Journal of insurance medicine (New York, N.Y.)最新文献

Recent artificial intelligence (AI) advancements in cardiovascular medicine offer potential enhancements in diagnosis, prediction, treatment, and outcomes. This article aims to provide a basic understanding of AI enabled ECG technology. Specific conditions and findings will be discussed, followed by reviewing associated terminology and methodology. In the appendix, definitions of AUC versus accuracy are explained. The application of deep learning models enables detecting diseases from normal electrocardiograms at accuracy not previously achieved by technology or human experts. Results with AI enabled ECG are encouraging as they considerably exceeded current screening models for specific conditions (i.e., atrial fibrillation, left ventricular dysfunction, aortic stenosis, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). This could potentially lead to a revitalization of the utilization of the ECG in the insurance domain. While we are embracing the findings with this rapidly evolving technology, but cautious optimism is still necessary at this point.

Background: .-Laryngeal malignancy, "voice box" cancer, is uncommon with 12,620 estimated new cases and 3770 deaths in the United States in 2021,1 and represents only 6.2% of all respiratory system malignancies. The most significant risk factors are alcohol and tobacco consumption. Almost all cases (98%) of laryngeal cancer arise in the squamous epithelium, and in this analysis more than 75% are of well-or-moderately differentiated histopathology (Grades I&II). Local stage cancer (SEER Historic Staging) was more common than regional and distant stages combined (55.3% vs 44.7%). Tumors may arise above, below or at the level of the vocal folds and are described as supraglottic (encompassing the epiglottis, false vocal cords, ventricles, aryepiglottic fold and arytenoids), the glottis (encompassing the true vocal cords and the anterior and posterior commissures), and the subglottic region. In the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, End-Results (NCI-SEER) Data Research, 9 Registries, Nov 2019 Sub (1975-2017),2 laryngeal cancer occurred more commonly in men than in women, 80.7% vs 19.3%, respectively with a 4.2 to 1 ratio. Additionally, there are racial disparities with African Americans presenting at a younger age and having a higher incidence and mortality than Caucasians. In the 1975-2017 period, overall median patient age was 64.4 years with White Americans-64.8 years and Black Americans-61.5 years. Unfortunately, the 5-year relative survival rate has declined 4%, and excess death rate has risen 13% since 1975 with overall incidence declining.As a consequence, observed median survival is approximately 6.5-years for the total study-period pinpointing the need for further specialty research. This study follows the World Health Organization International Classification of Diseases for Oncology-3rd Edition (ICD-O-3)3 topographical identification, coding, labeling and listing of 43,103 patient-cases accessible for analysis in the United States National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program (NCI SEER Research Data, 9 Registries, 1975-2017). These are located in 6 primary anatomical sites: C32.0-Glottis, C32.1-Supraglottis, C32.2-Subglottis, C32.3-Laryngeal cartilage, C32.8-Overlapping lesion of larynx, C32.9-Larynx, NOS.

Objectives: .-To update short- and long-term mortality and survival indices, and identify changing risk patterns for laryngeal cancer patients in a retrospective US population-based analysis, 1975-2017, using prognostic data stratified by ICD-O-3 Primary Site, age, sex, race, stage, histologic grade, two cohort entry time-periods (1975-1996 to 1997-2017), and disease duration to 20-years.

Methods: .-SEER*Stat v8.3.94 software (built March 12, 2021) was used to access SEER Research Data, 9 Registries, Nov. 2019 submission (1975-2017). For displaying risk, general methods and standard double decrement life table methodolog

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and its associated physical and mental conditions is the most prevalent congenital impairment causing developmental and intellectual disability worldwide. Like alcohol abuse, FASD is typically undiagnosed by primary care providers. And like alcohol abuse, life underwriters and medical directors need to be aware of the signs, symptoms, and behaviors associated with FASD to accurately detect, identify, evaluate and assess the mortality risk. Three cases of suspected undiagnosed FASD that were underwritten for life expectancies in legal matters are discussed in this report. Not only were these patients' risks for excess mortality elevated due to their initial neurologic injury due to prenatal exposure to alcohol, but these cases demonstrate the importance of the stability and care needed to make them insurable. The following paper discusses the clinical and social settings at birth that may give underwriters and medical directors some clue to a potential case of the child having FASD and then to assess their statistical and lifestyle mortality risks.

This commentary article highlights the need for an insurance product for hospital-employed physicians that provides coverage against sham peer review and a complete defense against wrongful hospital allegations of incompetent, whistleblowing, or disruptive behavior.

As life insurance companies evaluate prospective health and wellness programs, one frequently used tool is the number needed to treat (NNT) calculation. It is helpful to identify what the NNT might be for individual components of the program as well as for the whole program when all components are combined.

Objectives: -To document the various laboratory and demographic/historical correlates of NT-proBNP levels in applicants for life insurance, and to explore the accuracy of a prediction model based on those variables.

Method: -NT-proBNP blood test results were obtained from 1.34 million insurance applicants between the age of 50 and 85 years, beginning in 2003. Exploratory data analysis was carried out to document correlations with other laboratory variables, sex, age, and the presence of relevant diseases. Further, predictive models were used to quantify the proportion of the variance of NT-proBNP, which can be explained by a combination of these other, easier to determine variables.

Results: -NT-proBNP shows the expected, negative correlation with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is markedly higher in those with a history of heart disease and is somewhat higher in those with a history of hypertension. A strong, unexpected, negative correlation between NT-proBNP and albumin was discovered. Of the variables evaluated, a multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS) model automated selection procedure selected 7 variables (age, sex, albumin, eGFR, BMI, systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, and history of heart disease). Variable importance evaluation determined that age, albumin and eGFR were the 3 most important continuous variables in the prediction of NT-proBNP levels. An ordinary least squares (OLS) model using these same variables achieved a R-squared of 24.7%.

Conclusion: -Expected ranges of NT-proBNP may vary substantially depending on the value of other variables in the prediction equation. Albumin is significantly negatively correlated with NT-proBNP levels. The reasons for this are unclear.