Rochester Epidemiology Project Research Articles

Health care concerns in women at midlife: differences by race, ethnicity, and neighborhood socioeconomic status.

The aims of the study were to identify conditions diagnosed in at least 10% of midlife women living in the US upper midwest and to assess prevalence by age, race, ethnicity, and sociodemographic status. The Rochester Epidemiology Project was used to conduct a cross-sectional prevalence study of 86,946 women between 40 and 59 years residing in a 27-county region of the United States on January 1, 2020. Diagnostic billing codes were extracted and grouped into broader condition categories using the Clinical Classification System Refined. The prevalence of 424 conditions was calculated by age, race, ethnicity, and area deprivation index quartiles. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between participant characteristics and conditions that affected 10% or more of the study population. Twenty-eight conditions affected ≥10% of women, and eight conditions increased by ≥45% between the ages of 40 and 59 (disorders of lipid metabolism, hypertension, sleep/wake disorders, thyroid disorders, esophageal disorders, osteoarthritis, tendon and synovial disorders, and menopausal disorders; all test for trend P < 0.01). Black women had a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension and esophageal disorders at all ages (adjusted P values <0.05). Women living in more deprived areas had a significantly higher prevalence of hyperlipidemia, hypertension, sleep/wake disorders, and esophageal disorders (adjusted P values <0.05). Women living in less deprived areas had a significantly higher prevalence of thyroid disorders at age 40 to 44 and menopausal disorders at ages 50 to 59 (adjusted P values <0.05). These data suggest that additional attention should focus on Black women and women with a lower socioeconomic status to ensure that common midlife conditions are diagnosed and treated.

Abstract 4135352: Neighborhood-level Determinants and Disparities in Incident Type 2 Diabetes in a Population-Based Cohort, 2015–2020

Introduction: Living in an area with high Area Deprivation Index (ADI) is linked to worse cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes. However, the association of ADI with type 2 diabetes (T2D), a major CVD risk factor, is incompletely described. This knowledge may guide primary CVD prevention. Method: Rochester Epidemiology Project is a medical record linkage system of persons in southeast Minnesota and southwest Wisconsin. We identified 253,890 persons (aged 4–98 yrs on July 1, 2015) in 9 counties with &gt;90% population coverage. ADI scores, from 2015 home addresses, were grouped into quartiles of low (Q1) to high (Q4) deprivation. We excluded persons with type 1 diabetes (T1D) or history of T2D and identified new T2D cases (2015-2020) using ICD codes, HbA1c and medications. We examined the association between ADI quartile and risk of incident T2D using Cox regression with persons right censored at death, T2D, T1D or last visit. Models were adjusted for age and gender, and reported adjusted hazard ratios (aHR [95% confidence interval]). Results: Age, gender, and race statistically differed across ADI quartiles (Table). Age × ADI interaction was significant ( P &lt;.001). T2D incidence ranged from 6.3 (Q1) to 9.0 (Q4) per 1000 person-years ( P &lt;.001). Women vs. men/non-binary persons (combined due to limited non-binary persons) had 30% lower risk of incident T2D (aHR 0.70 [0.67–0.72]). Risk of incident T2D was higher in persons from higher ADI areas. At median age of 48.6 yrs, the risk was 30% higher in Q2 (aHR 1.3 [1.22–1.38]), 38% higher in Q3 (aHR 1.38 [1.30–1.47]) and 53% higher in Q4 (aHR 1.53 [1.43–1.62]) vs. Q1. Higher ADI was associated with higher incident T2D in younger persons, with risk attenuation with increasing age (Figure). Conclusion: In this population cohort, persons, particularly of younger age, living in more deprived areas had a higher risk of incident T2D. ADI may help identify areas for targeted T2D screening, with implications for CVD screening and prevention.

Abstract 4132657: Age-related Differences in Peak Oxygen Uptake in Patients with Multimorbidity Undergoing Cardiac Rehabilitation

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) patients demonstrate a high burden of chronic conditions (CC). Both multimorbidity (MM; ≥2 coexisting CC) and aging negatively impact functional capacity, whereas CR improves performance. Age-related difference in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF, peak oxygen uptake (VO 2 )) in CR patients with MM has not been studied. Hypothesis: We hypothesized improvement in CRF will be attenuated by MM with increasing age in CR patients. Aims: We aimed to identify age-related differences in CRF improvement in CR patients with MM. Methods: Patients ≥18 yrs old who attended ≥1 CR sessions from 1999-2017 and completed cardiopulmonary exercise stress test before and after CR were included. The prevalence of CC was assessed using Rochester Epidemiology Project records-linkage system. Age categories included: Younger (18-49 yrs), Midlife (50-64 yrs) and Older (≥65 yrs). CRF categories included: &lt;0%, 0-8% and &gt;8%. Analysis included Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-squared. Results: Of 622 patients, 75.4% were male. Mean age: 62.9±11.2 yrs; Younger (n=70) age: 42.7±6.8 yrs, 67.1% male; Midlife (n=283) age: 58.3±4.3 yrs, 78.8% male; Older (n=269) age: 73.0±5.2 yrs, 74.0% male. BMI was 29.9±5.4 kg/m 2 (Younger: 30.0±6.7, Midlife: 30.4±5.6, Older: 29.3±4.7; p&lt;.05). Median (Q1, Q3) no. of CR sessions attended was 33(22, 35), with lower attendance in the Younger group: 25(16,34) vs Midlife: 33(20,35) and Older: 34 (29,35), p&lt;.05. Overall, percent change in peak VO 2 was 11.5±21.6% (Younger: 18.8±22.8%, Midlife: 11.6±19.5%, Older: 9.4±23.1%; p&lt;.01). The median number of CC was 7(5,8) with significant differences across groups: Younger: 5(3,7), Midlife: 6(5,8), Older: 7(6,9), p&lt;.01. Number of CC increased with age across all CRF categories (p&lt;.01, Fig. 1). However, there was no difference in number of CC within age groups across categories of CRF, Table 1. Conclusions: Our results suggest that MM increases with age in patients attending CR; however, within a given age group, improvement in CRF does not appear dependent on MM. The impact of age appears to have a greater impact than MM on CRF improvement. Individualized treatment plans should focus on the impact of age-related disparities on CRF improvement among CR patients with MM.

Nationwide prevalence and geographic variation of idiopathic intracranial hypertension among women in the United States

The prevalence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is increasing, but this has not been examined on a nationwide scale. Our objective was to determine the nationwide prevalence and geographic distribution of IIH among women in the U.S. Retrospective cross-sectional study using Medicaid claims and electronic health record data from the IRIS® Registry (Intelligent Research in Sight) and Sight Outcomes Research Collaborative (SOURCE). Female Medicaid beneficiaries aged 18-55 with IIH diagnoses and prescriptions for acetazolamide or methazolamide in 2018, excluding those with other causes of intracranial hypertension. We also calculated the proportion of female IIH patients in the U.S. who were insured by Medicaid by combining analyses from the IRIS® Registry and SOURCE. To calculate the total number of IIH patients in the U.S. and by state, we divided the number of Medicaid beneficiaries with IIH by the proportion of IIH patients insured by Medicaid. We then used census data from the 2018 American Community Survey to calculate prevalence. We compared the geographic distribution of IIH to obesity prevalence data from the 2018 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, using the Moran's I statistic to test for spatial variation. In a validation study, we compared the calculated prevalence of IIH in Minnesota to similar data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Of 13,959 female Medicaid beneficiaries with IIH, 6,828 had a prescription for acetazolamide or methazolamide. In the IRIS® Registry and SOURCE, 25% of IIH patients were insured by Medicaid (95 % CI: 16-33%), suggesting that there were 27,312 women aged 18-55 with IIH taking acetazolamide or methazolamide in 2018 (6,828 / 0.25 = 27,312). Prevalence was 3.44 per 10,000 (95% CI: 2.61-5.39), and there was significant geographic variation (Moran's I statistic 0.20, P = 0.03) with higher prevalence in states where obesity was more common. The calculated prevalence of IIH in Minnesota was statistically equivalent to Rochester Epidemiology Project data (P < 0.05 for equivalence test). IIH affects 3.44 per 10,000 women aged 18-55 in the U.S., and there is significant geographic variation, some of which is explained by variation in obesity prevalence.

Is there an association of anthracyclines with HFrEF and/or HFpEF in patients treated for breast cancer or lymphoma after 30 years of follow-up? Insights from the Rochester epidemiology project

Abstract Introduction Anthracyclines (ACs) have been identified as cardiotoxic drugs. They are associated with contractile dysfunction of the heart, which can manifest as heart failure. However, differentiating between HFrEF (left ventricular ejection fractions [LVEF] ≤40%) or HFpEF (LVEF &amp;gt;40%) has been overlooked. Purpose Using a retrospective cohort of patients with breast cancer (BC), Hodgkin (HL) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and controls from the Rochester Epidemiology Project, we evaluated the association of ACs use with risk of HFrEF and/or HFpEF. Methods 797 subjects with BC, HL or NHL diagnosed from 1988 to 2010 were identified, 658 treated with ACs (ACs group) and 139 not treated with ACs (no-ACs group). Controls (n=1526) were subjects without cancer. The median (Q1, Q3) follow up was 11.5 years (7.4, 16.7). Cox proportional hazards regression was used to compare the risk of HFpEF and HFrEF in the three cohorts, adjustment for sex, CV comorbidities (type 2 diabetes [T2D], hypertension [HTN] and dyslipidemia), radiotherapy (RT), and ACs cumulative dose was performed. Results Baseline characteristics are shown in table 1. HFpEF occurred in 29/1526 subjects in the control group, 3/139 in the no-ACs group and in 14/658 in the ACs group. Compared to the control group, there was not an increased risk of developing HFpEF in the no-ACs group (HR 1.67, CI 95%: 0.5 – 5.53, p = 0.39) or in the ACs group (HR 1.83, CI 95%: 0.95 – 3.52, p = 0.06) (Figure 1). Compared with no-ACs group, the ACs group had a similar risk of developing HFpEF (HR 1.09, CI 95%: 0.3 – 3.87, p = 0.88). RT was associated with a lower risk of HFpEF (HR 0.21, CI 95%: 0.06 – 0.75, p = 0.01). In the multivariable analysis, T2D (HR 6.91, CI 95%: 3.07-15.56, p = &amp;lt;0.0001) was associated with higher risk of HFpEF. A cumulative dose of ACs &amp;gt; 250 mg/m2 was not associated with increased risk of HFpEF. HFrEF occurred in 25/1526 subjects in the control group, in 4/139 in the no-ACs group and in 31/658 in the ACs group. Compared to the control group, the ACs group had a significant increase in the risk of HFrEF (HR 4.77, CI 95%: 2.76 – 8.22, p &amp;lt; 0.0001), the no-ACs group did not (HR 2.81, CI 95%: 0.97 – 8.12, p = 0.055) (figure 2). RT was associated with lower risk of HFrEF (HR 0.29, CI 95%: 0.13 – 0.65, p = 0.002). In the multivariable analysis, ACs (HR 4.23, CI 95%: 2.4-7.47, p = &amp;lt; 0.0001) being male (HR 2.45, CI 95%: 1.43 – 4.15, p &amp;lt; 0.0001), smoking history (HR 2, CI 95%: 1.16 – 3.44, p &amp;lt; 0.01), and HTN (HR 3.23, CI 95%: 1.9 – 5.61, p &amp;lt; 0.0001), were associated with higher risk of HFrEF. A cumulative dose of ACs &amp;gt; 250 mg/m2 was not associated with increased risk of HFrEF. Conclusion To our knowledge this is the first study to differentiate between HFpEF and HFrEF in this cohort. ACs were not associated with increased risk of HFpEF. However, ACs were associated with increased risk of HFrEF, but not with a specific dose. These results should be validated in other population cohorts.

Trends in Anxiety and Depression Among Individuals With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Population-Based Study.

To investigate trends in depression and anxiety over 3 decades among individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients with incident RA (age ≥ 18 years, meeting 1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria between 1985 and 2014) were identified using the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Individuals with RA were matched 1:1 with non-RA comparators on age, sex, and calendar year of RA incidence. Patients were followed until death, migration, or December 31, 2020. Depression and anxiety were defined using established International Classification of Diseases, 9th and 10th revision code sets. Cox models were used to compare trends in the occurrence of depression and anxiety diagnoses and cooccurring anxiety and depression by decade and RA status, adjusted for potential confounders. The study included 1012 individuals with RA and 1012 matched controls (mean age 55.9 years, 68.38% female). Hazard ratios (HRs) demonstrated a temporal increase in anxiety and cooccurring anxiety and depression from 2005-2014 compared to 1985-1994 for individuals both with and without RA. Persons with RA exhibited a rising occurrence of anxiety (HR 1.27, 95% CI 0.86-1.88) and concomitant anxiety and depression (HR 1.49, 95% CI 0.96-2.33) compared to controls. Trends were most pronounced in seropositive patients with RA (anxiety: HR 4.01, 95% CI 2.21-7.30). Anxiety and concomitant anxiety and depression diagnoses are elevated in individuals with RA. The increasing occurrence of anxiety and cooccurring anxiety and depression suggests rising awareness and diagnosis of these disorders. Adding to stable but high rates of depression diagnoses, individuals with RA now have evidence of a widening gap in mental health diagnoses that clinicians should address.

Emergency department visits and hospitalizations attributable to recent Epstein-Barr virus infection

Objective Infectious mononucleosis (IM) or mono is typically caused by primary infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and may have a months-long, complicated course. We utilized population-based data to add to the limited literature on health care utilization following EBV infection. Methods The Rochester Epidemiology Project includes medical records for ∼60% of residents living in 27 counties of Minnesota (MN) and Wisconsin (WI). Persons meeting a case definition of recent EBV infection from 1 January 1998 to 31 December 2021 were compared to three persons not meeting the definition, matched on case’s sex, age, and index date. Emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations in the two groups were compared during 5-years’ follow-up divided into three periods (short-term ≤3 months, mid-term >3 months–1 year, long-term >1–5 years). Adjusted hazard ratios (AHR) were estimated to account for the potential influence of confounding variables. Results In total, 6,423 persons had a recent EBV infection and were matched to 19,269 comparators. The risk of an ED visit was significantly higher among cases in the short-term period (24.3% vs referents: 7.6%, p <.001; AHR = 3.71, 95% CI = 3.41–4.03). Cases also had an increased risk of hospitalization in the short-term (5.2% vs 1.6%: referents, p <.001; AHR = 3.53, 95% CI = 2.94–4.24). For ED visits but not hospitalization, the excess risk persisted into the mid-term follow-up period. Persons without a concurrent clinical diagnosis of IM continued to have an increased risk of hospitalizations up to 1 year after index date (AHR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.09–1.91) and an increased risk of ED visits up to 5 years after the index date (AHR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.14–1.46). Conclusion There is a substantial short- and mid-term increased risk of serious health care encounters associated with recent EBV infection. Mid- and long-term risks are increased in patients who do not have a concomitant diagnosis of IM.

Incidence, Mechanisms, and Clinical Characteristics of Traumatic Iritis: A Population-Based Analysis.

To describe the incidence, mechanisms, and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with traumatic iritis in a U.S. Midwestern county population. Retrospective population-based cohort of all residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota diagnosed with traumatic iritis from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2015. The medical records of patients with traumatic iritis were identified using the Rochester Epidemiology Project database, which contains virtually all medical care in the county. Medical records were reviewed for demographics, presentation, and follow-up data. Incidence rates were calculated per 100,000 per year. There were 156 incident diagnoses of traumatic iritis during the 10-year study period, yielding an age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate of 10.7 per 100,000 per year. Traumatic iritis disproportionately occurred in male (p < 0.001) and Black (p < 0.001) patients. The mean age of diagnosis was 33 years (range: 4-96 years), mean number of traumatic iritis-specific follow-up visits was 2.1 (range: 0-26), and median duration of traumatic iritis-specific follow-up was 11 days (range: 1 day-1.6 years). There were 155 (99.4%) patients with unilateral disease. The most frequent mechanisms of traumatic iritis were sports-related (N = 29, 18.6%), assault-related (N = 23, 14.7%), scratch (N = 22, 14.1%), and work-related (N = 21, 13.5%) injuries. The mean initial and final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the affected eye was 20/40 and 20/30, respectively. Loss of follow-up was more frequently observed in Black patients (p < 0.001) and patients with smoking history (p = 0.004). Traumatic iritis was most frequently observed in younger males and Black patients. Common mechanisms included sports, assault, scratch, and work-related injuries.

The Epidemiology of Thyroid Eye Disease in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 2005-2020.

Objective: To describe the epidemiology of thyroid eye disease (TED). Methods: A population-based cohort of all Olmsted County, Minnesota, residents who had newly diagnosed TED between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2020, was identified through the medical diagnostic index of the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Individuals aged 18 years and older were included. Incidence rates and point prevalence were calculated. Baseline disease characteristics and progression of disease were described. Results: We identified 83 incident patients, of whom 75 (90.4%) were female. The overall age and sex adjusted incidence for the U.S. population were 5 cases/100,000 person-years. Females had higher incidence (8.9 cases/100,000 person-years) compared with men (1 case/100,000 person-years). The distribution of peak incidence rates by 5-year age groups differed between male and female, in which females had peak incidence rates in the age groups 60-64 years and 80-84 years (18.3 cases and 18 cases/100,000 person-years, respectively), while male had peak incidence rate in the age group 70-74 years (5.7 cases/100,000 person-years). No clear trend was identified for the yearly incidence between 2005 and 2020. The overall estimated point prevalence per 100,000 was 65 (CI, 53.3-78.7). Prevalence was 114.5 (CI, 92.6-139.9) for females and 13.8 (CI, 6.8-24.6) for males (p < 0.001). Factors associated with disease progression were severity of soft tissue involvement (hazard ratio [HR] 7.7; CI, 2-29.8) and presence of diplopia (HR 2.5, CI, 1.2-5.1). Conclusions: Incidence rates for TED remained stable over the past two decades, yet lower than that in the previous study from our population. Females continue to have the peak incidence rate a decade earlier than males, and the majority of disease burden is present after the age of 50 years. Appropriate resources should be devoted to furthering education, management, and research into this condition.

First Suicide Attempts in Early Adolescents: A Descriptive Outcomes Study

ObjectiveIn 2021, suicide was the second leading cause of death in early adolescent Americans ages 10-14. Research into suicidal behavior in this age group is limited. We report on prior psychiatric care, attempt method, and attempt outcomes in a cohort of 164 early adolescents accrued by first suicide attempt coming to medical attention. MethodsOur cohort constitutes a subsample from a previously reported retrospective-prospective study identified through the Rochester Epidemiology Project that recruited individuals making first suicide attempts coming to medical attention (index attempt, IA) during a 22-year period (1/1/1986-31/12/07). Among 1490 all-age index attempters followed until 12/31/2010, 164 (11.0%) were aged 10-14. Results3/164 died on IA (1.8% of the cohort; 2 females, 1 male). Nearly half (72/164, 43.9%) had no prior psychiatric history. Females were less likely than males to have seen a mental health provider (p=0.029) or been prescribed psychiatric medications (p<0.001) prior to IA. Medication overdose was the most common attempt method in females (81/128, 63.3%), while cutting or piercing wounds were the most common method in males (13/36, 36.1%). Females were significantly more likely than males to overdose (p=0.001). Of IA survivors, 19.9% (32/161) were initially medically hospitalized, 52.8% (85/161) were psychiatrically hospitalized—initially or in transfer—and 37.2% (60/161) were discharged without hospitalization. ConclusionMedication overdoses accounted for over half of all IAs and were significantly more common in females. While IA mortality was low relative to older patients from the all-age-cohort, morbidity was substantial with nearly a fifth of attempts severe enough to warrant medical hospitalization and more than half initial or eventual psychiatric hospitalization. These findings emphasize the importance of both means restriction and identification of early adolescents at risk before they make their first attempt.

Air Pollution and Parkinson Disease in a Population-Based Study

The role of air pollution in risk and progression of Parkinson disease (PD) is unclear. To assess whether air pollution is associated with increased risk of PD and clinical characteristics of PD. This population-based case-control study included patients with PD and matched controls from the Rochester Epidemiology Project from 1998 to 2015. Data were analyzed from January to June 2024. Mean annual exposure to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 µm or less (PM2.5) from 1998 to 2015 and mean annual exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from 2000 to 2014. Outcomes of interest were PD risk, all-cause mortality, presence of tremor-predominant vs akinetic rigid PD, and development of dyskinesia. Models were adjusted for age, sex, race and ethnicity, year of index, and urban vs rural residence. A total of 346 patients with PD (median [IQR] age 72 [65-80] years; 216 [62.4%] male) were identified and matched on age and sex with 4813 controls (median [IQR] age, 72 [65-79] years, 2946 [61.2%] male). Greater PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased PD risk, and this risk was greatest after restricting to populations within metropolitan cores (odds ratio [OR], 1.23; 95% CI, 1.11-1.35) for the top quintile of PM2.5 exposure compared with the bottom quintile. Greater NO2 exposure was also associated with increased PD risk when comparing the top quintile with the bottom quintile (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.07-1.19). Air pollution was associated with a 36% increased risk of akinetic rigid presentation (OR per each 1-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.02-1.80). In analyses among patients with PD only, higher PM2.5 exposure was associated with greater risk for developing dyskinesia (HR per 1-μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.17-1.73), as was increased NO2 exposure (HR per 1 μg/m3 increase in NO2, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.06-1.19). There was no association between PM2.5 and all-cause mortality among patients with PD. In this case-control study of air pollution and PD, higher levels of PM2.5 and NO2 exposure were associated with increased risk of PD; also, higher levels of PM2.5 exposure were associated with increased risk of developing akinetic rigid PD and dyskinesia compared with patients with PD exposed to lower levels. These findings suggest that reducing air pollution may reduce risk of PD, modify the PD phenotype, and reduce risk of dyskinesia.

Association between exposure to antidepressants and stimulants and age at onset of mania or psychosis: A retrospective population-based cohort study

This study investigated the impact of prior antidepressant and stimulant exposure on the age at onset (AAO) of first episode mania (FEM) or psychosis (FEP). Patients with FEP and FEM born after 1985 in Olmsted County, Minnesota, were identified using the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Duration and peak dose of antidepressant and stimulant exposure were quantified by review of the electronic health record. Peak doses were converted to defined daily dose (DDD), and cumulative exposure was calculated as DDD multiplied by treatment duration. Linear models were used to assess relationships between AAO with any exposures, and cumulative antidepressant and stimulant exposures. A total of 190 FEM/FEP patients (mean AAO=20.8 ± 3.7 years) were included. There was no significant difference in AAO with vs. without exposure to antidepressants or stimulants. Cumulative antidepressant exposure correlated with a later AAO in overall sample (r = 0.28, p < 0.001), and in FEP (r = 0.33, p < 0.001). No significant correlation emerged between cumulative stimulant exposure and AAO. Multivariable modeling confirmed that cumulative antidepressant exposure (Estimate=2.42, 95 %CI=1.66–3.18, p < 0.001), but not cumulative stimulant exposure (Estimate=-0.04, 95 %CI=-1.10–1.02, p = 0.94), was associated with later AAO. Antidepressant and stimulant exposures were not associated with earlier AAO. However, cumulative antidepressant exposure was associated with later AAO. Limitations include retrospective design and relatively small sample size. Our findings may inform adolescent treatment recommendations when assessing risk for psychotropic-related adverse events. Further risk modeling investigations of antidepressants and stimulants with larger sample sizes are needed to explore the role of antidepressant and stimulant exposure in the trajectory leading to FEM/FEP.

Incidence of Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech and Primary Progressive Aphasia in Olmsted County, MN, 2011-2022.

No epidemiologic studies have formally assessed the incidence of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and primary progressive apraxia of speech (PPAOS). Thus, we decided to assess the incidence of these disorders in Olmsted County, MN, between 2011 and 2022, and to characterize clinical, radiographic, and pathologic characteristics of these patients. This was a retrospective examination of data from a population-based cohort of patients with PPA and PPAOS prospectively identified in Olmsted County, MN, from 2011 to 2022. The incidence of PPA among adults (older than 18 years) was calculated for Olmsted County as the number of patients per 100,000 person-years during the study period. The adult population of Olmsted County was determined by the annual catchment population reported by the Rochester Epidemiological Project for each year 2011-2022. A behavioral neurologist verified the clinical diagnoses and determined subtypes. We identified 10 patients (60% female) within the study period (median age of symptoms onset: 70 years; range: 66-73), 8 with PPA and 2 with PPAOS. Of the 8 patients with PPA (6 female patients, 2 male patients), 2 met criteria for non-fluent variant PPA (nfvPPA), 3 for logopenic variant PPA (lvPPA), and 3 for semantic variant (svPPA). Speech evaluation confirmed the clinical diagnoses in all patients and all showed typical imaging findings consistent with their respective subtype. Six patients (2 PPAOS, 2 nfvPPA, 2 lvPPA) died and 3 underwent autopsy (2 PPAOS, 1 nfvPPA), confirming the pathologic diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy. The incidence of PPA + PPAOS was 0.70 persons per 100,000 person-years (95% CI 0.34-1.29 persons per 100,000) during the study period. The incidence of PPAOS was 0.14 persons per 100,000 person-years (95% CI 0.02-0.55 persons per 100,000), whereas for the 8 patients with PPA, the incidence was 0.56 persons per 100,000 person-years (95% CI 0.24-1.10 cases per 100,000). The incidence of nfvPPA was 0.14 persons per 100,000 person-years (95% CI 0.02-0.55), 0.21 persons per 100,000 person-years (95% CI 0.04-0.61) for lvPPA, and 0.21 persons per 100,000 person-years (95% CI 0.04-0.61) for svPPA. As a group, PPA and PPAOS are a relatively rare group of diseases. PPAOS has a slightly lower incidence than PPA as a group but similar incidence to the individual PPA variants.

Association of Anxiety and Unspecified Emotional Distress Obtained from a Medical Records Linkage System with Incident Cognitive Outcomes in a Population-Based Setting.

Studies that assess cognition prospectively and study in detail anxiety history in the participants' medical records within the context of brain aging and Alzheimer's disease are limited. To examine the associations of anxiety and unspecified emotional distress (UED) acquired throughout a person's life with prospectively collected cognitive outcomes. Mayo Clinic Study of Aging participants who were cognitively unimpaired at baseline were included. Anxiety and UED data were abstracted from the medical record using the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) resources and were run separately as predictors in our models. The data were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models for the outcomes of incident mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia and using linear mixed effects models for the outcomes of global and domain specific cognitive z-scores and included key covariates. The study sample (n = 1,808) had a mean (standard deviation) age of 74.5 (7.3) years and 51.4% were male. Anxiety was associated with increased risk of MCI and dementia and was associated with lower baseline cognitive z-scores and accelerated decline over time in the global, memory, and attention domains. UED was associated with faster decline in all domains except visuospatial but did not show evidence of association with incident cognitive outcomes. These results varied by medication use and timing of anxiety. Anxiety and UED both showed inverse associations with cognition. Utilization of anxiety and UED data from across the life course, as available, from the REP system adds robustness to our results.

Population-Based Incidence and Clinical Characteristics of Ocular Adnexal Tumors in Olmsted County, Minnesota

ABSTRACT Purpose To determine the incidence and clinical characteristics of ocular adnexaltumors in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Methods Retrospective population-based cohort study of all patients residing in Olmsted County, Minnesota diagnosed with any ocular tumor from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2015. The medical records of all patients with an incident diagnosis of any ocular adnexal tumor were reviewed using the Rochester Epidemiology Project medical record linkage system for patient demographics, tumor type, and histopathologic confirmation. Incidence rates were calculated per 100,000 person-years. Poisson regression analysis was used to analyze changes in incidence over time. Results There were 717 patients diagnosed with ocular adnexal tumors during the 10-year study period, yielding an age- and sex-adjusted incidence rate of 59.7 per 100,000 (95% CI 55.4 to 64.0, p < 0.05) per year. In total, 764 tumors were diagnosed. Most tumors were eyelid lesions (N = 756, 99.0%), which were mostly benign (N = 512, 67.8%) with epidermal inclusion cysts (N = 275, 36.0%), hidrocystoma (N = 70, 9.2%), and eyelid sebaceous cysts (N = 46, 6.1%) accounting for the majority. Malignant eyelid lesions (N = 244, 31.9%) were relatively common with basal cell carcinoma (N = 184, 24.1%) and squamous cell carcinoma (N = 49, 6.4%) having the highest frequencies. Orbital tumors (N = 8, 1.0%) were infrequent. Of the orbital tumors, the most common was lacrimal gland adenoidcystic carcinoma (N = 2, 25.0%). Conclusions In a population-based setting, most ocular adnexal tumors were benign eyelid lesions. Understanding the epidemiology of ocular adnexal tumors is important to aid providers in diagnosing and facilitating appropriate referrals of potentially vision- and life-threatening malignancies.

Incidence and Long-Term Outcomes of Biliary Tract Cancers in Olmsted County, Minnesota from 1976 to 2018.

Biliary tract cancers, including cholangiocarcinoma, gallbladder, and ampulla of Vater cancers, rank second among hepatobiliary cancers, known for their poor prognoses. The United States has witnessed a notable increase in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma incidence. This study examines the incidence and survival outcomes of biliary tract cancers in Olmsted County, Minnesota from 1976 to 2018. Using data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP), residents aged 20 and above were analyzed across four eras. Incidence rates were calculated and adjusted for age and sex, and temporal trends were assessed using Poisson regression. Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma exhibited a significant escalation in incidence rates over time, while gallbladder cancers showed a decline among women. Median survival times for biliary tract cancers notably improved. These findings confirm the rising incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and suggest improving survival rates. Nevertheless, the overall prognosis for biliary tract cancers remains very poor, emphasizing the continual need for enhanced management strategies and further research.

Incidence of Nonsynostotic Plagiocephaly and Developmental Disorders

This is the first population-based study quantifying the incidence of nonsynostotic positional plagiocephaly and/or brachycephaly (PPB) in infancy and its association with developmental disorders. To report the incidence of PPB before age 1 year, the incidence of craniosynostosis, and the percentage of children with PPB diagnosed with a developmental disorder by age 7 years. This was a retrospective, population-based cohort study of children in the Rochester Epidemiology Project (REP) born in Olmsted County, Minnesota, from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2012, with follow-up through age 7 years. Data were analyzed from March 2021 to April 2024. Physical examination detecting cranial deformity. The primary outcome was the incidence of PPB. Secondary outcomes were the incidence of craniosynostosis and the percentage of children with PPB diagnosed with a developmental disorder by age 7 years. Of 9909 infants (5084 [51.3%] male; 9205 [92.9%] born at term and 704 [7.1%] born preterm) included in the study, 575 had PPB, for a PPB incidence of 5.8% (95% CI, 5.3%-6.3%). The incidence of PPB was 5.3% (95% CI, 4.8%-5.8%) in term infants vs 11.8% (95% CI, 9.4%-14.6%) in preterm infants. The incidence of craniosynostosis was 0.16% (95% CI, 0.09%-0.26%). A developmental disorder was known or suspected in 4.2% (95% CI, 2.7%-6.2%) of infants at the time of PPB diagnosis; among 402 infants with PPB and follow-up through age 7 years, 30 (7.5%; 95% CI, 5.0%-10.7%) had a confirmed developmental disorder by 7 years of age. The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children with a history of PPB who were followed up to age 7 years was 2.2% (9 of 402 children). This study found that only a small percentage of the infants had positional head deformity significant enough to be documented and/or referred for subspecialty evaluation, and only a small subset of these children went on to have a developmental disorder in childhood. This information is helpful for counseling families about their child's developmental risk at time of PPB diagnosis.

A Population-Based Approach to the Argument on Brain-First and Body-First Pathogenesis of Lewy Body Disease.

To explore the clinical progression of the brain-/body-first categories within Lewy body disease (LBD): Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and PD dementia. We used of the Rochester Epidemiology Project to establish a population-based cohort of clinically diagnosed LBD. We used two definitions for differentiating between brain- and body-first LBD: a previously hypothesized body-first presentation in patients with rapid eye movement sleep behavior onset before motor symptoms onset; and an expanded definition of body-first LBD when a patient had at least 2 premotor symptoms between constipation, erectile dysfunction, rapid eye movement sleep behavior, anosmia, or neurogenic bladder. Brain-first patients were more likely to be diagnosed with PD (RR = 1.43, p = 0.003), whereas body-first patients were more likely to be diagnosed with DLB (RR = 3.15, p < 0.001). Under the expanded definition, there was no difference in LBD diagnosis between brain-first and body-first patients (PD: RR = 1.03, p = 0.10; DLB: RR = 0.88, p = 0.58) There were no patterns between brain- or body-first presentation, PD dementia under either definition (original: p = 0.09, expanded: p = 0.97), and no significant difference in motor symptoms between brain-first and body-first. Our findings do not support the dichotomous classification of body-first and brain-first LBD with the currently proposed definition. Biological exposures resulting in PD and DLB are unlikely to converge on a binary classification of top-down or bottom-up synuclein pathology. ANN NEUROL 2024;96:551-559.

Incidence and sex differences of diabetes among youth: a 50-year population-based cohort study.

Although the literature on childhood diabetes has traditionally focused on Type 1 diabetes (T1D), youth-onset Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its associated morbidities have become increasingly prevalent. This study reports on the incidence and demographics of a population-based cohort of children diagnosed with diabetes over a 50-year period. Medical records of patients < 22years diagnosed with diabetes from January 1, 1970, through December 31, 2019, were retrospectively reviewed using the Rochester Epidemiology Project, a database of clinics and hospitals in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Of 606 children diagnosed with diabetes, 519 (85.6%) were diagnosed with T1D at a mean age of 10.9 ± 5.3years. 87 (14.4%) were diagnosed with T2D at a mean age of 17.4 ± 3.4years. The incidenceof T2D increased 23-fold (p < 0.001) over the five-decade period (5 per 100,000 children/year) while T1D remained stable (26 per 100,000 children/year; p = 0.08). The mean body mass index at T2D diagnosis (35.5kg/m2 ± 10.4) was significantly higher than in T1D (18.9kg/m2 ± 4.6 [95% CI for difference 14.2-19.0]; p < 0.0001). Sixty-nine percent of children diagnosed with T2D were female, and the hazard ratio of developing diabetic retinopathy in females with T2D compared to males was 6.83 (95% CI 1.53-30.44; p = 0.012). The incidence of youth-onset T2D increased significantly over the 50-year period while the incidence of T1D remained stable. A higher proportion of females were diagnosed with youth-onset T2D. Females with T2D were more than six times likelier to develop diabetic retinopathy than males.

Discordance Between Very Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Increases Cardiovascular Disease Risk in a Geographically Defined Cohort.

Clinical risk scores are used to identify those at high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Despite preventative efforts, residual risk remains for many individuals. Very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and lipid discordance could be contributors to the residual risk of ASCVD. Cardiovascular disease-free residents, aged ≥40 years, living in Olmsted County, Minnesota, were identified through the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and VLDL-C were estimated from clinically ordered lipid panels using the Sampson equation. Participants were categorized into concordant and discordant lipid pairings based on clinical cut points. Rates of incident ASCVD, including percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting, stroke, or myocardial infarction, were calculated during follow-up. The association of LDL-C and VLDL-C with ASCVD was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression. Interaction between LDL-C and VLDL-C was assessed. The study population (n=39 098) was primarily White race (94%) and female sex (57%), with a mean age of 54 years. VLDL-C (per 10-mg/dL increase) was significantly associated with an increased risk of incident ASCVD (hazard ratio, 1.07 [95% CI, 1.05-1.09]; P<0.001]) after adjustment for traditional risk factors. The interaction between LDL-C and VLDL-C was not statistically significant (P=0.11). Discordant individuals with high VLDL-C and low LDL-C experienced the highest rate of incident ASCVD events, 16.9 per 1000 person-years, during follow-up. VLDL-C and lipid discordance are associated with a greater risk of ASCVD and can be estimated from clinically ordered lipid panels to improve ASCVD risk assessment.