagnosis included: epilepsy, palpitations, syncope, collapse, mitral valve disease and irritable bowel syndrome. This study demonstrates the potential to develop primary care prediction models for rare conditions, like LQTS, in routine primary care records and highlights key considerations including disease suitability, finding an appropriate linked dataset, the need for accurate case ascertainment and utilising an approach to modelling suitable for rare events.

COVID-19 Is a Coronary Artery Disease Risk Equivalent and Exhibits a Genetic Interaction With ABO Blood Type.

COVID-19 is associated with acute risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including myocardial infarction, stroke, and mortality (all-cause). However, the duration and underlying determinants of heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and MACE post-COVID-19 are not known. Data from the UK Biobank was used to identify COVID-19 cases (n=10 005) who were positive for polymerase chain reaction (PCR+)-based tests for SARS-CoV-2 infection (n=8062) or received hospital-based International Classification of Diseases version-10 (ICD-10) codes for COVID-19 (n=1943) between February 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Population controls (n=217 730) and propensity score-matched controls (n=38 860) were also drawn from the UK Biobank during the same period. Proportional hazard models were used to evaluate COVID-19 for association with long-term (>1000 days) risk of MACE and as a coronary artery disease risk equivalent. Additional analyses examined whether COVID-19 interacted with genetic determinants to affect the risk of MACE and its components. The risk of MACE was elevated in COVID-19 cases at all levels of severity (HR, 2.09 [95% CI, 1.94-2.25]; P<0.0005) and to a greater extent in cases hospitalized for COVID-19 (HR, 3.85 [95% CI, 3.51-4.24]; P<0.0005). Hospitalization for COVID-19 represented a coronary artery disease risk equivalent since incident MACE risk among cases without history of cardiovascular disease was even higher than that observed in patients with cardiovascular disease without COVID-19 (HR, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.08-1.37]; P<0.005). A significant genetic interaction was observed between the ABO locus and hospitalization for COVID-19 (Pinteraction=0.01), with risk of thrombotic events being increased in subjects with non-O blood types (HR, 1.65 [95% CI, 1.29-2.09]; P=4.8×10-5) to a greater extent than subjects with blood type O (HR, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.66-1.39]; P=0.82). Hospitalization for COVID-19 represents a coronary artery disease risk equivalent, with post-acute myocardial infarction and stroke risk particularly heightened in non-O blood types. These results may have important clinical implications and represent, to our knowledge, one of the first examples of a gene-pathogen exposure interaction for thrombotic events.

Convalescent anti-SARS-CoV-2 plasma for the treatment of patients with COVID-19: a retrospective study RESCOVID-19

PurposeConvalescent plasma (CP) collected from people who recovered from COVID-19 became a rapidly available treatment modality in numerous countries, including the Czech Republic. The aims of our study were to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CP in the treatment of COVID-19.MethodsThis retrospective observational study involved six Czech hospitals. This study enrolled patients with and without CP treatment who were hospitalized between April 2020 and April 2021. Propensity score matching and logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate the influence of CP administration and its timing on the in-hospital survival of COVID-19 patients.ResultsA total of 1,498 patients were enrolled in the study; 406 (27%) were administered CP, and 1,092 (73%) were not treated with CP. The propensity score-matched control group consisted of 1,218 subjects. The survival of patients treated with CP was 79%, while that of patients in the matched control group was 62% (P<0.001). Moreover, the chance of survival was significantly greater when CP was administered within three days after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms than when CP was administered after four or more days (87% vs. 76%, P <0.001). In addition, adverse effects related to CP administration were recorded in only 2% of patients and were considered mild in all patients.ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that the administration of CP was safe and possibly associated with positive effects that were more pronounced if CP was administered within the first three days after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms.

Feasibility of intravenous vitamin C supplementation in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients.

Intravenous vitamin C was administered following hematopoietic stem cell transplant to mitigate nonrelapse mortality (NRM) in a Phase II clinical trial. Patients with advanced hematologic malignancies received IV vitamin C, 50mg/kg/day, in three divided doses on days 1-14 after HSCT, followed by 500mg bid oral until 6 months. All patients enrolled (55) were deficient in vitamin C at day 0 and had restoration to normal levels. Vitamin C recipients had a trend for lower nonrelapse mortality (NRM, 11%vs. 25%, p-value=0.07) compared with propensity score-matched historical controls. A similar trend toward improved survival was observed (82%vs. 62% p=0.06), with no attributable grade 3 and 4 toxicities to vitamin C. In patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT, repletion of vitamin C is feasible and may reduce NRM and improve overall survival. Randomized trials in large uniform cohorts of patients are needed to confirm the utility of this easily available and inexpensive therapy.

Addiction Consult Service and Inpatient Outcomes Among Patients with OUD

BackgroundDespite rising hospitalizations for opioid use disorder (OUD), rates of inpatient medications for OUD (MOUD) initiation are low. Addiction consult services (ACSs) facilitate inpatient MOUD initiation and linkage to post-discharge MOUD, but few studies have rigorously examined ACS OUD outcomes.ObjectiveTo determine the association between ACS consultation and inpatient MOUD initiation, discharge MOUD provision, and post-discharge MOUD linkage.DesignRetrospective study comparing admissions that received an ACS consult and propensity score–matched historical control admissions.SubjectsOne hundred admissions with an OUD-related diagnosis, of patients not currently receiving MOUD who received an ACS consult, and 100 matched historical controls.InterventionConsultation from an interprofessional ACS offering expertise in MOUD initiation and linkage to post-discharge MOUD.Main MeasuresThe primary outcome was inpatient MOUD initiation (methadone or buprenorphine). Secondary outcomes were inpatient buprenorphine initiation, inpatient methadone initiation, discharge prescription for buprenorphine, linkage to post-discharge MOUD (buprenorphine prescription within 60 days and new methadone administration at a methadone program within 30 days after discharge), patient-directed discharge, 30-day readmission, and 30-day emergency department (ED) visit.Key ResultsAmong 200 admissions with an OUD-related diagnosis, those that received an ACS consultation were significantly more likely to have inpatient MOUD initiation (OR 2.57 [CI 1.44–4.61]), inpatient buprenorphine initiation (OR 5.50 [2.14–14.15]), a discharge prescription for buprenorphine (OR 17.22 [3.94–75.13]), a buprenorphine prescription within 60 days (22.0% vs. 0.0%, p < 0.001; of those with inpatient buprenorphine initiation: 84.6% vs. 0.0%), and new methadone administration at a methadone program within 30 days after discharge (7.0% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.007; of those with inpatient methadone initiation: 19.4% vs. 0.0%). There were no significant differences in other secondary outcomes.ConclusionsThere was a strong association between ACS consultation and inpatient MOUD initiation and linkage to post-discharge MOUD. ACSs promote the delivery of evidence-based care for patients with OUD.

AB011. A propensity-score matched prospective study on the impact of tumour treating fields (TTF) on overall survival and quality of life in newly diagnosed WHO grade 4 astrocytoma patients.

World Health Organization (WHO) grade 4 astrocytoma is a high-grade brain tumour in adults. Tumour treating fields (TTF) has been shown to improve overall survival (OS). Few studies have explored quality-of-life (QoL) in these patients. This study aims to assess the QoL of TTF patients and OS. This was a prospective multicenter study of adult patients diagnosed with WHO grade 4 astrocytoma from 2018 to 2023 receiving TTF for >1 month after completing standard therapy. A propensity-score matched comparison with a 1:2 ratio with historical control was performed for OS analysis. The patients completed European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-30/BN20 questionnaires before TTF and at 3-month interval. Primary outcomes included OS, and secondary outcomes included QoL and TTF-associated adverse effects at 3 months. A total of 141 patients were reviewed, with TTF patients (n=47, 33%) and propensity-score matched controls (n=94). The mean duration of TTF use was 10±8 months. The mean age of the TTF group was 54±13 years, and for the control group 52±13 years. Sixty percent (n=28) were male, similar to the control group with 71% (n=67) (P=0.16). Seventy-two percent of TTF patients had preoperative Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score ≥80, while controls had 70% (P=0.79). Five (11%) TTF patients and 8 (9%) controls were IDH1 mutant (P=0.70). Twenty (43%) TTF patients and 42 (45%) controls were O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase promoter (pMGMT) methylated (P=0.81). Twenty-one (45%) of TTF patients and 55 (59%) of controls had gross total resection (P=0.72). After adjusting for independent predictors for OS, the median OS of the TTF group was 22.4 months [interquartile range (IQR): 18.6-26.5 months], significantly longer than the control group (17.2 months; IQR: 12.1-22.3 months) (log-rank test: P=0.01). Forty-seven TTF patients and 40 control patients completed EORTC questionnaires. There was no difference for EORTC functional and symptom scores between the TTF and control group [P=0.45, analysis of variance (ANOVA)] at 3 months. Thirty-two (67%) of TTF patients reported associated RTOG grade I scalp dermatitis. TTF for WHO grade 4 astrocytoma patients is an independent predictor for OS. QoL between the groups was similar, and overall QoL over time for TTF patients was not affected. TTF is a novel and effective outpatient treatment with minimal adverse effects.

Endometriosis and Sjögren's syndrome: Bidirectional associations in population-based 15-year retrospective cohorts.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder affecting salivary and lacrimal glands, while endometriosis involves uterine-like tissue growth outside the uterus, causing pelvic pain and infertility. Investigating their intricate relationship using real-world data is crucial due to limited research on their connection. This population-based cohort study included patients with endometriosis and controls without endometriosis. Propensity score matching was used to balance baseline differences in demographic and clinic characteristics between the two groups. Cox proportional hazards model were used to estimate the effect of endometriosis on the risk of new-onset pSS over time. A symmetrical cohort study, including patients with pSS and propensity score-matched controls without pSS, was conducted to investigate the effect of pSS on the risk of endometriosis over time. To elaborate on the mechanisms linking endometriosis and pSS, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was performed to identify activated pathways in eutopic endometrium from patients with endometriosis and parotid tissues from patients with pSS. A total of 15 947 patients with endometriosis and 15 947 propensity score-matched controls without endometriosis were included. Patients with endometriosis presented a significantly greater risk of pSS compared to non-endometriosis controls (adjusted hazard ratio, aHR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.29-1.91, p < 0.001). In the symmetrical cohort study, which included 4906 pSS patients and 4,906 propensity score-matched controls without pSS, patients with pSS were found to be at a significantly higher risk of endometriosis compared to non-pSS controls (aHR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.12-2.04, p = 0.012). Ingenuity Pathway Analysis showed that the underlying cellular mechanisms involved autoimmune-related pathways, including activation of dendritic cell maturation, and chronic inflammatory pathways,including the fibrosis signaling pathway. These findings support a bidirectional association between endometriosis and pSS, which may be driven by dendritic cell maturation and fibrosis signaling pathways.

Trade Creation or Diversion?—Evidence from China’s Forest Wood Product Trade

In recent years, trade protectionism and unilateralism have prevailed, and countries around the world have imposed restrictions on log exports. It has also become more difficult for China to import wood resources and export deep-processed wood forest products. Based on panel data from 2000 to 2019, this study uses social network analysis to measure the level of the Chinese wood forest product trade network, takes the Chinese free trade agreements (FTAs) as the natural experiment, and uses the multi-stage double-difference method to investigate the impact of the signed FTAs on China’s wood forest product trade. The study finds that the trade network of Chinese wood forest products is becoming increasingly complex, and the central position of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the network is increasing year by year. The signing of FTAs has had a significant positive impact on the trade of wood forest products in China and a significant trade creation effect. This finding remains true after conducting the placebo test and propensity score-matched regression control. At the same time, the import of wood forest products in China will have a significant trade transfer effect due to the signing of FTAs, and this will not affect exports. Although FTAs show significant trade creation and trade transfer effects in China’s wood forest product trade, they also increase, to a certain extent, the mismatch of forest resources worldwide.

Remission of Obesity-Related Sleep Apnea and Its Effect on Mortality and Cardiovascular Events after Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery: A Propensity-Matched Cohort Study.

Although obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is common among patients with obesity and linked to cardiovascular disease, there is a lack of studies evaluating the effects of reaching remission from OSA after metabolic and bariatric surgery. A registry-based nationwide study including patients operated with sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass from 2007 until 2019 in Sweden. Patients who reached remission of OSA were compared with those who did not reach remission and a propensity score-matched control group of patients without OSA at the time of operation. The main outcome was overall mortality, and secondary outcome was major cardiovascular events (MACEs). In total, 5,892 patients with OSA and 11,552 matched patients without OSA completed a 1-year follow-up and were followed for a median of 6.8 years. Remission of OSA was seen for 4,334 patients (74%). Patients in remission had a lower risk for overall mortality (cumulative incidence 6.0% vs 9.1%; p < 0.001) and MACE (cumulative incidence 3.4% vs 5.8%; p < 0.001) at 10 years after operation compared with those who did not reach remission. The risk was similar to that of the control group without OSA at baseline (cumulative incidence for mortality 6%, p = 0.493, for MACE 3.7%, p = 0.251). The remission rate of OSA was high after metabolic and bariatric surgery. This was in turn associated with reduced risk for death and MACE compared with patients who did not achieve remission reaching a similar risk seen among patients without OSA at baseline. A diligent follow-up of patients who do not reach remission remains important.

Serum lipid metabolism characteristics and potential biomarkers in patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss

BackgroundGlycerophospholipids (GPLs) are essential for cell membrane structure and function. Sphingomyelin and its metabolites regulate cell growth, apoptosis, and stress responses. This study aimed to investigate lipid metabolism in patients experiencing sudden sensorineural hearing loss across all frequencies (AF-SSNHL).MethodsThe study included 60 patients diagnosed with unilateral AF-SSNHL, among whom 30 patients had a level of hearing improvement ≥ 15 dB after 6 months of follow-up. A propensity score-matched (2:1) control group was used. Liquid chromatography‒mass spectrometry based untargeted lipidomics analysis combined with multivariate statistics was performed to investigate the lipids change. The “lipidome” R package and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were utilised to assess the lipids’ structural features and the association between lipids and hearing.ResultsLipidomics successfully differentiated the AF-SSNHL group from the control group, identifying 17 risk factors, mainly including phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and related metabolites. The ratios of lysophosphatidylcholine/PC, lysophosphatidylethanolamine/PE, and lysodimethylphosphatidylethanolamine/PE were upregulated, while some glycerophospholipid (GPL)-plasmalogens were downregulated in the AF-SSNHL group, indicating abnormal metabolism of GPLs. Trihexosylceramide (d34:1), PE (18:1e_22:5), and sphingomyelin (d40:3) were significantly different between responders and nonresponders, and positively correlated with hearing improvement. Additionally, the results of the WGCNA also suggested that partial GPL-plasmalogens were positively associated with hearing improvement.ConclusionAF-SSNHL patients exhibited abnormally high blood lipids and pronounced GPLs metabolic abnormalities. Sphingolipids and GPL-plasmalogens had an association with the level of hearing improvement. By understanding the lipid changes, clinicians may be able to predict the prognosis of hearing recovery and personalize treatment approaches.

Prevalence, clinical characteristics, and disease burden of chronic cough in Italy: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundChronic cough has been associated with reduced health-related quality of life, negative impacts on sleep, work, and other daily activities, and increased use of health care resources. Little is known about the prevalence of chronic cough in Italy. In the present study we sought to estimate the prevalence of chronic cough in Italy, describe sociodemographic and clinical characteristics associated with chronic cough, and characterize the impact of chronic cough on overall health and wellness, work and other daily activities, and health care resource use.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study to collect sociodemographic and health-related data from Italian residents who participated in the 2020 National Health and Wellness Survey (N = 10,026). To assess the characteristics and burden of chronic cough, adults who indicated that they had experienced chronic cough during the prior 12 months were compared with propensity score-matched controls without chronic cough.ResultsThe estimated weighted lifetime and 12-month prevalence of chronic cough were estimated as 9.2% and 6.3%, respectively. Compared with matched controls, respondents with chronic cough had significantly lower measures of overall physical and mental health (P < .001 for both comparisons), and significantly higher rates of anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders (P < .001 for all comparisons). Chronic cough was significantly associated with higher rates of impairment of work and other activities (P < .001 for all comparisons) in the past 7 days, any-cause emergency department visits and hospitalizations in the prior 6 months (P < .001 for both comparisons), and more visits to general and specialist health care providers (P < .001 for both comparisons) in the prior 6 months.ConclusionsIn Italy, chronic cough affects an estimated 3.3 million adults annually and represents a significant burden to individuals and the health care system.Take home messageLittle is known about the prevalence of chronic cough in Italy. We found that, in Italy chronic cough represents a significant burden to individuals and the health care system, affecting an estimated 3.3 million adults annually.

Six-year trend of subsequent allergic diseases following Kawasaki disease and its clinical implications: A population-based matched cohort study of 34,712 patients.

It has been suggested that allergic diseases may increase after Kawasaki disease (KD). We aimed to analyze the temporal patterns of allergic disease incidence after KD. A nationwide population-based matched cohort study was conducted using data from the Korean National Health Insurance claims database. Patients aged <5 years diagnosed with KD and their 1:3 propensity score-matched controls were included. Three cohorts were established: Cohort A, patients with allergies; Cohort B, patients without allergies; and Cohort C, patients without allergies, but excluding patients with birth history and underlying medical conditions. Cumulative incidence rates (%) and associated hospital visits for allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, and asthma were compared between the cases and controls during the 6-year follow-up period. The study population comprised 8678 patients diagnosed with KD and 26,034 controls. In Cohort A, although initially, there were intergroup differences in the number of hospital visits for certain allergic diseases, these differences were inconsistent and varied depending on the type of allergic disease. Over time, the differences narrowed, and by the sixth year, the gap had decreased significantly. In Cohorts B and C, the initial incidence rates of the four allergic diseases and associated hospital visits were lower in patients with KD as compared to controls. However, with a faster rate of increase, the incidence rates and number of hospital visits eventually surpassed those of the controls. The pattern of delayed increase in cumulative incidence rates and hospital visits for allergic diseases after KD suggests the possibility of a shared genetic or immunologic susceptibility between KD and allergic diseases, which becomes evident over time, rather than a direct influence of KD resulting in allergic diseases.

Association between continued metformin use during hospital admission and hospital-acquired complications.

The safety of continuing metformin during a hospital admission has not been robustly demonstrated. We evaluated the association of continuing metformin in hospital with the risk for a hospital-acquired complication (HAC). This is a retrospective observational study of patients admitted to a medical or surgical ward. We considered those with diabetes who continued metformin (DM/MET group), those who discontinued metformin upon admission (DM/MET-STOP), and those with diabetes not on metformin just prior to and during admission (DM/NoMET). We prepared propensity score-matched (PSM) control groups from admitted patients without diabetes. The likelihood of a HAC was determined using a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. A Cox proportional hazards model was employed to calculate the hazard ratio, adjusted for covariates. Of the 4446 (14%) patients with diabetes, 3331 (10%) were prescribed metformin on admission, and it was continued in 2557 patients. HAC occurred in 5.5% of DM/MET group and 6.4% of the PSM control group. Continuation of metformin was associated with a lower likelihood of HAC, adjusted hazard ratio 0.85 (95% CI 0.69, 1.04), p = 0.117 compared to a PSM-matched control group without diabetes. The DM/NoMET and DM/MET-STOP groups had an increased risk for HAC, adjusted HR 1.77 (1.44, 2.18), p < 0.001 and 2.57 (2.10, 3.13), p < 0.001, as compared to their respective PSM control groups. An individualized assessment to continue metformin during hospital admission was associated with a reduced likelihood of HAC, with the caveat that there was limited matching to non-diabetes controls. This finding warrants further exploration.

The Intervention Effect of Online Mindfulness Training in Alleviating Youths’ Test Anxiety

With rapid development and modernization of today’s society, the resource inequality between rural and urban areas has enlarged, especially regarding adolescents’ mental health education. In order to provide alternative to adolescents with limited resources, this study targets test anxiety as example, aiming to explore the effectiveness of online mindfulness training in alleviating students’ test anxiety through a quasi-experiment. This study recruited youths from 12 to 18 years old and used their pre-test/post-test data on 186 trained participants ( Mage = 14.85, 57.5% male) and 217 propensity-score matched controls ( Mage = 15.35, 53% male). After careful analysis, the results proved the effectiveness of online mindfulness training in reducing test anxiety and showed that the online training was more beneficial for students with serious interpersonal problems. This study further provided implications for the use of technology in mental health education, promoting the care of psychological well-being in rural areas.