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Background The health consequences of the use of Swedish snus, including its relationship with mortality, have not been fully established. We investigated the relationship between snus use and all-cause and cause-specific mortality (death due to cardiovascular diseases, cancer diseases and all other reasons, respectively) in a nationwide collaborative pooling project. Methods We followed 169 103 never-smoking men from eight Swedish cohort studies, recruited in 1978–2010. Shared frailty models with random effects at the study level were used in order to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of mortality associated with snus use. Results Exclusive current snus users had an increased risk of all-cause mortality (aHR 1.28, 95% CI 1.20–1.35), cardiovascular mortality (aHR 1.27, 95% CI 1.15–1.41) and other cause mortality (aHR 1.37, 95% CI 1.24–1.52) compared with never-users of tobacco. The risk of cancer mortality was also increased (aHR 1.12, 95% CI 1.00–1.26). These mortality risks increased with duration of snus use, but not with weekly amount. Conclusions Snus use among men is associated with increased all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, with death from other causes and possibly with increased cancer mortality.

ObjectivesAs part of the International Cancer Benchmarking Partnership (ICBP) SURVMARK-2 project, we provide the most recent estimates of colon and rectal cancer survival in seven high-income countries by age and stage at diagnosis.MethodsData from 386 870 patients diagnosed during 2010–2014 from 19 cancer registries in seven countries (Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and the UK) were analysed. 1-year and 5-year net survival from colon and rectal cancer were estimated by stage at diagnosis, age and country,Results(One1-year) and 5-year net survival varied between (77.1% and 87.5%) 59.1% and 70.9% and (84.8% and 90.0%) 61.6% and 70.9% for colon and rectal cancer, respectively. Survival was consistently higher in Australia, Canada and Norway, with smaller proportions of patients with metastatic disease in Canada and Australia. International differences in (1-year) and 5-year survival were most pronounced for regional and distant colon cancer ranging between (86.0% and 94.1%) 62.5% and 77.5% and (40.7% and 56.4%) 8.0% and 17.3%, respectively. Similar patterns were observed for rectal cancer. Stage distribution of colon and rectal cancers by age varied across countries with marked survival differences for patients with metastatic disease and diagnosed at older ages (irrespective of stage).ConclusionsSurvival disparities for colon and rectal cancer across high-income countries are likely explained by earlier diagnosis in some countries and differences in treatment for regional and distant disease, as well as older age at diagnosis. Differences in cancer registration practice and different staging systems across countries may have impacted the comparisons.

IntroductionLung cancer has a poor prognosis that varies internationally when assessed by the two major histological subgroups (non-small cell (NSCLC) and small cell (SCLC)).Method236 114 NSCLC and 43 167 SCLC cases diagnosed during 2010–2014 in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and the UK were included in the analyses. One-year and 3-year age-standardised net survival (NS) was estimated by sex, histological type, stage and country.ResultsOne-year and 3-year NS was consistently higher for Canada and Norway, and lower for the UK, New Zealand and Ireland, irrespective of stage at diagnosis. Three-year NS for NSCLC ranged from 19.7% for the UK to 27.1% for Canada for men and was consistently higher for women (25.3% in the UK; 35.0% in Canada) partly because men were diagnosed at more advanced stages. International differences in survival for NSCLC were largest for regional stage and smallest at the advanced stage. For SCLC, 3-year NS also showed a clear female advantage with the highest being for Canada (13.8% for women; 9.1% for men) and Norway (12.8% for women; 9.7% for men).ConclusionDistribution of stage at diagnosis among lung cancer cases differed by sex, histological subtype and country, which may partly explain observed survival differences. Yet, survival differences were also observed within stages, suggesting that quality of treatment, healthcare system factors and prevalence of comorbid conditions may also influence survival. Other possible explanations include differences in data collection practice, as well as differences in histological verification, staging and coding across jurisdictions.

Background Globally, some 50 million people had Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in 2018. China accounts for approximately a quarter of cases. It is estimated that the cost of dementia in China was approximately USD 50 billion in 2010. China’s rapid ageing process is occurring at an earlier stage of economic development than other countries, posing great demands on society, particularly health and care services. Accurate estimation of the recent time trend in the incidence of dementia in China is critical for tackling future challenges and formulating public health policies. There is evidence from several high-income countries of a recent downward trend in dementia incidence rates. It is currently unclear, in view of its less-developed status, whether the time trend is also downward in China. The aim of this study is to estimate the recent time trend in dementia incidence in China and to explore how much the effect of changes in risk factors on this trend. Methods The Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Study (CLHLS) provides five waves of data (2002–2014). CLHLS wave 3 to wave 8 provided information about health status and quality of life of 47,584 people aged over 60 years in 23 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions of China. In order to maintain representativeness, refreshment participants were recruited to study periodically. Dementia was ascertained at each wave using standardized cognitive and functional impairment criteria. Competing risks of mortality and non-random dropout were accounted for in analysing the temporal trend in dementia incidence. Joint model was fitted to estimate the temporal trends in dementia incidence in China. R package JM was employed to fitted the joint model. Results Age-sex adjusted dementia incidence (2002–2014) increased at an annual rate of 2.5% (95% CI 2.4%-2.6%). Changes in potential risk factors accounted for about 20% of the time effect in dementia incidence. Conclusion Time trends in dementia incidence in China was upward recently. To our knowledge, this is the first study to estimate the trend in dementia incidence in a middle-income country. This longitudinal study used joint modelling with time-to-event data to explore the time trends in dementia incidence for 12 years in China. The first limitation of this study was not possess data from eight provinces in remote areas in China. The second potential limitation is caused by the recall bias and measurements bias over time. The third limitation is that we assumed a constant rate of change of the dementia incidence rate which based on the rate of change was uniform across the Chinese population, but the population structure changed between 2002 to 2014.

Background Seroprevalence studies are essential to understand the epidemiology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Various technologies, including laboratory assays and point-of-care self-tests, are available for antibody testing. The interpretation of seroprevalence studies requires comparative data on the performance of antibody tests. Methods In June 2020, current and former members of the United Kingdom police forces and fire service performed a self-test lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA), had a nurse-performed LFIA, and provided a venous blood sample for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We present the prevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and the acceptability and usability of self-test LFIAs, and we determine the sensitivity and specificity of LFIAs compared with laboratory ELISA. Results In this cohort of 5189 current and former members of the police service and 263 members of the fire service, 7.4% (396 of 5348; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.7–8.1) were antibody positive. Seroprevalence was 8.9% (95% CI, 6.9–11.4) in those under 40 years, 11.5% (95% CI, 8.8–15.0) in those of nonwhite ethnicity, and 7.8% (95% CI, 7.1–8.7) in those currently working. Self-test LFIA had an acceptability of 97.7% and a usability of 90.0%. There was substantial agreement between within-participant LFIA results (kappa 0.80; 95% CI, 0.77–0.83). The LFIAs had a similar performance: compared with ELISA, sensitivity was 82.1% (95% CI, 77.7–86.0) self-test and 76.4% (95% CI, 71.9–80.5) nurse-performed with specificity of 97.8% (95% CI, 97.3–98.2) and 98.5% (95% CI, 98.1–98.8), respectively. Conclusions A greater proportion of this nonhealthcare key worker cohort showed evidence of previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 than the general population at 6.0% (95% CI, 5.8–6.1) after the first wave in England. The high acceptability and usability reported by participants and similar performance of self-test and nurse-performed LFIAs indicate that the self-test LFIA is fit for purpose for home testing in occupational and community prevalence studies.

BackgroundSeroprevalence studies in key worker populations are essential to understand the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2. Various technologies, including laboratory assays and point-of-care self-tests, are available for antibody testing. The interpretation of seroprevalence studies requires comparative data on the performance of antibody tests.MethodsIn June 2020, current and former members of the UK Police forces and Fire service performed a self-test lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) and provided a saliva sample, nasopharyngeal swab, venous blood samples for Abbott ELISA and had a nurse performed LFIA. We present the prevalence of PCR positivity and antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in this cohort following the first wave of infection in England; the acceptability and usability of self-test LFIAs (defined as use of the LFIA kit and provision of a valid result, respectively); and determine the sensitivity and specificity of LFIAs compared to laboratory ELISAs.ResultsIn this cohort of non-healthcare key workers, 7.4% (396/5,348; 95% CI, 6.7-8.1) were antibody positive. Seroprevalence was 8.9% (6.9-11.4) in those under 40 years, 11.5% (8.8-15.0) in those of non-white British ethnicity and 7.8% (7.1-8.7) in those currently working. The self-test LFIA had an acceptability of 97.7% and a usability of 90.0%. There was substantial agreement between within-participant LFIA results (kappa 0.80; 0.77-0.83). The LFIAs (self-test and nurse-performed) had a similar performance: compared to ELISA, sensitivity was 82.1% (77.7-86.0) self-test and 76.4% (71.9-80.5) nurse-performed with specificity of 97.8% (97.3-98.2) and 98.5% (98.1-98.8) respectively.ConclusionA greater proportion of the non-healthcare key worker cohort showed evidence of previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 than the general population at 6.0% (5.8-6.1) following the first wave in England. The high acceptability and usability reported by participants and the similar performance of self-test and nurse-performed LFIAs indicate that the self-test LFIA is fit for purpose for home-testing in occupational and community prevalence studies.

Serum transthyretin (TTR) may be an early biomarker for Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD). We investigated associations of TTR measured at baseline with cognitive decline and incident ADRD and whether TTR trajectories differ between ADRD cases and non-cases, over 22 years before diagnosis. A total of 6024 adults aged 45-69 in 1997-1999 were followed up until 2019. TTR was assessed three times, and 297 cases of dementia were recorded. Higher TTR was associated with higher cognitive function at baseline; however, TTR was unrelated to subsequent change in cognitive function. TTR at baseline did not predict ADRD risk (hazard ratio per SD TTR (4.8 mg/dL) = 0.97; 95% confidence interval: 0.94-1.00). Among those later diagnosed with ADRD, there was a marginally steeper downward TTR trajectory than those free of ADRD over follow-up (P=0.050). Our findings suggest TTR is not neuroprotective. The relative decline in TTR level in the preclinical stage of ADRD is likely to be a consequence of disease processes.

Background Cancer-related causes of death (cancer CoD) are the main etiologies of death in cancer patients. Recent increase in survival rates of cancer patients resulted in higher risk of dying from causes other than cancer, called competing causes of death (competing CoD). We aim to characterize competing CoD among cancer patients in Golestan province, Northern Iran. Methods Data on cancer incidence was obtained from the Golestan population-based cancer registry (GPCR) dataset. Data on causes of death was obtained from the Golestan death registry (GDR) dataset. Using a linkage method between the GPCR and GDR dataset, we prepared the study dataset including data on vital status and causes of death in our cancer patients. The proportions of cancer CoD and competing CoD were calculated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was considered to assess the relationship between competing CoD and other variables. Results Overall, 4,184 cancer patients died in the study population, including 2,488 men (59.9%). Cause of death in 3,455 cases was cancer and 729 cases (17.4%) died due to competing CoD. Ischemic heart disease (40.7%) was the most common competing CoD in our population. Higher survival rate was the strongest variable related to the competing CoD (adjusted OR=1.91; 95%CI: 1.61-2.26). Residence area, age group and year of death were other indicators of competing CoD in our population. Conclusion Our results suggest high rates of competing CoD in our cancer patients. Competing CoD should be mentioned in cancer control planning both in clinical practice as well as in public health policy making. .

We sought to understand the role of stage at diagnosis in observed age disparities in colon cancer survival among people aged 50 to 99 years using population-based cancer registry data from seven high-income countries: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. We used colon cancer incidence data for the period 2010 to 2014. We estimated the 3-year net survival, as well as the 3-year net survival conditional on surviving at least 6 months and 1 year after diagnosis, by country and stage at diagnosis (categorised as localised, regional or distant) using flexible parametric excess hazard regression models. In all countries, increasing age was associated with lower net survival. For example, 3-year net survival (95% confidence interval) was 81% (80-82) for 50 to 64 year olds and 58% (56-60) for 85 to 99 year olds in Australia, and 74% (73-74) and 39% (39-40) in the United Kingdom, respectively. Those with distant stage colon cancer had the largest difference in colon cancer survival between the youngest and the oldest patients. Excess mortality for the oldest patients with localised or regional cancers was observed during the first 6 months after diagnosis. Older patients diagnosed with localised (and in some countries regional) stage colon cancer who survived 6 months after diagnosis experienced the same survival as their younger counterparts. Further studies examining other prognostic clinical factors such as comorbidities and treatment, and socioeconomic factors are warranted to gain further understanding of the age disparities in colon cancer survival.

Aortic stiffness is associated with an increased risk of cardio- and cerebrovascular disease and mortality and may increase risk of dementia. The aim of the present study is to examine the association between arterial stiffness and cognitive decline in a large prospective cohort study with three repeated cognitive assessment over 7 years of follow-up. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured among 4300 participants (mean ± standard deviation age 65.1 ± 5.2 years) in 2007–2009 and categorized based on the tertiles: (lowest third: 8.91 m/s). A global cognitive score was calculated in 2007–2009, 2012–2013, and 2015–2016 based on responses to memory, reasoning and fluency tests. Standardized global cognitive score (mean = 0, SD = 1) in highest third versus lowest third of PWV category was lower at baseline (− 0.12, 95% CI − 0.18, − 0.06). Accelerated 7-year cognitive decline was observed among individuals with the highest PWV [difference in 7-year cognitive change for highest third versus lowest third PWV: − 0.06, 95% CI − 0.11, − 0.01, P

Aims: Worldwide, smokeless-tobacco use is a major risk factor for oral cancer. Evidence regarding the particular association between Swedish snus use and oral cancer is, however, less clear. We used pooled individual data from the Swedish Collaboration on Health Effects of Snus Use to assess the association between snus use and oral cancer. Methods: A total of 418,369 male participants from nine cohort studies were followed up for oral cancer incidence through linkage to health registers. We used shared frailty models with random effects at the study level, to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusted for confounding factors. Results: During 9,201,647 person-years of observation, 628 men developed oral cancer. Compared to never-snus use, ever-snus use was not associated with oral cancer (adjusted HR 0.90, 95% CI: 0.74, 1.09). There were no clear trends in risk with duration or intensity of snus use, although lower intensity use (⩽ 4 cans/week) was associated with a reduced risk (HR 0.65, 95% CI: 0.45, 0.94). Snus use was not associated with oral cancer among never smokers (HR 0.87, 95% CI: 0.57, 1.32). Conclusions: Swedish snus use does not appear to be implicated in the development of oral cancer in men.

While smoking is a well-established risk factor for pancreatic cancer, the effect of smokeless tobacco is less well understood. We used pooled individual data from the Swedish Collaboration on Health Effects of Snus Use to assess the association between Swedish snus use and the risk of pancreatic cancer. A total of 424,152 male participants from nine cohort studies were followed up for risk of pancreatic cancer through linkage to health registers. We used shared frailty models with random effects at the study level, to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) adjusted for confounding factors. During 9,276,054 person-years of observation, 1,447 men developed pancreatic cancer. Compared to never-snus use, current snus use was not associated with risk of pancreatic cancer (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.83-1.11) after adjustment for smoking. Swedish snus use does not appear to be implicated in the development of pancreatic cancer in men. Tobacco smoke constituents other than nicotine or its metabolites may account for the relationship between smoking and pancreatic cancer.

Background: Thyroid cancer is the most common type of endocrine cancer. We aimed to determine the incidence rates of thyroid cancer across a 10-year period (2004-2013) in Golestan, Iran. Methods: We obtained the thyroid cancer data from Golestan Population-Based Cancer Registry (GPCR). Age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) were calculated and reported per 100000 person-years. The Joinpoint software was used to assess time trends, and average annual percent changes (AAPCs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Results: Of 326 registered patients, 83 (25.5%) were men and 243 (74.5%) were women. The mean age was 51.3 and 42.6 years for males and females, respectively. Overall, the ASR of thyroid cancer was 2.2 per 100000 person-year (AAPC = 2.76; 95% CI: -3.68 to 9.64). The test of co-incidence showed a statistically significant difference in the incidence of thyroid cancer between men (1.3) and women (3.2) (P < 0.001). According to our results, the ASR of thyroid cancer in western parts of Golestan is higher, including Gorgan and Aliabad cities. Conclusion: Increasing trends in incidence rates of thyroid cancer were found in the Golestan province during the study period, especially in women. We found significantly higher rates of thyroid cancer in women. Geographical diversities were seen in incidence rates of thyroid cancer in the Golestan province. Our results may be helpful for designing further researches to investigate the epidemiological aspects of thyroid cancer in the Golestan province.

Brain and other central nervous system (CNS) tumors represent almost 3% of all new cancer cases worldwide and comprise a heterogeneous group of tumors with varying epidemiologic and clinical characteristics. The aim of this study is to present the distribution and trends in brain and other CNS cancer incidence in Golestan, Iran during a 10-year period.Data on primary brain and other CNS cancers diagnosed between 2004 and 2013 were obtained from the Golestan population-based cancer registry (GPCR) dataset. We computed age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs) per 100000 personyears. In order to assess changes in incidence over time, we calculated the estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to detect significant trends.Over the 10-year period (2004-2013), the incidence of brain and other CNS cancer was observed to increase for all ages (EAPC: 1.13, 95% CI: -6.06, 8.87). After 2008, the trends appear to have stabilized. Incidence rates were higher in males than females (ratio: 1.2) and glioblastoma was the most common tumor subtype (15.1% of all malignant tumors).Trends and patterns in the burden of brain and other CNS cancer require careful monitoring alongside future research to increase our understanding of potential risk factors.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide and the fourth most common cause of cancer death. Predictions of the future burden of the disease inform health planners and raise awareness of the need for cancer control action. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) mortality database for 1989-2016 were used to project colon and rectal cancer mortality rates and number of deaths in 42 countries up to the year 2035, using age-period-cohort (APC) modelling. Mortality rates for colon cancer are predicted to continue decreasing in the majority of included countries from Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, except Latin America and Caribbean countries. Mortality rates from rectal cancer in general followed those of colon cancer, however rates are predicted to increase substantially in Costa Rica (+73.6%), Australia (+59.2%), United States (+27.8%), Ireland (+24.2%) and Canada (+24.1%). Despite heterogeneous trends in rates, the number of deaths is expected to rise in all countries for both colon and rectal cancer by 60.0% and 71.5% until 2035, respectively, due to population growth and ageing. Reductions in colon and rectal cancer mortality rates are probably due to better accessibility to early detection services and improved specialized care. The expected increase in rectal cancer mortality rates in some countries is worrisome and warrants further investigations.

Although overall colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence rates in the United States are declining, rates among younger persons (age < 55 years) are increasing, particularly among US whites. We assessed how these trends will impact the future burden (up to 2040) of CRC among US blacks and whites using an age-period-cohort model. Over the last four decades (1973 to 2014), CRC incidence rates for all ages (both sexes) have dropped by 6.6% and 33.9% in US blacks and whites, respectively. Yet we predict an upward turn in CRC cancer incidence rates over the next quarter century, particularly among US whites. The age-standardized rates of CRC were 55.4 and 43.2 per 100 000 among US blacks and whites in 2014, respectively, and are projected to be 49.5 and 43.1 in 2040, respectively. Future interventions are needed to reduce the striking differences in CRC incidence between blacks and whites.

Background Dementia and cardiovascular disease generate enormous health and social-care costs and have shared risk factors. Following decades of cardiovascular disease mortality declines in England, improvements slowed after 2011. We investigated the potential economic implications of this slowdown. Methods We used the IMPACT better aging model—an open-cohort, stochastic Markov model. We synthesised trends in cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality, dementia, and disability (defined as reported diagnosis, functional impairment, or measured cognitive impairment) from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) and Office for National Statistics data. We projected trends for adults aged 35–100 years in England and Wales from 2019–29. We modelled undiscounted health and social-care costs (primary outcome), and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) under the following two scenarios: age-specific cardiovascular disease incidence continues to decline, recommencing previous downward trends (scenario one); or age-specific cardiovascular disease incidence plateaus after 2006, continuing recent trends, assuming changes in mortality reflect incidence 5 years before (scenario two). We linked 85% of ELSA participants to their Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data, which were costed and calibrated to national estimates. Age-related social-care costs were estimated by use of reported contact hours from ELSA combined with standard reference costs. Standard catalogues were used for QALY weights. Findings In scenario one, changes in population size and health were projected to increase health-care costs by around 12% between 2019 and 2029, from £93·0 billion to £104·6 billion per year (in 2019 prices). Social-care costs were projected to increase by around 27%, from £8·0 billion to £10·2 billion per year. In scenario two, health-care costs were projected to increase by around 15%, from £95·3 billion to £109·6 billion, and social-care costs by around 30%, from £8·2 billion to £10·7 billion, between 2019 and 2029. The overall net monetary cost of this slowdown in cardiovascular disease decline was £17·5 billion per year (made up of 200 000 QALYs and £5·5 billion in health and social-care costs). Interpretation We predict social-care costs will grow twice as fast as health-care costs over the next decade, even if cardiovascular disease occurrence continues to decline. Understanding the scale of the future health and social-care funding challenge might support proactive policy making. This study represents the first time ELSA data have been linked with HES data. However, we did not assess changes in health and social-care efficiency over time or the effect of spending on improving health. Funding British Heart Foundation

INTRODUCTION Sleep duration and quality have been associated with obesity. Sleep disturbance has been reported to be associated with stress and depression among non-obese populations, but these relationships have not been previously examined in the obese population. The objective of the current study was to examine the complex associations among sleep disturbance, quality of life, anxiety, and depression in a patient sample with severe obesity. METHODS Two hundred seventy consecutively recruited patients with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 47.0 kg/m² were studied. The correlation coefficient, multiple linear regressions, and structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis were used to evaluate the association between the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite (IWQOL-Lite) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS The mean (standard deviation; SD) PSQI score was 8.59 (5.11), and mean ESS score was 8.84 (5.79). After controlling for potential confounders, poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness were found to be significantly associated of all the components of IWQOL-Lite; physical function (β = -0.32, β = -0.27; P < 0.01), self-esteem (β = -0.23, β = -0.30; P < 0.05), sexual-life (β = -0.30, β = -0.35; P < 0.05), public distress (β = -0.39, β = -0.39; P < 0.01), and work (β = -0.26, β = -0.48; P < 0.01). We also found that the PSQI global score had a positive significant association with anxiety (β = 0.29; P = 0.01) and depression (β = 0.31; P = 0.01) components of HADS. CONCLUSION Poor sleep quality was strongly associated with mood disturbance and poor quality of life among extremely obese patients. Future interventions are needed to address sleep disturbance to prevent further development of psychological co-morbidity and potentially worsening of obesity among these individuals.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder associated with several adverse health outcomes. Given the close association between OSA and obesity, lifestyle and dietary interventions are commonly recommended to patients, but the evidence for their impact on OSA has not been systematically examined. OBJECTIVES: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the impact of weight loss through diet and physical activity on measures of OSA: apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and oxygen desaturation index of 4% (ODI4). METHODS: A systematic search was performed to identify publications using Medline (1948-2011 week 40), EMBASE (from 1988-2011 week 40), and CINAHL (from 1982-2011 week 40). The inverse variance method was used to weight studies and the random effects model was used to analyze data. RESULTS: Seven randomized controlled trials (519 participants) showed that weight reduction programs were associated with a decrease in AHI (-6.04 events/h [95% confidence interval -11.18, -0.90]) with substantial heterogeneity between studies (I(2) = 86%). Nine uncontrolled before-after studies (250 participants) showed a significant decrease in AHI (-12.26 events/h [95% confidence interval -18.51, -6.02]). Four uncontrolled before-after studies (97 participants) with ODI4 as outcome also showed a significant decrease in ODI4 (-18.91 episodes/h [95% confidence interval -23.40, -14.43]). CONCLUSIONS: Published evidence suggests that weight loss through lifestyle and dietary interventions results in improvements in obstructive sleep apnea parameters, but is insufficient to normalize them. The changes in obstructive sleep apnea parameters could, however, be clinically relevant in some patients by reducing obstructive sleep apnea severity. These promising preliminary results need confirmation through larger randomized studies including more intensive weight loss approaches.

Smoking and nicotine exposure increase insulin resistance and the risk of type 2 diabetes. Swedish smokeless tobacco (snus) is high in nicotine, and its use is prevalent in Scandinavian countries, but few studies have investigated snus use in relation to diabetes risk.To explore the association between snus use and risk of type 2 diabetes using pooled data from five cohorts.Analyses were based on prospective studies conducted between 1990 and 2013 including 54 531 never-smoking men and 2441 incident cases of type 2 diabetes identified through screening, self-reporting and hospital and prescription registries. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were assessed and adjusted for age, body mass index, educational level, alcohol consumption and physical activity.Compared to never users, the HR of type 2 diabetes was 1.15 (95% CI: 1.00-1.32) in current users of snus. In individuals consuming 5-6 boxes per week, the HR was 1.42 (95% CI: 1.07-1.87); in those consuming ≥7 boxes per week, the HR was 1.68 (95% CI: 1.17-2.41). Each additional box of snus consumed per week yielded an HR of 1.08 (95% CI: 1.01-1.16).Our findings indicate that high consumption of snus is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The risk was similar to that in smokers, implying that smokers will not reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes by changing to snus use. The results also support the notion that nicotine increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.

The objective of this article is to review current evidence suggesting that both short and long sleep duration are linked with lipid risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Findings from several epidemiologic studies from different countries suggest a U-shaped relationship between sleep duration and mortality. The biological mechanisms mediating the association between sleep and biomarkers of cardiovascular-related conditions are under explored, but both long and short sleep duration have been associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus and hypertension, which are common predisposing factors for cardiovascular disease. Evidence suggests that both short and long sleep durations are associated with a high serum triglyceride level or low HDL-cholesterol. The available data are suggestive but limited; therefore, further evidence, using more objective measures of sleep from well-characterized prospective cohorts, is required.

Introduction Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Mortality rate from CRC has been decreasing in many high-income countries yet in many low and middle-income countries its rate continues to rise. The lack of resources and basic health infrastructure may face many developing countries with important challenges to decrease the CRC mortality rates. Past trends and future predictions of CRC mortality can inform health planners and raise awareness of the need for cancer control action. Methods Numbers of deaths from malignant neoplasms of the colon (ICD-10 C18) and the rectum (C19–21) were obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO) mortality database for the period 1988–2012, by year, sex and age for 49 countries, where high quality data were available for the period of interest. To predict numbers of deaths and mortality rates of colon and rectal cancer up to 2035, we fitted a log-linear age–period–cohort model. We reported both numbers of expected deaths and age-standardized mortality rates per 100,000 person-years for the total population studied as well as country and subsite. Results Mortality rates for colon and rectal cancer are predicted to continue decreasing in most populations studied (32 out of 49 countries), except for most countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Where rates have decreased in the past, colon cancer mortality rates for these countries combined was 7.2 in 2012 and is expected to be 6.6 per 100,000 person-years in 2035. In countries where rates have increased, the rate was 6.7 in 2012 and will be 7.4 by 2035. In most countries where colon cancer rates have decreased, we also predicted a decline in future rectal cancer mortality (ASR: 3.5 in 2012 and 3.2 in 2035), except, in Ireland, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and United States, where age-standardized rates are predicted to increase by 2035 (ASR 4.1 vs. 2.9 in 2012). Despite contrasting trends in rates, number of deaths is expected to rise for both colon and rectal cancer in all countries (colon cancer: from 203,690, to 304,440 between 2012 and 2035 (+49.4%), respectively, and rectal cancer: 85,547, and 136,948 in 2012, and 2035, (+60.0%) respectively). Conclusions We highlight further decline in colon and rectal cancer mortality rates in most of countries studied, which however will not compensate the expected rise in number of deaths from this cancer, mainly due to population ageing and growth. Projected reductions of colon and rectal cancer mortality rates in Europe, North America and Oceania are partly related to earlier detection and improved cancer management. The predicted increases in rectal cancer mortality rates in some developed countries are worrisome and warrant further investigations.

Background: Cigarette smoking is associated with a lower risk of Parkinson's disease. It is unclear what constituent of tobacco smoke may lower the risk. Use of Swedish moist smokeless tobacco (snus) can serve as a model to disentangle what constituent of tobacco smoke may lower the risk. The aim of this study was to determine whether snus use was associated with a lower risk of Parkinson's disease. Methods: Individual participant data were collected from seven prospective cohort studies, including 348 601 men. We used survival analysis with multivariable Cox regression to estimate study-specific relative risk of Parkinson's disease due to snus use, and random-effects models to pool estimates in a meta-analysis. The primary analyses were restricted to never-smokers to eliminate the potential confounding effect of tobacco smoking. Results: During a mean follow-up time of 16.1 years, 1199 incident Parkinson's disease cases were identified. Among men who never smoked, ever-snus users had about 60% lower Parkinson's disease risk compared with never-snus users [pooled hazard ratio (HR) 0.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.28-0.61]. The inverse association between snus use and Parkinson's disease risk was more pronounced in current (pooled HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.23-0.63), moderate-heavy amount (pooled HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.19-0.90) and long-term snus users (pooled HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.24-0.83). Conclusions: Non-smoking men who used snus had a substantially lower risk of Parkinson's disease. Results also indicated an inverse dose-response relationship between snus use and Parkinson's disease risk. Our findings suggest that nicotine or other components of tobacco leaves may influence the development of Parkinson's disease.