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Although hospice or palliative care for patients with advanced dementia has been implemented for more than 30 years, few studies have investigated the prognostic predictors of 6-month mortality in these patients. Prognostication has been a major obstacle, and 6-month prognostic predictors for patients with advanced dementia are still considered elusive. To better understand the dying trajectories of patients with advanced dementia, we performed a longitudinal prospective cohort study to investigate the predictors of 6-month mortality for residents with advanced dementia in long-term care facilities in Taiwan. Prospective cohort study. This study took place in 32 long-term care facilities selected from northern, central, and southern Taiwan. The study included 320 residents with advanced dementia. Measurements were obtained after determining study eligibility; the participants underwent follow-up assessments once every 3 months for 6 months or died during follow-up. The assessments included demographic characteristics, health and medical status characteristics, and death-related information. The Kaplan-Meier survival function estimation and the Cox proportional hazards model were used to estimate the survival rate and predict the prognostic factors. Baseline data from 320 residents with advanced dementia in long-term care facilities were obtained. The mean age was 82.7 years and 61.6% were female. The 6-month survival rate was 78.1%. The major cause of death was multiple organ failure related to pneumonia. The 6-month prognostic predictors were pneumonia (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.56; 95% confidence interval, 2.46–12.6; p -value <.001), reduction in nutrient intake >25% (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.05; 95% confidence interval, 2.37–10.8; p -value <.001), oxygen dependency (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.51–4.39; p -value =.001), treatment for electrolyte abnormalities (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–4.14; p -value =.025), severe pressure injuries (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.13–3.67; p -value =.018), and long-term indwelling urinary catheters (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.80; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–2.96; p -value =.021). Our results identified six prognostic predictors of 6-month mortality among residents with advanced dementia in Taiwan. These predictors may serve as risk assessment indicators for nursing staff who provide clinical care and can enable the identification of patients in recognized terminal decline, thereby allowing access to hospice palliative services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study compared survival between definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and esophagectomy alone among patients with locoregional esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods Data were obtained from the Taiwan Cancer Registry between 2008 and 2014. Included were 5,487 patients with clinical I, II, or III esophageal SCC who received definitive CRT or esophagectomy alone. Patients were stratified according to clinical stage. Overall survival was compared between patients treated with definitive CRT versus esophagectomy alone, and between patients in the three different clinical stages. Propensity-matched analysis along with univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. Results Treatment was with definitive CRT in 4,251 patients (77.50%) and esophagectomy alone in 1,236 (22.50%). Propensity score matching produced 1,020 patients for comparison. The overall survival rates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 60.92%, 34.96%, and 26.14%, respectively, for propensity-matched patients treated with definitive CRT and were 71.15%, 56.50%, and 46.17%, respectively, for propensity-matched patients treated with esophagectomy alone (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed treatment strategy was an independent prognostic factor. Esophagectomy alone was associated with significantly better overall survival than definitive CRT for patients with clinical stage I/II disease. There was no survival risk difference between definitive CRT and esophagectomy only for patients with clinical stage III disease. Conclusions Esophagectomy alone could provide better survival than definitive CRT for patients with clinical stage I/II esophageal SCC. However, definitive CRT and esophagectomy yield similar overall survival rates in clinical stage III patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer Tumor-Node-Metastasis staging system separates classifications for the clinical (c), pathologic (p), and postneoadjuvant pathologic (yp) stages. We aimed to evaluate its application in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Methods Patient data were obtained from the Taiwan Cancer Registry database. Patients who underwent esophagectomy for c stage I to III ESCC were included for survival analysis. Results Data of 3,399, 1,805, and 1,594 patients were included for c, p, and yp staging, respectively. The 3-year overall survival (OS) rates for c stage I, II, and III were 67.4%, 46.7%, and 38.4%, respectively. The 3-year OS rates for p stage I, II, III, and IV were 70.7%, 49.8%, 30.8%, and 10.6%, respectively. The 3-year OS rates for yp stage I, II, III, and IV were 59.4%, 37.8%, 27.6%, and 3.7%, respectively. Survival curve analysis demonstrated a robust discriminatory capability and monotonicity of gradients of the new system. However, yp stage I was observed in a heterogeneous group of patients with substantial survival differences. Meanwhile, patients in the ypT0 N0 stage had a 5-year OS rate of 52.1%, which was equivalent to that of patients with p stage I (54.5%). The 5-year OS rate of patients in the ypTis-2N0 was 39.1%, which was equivalent to that of patients in p stage II (40.1%). Conclusions The present study serves as an external validation of the newly released staging system in the prognostication of patients with ESCC and suggests subgrouping of the yp stage I into ypT0 N0 and non-ypT0 N0 in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Suicide in the older people is a serious problem worldwide; however the effect of psychiatric contact on the risk of suicide has not been fully explored. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between psychiatric contact and suicide in the older people in Taiwan. Methods A population-based database was used in this national case–control study. Propensity score matching was used to match older people who did and did not commit suicide from 2010 to 2012 by calendar year, gender, age, and area of residence. The level of psychiatric contact in the preceding year was classified as “no psychiatric contact,” “only outpatient psychiatric contact,” “psychiatric emergency room contact,” or “psychiatric hospital admission”. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to assess associations between variables and the risk of suicide. Results A total of 2528 older people committed suicide from 2010 to 2012, with a crude suicide mortality rate of 3.37/10,000. Compared to those who had no psychiatric contact in the preceding year, the adjusted odds ratios of suicide were 10.15 (95% CI = 5.8–17.7) for those who had psychiatric emergency room contact, 6.57 (95% CI = 3.7–11.6) for those who had psychiatric hospital admissions, and 3.64 (95% CI = 3.0–4.4) for those with only outpatient psychiatric contact. The risk of suicide was higher in those who had depression (OR = 3.49, 95% CI = 2.2–5.4) and bipolar disorder (OR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.1–3.6). Patients with cancer were associated with suicide (OR = 8.96, 95% CI = 5.6–14.4). Conclusions The positive association with suicide and the level of psychiatric contact in the preceding year in older people indicated that the health personnel need to do a better job in determining possible risk for older people who had psychiatric contact, especially in emergency visit or psychiatric admission. A systematic approach to quality improvement in these settings is both available and necessary. Careful discharge planning and safe transitions of care to outpatient services are required for suicide prevention of high-risk patients after discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Few data are available on the survival outcomes of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who achieve complete response at the primary site but have residual nodal metastases after chemoradiotherapy. We sought to assess the survival of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients with ypT0 N+ disease. Methods Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with chemoradiotherapy and esophagectomy were identified from the Taiwan Cancer Registry between 2008 and 2013. We compared the clinical and survival data of ypT0 N+ and ypT0 N0 patients. The median number of dissected nodes (n = 20) was used as the cutoff to classify the extent of lymph node dissection (LND). Survival data were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results The study included 369 ypT0 patients (50 ypT0 N+ [13.6%] and 319 ypT0 N0 [86.4%]). The 3-year overall survival was significantly lower in ypT0 N+ patients (30.1%) than in ypT0 N0 patients (55.9%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that a higher number of positive lymph nodes (ypN2/N3 vs ypN1) was a strong adverse prognostic factor (hazard ratio, 3.76; p = 0.011) in ypT0 N+ patients. The extent of LND was identified as an independent predictor of survival in patients with ypT0 N0 disease (low vs high; hazard ratio, 1.49; p = 0.045). A stepwise decrease in 3-year overall survival rates was observed in the following groups: ypT0 N0 with high LND (61.2%), ypT0 N0 with low LND (50.3%), and ypT0 N+ (30.1%, p < 0.001). Conclusions At least 13.6% of ypT0 patients have lymph node metastases, which carry adverse prognostic implications. The number of positive nodes is the most important prognostic factor in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The optimal interval between chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and esophagectomy in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is still undetermined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between different treatment intervals and clinical impact, including perioperative outcome and long-term survival. Methods We retrospectively reviewed data from 665 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent CRT and esophagectomy between 2008 and 2011 in Taiwan. Based on the interval between CRT and esophagectomy, patients were divided into group 1, less than 30 days; group 2, 30 to 59 days; group 3, 60 to 89 days; or group 4, 90 days or more. The impact of the treatment interval on perioperative outcomes and overall survival were assessed. A Cox regression model was used to identify prognostic factors for overall survival. Results There were 90 patients in group 1, 385 patients in group 2, 141 patients in group 3, and 49 patients in group 4. The 30-day surgical mortality rate was 5.6%, 2.9%, 1.4%, and 10.2% for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively ( p = 0.018). The 90-day surgical mortality rate was 12.2%, 6.8%, 5.7%, and 18.4% for groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively ( p = 0.012). The differences between surgical margin positivity rates were also significant: 2.2% in group 1, 4.9% in group 2, 9.2% in group 3, and 12.2% in group 4 ( p = 0.032). The treatment interval was not associated with the complete response and the overall survival. Conclusions Although early operation (less than 30 days) is associated with reduced rates of surgical margin positivity, the potential benefits appear to be outweighed by the significant increase in postoperative mortality. The surgical timing that optimizes both mortality and surgical margin positivity requires further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Although preoperative chemoradiation followed by surgery has been recognized as an efficient strategy for esophageal cancer treatments, several studies demonstrate survival benefits of postoperative chemoradiation for those undergoing upfront resection. The optimal sequence of surgery and chemoradiation remains unclear. Methods Data of 1647 patients with clinical stage II/III esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), including 1245 receiving preoperative chemoradiation followed by esophagectomy (pre-OP CRT group) and 402 receiving primary esophagectomy followed postoperative chemoradiation (post-OP CRT group), were obtained from a nationwide database. Propensity score matching identified 286 well-balanced pairs for outcome comparison. Results In matched patients, the 3-year overall survival (OS) rates/median survival were not significantly different between the 2 groups (44.0% 3-year OS/26.0 months; 95% confidence interval [CI], 18.9-89 38.0 months) in the pre-OP CRT group, versus 37.9% 3-year OS/23.5 months (95% CI, 18.5-29.9 months) in the post-OP CRT group, P = .3152). The 3-year disease-free survival rates (DFS)/median survival after surgery were 38.7% 3-year DFS/16.7 months (95% CI, 11.9-29.6 months) in the pre-OP CRT group, compared with 30.2% 3-year DFS/10.4 months (95% CI, 7.6-14.0 months) in the post-OP CRT group ( P = .0674). In patients who had complete resection, the freedom from recurrence rate at 1 year after surgery was 74.8% and 67.6% in pre-OP CRT and post-OP CRT groups, respectively ( P = .2696). In the multivariable analysis, treatment modality (pre- or post-OP CRT) was not a significant factor for OS ( P = .258) or disease-free survival ( P = .521). Conclusions Similar outcome can be achieved with postoperative chemoradiotherapy compared with preoperative chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced ESCC. There is little difference between these 2 strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The success rate of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for cancer patients following in-hospital cardiac arrest has remained poor over the last 3 decades, but little is known about determinants of undergoing CPR for these patients at the end of life. Objective: To determine the prevalence of CPR for Taiwanese cancer patients in the last month of life and the association between their undergoing CPR and patient demographics, disease characteristics, physician specialty, hospital characteristics, and availability of healthcare resources at the hospital and regional levels. Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined administrative data for a cohort of 204,850 cancer decedents in 2001–2006. Results: Rates of CPR decreased substantially over the study period, from 13.18% to 8.63%, and the adjusted odds ratio of undergoing CPR decreased significantly by a factor of 0.93 for each successive year. Taiwanese cancer patients were predisposed to undergo CPR in their last month of life if they were male, young, and unmarried (except for widowhood); had high comorbidity; had certain cancers (hematological malignancies, head and neck, esophageal, and prostate cancers); had a localized or newly diagnosed (within 1–2 months of death) cancer; had a non-oncologist as their primary physician; and received care at a non-teaching hospital. Conclusion: One-tenth of Taiwanese cancer patients underwent CPR in the last month of life, and the rates of CPR decreased substantially from 2001 to 2006. The propensity for CPR was influenced by patient demographics, disease characteristics, physician specialty, and teaching status of the patient''s primary hospital. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Prenatal maternal stress is associated with adverse birth outcomes. Few studies have been published on the effectiveness of relaxation techniques focusing on women with preterm labour. Objects: The object of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a relaxation training program on pregnancy outcomes in women experiencing preterm labour. Design: A single-blinded, controlled clinical trial was used. Settings: The study was conducted in two hospitals. Both of the study hospitals located in northern Taiwan are also large teaching hospitals and share the same treatment protocols of preterm labour. Participants: Inclusion criteria were being pregnant and diagnosed with preterm labour, singleton, hospitalized at time of entry into the study, at gestation between 20 and 34 weeks, and having a cervical dilatation of less than 3cm. Exclusion criteria were if they had one or any combination of the following: antepartum hemorrhage, infection, hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus, or immunologic disease. Methods: The experimental group (n =68) participants received a mini mp3 player containing a 13-min relaxation audio program, which they were instructed to follow daily, while the control group (n =59) received only routine prenatal care. Pregnancy outcomes were obtained from medical charts after each woman gave birth. Results: Survival analysis demonstrated that the experimental group had a significant pregnancy prolongation compared to the control group (p =0.048). Participants receiving the relaxation training program had a significant lower proportion of extreme preterm birth, a higher rate of not being admitted to a NICU, and a lower rate of stay days within 30 days when compared with the control group. No significant differences were found on pregnancy outcomes in terms of the rate of preterm birth, low birth weight, Apgar score at 1 and 5min, mode of birth, and perinatal mortality between the two groups. Conclusions: Relaxation training for women with preterm labour is effective in delaying of delivery and enhancing positive pregnancy outcomes. This relaxation intervention is cost-effective, noninvasive, and easily applicable in women with preterm labour. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Context: The discrepancy between patients’ preferred and actual place of death highlights the dilemma inherent in achieving their preferences for home death. Research on determinants of home death has been limited largely by focusing on individual-level factors and somewhat on health care resources at the primary hospital and regional levels. Objectives: To investigate factors associated with home death, specifically, services received by cancer patients at the end of life (EOL). Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using administrative data from 201,201 Taiwanese cancer decedents in the period 2001–2006. Results: Rates of home death decreased significantly over time (from 35.67% to 32.39%). Dying at home was associated with patient demographics (gender, age, and marital status) and disease characteristics (cancer type, metastatic status, postdiagnosis survival time, and comorbidity level). Taiwanese cancer patients were less likely to die at home if they received care from a medical oncologist and in hospitals or regions with abundant health care resources. Furthermore, Taiwanese cancer patients were less likely to die at home if they used life-sustaining treatments (intensive care unit care, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, intubation, and mechanical ventilation) in the last month of life. However, multiple emergency room visits in the last month of life and receiving hospice care increased Taiwanese cancer patients’ propensity to die at home. Conclusion: Despite the causal ambiguity in interpreting our research findings, they indicate that using life-sustaining treatments at EOL not only exacts a substantial toll from patients, family members, and society, but also decreases the likelihood of dying at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aims: To determine the relationships between cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and autonomic symptoms, clinical parameters and diabetic complications in type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods: The results of autonomic symptoms, clinical parameters, diabetes complications and cardiovascular reflex (CVR) tests of 674 T2DM were analyzed. Results: Significant correlations were found between CAN risk and age (p =0.019), duration of diabetes (p =0.008), HbA1c (p <0.001), systolic blood pressure (p =0.006), nephropathy (p <0.001), retinopathy (p <0.001), and QTc interval (p <0.001), but not BMI and hyperlipidemia. Patients with retinopathy or proteinuria had increase risk of CAN, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) was the most significant risk factor (odds ratio: 6.85; 95% CI: 2.32–20.20) for CAN. Eighty-three percent of patients complained of autonomic symptoms; and the more symptoms complained, the higher the prevalence of CAN. Impotence was the only single symptom associated with CAN risk. Additional CAN risks were also observed when patients with multiple symptoms and/or complications in combinations. Conclusions: Our results implied that patients with multiple symptoms and/or complications in combinations have increased CAN risk, and this may provide additional information for clinicians to identify T2DM at risk of having CAN. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Background: Community-based multiple screening for common cancers and chronic diseases has increasingly gained attention. However, as infrastructure and evaluation system are more diversified and complicated compared with single screening, the development of a novel health information system is paramount. Methods: The main goal of our health information system was to support the multiple screening program not only from technical aspect but also from a broad range of perspectives including quality assurance system, organized features appertaining to screening, economic evaluation (cost-effectiveness or cost-utility analysis), epidemiological applications, behavior risk factor surveillance system, and social impact due to the introduction of the Keelung Community-Based Integrated Screening (KCIS) program. Results: Health information system was designed and programmed on the basis of the demand derived from KCIS within which five cancers and three chronic diseases were included. In addition to the detailed description of infrastructure and process, design, relevant database and security involved in health information system, an innovative and extensive evaluation system in accordance with the main goals was included in our health information system. Conclusion: Our information system proposed several aspects regarding organized screening system that has never been addressed in computerized system supporting for single screening. These included quality assurance system, organization features, co-morbidity profiles, epidemiological applications and social and economic considerations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]