Test Parameters Research Articles

Psychological Symptom Cluster Severity Profiles Are Associated With Higher Levels of Stress and Worse Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women With Breast Cancer.

Although common, the severity of the psychological symptom cluster (PSC) (ie, co-occurrence of anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance) varies among women with breast cancer. In addition, the impact of various types of stress and other risk factors on its severity are understudied, and the influence of the PSC on quality of life (QOL) outcomes remains poorly characterized. To identify subgroups of postmenopausal women with breast cancer with distinct PSC severity profiles following surgery and evaluate whether these subgroups differed in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics, symptoms, social and posttraumatic stress, and QOL. Following surgery, 159 postmenopausal women with early-stage, hormone receptor-positive breast cancer completed assessments of anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, cognitive function, physical symptoms, stress, and QOL. Latent profile analysis was used to identify subgroups of women based on the severity of the prespecified PSC. Parametric and nonparametric tests were used to evaluate for subgroup differences. Three distinct PSC severity subgroups were identified (ie, Lower [71.7%], Moderate [23.9%], Higher [4.4%]). Compared with the Lower subgroup, the Moderate subgroup was less likely to have received prior radiation, and the Moderate and Higher subgroups had worse perceived cognitive function, higher symptom burden, higher posttraumatic stress, and lower QOL. Clinically relevant sleep disturbance was common across PSC subgroups. PSC severity is associated with higher posttraumatic stress and poorer QOL following breast surgery. Sleep disturbance is a common problem and may be undertreated. Assessments of posttraumatic stress and sleep disturbance are needed for timely intervention.

Non-destructive Examination of GFRP Composite Parts using Active Microwave Thermography with Water Spraying

Abstract In this paper, in an attempt to non-destructively evaluate the Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic (GFRP) composites, active thermography with microwave excitation is employed. Different types of defects including holes and cracks with different sizes were located in GFRP samples as well as specimens produced from PVC foams. Active Microwave Thermography (AMT) tests were performed from two different distances and with two different power levels. Moreover, the enhancement of detectability by the application of water spraying on the surface of the samples was investigated. The results indicated that active microwave thermography has better performance in the detection of holes compared with cracks. The application of water spraying significantly enhanced the detectability of surface cracks in the GFRP composites and PVC foam samples. Finite Element Analysis was employed to numerically simulate the microwave heating of the GFRP samples and evaluate the temperature variations. Statistical analyses were carried out to investigate the effect of test parameters on the detectability of defects. The statistical analysis results indicated that the heating time has a superior influence on the temperature contrast and detectability.

Tradeoffs When Building and Running Cohort and Patient-Level Markov Simulation Models

The choice of health care modeling approaches is driven by trade-offs between various modeling techniques. This study evaluates cohort (CH) versus patient-level (PL) Markov modeling techniques within a cost-effectiveness analysis framework to understand the practical decisions analysts face. Both the CH and PL models were constructed using identical datasets and similar assumptions. Each model included eight health states to capture disease severity and symptom types and allowed switching from first-line to second-line treatment. We assessed model outcomes and performance using various quantitative and qualitative techniques. The CH and PL models yielded very similar base case results; only minor differences in functionality and outcome consistency were detected. The CH model offered greater stability and easier parameter testing, while the PL model provided superior flexibility for structural adjustments and detailed patient pathway and subgroup analysis. However, the PL model required substantially more computational time for sensitivity analyses and more technical skills to understand and interpret patient pathways and model results. CH modeling faced more challenges when extensive structural changes were initiated. Choosing between CH and PL modeling techniques involves the careful assessment of trade-offs between the need for a flexible and informed model and the optimization of human and computational resources.

Analysing inflammatory responses after mandibular third molar extraction: a comparison of suture-less and multiple suture techniques.

This study aims to compare the outcomes of suture-less and multiple suture closure methods on postoperative pain, swelling, and trismus, and associated complications. This prospective, randomized clinical trial was conducted at the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Goa Dental College & Hospital. Inclusion criteria encompassed subjects aged between 17 and 55 years, classified as American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) I, with asymptomatic impacted third molars falling within the moderately difficult impaction range (Pederson's difficulty index: 5-7). Study excluded individuals classified as ASA II, III, or IV, those with known or suspected allergies to the anaesthetic solution, immunocompromised patients, and individuals taking medications that could affect healing. Pregnant or lactating females and those with a history of bleeding disorders were also excluded. Wound closure methods were compared: Group A underwent primary closure with silk sutures, while Group B had suture-less closure. Subjects were allocated to the specific groups using a simple randomization method. This involved using a lottery-based random sequence to assign each participant to either Group A or Group B. Pain intensity, facial swelling, and trismus were key outcomes. Secondary outcomes included lingual nerve sensation and postoperative complications. Demographics factors, surgical details, radiographic and perioperative data, and physiological parameters were considered. Non-parametric tests and parametric test (repeated measure ANOVA) were employed. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Among 101 participants, both closure techniques exhibited similar outcomes in pain, swelling, and lingual nerve function. However, suture-less closure resulted in significantly less trismus and fewer cases of delayed wound healing. Suture-less method after surgical removal of third molar may reduce trismus compared to multiple sutures. While pain, swelling, and lingual nerve function management were comparable.

The Effect of Learning Using the Structural Analysis Method on Students' Understanding of Poetry in Wasiat Renungan Masa by Maulana Syaikh

This study investigates the impact of the Structural Analysis Method on students' understanding of the poetry Wasiat Renungan Masa by Maulana Syaikh, addressing a critical gap in effective teaching methods for poetry in secondary education, where students often struggle to grasp the deeper meanings of literary works. The research was conducted with 54 students in class XI Science (IPA) and class XI Social Science (IPS) at MA NW Ar-Rahmaniyah Senyiur, using a quasi-experimental design with a Nonequivalent Control Group to ensure reliable comparisons. The experimental group was taught using the Structural Analysis Method, which focuses on dissecting the structural elements of the poem, while the control group received conventional instruction without emphasis on such analysis. Data were collected through pre-tests and post-tests designed to measure students' understanding of key poetic elements. The collected data were analyzed using parametric statistics, including t-tests, to compare the groups' performance in a statistically rigorous manner. The results show a significant improvement in poetry comprehension for the experimental group, with an average gain score of 19.5, compared to 9.0 in the control group. Statistical analysis using a t-test confirms a significant difference (t-value = 11.54, p &lt; 0.001) between the two groups. The study concludes that the method is highly effective in enhancing poetry understanding and suggests broader applications in literature education, particularly in improving students' ability to analyze and interpret complex texts more effectively.

Effect of test parameters on the recovery of underground after a Thermal Response Test and optimum waiting time between tests

Effect of test parameters on the recovery of underground after a Thermal Response Test and optimum waiting time between tests

Aeromedical retrieval for suspected preterm labour or rupture of membranes in the Northern Territory, Australia: may some cases be safely not retrieved?

BackgroundSuspected preterm labour (PTL) and prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM) are common indications for aeromedical retrieval in the Top End, Northern Territory, Australia, where many women reside remotely and preterm birth (< 37 completed weeks of gestation) is common. The primary objective of this study was to determine rate of delivery during the index admission following aeromedical transfers from remote clinics to Royal Darwin Hospital for suspected PTL/PPROM.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of aeromedical transfers for suspected PTL/PPROM from 1 January 2020 to 31 July 2022 was undertaken. Transfers were identified through CareFlight, the regional air ambulance service, and complemented with data from hospital records. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were compared by delivery status during the index (post-retrieval) admission using parametric and non-parametric tests and multivariable linear regression analysis.Results238 women with singleton pregnancies were retrieved for suspected PPROM (n = 77, 32.4%) or PTL (n = 161, 67.6%), together accounting for 49.2% of all obstetric transfers (n = 483). Of 77 patients transferred for suspected PPROM, 47 (61.0%) had ruptured membranes confirmed on arrival, and 45 (95.7%) of them delivered during the index admission. None of the 30 women transferred for suspected PPROM with intact membranes on arrival delivered during the index admission. Of 161 patients transferred for suspected PTL, 13 (8.1%) had ruptured membranes confirmed on arrival, and 12 (92.3%) of them delivered during the index admission. Amongst women transferred for suspected PTL with intact membranes confirmed on arrival, 14.9% (22/149) delivered during the index admission. Prior to arrival, 120 women (50.4%) had a documented speculum examination, and 15 (6.3%) and 9 (3.8%) had cervicovaginal swab tests to assess their risks of a PPROM and PTL, respectively. Half of women who did not deliver during the index admission had received antenatal corticosteroids (n = 76).ConclusionsMany aeromedical retrievals for suspected PTL/PPROM did not result in delivery during the index admission. Women retrieved for suspected PPROM with intact membranes on arrival were less likely to deliver. Upskilling remote clinic staff and better point-of-care testing may reduce retrievals and unnecessary interventions. Prospective cohort studies designed to enable accurate prediction of which cases can be safely not retrieved are required.Trial registrationNot applicable.

Characteristics of Chitosan Gelatine Limestone-Based Carbonate Hydroxyapatite Composite Scaffold After Crosslinking

Bone damage is one of the most common cases in dentistry. Tissue engineering is advancing in biotechnology to aid bone regeneration using scaffolds. Scaffolds need to be biocompatible, bioactive, and bioresorbable. Purpose: Analyzing the characteristics of scaffold C-G:CHA after crosslinking with 0.25% glutaraldehyde. Methods: The scaffold is synthesized from C–G:CHA in ratios of 40:60, 30:70, and 20:80 (w/w) using a freeze-drying technique and crosslinked with 0.25% glutaraldehyde. Compressive strengths are tested with a Universal Testing Machine Mini Autograph. FTIR, XRD, and SEM EDX were used to identify the most optimal base of each ratio. Data are analyzed with a one-way ANOVA parametric test. Results: The FTIR test showed that adding 0.25% glutaraldehyde formed a new chemical group. The XRD test indicated the use of 0.25% glutaraldehyde as a crosslinking agent contributed to the scaffold having an amorphous form. The SEM test results of the porosity of the C-G:CHA were 88.41% to 91.14%. After crosslinking the porosities slightly decreased. The EDX analysis showed that the Ca/P ratio in the C-G:CHA scaffold is 1.79 to 2.07. The average compressive strength of the C-G:CHA scaffold increases after being crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. Conclusion: Scaffold C-G:CHA crosslinked with 0.25% glutaraldehyde effective to increase compressive strength. The 30:70 ratio is ideal because it has a Ca/P ratio and average pore size closest to bone.

Optimization of Strength Factors in Microbial Solidification of Uranium Tailings Using Response Surface Methodology

Once the uranium tailings dam collapses, it will cause great harm to the surrounding ecological environment and people’s safety. This study experimentally investigates microbial grouting reinforcement of uranium tailings to advance microbial reinforcement technology and facilitate its large-scale engineering applications. The study simulated original environmental conditions and used tap water to prepare the culture medium and cement without sterilization or pH adjustment. The response surface method was employed to optimize parameters affecting the immobilization of uranium tailings, and the results were verified. The mechanical strength of the immobilized uranium tailings was determined through unconfined compression tests, while their microstructures were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and computed tomography. The findings indicate that the response surface method optimizes test parameters accurately, with the concentration of the cementation solution and the grouting amount being two main factors influencing the compressive strength of the solidified uranium tailings. Without pH adjustment, sterilization, or slurry modification using tap water, the bacteria−cementation ratio was set at 1, the concentration of the cementation solution was 1.3 mol/L, and the grouting volume was 70 mL. Notably, the strength of the uranium tailings increased 27-fold after seven rounds of grouting compared to the water-only group, and 6-fold compared to the cementation solution-only group. This study contributes to reducing the complexity associated with the application of microbial grouting technology in soil stabilization and provides valuable references for other engineering practices.

Disproportionality analysis of adverse events associated with asfotase alfa: a post-marketing study using the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System

ABSTRACT Background Asfotase alfa (AA) is an FDA-approved enzyme replacement therapy for hypophosphatasia (HPP). Limited real-world data on its adverse events (AEs) exist. This study evaluates AA-related AEs using the U.S. FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database. Methods Reports for AA were extracted from FAERS and analyzed per FDA guidelines. AEs were categorized using MedDRA version 26.1. Disproportionality analysis was conducted using the reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), Bayesian confidence propagation neural network (BCPNN), and empirical Bayes geometric mean (EBGM) algorithms. Time-to-onset (TTO) was calculated, with a Weibull shape parameter test to assess risk over time. Results Out of 13,702,373 reports, 5,040 AA-related AEs were identified, with 198 significant preferred terms (PTs). Common AEs included injection site reactions and pain, with additional PTs for ear/labyrinth disorders and infections. The median onset for 234 AEs with reported times was 170 days (IQR 18–390 days). No significant differences in AEs were found across gender or age groups. Conclusion Most AEs align with known data, but newly identified ear/labyrinth disorders and infections require further investigation to enhance AA’s safety profile.

Unveiling the anxiolytic and analgesic effects of citronellal in Swiss mice: in vivo and in silico insights into COX and GABAA receptor pathways.

This study aims to evaluate the analgesic and anxiolytic effects of citronellal (CTL) in Swiss mice using two new sensitive and economic mouse models along with possible molecular mechanisms through in silico studies. For this, we employed marble displacement and spiked-field apparatus to check the anxiolytic and analgesic effects, respectively. In silico studies were done against cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes and GABAA receptor subunits. Findings suggest that the test sample CTL significantly reduced the number of marbles displaces (NMD), square crosses (NSC), paw massages (NPM), and escaping attempts (NEA) in animals than the control group. CTL exhibited better effects in the perforated-field study compared to the reference drug diclofenac sodium. In both cases, CTL (200mg/kg) significantly reduced the test parameters when combined with the standard drugs (diazepam or diclofenac sodium). In in silico studies, CTL showed binding affinities of - 5.5, - 5.2, - 4.8, and - 4.8kcal/mol with the COX1, COX2, and GABAA receptors (α2 and α3 subunits), respectively. Taken together, CTL may exert anxiolytic- analgesic-like effects on mice, possibly through the GABAA receptor and COXs interaction pathways. These new tools might be used to check the anxiolytic and analgesic properties of a wide variety of test substances.

Impact of Gender-Affirming Rhinoplasty Techniques on Objective Facial Appearance.

To evaluate the impact of transfemale gender-affirming rhinoplasty on nasal appearance as evaluated by common facial analysis measures. Retrospective case series of patients undergoing gender-affirming nasal surgery at a single tertiary care center from March 2016 to July 2022. Pre- and postoperative photographs were analyzed, using iris width to normalize the measurements. Parametric tests were applied to identify differences in facial analytical measures. A total of 33 male to female transgender patients met the inclusion criteria for study entry. Reductive rhinoplasty techniques were frequently utilized. Osteotomies and dorsal reduction were performed in 90.9% and 72.7% of cases, respectively. Tip width decreased on average by 2.3 mm. There was a mean increase of 10.0° in nasolabial angle, and 5.5° increase in nasofrontal angle. Among the 51.5% of patients who underwent alar base reduction, there was a mean decrease of 2.3 mm in alar base width, and 3.1 mm decrease in nasal width. Alar base excision and nasal tip grafting were utilized in 51.5% and 63.6% cases respectively. Transfemale gender-affirming rhinoplasty techniques consistently and predictably altered facial analytical measures, and were effective in aligning nasal appearance with desired gender identity. Alar base excision and tip grafting were commonly employed techniques. Level 4-Quantitative cohort study Laryngoscope, 2024.

Modeling and Visual Simulation of Bifurcation Aneurysms Using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics and Murray’s Law

Aneurysm modeling and simulation play an important role in many specialist areas in the field of medicine such as surgical education and training, clinical diagnosis and prediction, and treatment planning. Despite the considerable effort invested in developing computational fluid dynamics so far, visual simulation of blood flow dynamics in aneurysms, especially the under-explored aspect of bifurcation aneurysms, remains a challenging issue. To alleviate the situation, this study introduces a novel Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH)-based method to model and visually simulate blood flow, bifurcation progression, and fluid–structure interaction. Firstly, this research consider blood in a vessel as a kind of incompressible fluid and model its flow dynamics using SPH; and secondly, to simulate bifurcation aneurysms at different progression stages including formation, growth, and rupture, this research models fluid particles by using aneurysm growth mechanism simulation in combination with vascular geometry simulation. The geometry incorporates an adjustable bifurcation structure based on Murray’s Law, and considers the interaction between blood flow, tissue fluid, and arterial wall resistance. Finally, this research discretizes the computation of wall shear stress using SPH and visualizes it in a novel particle-based representation. To examine the feasibility and validity of the proposed method, this research designed a series of numerical experiments and validation scenarios under varying test conditions and parameters. The experimental results based on numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of proposed method in modeling and simulating bifurcation aneurysm formation and growth. In addition, the results also indicate the feasibility of the proposed wall shear stress simulation and visualization scheme, which enriches the means of blood analysis.

Flexural behaviors of GFRP-wood sandwich beams with recycled wood formwork cores

The escalating consumption of wood products has inevitably led to a rapid accumulation of waste wood, of which a large amount has been landfilled. An innovative concept has been therefore proposed to repurposes waste wood formwork as the core material of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP)-wood sandwich beams. A series of four-point bending tests were conducted on these sandwich beams, with the thicknesses and orientations of strengthening GFRP layers as the main test parameters examined. The test findings indicated that the GFRP-waste wood sandwich beams failed in either buckling of compression zone or rupture of GFRP covering. In addition, the increase in the number of GFRP layer resulted in a significant increase in the both bending stiffness and flexural strength, and the beams strengthened with three-layer GFRP sheets exhibited the bending stiffness and flexural strength up to respectively 4.7 and 6.5 times greater than those without such GFRP strengthening. The analytical and numerical predictions of flexural properties of sandwich beams are in a good agreement with the test results, thereby validating the accuracy of the models employed in the present study.

Effects of Cigarette Smoking on Host Defense Peptides in Saliva of Patients with Periodontitis

Background: Smoking cigarettes is linked to a number of diseases (systemic and oral), and affect both innate and adaptive immunity. Host defense peptides, often known as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), are a component of the innate immune system and regarded as a group of chemically active oligopeptides that are poisonous to harmful microbes. Aims: The goal of this research was to shed light on the effect of cigarette smoking on the production of host defense peptides in periodontitis patients. Methods and Materials: Eighty-five participants were included in this study. Periodontal health assessed by: PLI, GI, BOP, PPD and CAL. Saliva samples were collected from all subjects. ELISA was carried out to estimate the levels of beta defensin and cathelicidin. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 24. The ANOVA parametric test was used to determine and detect the differences between independent study groups, and the Tukey honestly significant difference (HSD)/post hoc test was performed to determine if there is any statistical connection between two data sets (intergroup comparison). Results: The study findings showed both smokers and non smokers with periodontitis had considerably greater levels of beta defensin and cathelicidin than healthy controls. There was statistically significant reduction in beta defensin between smokers and non smokers (p&lt;0.001); whereas no significant differences found between smokers and non smokers regarding cathelicidin level. Conclusions: These findings suggested that, in the context of periodontal diseases, smoking can affect the protein levels of beta defensin but not the levels of cathelicidin

Hybrid power plant in FCR-N provision: An analysis of storage sizing in connection with turbine stress reduction

This paper examines the capability of a linear time-invariant (LTI) filter to reduce the stress of turbine units in hybrid power plants providing Frequency Containment Reserve (FCR) for primary control of the power grid. The main focus is to analyze the effect of filter parametrization on the stress reduction under the dynamic performance criteria given by the Nordic FCR requirements. Analytic derivations are targeted to gain insight into the dependencies of attainable stress reduction, and storage sizing as a function of the FCR test and filter parameters. The study revealed that the filter utilizes an available storage system inefficiently, resulting in low performance in terms of turbine stress reduction and high energy usage. The obtained results are valid for any turbine and storage combination with suitable characteristics for FCR operation since the analysis focused on power behavior.

Buckling behavior of orthotropic thin plates using analytical and machine learning methods

Designing plate structures poses challenges due to potential instabilities and the complexities involved in obtaining accurate analytical solutions, especially for non-Lévy-type boundary conditions. This study employs the finite integral transform method to analyze the buckling behavior of orthotropic thin plates with complex boundary conditions. In solution procedure, the governing high-order partial differential equations are transformed into a system of linear algebraic equations, yielding exact and rapidly converging analytical solution. The method is simple and general and does not need to predetermine the deflection function. The correctness of the method is validated by comparison with numerical simulations performed using the ABAQUS software. Furthermore, Gene Expression Programming (GEP) is utilized to develop empirical models that predict buckling coefficients of isotropic and orthotropic plates under classical and non-classical boundary conditions. Material properties, aspect ratio, rotating fixed coefficient, and boundary conditions are used as input parameters, with simplified mathematical formulations to predict the buckling coefficient. Model performance is assessed using parametric analysis and statistical tests to ensure accuracy and generalization. Further investigation shows aspect ratio and rotating fixed coefficient are significant variables influencing buckling coefficients under classical and non-classical boundary conditions, respectively, followed by boundary conditions and material property. The performance of the GEP model is further assessed by comparing with linear and non-linear regression models. The results show that GEP outperforms the regression models, showing its higher prediction accuracy. This study not only addresses the challenges of designing thin plates with complex boundary conditions, but it also presents an effective machine-learning method for predicting buckling behavior. The analytical solution can be used as a benchmark for validating new analytical and numerical methods. The equations developed using GEP to predict the buckling coefficient of plates provide a useful tool for extrapolating results beyond the scope of this study.

Conceptual Framework for Adaptive Bacterial Memetic Algorithm Parameterization in Storage Location Assignment Problem

Recognized as an NP-hard combinatorial challenge, Storage Location Assignment Problem (SLAP) demands heuristic or algorithmic solutions for effective optimization. This paper specifically examines the enhancement of SLAP through the utilization of evolutionary algorithms, as they are particularly suitable for complex cases. Among others, the genetic algorithm (GA) is typically applied to solve this problem. This paper investigates the Bacterial Memetic Algorithm (BMA) as a possible solution for optimization. Though the comparative analysis of the BMA with the previously well-used GA algorithm under certain test parameters reveals that BMA is suitable for SLA optimization, BMA failed to achieve better results. We attribute the unsatisfactory results to the parameter settings, as illustrated by a few specific examples. However, the complexity of the problem and the parameterization does not allow for continuous manual parameter adjustment, which is why we have identified the need for a concept that automatically and adaptively adjusts the parameter settings based on the statistics and fitness values obtained during the execution. The novelty of this paper is to specify the concept of adaptive BMA parameterization and rules.

A Modification of the Ostergren Model for Thermomechanical Fatigue Life Prediction of Die-Casting Die Steel

The Ostergren model is simple in form and widely used in engineering practice, also serving as the modeling basis of both the damage differentiation and crack propagation models. However, the shortcomings of the Ostergren model are that the modeling process is affected by thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) test parameters. To establish a TMF life normalized model, a modified Ostergren model based on hysteresis energy damage and TMF data for H13 steel was proposed. The model was successfully applied to TMF life prediction for 4Cr5Mo2V steel. The band of predicted life and test life is basically within the factor of 1.5. In summary, the modified Ostergren model is suitable for the TMF life prediction of Cr-Mo-V-type die-casting die steel.

Analysis of missing data in electronic health records of people with diabetes in primary care in Spain: A population-based cohort study

IntroductionResearchers conducting studies based on electronic health records (EHRs) often have to deal with missing data. We aimed to analyze patterns of missing data in lipid profile, sociodemographic variables and risk factors contained in the EHRs of the CARDIABETES project and compare different strategies for addressing the issue. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of people with diabetes, based on EHRs in the Spanish Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database for Public Health Systems (BIFAP). Our response variable was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including all-cause death and hospital admission for cerebrovascular disease or ischemic heart disease. We analyzed patterns of missing data, associations between missingness and MACE, and the effect of eliminating cases with missing data or imputing missing data. ResultsOur total sample included 309,556 people with diabetes. The proportion of individuals with at least one missing value was 76.0%. Regarding diabetes control measures, 10.8% of records had missing glycated hemoglobin values, and 21.4% had missing basal blood glucose values. We observed a non-random pattern of association between missingness and MACE. The strategy of eliminating records with missing data greatly reduced the number of cases and statistical power, and altered the average participant characteristics and cumulative incidence of MACE. By imputing missing data, we were able to circumvent these problems. ConclusionA considerable proportion of missing data was observed for variables such as fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin, and also for other variables such as blood test parameters, BMI, and tobacco and alcohol use. The missing data show a non-random pattern and are associated with a higher incidence of MACE. The strategy of eliminating records with missing data greatly reduced the number of cases and statistical power. The recommended solution is to impute missing data with methods that take all the variables into account, such as MICE with PPM.