European Journal of Epidemiology最新文献

The Guangzhou Breast Cancer Study (GBCS) is a patient-based prospective cohort study designed to identify risk factors and underlying mechanisms for breast cancer (BC) incidence and prognosis, specifically addressing the need for individualized prevention in South China, where BC incidence is notably high. Based in Guangzhou, China, the GBCS began recruitment in 2008, comprises three complementary studies: the Guangzhou breast cancer cohort with 5471 breast cancer patients, a case–control study with 1551 cases and 1605 controls, and an immunohistochemistry (IHC) cohort with 1063 breast cancer patients. Participants are primarily aged 41–60 years. Cohort follow-up is conducted every three months in the first year, every six months in the second and third years, and annually thereafter. High follow-up rates have been achieved until 2023, with 73.5% for the Guangzhou breast cancer cohort and 98.6% for the IHC cohort still active. Baseline data collection included demographic characteristics and breast cancer risk factors, while follow-up data included survival, treatment details, disease history, occupational history, post-diagnostic lifestyle, and laboratory measures, including genetic markers, proteins, and environmental exposures. The study encourages global collaborations and invites interested researchers to contact the corresponding author at xulin27@ mail.sysu.edu.cn with specific research ideas or proposals.

Myopia is becoming an important cause of visual impairment. Determining risk profiles will help to develop targeted prevention strategies. This study aims to explore the difference in myopia development between genders in two cohorts representing different generations, and to assess whether hypothetical interventions targeting education or lifestyle factors would reduce a gender gap. This study included two Dutch population-based cohorts; 11,109 adults aged ≥ 45 years from the Rotterdam Study I-III born between 1887 and 1960, and 7229 children from the birth cohort Generation R study born between 2002 and 2006 at age 9–13 years. Sequential G-estimation was used to estimate changes in gender-specific myopia prevalence, incidence and spherical equivalent if hypothetical interventions such as education and lifestyle changes would have been implemented. Myopia prevalence was 32.3% in men and 29.3% in women in the generation born between 1887 and 1960 (0.23 dioptre difference in spherical equivalent; p < 0.001); while this prevalence was 20.2% in boys and 24.7% in girls born between 2002 and 2006 at age 13 (0.15 dioptre difference in spherical equivalent; p = 0.02). In the older generation, hypothetically intervening to lower education reduced the difference between genders by -52.4% (-108.0%; -13.2%) for spherical equivalent and − 53.0% (-112.0%; -11.6%) for myopia. In children, hypothetically intervening on reducing reading time (-50.0%, 95%CI=-267.5%; 33.8% for spherical equivalent) and number of books read/week (-76.8%, 95% CI=-349.9%; 20.2% for spherical equivalent) was most prominent, but not statistically significant. The results show that men had a higher prevalence of myopia in our study of older generations; while girls had a higher prevalence in the young generation. Our hypothetical interventions suggest that these generation-specific gender preponderances were largely due to education and, possibly, lifestyle factors in youth.

The risks related to fluconazole use during the first trimester of pregnancy (T1) remain controversial. The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to assess the association between oral fluconazole during T1 and major congenital malformations (MCM) overall and by subtype, minor malformations and miscarriages.

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, ICTRP and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to 02/12/24. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies were included. ROBINS-I was used for risk of bias assessment. Both fixed- and random-effects models meta-analyses were performed. GRADE was used to assess the certainty of the evidence.

Among 1403 references, nine observational studies were included (3,764,897 pregnancies, including 116,425 exposed to fluconazole). The association between any fluconazole use during T1 and overall MCM was significant when combining crude estimates (ORc 1.18, 95%CI (1.08–1.29), I² 23%, seven studies), but not when combining adjusted estimates (ORa 1.02, 95%CI (0.98–1.07), I² 0%, six studies). Results were consistent for cumulative dose of fluconazole. In sensitivity analyses considering only studies with a valid definition of MCM, the association between fluconazole > 150 mg and overall MCM remained significant when combining adjusted estimates. For the subtypes of MCM (cardiac, genito-urinary, musculoskeletal) we found no significant association. A significant association was found between fluconazole use and miscarriages (ORa 1.60, 95% CI (1.06–2.42).

Fluconazole use during T1 does not significantly increase the risk of MCM overall or by subtype when considering adjusted estimates. However, potential risks, particularly at cumulative doses greater than 150 mg which show a potential association with MCM, deserve much attention.

PROSPERO Registration The protocol was registered on the 23rd September 2021 (registration number: CRD42021274003).

Objectives

To investigate the associations of changes in lipidemic profile with the risk of lung cancer incidence, and to elucidate how modifiable risk factors contribute to the associations.

Design and participants

The prospective study enrolled a cohort of 137,075 individuals with lipidemic profiles spanning from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 2006 in the Taiwan MJ Cohort. Follow-up was extended from the second clinical visit until December 31, 2007, with an average duration of 6.3 years. Participants was divided into four groups based on alterations in their lipidemic profile within a 1–3 year interval subsequent to initial enrollment. The associations of changes in lipidemic profiles with the incidence of lung cancer were assessed with Cox proportional hazard models. Associations between modifiable risk factors and lipidemic profile changes were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

Of 137,075 participants with lipidemic profile, progression to dyslipidemia within a 3-year period was associated with elevated risks of lung cancer incidence (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.10) in comparison to persistent normolipidemic. However, reversion to normolipidemic did not contribute to a decreased lung cancer incidence risk (HR = 1.10; 95% CI: 0.74, 1.63), in comparison to persistent dyslipidemia. Body mass index and smoking as risk factors, along with physical activity as a protective factor, were associated with changes in lipidemic profile.

Conclusions

Within this large-scale cohort, progression to dyslipidemia emerged as a risk factor for lung cancer incidence, highlighting the significance of lipid control. The modifiable risk factors associated with dyslipidemia progression encompassed body mass index, physical activity, and smoking status, suggesting potential interventions targets.

Continuous monitoring of pediatric drug utilization is important for ensuring rational use and prioritizing research. This study provides an overview of pediatric prescription drug use among Danish children and adolescents from 2005–2023. Using Danish nationwide individual-level dispensing data, we identified all redeemed prescriptions for individuals < 18 years from January 2005–December 2023. We computed overall annual prevalence proportions of users and mean number of prescriptions per child. For all non-antibiotic drugs, we further determined the quantity of drug use measured in defined daily doses (DDDs) and stratified all analyses by age and Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification first and forth level. During the study period, the overall yearly prevalence of prescription drug use decreased due to reductions in antibiotic prescribing. When antibiotic prescriptions were disregarded, the prevalence of children with at least one prescription increased from 38% in 2005 to 42% in 2023, while the mean number of prescriptions and DDDs increased from 1.2 prescriptions per child and 51.2 million DDDs in 2005 to 1.5 prescriptions per child and 76.5 million DDDs in 2023. This increase was primarily driven by prescribing of central nervous system drugs to adolescents 12–17 years, with a substantial increase in centrally acting sympathomimetics and melatonin use. Overall pediatric drug prescribing is decreasing due to reduced antibiotic use. Non-antibiotic drug use is, however, rising, especially among adolescents and notably for psychotropic drugs. These findings underscore the importance of ongoing monitoring and call for further research into underlying causes and prescription practices for psychotropics.

The required intake of macronutrients by women during the periconceptional period for optimal fetal growth is the subject of ongoing investigation. Intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is positively associated with fetal neural development, growth velocity and birth weight. However, limited evidence indicates that PUFAs play a role in embryogenesis. We aim to investigate the associations between maternal PUFA dietary intake and first trimester embryonic volume (EV) and head volume (HV). In a prospective cohort study (2013–2020), 464 pregnant women at < 8 weeks of gestation were included. Maternal dietary intake of PUFAs, including omega 3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA and eicosapentaeonic acid, EPA) and 6, was obtained from food frequency questionnaires, and first trimester three-dimensional ultrasound examinations were performed to measure EV and HV using Virtual Reality techniques. More than 70% of the population had omega 3 intakes below recommendations. A higher intake of PUFAs was associated with a smaller embryonic HV/EV ratio after adjusting for confounders (EPA p = 0.012, DHA p = 0.015, omega 3 and 6 p < 0.001), but no associations were found with EV or HV alone. Omega 3 from fish oil supplements alone was not associated with embryonic growth. Strong adherence to a PUFA-rich dietary pattern was associated with a smaller embryonic HV/EV ratio (DHA and EPA-rich diet p = 0.054, PUFA-rich diet p = 0.002). It is important to increase awareness of the high prevalence of omega 3-deficiency among pregnant women, and the opportunity for prevention by increasing PUFA intake, thereby reducing the risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes which originate during the periconceptional period.

Adverse life events and chronic psychological distress before and during pregnancy have frequently been associated with preterm birth but the biological underpinnings remain unclear. We investigated the association between corticosteroid levels in pre-pregnancy and first-trimester hair and the risk of preterm birth. We followed N = 1,807 pregnant women from a prospective pre-birth cohort study in Lima, Perú. Hair samples were taken at the end of the first pregnancy trimester. The two most proximal 3 cm segments to the scalp (representing pre-pregnancy and first-trimester) were analyzed to obtain hair cortisol and cortisone concentrations (HCC and HCNC). Preterm birth was defined as birth < 37 completed gestational weeks. We constructed four generalized propensity scores for pre-pregnancy and first-trimester HCC and HCNC to create corresponding inverse probability weights before fitting marginal structural models for estimating the effect of HCC and HCNC on preterm birth risk. Pre-pregnancy Log HCC was not independently associated with preterm birth risk (RR = 0.97; 95%CI: 0.79, 1.19), nor was pre-pregnancy Log HCNC (RR = 0.84; 95%CI: 0.58, 1.20). In the first trimester, a one SD increase in Log HCC was associated with a 37% increased risk of preterm birth (95%CI: 1.11, 1.69), whereas Log HCNC was not significantly associated with preterm birth risk (RR = 1.20; 95%CI: 0.87, 1.65). Our findings show that chronic corticosteroid levels in early pregnancy are causally linked to preterm birth risk in pregnant Peruvian women. This finding contributes to understanding the biological underpinnings of preterm birth better to enhance its prevention.

Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for breast cancer (BC), yet little is known about longitudinal alcohol consumption patterns and risk of BC. This study aimed to investigate whether trajectory profiles of alcohol consumption across adulthood were associated with risk of first primary malignant BC in postmenopausal women. At baseline, 28,720 pre-and postmenopausal women aged 50–65 years from the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health Cohort reported their average alcohol intake over the past 12 months and their average alcohol intake at the ages of 20, 30, 40, and 50 years. Alcohol consumption trajectories were estimated using latent class mixed models. BC cases were identified through record linkage to the Danish Cancer Registry. To examine associations between alcohol consumption trajectories and BC, we fitted a proportional hazard model adjusted for potential confounding factors using data from 24,543 postmenopausal women without missing covariate information. We identified 4 alcohol consumption trajectory profiles. During a median follow-up of 16.5 years, 1,591 cases of BC occurred. A mean alcohol consumption trajectory of > 10 g/day was associated with higher risk of BC (HR: 1.65, 95%CI: 1.35–2.03) compared to a mean alcohol consumption trajectory of < 6 g/day. We found no association between trajectory profiles characterized by lower alcohol intakes in early adulthood followed by increasing consumption of alcohol in adulthood compared to a consistently low intake of alcohol. Postmenopausal women drinking consistently high amounts of alcohol throughout adulthood had a higher risk of BC compared to women with a consistently low intake of alcohol.

Literature indicates a potential association between dairy consumption and risk of Parkinson´s disease (PD), especially among men, yet the results remain inconclusive. We investigated this association in a large prospective European cohort. Dietary and non-dietary data was collected from 183,225 participants of the EPIC-for-Neurodegenerative-Diseases (EPIC4ND) cohort, a sub-cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. Crude and multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were employed to examine potential associations between baseline dietary intake of dairy, calcium and vitamin D with incident PD risk. No relationship was observed between dairy consumption (HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.82–1.39), individual dairy products (milk: HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.73–1.23; yogurt: HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.82–1.29; cheese: HR 1.13, 95% CI 0.85–1.51), or vitamin D (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.80–1.45) with PD risk. However, we observed a risk-increasing association with higher calcium intakes (HR 1.33, 95% CI 1.00-1.78, p for trend = 0.031), which was more pronounced in men (HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.00-2.25, p for trend = 0.044) and in ever smokers (HR 1.64, 95% CI 1.06–2.53, p for trend = 0.014). No compelling evidence was found for an association between dairy products or vitamin D intake and PD risk indicating a potentially limited relevance of dairy intake in PD risk than previously described. Our observations of a positive association between dietary calcium intake and PD risk in men and in ever smokers require further validation.

Contemporary data from randomized clinical trials focusing on the effect of oral hormone therapy (HT) on venous thromboembolism (VTE) in women aged 50–60 years are scarce despite evolving HT regimens. Here, we evaluated the association between HT and the risk of developing VTE using a target trial emulation among women of menopausal age. This retrospective cohort study applied a target trial emulation framework using claims data from a universal health insurance program in Taiwan. We emulated a sequence of trials in which women aged 50–60 years with no previous history of HT, hysterectomy, gynecologic disorders, or cardiovascular events were enrolled. Eligibility and HT use were evaluated monthly from 2011 to 2019. Eligible women were classified as either HT initiators or non-initiators for each consecutive month. Observational analogs of the intention-to-treat and per-protocol effects were estimated using pooled logistic regression models. Of the 150,686,148 eligible person-trials (3,001,112 women), 192,215 initiators and 768,860 propensity score-matched non-initiators were included in the analysis. The average duration of the HT was 1.25 years. Over a median follow-up of 5.83 years, 3,334 women developed VTE. The estimated hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) was 0.96 (0.88, 1.04) in the intention-to-treat analysis and 0.66 (0.41, 1.05) in per-protocol analysis. The estimated intention-to-treat and per-protocol 5-year VTE-free survival differences (95% confidence interval) were 0.1‰ (− 0.3‰, 0.7‰) and 0.3‰ (− 2.8‰, 4.0‰), respectively. In the contemporary clinical setting, we did not observe an increased VTE risk associated with HT in women aged 50–60 years.