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Bauman V, Thompson KA, Sunderland KW, Thornton JA, Schvey NA, Sekyere NA, Funk W, Pav V, Brydum R, Klein DA, Tanofsky-Kraff M, Lavender JM. Incidence and prevalence of eating disorders among U.S. military service members, 2016-2021. Int J Eat Disord 2024. [PMID: 38779988 DOI: 10.1002/eat.24229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Despite unique experiences that may increase eating disorder risk, U.S. military service members are an understudied population. The current study examined incidence and prevalence of eating disorder diagnoses in U.S. military personnel. METHOD This retrospective cohort study utilized Military Health System Data Repository (MDR) data on eating disorder diagnoses (2016-2021). Active duty, Reserve, and National Guard U.S. military service members who received care via TRICARE Prime insurance were identified by ICD-10 eating disorder diagnostic codes. RESULTS During the 6-year surveillance period, 5189 Service members received incident eating disorders diagnoses, with a crude overall incidence rate of 6.2 cases per 10,000 person-years. The most common diagnosis was other/unspecified specified eating disorders, followed by binge-eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and anorexia nervosa. There was an 18.5% overall rise in total incident cases across the surveillance period, but this trend was not statistically significant (p = 0.09). Point prevalence significantly increased across the 6-year timeframe for total eating disorders (p < 0.001). Period prevalence for 6-year surveillance period was 0.244% for total eating disorders, 0.149% for other/unspecified eating disorder, 0.043% for bulimia nervosa, 0.038% for binge-eating disorder, and 0.013% for anorexia nervosa. DISCUSSION Overall crude incidence estimates for total eating disorders were higher than reported in prior research that included only active duty Service members and required an eating disorder diagnosis code in the first or second diagnostic position of the medical record. Comprehensive and confidential studies are needed to more thoroughly characterize the nature and scope of eating disorder symptomatology within U.S. military personnel. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE U.S. military service members are a vulnerable population with regard to eating disorder symptoms. Previously reported incidence and prevalence estimates using data from the Military Health System may have been underestimated due to overly stringent case definitions. Given personal and occupational barriers (e.g., career consequences), confidential studies of military personnel may provide more complete data on the scope of eating disorders to inform screening and clinical practice guidelines for military populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Bauman
- Military Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (MiCOR) Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- The Metis Foundation, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Katherine A Thompson
- Military Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (MiCOR) Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- The Metis Foundation, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Kevin W Sunderland
- Clinical Investigation Facility, David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, California, USA
- Ripple Effect, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Jennifer A Thornton
- Clinical Investigation Facility, David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, California, USA
- Ripple Effect, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Natasha A Schvey
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Nana Amma Sekyere
- Department of Family Medicine, David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, California, USA
| | - Wendy Funk
- Kennell and Associates, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
| | - Veronika Pav
- Kennell and Associates, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
- School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rick Brydum
- Kennell and Associates, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
| | - David A Klein
- Department of Family Medicine, David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, California, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Marian Tanofsky-Kraff
- Military Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (MiCOR) Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jason M Lavender
- Military Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (MiCOR) Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- The Metis Foundation, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Tetzlaff J, Epping J. [Healthier at work for longer? Trends in life years free of cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases in the employed and general population based on health insurance claims data]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2024; 67:555-563. [PMID: 38607434 PMCID: PMC11093846 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-024-03868-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our study focuses on the development of disease-free life years of two disease groups with high public health relevance: musculoskeletal diseases (MSD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Against the backdrop of prolonged working lives, the development of disease-free life years in the working-age population is compared with the trend in the employed population. Differences between occupational groups are also examined. METHODS The study is based on data from the statutory health insurance provider AOK Lower Saxony (N = 2,001,225). Incident cases were identified based on the diagnosis data. The expected years free of MSD and CVD were calculated using multistate life table analysis for three periods between 2006 and 2018. The occupational group is identified via the occupational key. Three groups are distinguished: unskilled and semi-skilled workers, skilled workers and specialists, and highly skilled workers. RESULTS Life years free of MSD clearly decreased in the general population and among the employed population. The decrease was strongest in the higher-skilled occupational groups. Life years free of CVD increased in the general population. The increase was weaker among the employed population. The only occupational group showing increases were men in unskilled and semi-skilled occupations. DISCUSSION The study shows that disease-free life years among employed persons developed in some cases worse than in the general population. For the analysed disease groups MSD and CVD, there are clear inequalities between occupational groups, which decreased somewhat over time. The inequalities and the decrease in years free of MSD highlight the high public health relevance and the need for effective prevention strategies to prevent CVD and MSD in working age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Tetzlaff
- Medizinische Soziologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Deutschland.
| | - Jelena Epping
- Medizinische Soziologie, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Niedersachsen, Deutschland
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Tetzlaff J, Epping J, Stahmeyer JT, Liebers F, Hegewald J, Sperlich S, Beller J, Tetzlaff F. The development of working life expectancy without musculoskeletal diseases against the backdrop of extended working lives. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7930. [PMID: 38575680 PMCID: PMC10994922 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58650-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Musculoskeletal diseases (MSDs) are a major predictor of early retirement. Against the backdrop of the extension of working life, we investigated time trends and educational inequalities in years spent in the labour market free of MSD. Based on German statutory health insurance data (N = 3,405,673), total life years free of MSD (Healthy Life Expectancy, HLE) and years spent in the labour force free of MSD (Healthy Working Life Expectancy, HWLE) were estimated for three periods (2006-2008, 2011-2013, 2016-2018) using multistate analyses. Educational inequalities (8 to 11 vs. 12 or more years of schooling) are reported for 2011-2013. HLE decreased slightly over time in all genders. HWLE in women increased, while it remained rather constant in men. Over time, the share of years in the labour force spent free of MSD declined continuously. People with lower education had lower HLE and HWLE than individuals with higher education. With respect to musculoskeletal diseases, the increase in disease-free working life years cannot keep pace with the extension of working life, resulting in an increasing proportion of years spent in impaired musculoskeletal health in the labour market. Effective prevention strategies are needed, focusing especially on individuals with lower educational attainment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Tetzlaff
- Medical Sociology Unit, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Str. 1, 30625, Hanover, Germany.
| | - Jelena Epping
- Medical Sociology Unit, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Str. 1, 30625, Hanover, Germany
| | | | - Falk Liebers
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Berlin, Germany
| | - Janice Hegewald
- Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefanie Sperlich
- Medical Sociology Unit, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Str. 1, 30625, Hanover, Germany
| | - Johannes Beller
- Medical Sociology Unit, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Str. 1, 30625, Hanover, Germany
| | - Fabian Tetzlaff
- Division of Social Determinants of Health, Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch-Institute, Berlin, Germany
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Pillsbury A, Phillips A, Deng L, Quinn H, Macartney K, Gidding H. Background incidence rates of selected adverse events of special interest (AESI) to monitor the safety of COVID-19 vaccines. Vaccine 2023; 41:3422-3428. [PMID: 37088604 PMCID: PMC10110935 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.04.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Determining background rates of medical conditions identified as adverse events of special interest (AESI) that may occur following COVID-19 vaccination is important for contextualising and investigating potential vaccine safety signals. METHODS We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study using linked emergency department, hospitalisation and death data for 2017 and 2018 from Australia's most populous state, New South Wales. Incident cases of select neurological conditions, arterial or venous thromboembolic conditions, secondary thrombocytopenia, myocarditis/pericarditis, and unique events of anaphylaxis and generalised convulsions were identified using internationally agreed upon diagnostic (ICD-10) codes. State-specific rates per 100,000 person-years were calculated, with further stratification by age group and sex where clinically relevant to the condition, and the number of expected cases nationally in one and 6 weeks was estimated. RESULTS Background rates of selected neurological conditions were low with the exception of generalised convulsions for which 1,599-1,872 cases were estimated nationally in a 1-week period in the absence of vaccination. Using a narrow case definition, rates of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (3.9 per 100,000 person-years) were higher than international rates reported elsewhere. Thromboembolic and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis event rates increased with age. Myocarditis occurred more commonly in males, and was highest in males aged 18-24 years, with an estimated 1-4 cases expected nationally in a 1-week period. CONCLUSIONS Using routinely collected linked healthcare data provides localised estimates of background rates of new onset or periodic AESI which enables rapid estimation of observed-versus-expected rates of events reported following COVID-19 vaccination. This Australian-specific analysis contributes AESI background rates which can be compared with those from other countries to enhance understanding of geographic variability in the frequency of specific AESI in the absence of vaccination, and can be utilised for signal detection during program implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Pillsbury
- National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia; The University of Sydney Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
| | - Anastasia Phillips
- National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
| | - Lucy Deng
- National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia; The University of Sydney Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
| | - Helen Quinn
- National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia; The University of Sydney Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
| | - Kristine Macartney
- National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia; The University of Sydney Children's Hospital Westmead Clinical School, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
| | - Heather Gidding
- National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia; The University of Sydney Northern Clinical School, St Leonards, NSW, Australia; Women and Babies Research, Kolling Institute, Northern Sydney Local Health District, St Leonards, NSW, Australia; School of Population Health, UNSW Medicine, University of NSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Khakban A, Rodriguez Llorian E, Michaux KD, Patten SB, Traboulsee A, Oh J, Lynd LD. Direct Health Care Costs Associated With Multiple Sclerosis: A Population-Based Cohort Study in British Columbia, Canada, 2001-2020. Neurology 2023; 100:e899-e910. [PMID: 36450607 PMCID: PMC9990437 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000201645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Multiple sclerosis (MS), a leading cause of nontraumatic neurologic disability in young adults, exerts a substantial economic burden on the health care system. The objective of this study was to quantify the excess health care costs of MS in British Columbia, Canada. METHODS A retrospective-matched cohort study of patients with MS was conducted using population-based administrative health data from 2001 to 2020. Patients with MS who satisfied a validated case definition were matched to 5 unique controls without MS on sex, age, and cohort entry date. Patients and controls were followed to the end of 2020 or to their last health care resource use, whichever came first. We calculated the direct medical costs for each individual, including outpatient services use, hospital admissions, and dispensed medications. We used generalized linear models with an identity link and normal distribution to estimate the excess cost of MS as the mean cost difference between patients with MS and controls. All costs were reported in 2020 Canadian dollars. RESULTS A total of 17,071 patients with MS were matched to 85,355 controls. Overall, 72.4% were female, and the mean age at cohort entry date was 46.1 years. The excess cost of MS was $6,881 (95% CI: $6,713, $7,049) per patient-year. Inpatient, outpatient, and medication costs accounted for 25%, 10%, and 65% of excess costs, respectively. Excess costs were higher in patients with MS with at least one disease-modifying therapy (DMT) prescription ($13,267; 95% CI: $12,992-$13,542) compared with non-DMT users ($3,469; 95% CI: $3,297-$3,641) and even higher among frequent DMT users ($24,835; 95% CI: $24,528-$25,141). Patients with MS with a history of at least one relapse requiring hospitalization had higher excess costs ($10,543; 95% CI: $10,136-$10,950) compared with patients with MS without a relapse; hospitalizations accounted for 51% of the costs in this group. The excess cost of hospitalizations was $1,391 lower among frequent DMT users than non-DMT users. DISCUSSION The economic burden of MS is considerable, with medications, particularly DMTs, being the largest cost driver. Future studies should investigate how disease management strategies, including early diagnosis and timely use of DMTs, could offset future and ongoing costs while improving patients' quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Khakban
- From the Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (A.K., E.R.L., K.D.M., L.D.L.), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Division of Neurology (A.T.), Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Department of Community Health Sciences (S.B.P.), University of Calgary, AB; Division of Neurology (J.O.), St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto; and Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences (CHÉOS) (L.D.L.), St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Elisabet Rodriguez Llorian
- From the Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (A.K., E.R.L., K.D.M., L.D.L.), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Division of Neurology (A.T.), Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Department of Community Health Sciences (S.B.P.), University of Calgary, AB; Division of Neurology (J.O.), St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto; and Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences (CHÉOS) (L.D.L.), St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kristina D Michaux
- From the Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (A.K., E.R.L., K.D.M., L.D.L.), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Division of Neurology (A.T.), Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Department of Community Health Sciences (S.B.P.), University of Calgary, AB; Division of Neurology (J.O.), St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto; and Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences (CHÉOS) (L.D.L.), St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Scott B Patten
- From the Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (A.K., E.R.L., K.D.M., L.D.L.), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Division of Neurology (A.T.), Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Department of Community Health Sciences (S.B.P.), University of Calgary, AB; Division of Neurology (J.O.), St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto; and Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences (CHÉOS) (L.D.L.), St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Anthony Traboulsee
- From the Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (A.K., E.R.L., K.D.M., L.D.L.), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Division of Neurology (A.T.), Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Department of Community Health Sciences (S.B.P.), University of Calgary, AB; Division of Neurology (J.O.), St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto; and Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences (CHÉOS) (L.D.L.), St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jiwon Oh
- From the Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (A.K., E.R.L., K.D.M., L.D.L.), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Division of Neurology (A.T.), Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Department of Community Health Sciences (S.B.P.), University of Calgary, AB; Division of Neurology (J.O.), St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto; and Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences (CHÉOS) (L.D.L.), St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Larry D Lynd
- From the Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (A.K., E.R.L., K.D.M., L.D.L.), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Division of Neurology (A.T.), Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver; Department of Community Health Sciences (S.B.P.), University of Calgary, AB; Division of Neurology (J.O.), St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto; and Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences (CHÉOS) (L.D.L.), St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Tetzlaff F, Hoebel J, Epping J, Geyer S, Golpon H, Tetzlaff J. Time Trends and Income Inequalities in Cancer Incidence and Cancer-Free Life Expectancy - a Cancer Site-Specific Analysis of German Health Insurance Data. Front Oncol 2022; 12:827028. [PMID: 35494022 PMCID: PMC9046985 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.827028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer represents a major burden of morbidity and mortality globally. So far, however, little is known on time trends and inequalities in the lengths of life spent free of any cancer. This study steps into this gap by analyzing time trends and income inequalities in cancer-free life expectancy (CFLE). For this retrospective cohort study, data of a large German health insurer were used (N = 3,405,673individuals, 2006-2018). Income inequalities were assessed using individual income (<60% of German average income (GAI) and ≥60% of GAI). Trends in incidence risks were analysed employing proportional-hazard regression models by splitting the observation time into three periods of 52 months. Trends in CFLE in total and for the most common site-specific cancers were calculated based on multiple decrement life tables. Incidence rates declined in almost all cancers and CFLE increased substantially over time (49.1 (95% CI 48.8-49.4) to 51.9 (95% CI 51.6-52.2) years for men, 53.1 (95% CI 52.7-53.5) to 55.4 (95% CI 55.1-55.8) years for women at age 20 for total cancer) and income groups. Considerable income inequalities in cancer risks were evident in both sexes, but were more pronounced in men (total cancer HR 0.86 (95% CI 0.85-0.87)), with higher-income individuals having lower risks. The highest income inequalities were found in colon (HR 0.90 (95% CI 0.87-0.93)), stomach (HR 0.78 (95% CI 0.73-0.84)), and lung cancer (HR 0.58 (95% CI 0.56-0.60)) in men. A reverse gradient was found for skin (HR 1.39 (95% CI 1.30-1.47) men; HR 1.27 (95% CI 1.20-1.35) women) and prostate cancer (HR 1.13 (95% CI 1.11-1.15)). The proportion of CFLE in total life expectancy declined for lung, skin and cervical cancer in women, indicating a relative shortening of lifetime spent cancer-free. In contrast, increasing proportions were found in breast and prostate cancer. To our knowledge, this is the first study analysing trends and income inequalities in CFLE. The life span free of cancer increased clearly over time. However, not all cancer types contributed equally to this positive development. Income inequalities persisted or tended to widen, which underlines the need for increased public health efforts in socioeconomically vulnerable groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Tetzlaff
- Medical Sociology Unit, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Jens Hoebel
- Division of Social Determinants of Health, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jelena Epping
- Medical Sociology Unit, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Hannover, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Siegfried Geyer
- Medical Sociology Unit, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Hannover, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Heiko Golpon
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Hannover, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
- Department of Pneumology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Juliane Tetzlaff
- Medical Sociology Unit, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
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Beller J, Geyer S, Epping J. Health and study dropout: health aspects differentially predict attrition. BMC Med Res Methodol 2022; 22:31. [PMID: 35094681 PMCID: PMC8802529 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-022-01508-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Participant dropout poses significant problems in longitudinal survey studies. Although it is often assumed that a participant’s health predicts future study dropout, only a few studies have examined this topic, with conflicting findings. This study aims to contribute to the literature by clarifying the relationship between different aspects of health and study dropout.
Methods
The 2008 baseline sample of the German Aging Survey was used to predict study dropout (N = 4442). Indicators of health included physical health using the number of chronic conditions, physical functioning using the SF-36 Physical Functioning subscale, cognitive functioning using the digit symbol substitution test, and depression using the CESD-15.
Results
It was found that different aspects of health had differential associations with survey dropout: Worse physical functioning and in part worse cognitive functioning predicted increased dropout rates; contrarily, worse physical health predicted decreased dropout when controlling for other health aspects and covariates. Depression was not significantly related to study dropout.
Conclusions
Therefore, participants with chronic conditions, but minimal physical and cognitive disability were most likely to participate in the future. These findings suggest that health has a complex relationship with survey dropout and must be accounted for in longitudinal studies. Neglecting this systematic attrition due to health problems bears the risk of severely under- or overestimating health-related effects and trends.
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Tetzlaff J, Tetzlaff F, Geyer S, Sperlich S, Epping J. Widening or narrowing income inequalities in myocardial infarction? Time trends in life years free of myocardial infarction and after incidence. Popul Health Metr 2021; 19:47. [PMID: 34952590 PMCID: PMC8709953 DOI: 10.1186/s12963-021-00280-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite substantial improvements in prevention and therapy, myocardial infarction (MI) remains a frequent health event, causing high mortality and serious health impairments. Previous research lacks evidence on how social inequalities in incidence and mortality risks developed over time, and on how these developments affect the lifespan free of MI and after MI in different social subgroups. This study investigates income inequalities in MI-free life years and life years after MI and whether these inequalities widened or narrowed over time. METHODS The analyses are based on claims data of a large German health insurance provider insuring approximately 2.8 million individuals in the federal state Lower Saxony. Trends in income inequalities in incidence and mortality were assessed for all subjects aged 60 years and older by comparing the time periods 2006-2008 and 2015-2017 using multistate survival models. Trends in the number of life years free of MI and after MI were calculated separately for income groups by applying multistate life table analyses. RESULTS MI incidence and mortality risks decreased over time, but declines were strongest among men and women in the higher-income group. While life years free of MI increased in men and women with higher incomes, no MI-free life years were gained in the low-income group. Among men, life years after MI increased irrespective of income group. CONCLUSIONS Income inequalities in the lifespan spent free of MI and after MI widened over time. In particular, men with low incomes are disadvantaged, as life years spent after MI increased, but no life years free of MI were gained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Tetzlaff
- Medical Sociology Unit, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany.
| | - Fabian Tetzlaff
- Institute for General Practice, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Siegfried Geyer
- Medical Sociology Unit, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | | | - Jelena Epping
- Medical Sociology Unit, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
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Lee S, Chang YJ, Cho H. Impact of comorbidity assessment methods to predict non-cancer mortality risk in cancer patients: a retrospective observational study using the National Health Insurance Service claims-based data in Korea. BMC Med Res Methodol 2021; 21:66. [PMID: 33836666 PMCID: PMC8035736 DOI: 10.1186/s12874-021-01257-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer patients' prognoses are complicated by comorbidities. Prognostic prediction models with inappropriate comorbidity adjustments yield biased survival estimates. However, an appropriate claims-based comorbidity risk assessment method remains unclear. This study aimed to compare methods used to capture comorbidities from claims data and predict non-cancer mortality risks among cancer patients. METHODS Data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database in Korea; 2979 cancer patients diagnosed in 2006 were considered. Claims-based Charlson Comorbidity Index was evaluated according to the various assessment methods: different periods in washout window, lookback, and claim types. The prevalence of comorbidities and associated non-cancer mortality risks were compared. The Cox proportional hazards models considering left-truncation were used to estimate the non-cancer mortality risks. RESULTS The prevalence of peptic ulcer, the most common comorbidity, ranged from 1.5 to 31.0%, and the proportion of patients with ≥1 comorbidity ranged from 4.5 to 58.4%, depending on the assessment methods. Outpatient claims captured 96.9% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; however, they captured only 65.2% of patients with myocardial infarction. The different assessment methods affected non-cancer mortality risks; for example, the hazard ratios for patients with moderate comorbidity (CCI 3-4) varied from 1.0 (95% CI: 0.6-1.6) to 5.0 (95% CI: 2.7-9.3). Inpatient claims resulted in relatively higher estimates reflective of disease severity. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of comorbidities and associated non-cancer mortality risks varied considerably by the assessment methods. Researchers should understand the complexity of comorbidity assessments in claims-based risk assessment and select an optimal approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanghee Lee
- Department of Cancer Control and Population Health, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, 10408, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Jung Chang
- Department of Cancer Control and Population Health, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, 10408, Republic of Korea.,National Cancer Survivorship Center, National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunsoon Cho
- Department of Cancer Control and Population Health, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang, 10408, Republic of Korea.
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