Search

Background: The ability to account for comorbidity when estimating survival in a population diagnosed with cancer could be improved by using a drug comorbidity index based on filled drug prescriptions.Methods: We created a drug comorbidity index from age-stratified univariable associations between filled drug prescriptions and time to death in 326,450 control males randomly selected from the general population to men with prostate cancer. We also evaluated the index in 272,214 control females randomly selected from the general population to women with breast cancer.Results: The new drug comorbidity index predicted survival better than the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and a previously published prescription index during 11 years of follow-up. The concordance (C)-index for the new index was 0.73 in male and 0.76 in the female population, as compared with a C-index of 0.67 in men and 0.69 in women for the CCI. In men of age 75-84 years with CCI = 0, the median survival time was 7.1 years (95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.0, 7.3) in the highest index quartile. Comparing the highest to the lowest drug comorbidity index quartile resulted in a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.2 among men (95% CI = 2.1, 2.3) and 2.4 among women (95% CI = 2.3, 2.6).Conclusions: A new drug comorbidity index based on filled drug prescriptions improved prediction of survival beyond age and the CCI alone. The index will allow a more accurate baseline estimation of expected survival for comparing treatment outcomes and evaluating treatment guidelines in populations of people with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overall aim of the Swedish Breast Reconstruction Outcome Study was to investigate national long-term outcomes after mastectomy with or without breast reconstruction. The current report evaluates breast reconstruction (BR) patterns in Sweden over time. This is a cross-sectional, registry-based study where all women operated with mastectomy 2000, 2005, 2010 were identified (N = 5853). Geographical differences in type of BR were investigated using heatmaps. Distribution of continuous variables were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test, categorical variables were compared using the chi-square test. Mean age at survey was 69 years (SD=±11.4) and response rate was 50%, responders were on average six years younger than the non-responders and had a more favourable tumor stage (both p < 0.01). Of the 2904 responders, 31% (895/2904) had received a BR: implant-based in 58% (516/895)autologous in 31% (281/895). BR was immediate in 20% (176/895) and delayed in 80% (719/895) women. Women with BR were on average one year older, more often had a normal BMI, reported to be married or had a partner, had a higher educational level and a higher annual income when compared to those without BR (all p < 0.001). The independent factors of not receiving BR were older age and given radiotherapy. To our knowledge, this is the first national long-term follow-up study on women undergoing mastectomy with and without BR. Around 30% of the survey responders have had a BR with a significant geographical variation highlighting the importance of information, availability and standardisation of indications for BR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Data on pregnancy outcomes in women with psoriasis are conflicting.Objective: We examined whether maternal psoriasis affects the risk of adverse maternal and pregnancy outcomes.Methods: We used population-based data to compare reproductive patterns in women with and without psoriasis. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for adverse outcomes were estimated with adjustments for maternal age, period of childbirth, smoking, and prepregnancy body mass index.Results: Compared with women without psoriasis, women with psoriasis were younger at first birth and had longer interpregnancy intervals but did not differ in final parity. Risk estimates in women with psoriasis were elevated for pregnancy hypertension (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.19-1.58), premature rupture of membranes (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.04-1.27), large for gestational age (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.01-1.21), cleft palate (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.07-2.66), and unspecified malformations (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.01-1.16).Limitations: No information was available on lifestyle, disease severity, or type and duration of treatment. Small numbers hampered the assessment of rare outcomes.Conclusion: Although there was no evidence that fertility is negatively affected, women with psoriasis were at an increased risk of several adverse maternal and pregnancy outcomes. Our findings add to a growing body of evidence that pregnancies in women with psoriasis need special monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have found evidence of socioeconomic differences in breast cancer survival. This study aimed to quantify the impact of removing differences in stage distribution and stage-specific relative survival between education groups in Swedish women with breast cancer. Using information from a breast cancer research database, the study population contained 62 121 women diagnosed with breast cancer in three healthcare regions of Sweden from 1992 to 2012. The loss in expectation of life and life years lost due to breast cancer were estimated using flexible parametric relative survival models by education group and age at diagnosis. The potential gain in life years and postponable deaths were calculated by applying the 1) stage distribution, 2) stage-specific relative survival, and 3) both stage distribution and stage-specific relative survival of the high education group to the low and medium education groups. For a cohort of around 3500 women diagnosed with breast cancer residing in three Swedish healthcare regions in a typical calendar year, we estimated that removing stage differences would postpone an additional 25 deaths at five years after diagnosis, and result in a gain of approximately 573 life years. Alternatively, if stage-specific breast cancer survival could be equated, approximately 692 life years could be saved and an additional 26 deaths could be postponed five years after diagnosis. Results such as these can help guide decisions on interventions intended to minimise socioeconomic differences in breast cancer outcomes. • We estimate the effect of differences in stage and stage-specific survival between education groups for BC patients • Equalising stage-specific survival and stage distribution have a similar impact • Removing both differences could postpone ∼10% of deaths within 5 years • 1230 life years could be saved for ∼3500 women diagnosed with BC in Sweden [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women diagnosed with breast cancer during working age are at increased risk of permanent absence from work, but the underlying medical causes have rarely been studied. We examined the risk of cause-specific sick leave, disability pension, and the competing event death after a breast cancer diagnosis in a population-based cohort study. From the Breast Cancer Data Base Sweden, we identified 16,603 women diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer between 2000 and 2012, and 63,773 control women. Using multi-state modelling, we calculated probabilities and durations of sick leave, disability pension, and death by registered cause, together with cause-specific hazard ratios. Five years after diagnosis, causes other than cancer accounted for around half of all sick leave (3.5% out of 6.8% of women) and disability pension (1.4% out of 2.6%) in women with breast cancer. Compared with control women, women with breast cancer were at increased risk of sick leave and disability pension due to mental disorders (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.15–1.33 and HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.29–1.85, respectively) and disability pension due to inflammatory diseases (HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.05–2.03). The risk of sick leave and disability pension due to cardiovascular disease was also elevated, although only statistically significant for disability pension in women diagnosed after 2005 (HR 2.24, 95% CI 1.22–4.13). Follow-up, support, and rehabilitation programs for women diagnosed with breast cancer must address a wide range of psychological and physical conditions to limit the consequences on working life. • Causes other than cancer accounted for half of all absence from work in year five. • Absence because of mental disorders was more common in women with breast cancer. • Cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases were also more commonly reported causes. • Other causes of absence were lymphedema and fatigue-related conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Current EAU (European Association of Urology) guidelines state that prostate specific antigen 100 ng/ml or greater at diagnosis indicates metastatic disease. We examined the association of prostate specific antigen 100 ng/ml or greater at diagnosis with distant metastasis and prostate cancer specific survival. Material and Methods A total of 15,635 men with prostate cancer diagnosed between 1998 and 2009 who were identified in PCBaSe (Prostate Cancer Data Base Sweden 2.0) were included in a population based registry study. Prostate cancer specific survival was compared among 3 groups, including 1,879 men with prostate specific antigen 100 ng/ml or greater and negative imaging (M0), 5,642 with distant metastases on imaging (M1) and prostate specific antigen 100 ng/ml or greater, and 3,828 with M1 and prostate specific antigen less than 100 ng/ml. A fourth group consisted of 4,286 men with prostate specific antigen 100 ng/ml or greater who had not undergone imaging (Mx). The latter men were not included in the assessment of survival. Results Of 7,521 men with prostate specific antigen 100 ng/ml or greater who underwent imaging for staging 75% were classified with M1 disease. Only 59% of 3,527 men with prostate specific antigen 100 to 300 mg/ml had distant metastases on imaging. Five-year prostate cancer specific survival was 72% (95% CI 70–74) in men with prostate specific antigen 100 ng/ml or greater and M0, 24% (95% CI 23–25) in men with prostate specific antigen 100 ng/ml or greater and M1, and 39% (95% CI 37–40) in men with prostate specific antigen less than 100 ng/ml and M1. Conclusions A fourth of men with prostate specific antigen 100 ng/ml or greater did not have distant metastases. They had twofold to threefold higher 5-year survival than men with distant metastases on imaging. Our findings strongly suggest that using prostate specific antigen 100 ng/ml or greater as an indicator of metastatic disease should be reconsidered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To compare sickness absence and disability pension in a population-based cohort of women with breast cancer ( n = 463) from 1 year pre-diagnosis until 3 years post-diagnosis with a matched control group ( n = 2310), and to investigate predictors of sickness absence during the 2nd and 3rd year post-diagnosis. Results Following breast cancer, the proportion of disease-free women with sickness absence decreased post-diagnosis (1st–3rd year; 78%-31%-19%), but did not reach the pre-diagnostic level (14%; P < 0.05). Post-diagnosis, patients were more likely than controls to be sickness absent (1st–3rd year; P < 0.001). No between-group differences were observed for disability pension post-diagnosis ( P > 0.05). Among patients, chemotherapy, baseline fatigue and pre-diagnosis sick days predicted sickness absence during the 2nd, 3rd, and 2nd and 3rd year post-diagnosis, respectively ( P < 0.05). Conclusions Breast cancer is associated with increased sickness absence 3 years post-diagnosis. In a clinical setting, prevention and treatment of side effects are important in reducing long-term consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Malignant melanoma (MM) is one of the most common malignancies in young women. It remains debated whether a MM diagnosed during pregnancy or lactation has a worse prognosis. Objective We sought to examine mortality in women with pregnancy-associated MM (PAMM) (diagnosed during pregnancy and up to 2-years postpartum). Methods This was a population-based cohort study based on information retrieved from the Swedish Cancer and Multi-Generation Registers. Hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals adjusted for age, period, education, parity, and tumor location were estimated. Results In total, 6857 women and girls aged 15 to 44 years with a diagnosis of cutaneous MM between 1963 and 2009 were identified. Of these, 1019 cases were classified as PAMM. The cause-specific mortality did not differ between PAMM and MM not diagnosed near childbirth (adjusted hazard ratio 1.09, 95% confidence interval 0.83-1.42). Limitations Information on stage at diagnosis was available only for a subset of patients Conclusion Overall, the cause-specific mortality in women and girls with PAMM did not differ from that in women and girls with non-PAMM. The current findings do not provide evidence of an adverse prognostic influence of pregnancy or a recent birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We investigated hospital readmission frequency during the 90 days after radical prostatectomy and assessed the readmission risk associated with potentially related variables. Materials and Methods: Using the population based, nationwide PCBaSe (Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden) we identified men diagnosed with incident prostate cancer between 2000 and 2011 who underwent radical prostatectomy as primary treatment. We used logistic regression analysis to examine the association of the risk of 90-day postoperative readmission with surgical method, calendar period, tumor risk category, hospital case load and patient characteristics. Results: During 90 postoperative days 2,317 of the 24,122 men (10%) identified were nonelectively readmitted, specifically 10% after retropubic, 9% after robot-assisted and 11% after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. The range in readmission frequency among hospitals was 0% to 35%. Higher readmission risk was associated with the early calendar period (2009 to 2011 vs 2000 to 2002 OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.61–0.83), greater age (70 or greater vs less than 60 years OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.00–1.36), higher risk category (high vs low OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.57–2.03), high comorbidity (Charlson comorbidity index 3 or greater vs 0 OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.29–2.44) and low hospital surgical volume (150 or greater vs fewer than 30 radical prostatectomies per year OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.60–0.81). Conclusions: Readmission rates after different radical prostatectomy methods were similar, ranging from 9% to 11%, with wide variation among hospitals. Readmission rates can be used as an indicator of perioperative care quality but potential confounders must be adjusted to avoid bias. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the results of a study that determines the relationship between lipid profiles and risk of breast and ovarian cancer. The study shows a weak trend between triglycerides and breast cancer and no other associations between lipid components. It concludes with an observation of a weak protective association between levels of triglycerides and the risk of breast cancer.

The article discusses a study which examined the mortality in women with pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) in relation to the detection of the tumor and by time since diagnosis. It cites the inclusion of Swedish women diagnosed with breast cancer between ages 15 to 44 years. Results of the study showed higher mortality in women with PABC. Findings also revealed the death of 46% of women with PABC within 15 years after diagnosis.

The article presents the Apolipoprotein Mortality Risk (AMORIS) study conducted in Sweden which investigated the association between levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and leukocytes, as inflammatory markers and cancer risk. The methods used, such as the inflammation-based predictive score (IPS) in the multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression, are described. Results show a positive trend between CRP and cancer risk. It is concluded that there is a link between the markers and cancer with the use of repeated measurements and reverse causality.

Purpose: We examined associations among comorbidity, treatment decisions and mortality in patients with prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: A total of 77,536 men diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1997 and 2006 were identified in PCBaSe Sweden from the National Prostate Cancer Register of Sweden. Logistic, Cox and competing risk regression were used to assess associations among Charlson comorbidity index, treatment and mortality. The Charlson comorbidity index was categorized into no (0), mild (1) and severe comorbidity (2+). Results: In men with low risk prostate cancer 5,975 of the 13,245 (45.1%) patients without comorbidity underwent radical prostatectomy compared to 256 of the 1,399 (18.9%) men with severe comorbidity. Following adjustment for age and period of diagnosis, radical prostatectomy was less likely to be offered to men with severe comorbidity (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.41–0.55). In men with high risk prostate cancer, radiotherapy was more common (range 7.7% to 21.3%) than radical prostatectomy (range 3.0% to 11.2%) regardless of comorbidity burden. All cause and competing cause but not prostate cancer specific mortality were increased in men with severe comorbidity (all cause HR 1.99, 95% CI 1.93–2.05; competing cause sHR 2.66, 95% CI 2.56–2.78; prostate cancer specific sHR 0.98, 95% CI 0.93–1.03). The cumulative probability of prostate cancer death given no death from competing causes was significantly higher in men with severe comorbidity in all risk groups (p <0.01). Conclusions: Comorbidity affects treatment choices, and is associated with all cause, competing cause and conditional prostate cancer specific mortality. An increased conditional prostate cancer specific mortality in men with severe comorbidity may reflect less aggressive treatment, impaired tumor defense, lifestyle factors and poor general health behavior. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Many cancers arise from sites of infection and inflammation. Results from animal studies indicate that inflammatory cells may facilitate neoplastic processes by orchestrating the tumor microenvironment. Little is known about the role of inflammation in the etiology of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to examine possible associations between a history of mastitis requiring hospitalization and subsequent risk of breast cancer.Methods: This cohort study of 2,577,565 women used data from several Swedish population-based registers, including the Inpatient Register and the Cancer Register. The risk of breast cancer was assessed by Poisson regression modeling.Results: We identified 8411 women in the Inpatient Register with a discharge diagnosis of mastitis. Of these, 106 had a subsequent diagnosis of breast cancer recorded in the Cancer Register. Compared with women who had no recorded mastitis, the incidence rate of breast cancer (regardless of laterality) was higher in women with mastitis, with an incidence rate ratio of 1.23 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02-1.49) following adjustment for age, calendar time, age at first birth and parity. In the group of women among whom information on laterality was available for both the mastitis and the malignancy (n = 87), side of lesions corresponded for 52% (95% CI = 41%-62%), which is what could be expected by chance.Conclusions: The overall risk of breast cancer was slightly elevated in women with a history of mastitis recorded in the Inpatient Register. The absence of a correlation between laterality of lesions, however, does not support a causal association between inflammation and the development of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a cohort study which examined the association of placental weight and breast cancer survival in young women in the U.S. In this study, researchers studied a cohort of 1873 women with at least one pregnancy after January 1st, 1973, and a subsequent breast cancer diagnosis before the end of 1991 were followed up for death or emigration through 2006. The study found that the associations was stronger among primiparous women. Further findings of the study are discussed.

In Sweden, use of smokeless tobacco (oral moist snuff) is common among adult men. Research on cerebrovascular effects associated with long-term use of snuff is limited and inconclusive. We aimed to study whether long-term use of snuff affects the risk of stroke.Information on tobacco use was collected by questionnaire among Swedish construction workers attending health check-ups between 1978 and 1993. In total, 118,465 never-smoking men without a history of stroke were followed through 2003. We used the Inpatient Register and Causes of Death Register to identify subsequent morbidity and mortality from stroke and its subtypes (ischemic, hemorrhagic, and unspecified stroke). Relative risk estimates were derived from Cox proportional hazards regression model.Almost 30% of the nonsmoking men had ever used snuff. Overall, 3248 cases of stroke were identified during follow-up. Compared with nonusers of tobacco, the multivariable-adjusted relative risks for ever-users of snuff were 1.02 (95% confidence interval; 0.92-1.13) for all cases and 1.27 (0.92-1.76) for fatal cases. Further analyses on subtypes of stroke revealed an increased risk of fatal ischemic stroke associated with current snuff use (1.72; 1.06-2.78), whereas no increased risk was noted for hemorrhagic stroke.Snuff use may elevate the risk of fatal stroke, and particularly of fatal ischemic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the result of a study concerning placental weight and risk of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer with an early age of onsent. The findings support the hypothesis that hormone exposures during pregnancy influence the risk of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer among young women. This is because pregnancy hormone levels increase with placental weight.

The article presents the results of a study on the association between gender of offspring and maternal risk of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer. The study explored the potential differences in hormones that may underlie the observed difference in maternal ovarian cancer risk between bearing male and female offspring.

This article discusses findings of a study, which evaluated the association between birth characteristics and maternal risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in several Swedish women who delivered singleton births between 1973 and 2001. The two characteristics of pregnancy are gestational age and birth weight, which are also considered as potential proxies of maternal exposure to pregnancy hormones. The study revealed that the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer was higher for pregnancies with a shorter gestation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to study the effect of pregnancy outcomes on risks of continued smoking in subsequent pregnancy. Study design: Cohort study of first and second single births among 98,778 Swedish women who were daily smokers in first pregnancy. Results: In all, 70.2% of women continued to smoke in second pregnancy. Compared with women with a previous normal pregnancy outcome, risk of smoking in second pregnancy was increased among women with a previous small-for-gestational-age birth (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 95% CI 1.28 [95% CI 1.19-1.37]), and reduced among women who had experienced a stillbirth (OR 0.76 [95% CI 0.63-0.93]) or an infant death because of congenital malformations (OR 0.67 [95% CI 0.49-0.92]. A previous preterm birth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and other causes of infant death did not influence risk. Conclusion: A previous adverse pregnancy outcome has only a modest influence on smoking habits in the successive pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have reported an inverse association between birth order and testicular cancer risk, but estimates vary greatly and the biologic mechanism underlying the association is not established.Methods: We have evaluated the effect of birth order, sibship size, and the combined effect of these 2 variables in relation to risk for testicular cancer in a large, nested case-control study. Specifically, we compared 3051 patients with germ-cell testicular cancer (diagnosed between 1958 and 1998 and identified through the Swedish Cancer Registry) with 9007 population control subjects. Using record linkage with the Multi-Generation Register and the Census, we obtained information on number, order, and sex of the subjects' siblings, parental age, and paternal socioeconomic status.Results: Both birth order and sibship size had an inverse and monotonically decreasing association with testicular cancer risk after adjusting for parental age, paternal socioeconomic status, and twin status. The associations were modified by subjects' cohort of birth and were not present among those born after 1959. The odds ratio for having at least 3 siblings, compared with none, was 0.63 (95% confidence interval = 0.53-0.75) among subjects born before 1960. Stratified analyses showed that birth order and number of younger siblings had a similar inverse association with the risk for testicular cancer.Conclusions: Sibship size, and not only birth order, is associated with testicular cancer risk. This suggests a higher prevalence of parental subfertility among patients with testicular cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: BackgroundSurgical resection is currently standard treatment in early stage lung cancer. The aim of the present study was to identify stage-related factors and patient characteristics influencing survival after complete resection.: MethodsWe identified 395 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who had undergone potentially radical operation during 1987 to 1999 at one thoracic surgery institution in central Sweden. Factors independently related to survival were identified in a multivariate analysis. Survival was analyzed in low-, medium-, and high-risk groups based on a risk score calculated from relative hazards for identified risk factors.: ResultsOverall 5-year survival among the 395 patients was 51%. The strongest factor predicting prognosis was positive lymph nodes at operation. Higher age, earlier period for operation, impaired lung function, current smoking, and major operative complication were all related to poorer prognosis. Patients with tumor stage Ia had a 5-year survival of 69%, compared to 73% in patients in the low-risk group.: ConclusionsTumor stage is the best prognostic indicator after radical operation. Inclusion of other tumor- and patient-related variables did not add prognostic information of clinical relevance beyond that provided by tumor stage alone. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Breast cancer incidence rates are up to five times higher in white women in the United States compared with Asian women in China and Japan. A search for factors that modify estrogen's biological effect differentially between ethnic groups may add to the understanding of international variations in breast cancer risk. Recent evidence indicates that alpha-fetoprotein, a glycoprotein produced by the fetal liver, has important antiestrogenic properties. During pregnancy, alpha-fetoprotein reaches peak concentrations in maternal serum during the third trimester.Methods: We compared pregnancy levels of alpha-fetoprotein in a population with high risk of breast cancer (Boston, MA) and low risk (Shanghai, China). Blood samples were collected around the 16th week and around the 27th week of gestation among women enrolled from March 1994 to October 1995. The number of specimens available for alpha-fetoprotein analysis was 1,033.Results: Alpha-fetoprotein levels, adjusted for gestational length, were substantially higher in Shanghai compared with Boston women at both time points. When adjustments were made for prepregnancy weight, parity, offspring's sex and maternal age, alpha-fetoprotein levels remained 13% higher in Shanghai at 16 weeks of pregnancy but not at 27 weeks.Conclusions: These findings may explain, at least in part, the difference in breast cancer risk between Chinese and American women. On the population level, alpha-fetoprotein may influence risk by modifying the effect of biologically active estrogens both in the mother and in female offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]