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This study was conducted to determine the protective effect of influenza vaccine against primary major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in elderly patients, especially those with influenza-like illness (ILI).This retrospective, population-based case-control study of an elderly population (age≥65 years) was conducted using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database (2000-2013). One control was selected for each MACE case (n=80,363 each), matched according to age, year of study entry, and predisposing factors for MACEs. ILI and MACEs (myocardial infarction [MI] and ischemic stroke) were defined according to the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for the association between MACEs and vaccination.Influenza vaccination received in the previous year was associated with reduced risks of primary MACEs overall (adjusted OR [aOR] 0.80, 95% CI 0.78-0.82, P.001), MI (aOR 0.80, 95% CI 0.76-0.84, P.001), and ischemic stroke (aOR 0.80, 95% CI 0.77-0.82, P.001). ILI diagnosed in the previous year was associated with increased risks of MACEs (aOR 1.24, 95% CI 1.18-1.29, P.001), MI (aOR 1.46, 95% CI 1.34-1.59, P.001), and ischemic stroke (aOR 1.16, 95% CI 1.10-1.22, P.001). Vaccination attenuated the heightened risks associated with ILI (MACEs: aOR 0.99, 95% CI 0.92-1.07, P=.834; MI: aOR 1.05, 95% CI 0.92-1.21, P=.440; ischemic stroke: aOR 0.96, 95% CI 0.89-1.05, P=.398).Results of this study suggest that influenza vaccination is associated with reduced primary MACE risks in the elderly population, including those with ILI.

Background Although theophylline has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, the therapeutic use of theophylline before sepsis is unknown. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of theophylline on COPD patients presenting with sepsis. Methods This nationwide, population-based, propensity score-matched analysis used data from the linked administrative databases of Taiwan's National Health Insurance program. Patients with COPD who were hospitalized for sepsis between 2000 and 2011 were divided into theophylline users and non-users. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. The secondary outcome was in-hospital death, intensive care unit admission, and need for mechanical ventilation. Cox proportional hazard model and conditional logistic regression were used to calculate the risk between groups. Results A propensity score-matched cohort of 51,801 theophylline users and 51,801 non-users was included. Compared with non-users, the 30-day (HR 0.931, 95% CI 0.910–0.953), 180-day (HR 0.930, 95% CI 0.914–0.946), 365-day (HR 0.944, 95% CI 0.929–0.960) and overall mortality (HR 0.965, 95% CI 0.952–0.979) were all significantly lower in theophylline users. Additionally, the theophylline users also had lower risk of in-hospital death (OR 0.895, 95% CI 0.873–0.918) and need for mechanical ventilation (OR 0.972, 95% CI 0.949–0.997). Conclusions Theophylline use is associated with a lower risk of sepsis-related mortality in COPD patients. Pre-hospital theophylline use may be protective to COPD patients with sepsis.

Objective To examine the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) in a nationwide cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes initiating dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Patients and Methods This nested case-control study of a cohort of adult DPP-4 inhibitor users with type 2 diabetes who were hospitalized for AKI between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2013, was conducted using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Each AKI case was matched with one control subject according to duration of follow-up, age, sex, urbanization level, monthly income, comorbidity severity, and well-known predisposing factors for AKI. Odds ratios (ORs) for AKI were calculated according to current, recent, or past use of DPP-4 inhibitors. Results A total of 6752 cases with AKI and 6752 matched controls were analyzed. The exposure prevalence of DPP-4 inhibitor use in the previous year was higher among patients with AKI (adjusted OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.05-1.36; P =.006). In a stratified analysis, the association was significant for current DPP-4 inhibitor use (adjusted OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.08-1.48; P =.004), but not for recent or past use. Conclusion In this large contemporary cohort, DPP-4 inhibitor users had an increased risk of AKI development compared with nonusers. Further research is warranted to investigate the mechanism underlying this association.

The 2014 Eighth Joint National Committee guidelines for hypertension management emphasize the upper limit of blood pressure (BP) as the target for treatment in the elderly population. Given the uncertainty regarding optimal BP range, we aimed to investigate the association between observed BP and subsequent mortality in older people.We extracted data from 128,765 participants ≥65 years of age who underwent annual health examinations in a retrospective, observational community-based study from 2001 to 2010. Seated BP was measured using an oscillometric device. The outcomes were all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.As compared to participants with systolic BP at 130 to 139 mm Hg, the risk of all-cause mortality was significantly higher among those with110 (adjusted hazard ratios [aHRs], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.20), 140 to 149 (aHR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.03-1.14), 150 to 159 (aHR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01-1.17), 160 to 169 (aHR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.04-1.19), and ≥170 mm Hg (aHR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.17-1.33), whereas the differences were not significant for those with 110 to119 (aHR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.00-1.12) and 120 to 129 mm Hg (aHR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.97-1.08). Similarly, diastolic BP at 40 to 79 mm Hg was associated with the lowest risk of all-cause mortality. The J-shaped curve relationship between BP and cardiovascular mortality was also observed.Observed systolic and diastolic BP other than 110 to 139 and 40 to 79 mm Hg, respectively, were associated with a worse outcome. Our large cohort study supports the J-shaped mortality with observed BP in older people.

Background The association between periodontal disease and chronic kidney disease in older people is controversial, and evidence for a causal link between kidney function decline and subsequent mortality risk is limited. Study Design Longitudinal, observational, community-based cohort study. Setting & Participants Participants were citizens 65 years or older who received the Taipei City Government–sponsored Annual Elderly Health Examination Program during 2005 to 2010, including dental status assessment and biochemical examinations. Predictors Participants with periodontal disease defined by the World Health Organization Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Need criteria. Outcomes All-cause and cardiovascular mortality and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline ≥ 30% over 2 years. Results Of 100,263 study participants, 13,749 (13.7%) had periodontal disease. In a mean follow-up of 3.8 years, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates in those with periodontal disease (11.5% and 2.6%, respectively) were higher compared with those without periodontal disease (6.7% and 1.6%, respectively). After adjustment for demographic characteristics, comorbid conditions, and biochemistry data, adjusted HRs for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were 1.34 (95% CI, 1.26-1.42) and 1.25 (95% CI, 1.13-1.41), respectively. The frequency of eGFR decline ≥ 30% over 1-, 2-, and 3-years' follow-up in those with periodontal disease was 1.8%, 3.7%, and 4.0%, respectively. In a logistic regression model, adjusted ORs of the detrimental effect of periodontal disease on 30% eGFR decline in participants over 1-, 2-, or 3-years' follow-up were 1.03 (95% CI, 0.85-1.25), 1.62 (95% CI, 1.41-1.87), and 1.59 (95% CI, 1.37-1.86), respectively. In subgroup analyses according to age, sex, and comorbid conditions, risks for eGFR decline and mortality remained consistent. Limitations Results may not be generalizable to other non-Asian ethnic populations. Conclusions The results indicate that periodontal disease is a risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and eGFR decline ≥ 30% over 2 to 3 years in older people.

Background Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is the second most common retinal vascular disease, with peak incidence at 70years of age. However, the bidirectional association between the risk of comorbidities and the diagnosis of RVO in this population is uncertain. Methods A population-based cohort of 1,784,960 patients 70years of age and older retrieved from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 2000 and 2010. Risks of comorbidities were assessed 5years before and after the diagnosis of RVO. Results In our study, 3393 subjects had central RVO (CRVO) and 6688 subjects had branch RVO (BRVO). Before the diagnosis of RVO, patients showed increased risks for the following comorbidities: hypertension (odds ratio [OR]=1.83, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.74–1.93), dyslipidemia (OR=1.29, [1.23–1.35]), DM (OR=1.29, [1.23–1.35]), liver disease (OR=1.22, [1.16–1.29]), renal disease (OR=1.30, [1.23–1.37]), and cerebrovascular disease (OR=1.16, [1.11–1.21]). After the diagnosis of RVO, patients were at greater risk of developing DM (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR]=1.12, [1.06–1.19]), PAD (AHR=1.17, [1.08–1.27]), and MACE (AHR=1.35, [1.25–1.46]); however, the risk of all-cause mortality was unchanged. Elderly patients with CRVO had a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality (AHR=1.09, [1.02–1.17]), whereas patients with BRVO showed no significant differences in mortality. Conclusion This study suggests bidirectional association between the risk of comorbidities and the diagnosis of RVO in an elderly population.

Summary Objective The potential association between healthcare workers (HCWs) and the risk of clinically active tuberculosis (TB) in countries with intermediate TB burdens remains unclear. Methods A nationwide, population-based cohort study was performed by using Taiwan National Health Insurance Database during 2000–2010. We included HCWs and non-HCWs without history of tuberculosis matched at a 1:1 ratio according to age, sex, monthly income, underlying comorbidities, and concomitant medications. All subjects were followed from the date of enrollment until TB occurrence, death, or 31 December 2010. Results The study population comprised 11,811 healthcare workers and 11,811 matched subjects. 62 HCWs and 38 control subjects developed TB during a median follow-up period of 9.4 years. The incidence of TB was higher among HCWs than among matched subjects (61.08 vs . 37.81 per 100,000 person-years). The risk of TB was also greater among HCWs (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08–2.43), particularly for pulmonary TB in comparison with extrapulmonary TB (aHR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.02–2.39). Among different job categories of HCWs, we found that only nurses had a significantly increased risk of developing TB (aHR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.37–4.72) compared to the matched cohort. Conclusions HCWs are associated independently with a higher risk of developing TB in this intermediate-burden country. Therefore, the importance of TB surveillance among HCWs should be emphasized.