Further evidence in support of the association between venous thrombosis and atherosclerosis: A case–control study

Introduction

Whether there is an association between venous thromboembolism (VTE) and atherosclerosis is still controversial.

Aims

In a case–control study conducted on subjects older than 50, we assessed the prevalence of symptomatic or subclinical atherosclerosis in a group of unselected patients with unprovoked VTE, and compared it with that of patients with secondary VTE and of matched control individuals free from VTE disorders.

Methods

Cases and controls were enquired about the presence of previous symptomatic manifestations of atherosclerosis. Those with a negative history underwent the ultrasound assessment of carotid arteries following a standardized procedure. An intima-media thickness higher than 0.9 mm or the detection of at least one carotid plaque was regarded as a subclinical manifestation of atherosclerosis. After adjusting for age, gender and risk factors for atherosclerosis, we calculated the odds ratio (OR) for symptomatic or subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with unprovoked VTE as compared to those with secondary VTE and controls.

Results

We recruited 100 patients with unprovoked VTE, 100 with secondary VTE and 100 control individuals. In patients with unprovoked VTE, the adjusted OR for symptomatic or subclinical atherosclerosis was 5.1 (95% CI, 2.0 to 13.1) in comparison to patients with secondary VTE, and 14.5 (95% CI, 5.8 to 36.3) in comparison to controls. The prevalence of atherosclerosis was higher in patients with secondary VTE than in controls (OR, 3.1; 95% CI, 1.6 to 6.1).

Conclusion

The results of this study confirm the presence of a strong association between venous thrombosis and atherosclerosis.     

Anemia as a risk factor for cerebral venous thrombosis? An old hypothesis revisited

BACKGROUND : Several case reports have linked iron deficiency anemia with the occurrence of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) or stroke, yet, it is unclear whether this is a chance association. METHODS : In a case-control design data of whole blood count and screening for thrombophilic coagulation abnormalities of 121 prospectively identified patients with CVT and 120 healthy controls were compared. Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of <120 g/l in females, and <130 g/l in males, severe anemia as a Hb <90 g/l. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) were calculated based on a logistic regression model treating variables with a level of significance of p < or = 0.2 on univariate analysis as potential confounders. RESULTS : Thrombophilia (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07-1.76, p < 0.01), severe anemia (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01-2.22, p < 0.05), and hypercholesterinemia (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.04-2.57, p < 0.05) were the only independent variables associated with CVT on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION : Severe anemia is significantly and independently associated with CVT.     

Neurological diseases and risk of suicide attempt: a case–control study

Introduction

Neurological diseases have a profound impact on quality of life. We investigated the risk of suicide attempt in ten neurological diseases.

Methods

Case–control study. Cases were identified from the Danish Poison Information Centre database in the period 2006–2013. The prevalence of ten neurological diagnoses was compared with the prevalence in a randomly sampled age- and gender-matched control group.

Results

We identified 8974 cases of suicidal attempt and 89,740 controls. We found an association between suicide attempt in nine of ten neurological diseases and disease groups, including stroke [odds ratio (OR) 3.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) (2.8–3.6)], Huntington’s disease [OR 8.8, 95% CI (3.2–24.1)], amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [OR 5.0, 95% CI (1.7–14.6)], Parkinson’s disease [OR 2.9, 95% CI (1.8–4.6)], Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative diseases [OR 4.8, 95% CI (3.1–7.5)], multiple sclerosis [OR 1.5, 95% CI (1.1–2.1)], epilepsy [OR 4.5, 95% CI (4.1–5.0)], hereditary and idiopathic neuropathy [OR 2.2, 95% CI (1.1–4.3)] and myasthenia gravis [OR 4.3, 95% CI (2.0–9.4)].

Conclusion

Nine out of ten chronic neurological diseases were associated with an increased risk of suicide attempt. These data must be considered for clinicians treating this vulnerable group of patients.

     

Migraine as a risk factor for young patients with ischemic stroke: a case–control study

Neurological Sciences - Studies have suggested a possible association of migraine and increased risk of ischemic stroke in young adults, particularly in smokers and in women who use oral...     

Rural environment and risk factors of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a case–control study

The aetiology of sporadic ALS is still unknown. Links with several environmental factors have been suggested, and some epidemiological studies have shown an increased incidence of ALS in rural populations. This study was designed to investigate risk exposures in a well-delimited rural population and to assess whether rural residency or occupations, such as farming, were associated with an increased risk of developing ALS. A prospective case–control-study of 108 sporadic ALS cases matched by age and sex to 122 controls was performed in Brittany from 2006 to 2008. A strong association was found between agricultural activity and ALS (odds ratio: 2.919; p = 0.01), while rural residence itself did not influence the risk of the disease. Bulbar forms of onset prevailed among agricultural workers as compared with other occupations (55 vs. 26%; p = 0.009). These results suggest a potential role of exposure to agricultural chemicals or contact with animals linked to agricultural work. The prevalence of bulbar forms of onset in agricultural workers has not been reported before. In addition to variable methodological approaches, differences in agricultural practices could explain the discrepancy between these findings and other studies.     

Elevated factor VIII is a risk factor for idiopathic venous thromboembolism in Canada - is it necessary to define a new upper reference range for factor VIII?

Previous studies suggest elevated factor VIII is a common, independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE); however, these studies included secondary and idiopathic VTE. We sought to explore the association between elevated factor VIII and VTE in Canadian patients with idiopathic thrombosis, and confirm the current upper factor VIII reference range was appropriate. We enrolled 300 consecutive patients with idiopathic VTE who were matched to friend controls by age, sex and ethnicity. Factor VIII levels were measured and compared between cases and controls. The optimal cut-off value to designate factor VIII levels as elevated was determined using a variety of methods. The optimal upper cut-off value for factor VIII levels was 270 IU/dl. In the logistic regression analysis, cases were more likely to have elevated factor VIII levels (OR:8.76), as were females (OR:1.93) and older subjects (OR: 1.05). Factor VIII cutoffs for a 95% specificity by age were 238 IU/dl for subjects <40 years, 248 IU/dl age 40-55 years, 261 IU/dl age 56-70 years, and 313 IU/dl age >70. Our findings confirm that elevated factor VIII is associated with an increased risk of idiopathic VTE. In our patients and matched controls, the current upper limit of normal (150 IU/dl) for factor VIII is not of clinical use. We propose that the upper limit be increased to 270 IU/dl or individual labs should establish their upper limit if they wish their assays to be discriminatory in patients with VTE. Age specific cut-offs may be clinically relevant.     

Living alone and deliberate self-harm: a case–control study of characteristics and risk factors

Background  

An increasing proportion of the UK population live alone. Little is known about deliberate self-harm (DSH) patients who live alone. We conducted a study of the characteristics of DSH patients who live alone using data from the Oxford Monitoring System for Attempted Suicide.     

Environmental risk factors in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: a case–control study

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) has unknown risk factors. The aim of this study was to identify the environmental risk factors for NMOSD. A case–control study was conducted in Tehran from 2015 to 2016 among 100 patients with NMOSD. Sex-matched healthy controls (n = 400) were selected through random digit dialing (RDD). Logistic regression was used to estimate unadjusted and adjusted ORs (odds ratio) at 95% confidence intervals (CI) via SPSS. Compared with the control population, in NMOSD patients, the adjusted OR for low dairy consumption per week was (OR = 18.09; 95% CI 6.91, 47.37), following low sea food intake (OR = 13.91; 95% CI 6.13, 31.57) and low fruit and vegetable consumption (OR = 6.23; 95% CI 3.07, 12.62). The lower heavy physical activity (OR: 16.11, 95% CI 7.03, 36.91) among patients had risen the risk of NMOSD. A past history of head trauma was considered a risk for NMOSD (OR: 8.39, 95% CI 4.97, 14.16). The association between NMOSD and intentional abortion only among females (OR: 7.42, 95% CI 2.81, 19.55) was detected. This study indicates significant associations between dietary habits, life style, history of head trauma and intentional abortion in female and the later diagnosis of NMOSD.     

Violent victimisation of psychiatric patients: a Swedish case–control study

Objectives  

To report the rate of violent victimisation of psychiatric patients 1 year before interview and to examine the relative rate in comparison to the general population.     

Erratum to: Rural environment and risk factors of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a case–control study

The aetiology of sporadic ALS is still unknown. Links with several environmental factors have been suggested, and some epidemiological studies have shown an increased incidence of ALS in rural populations. This study was designed to investigate risk exposures in a well-delimited rural population and to assess whether rural residency or occupations, such as farming, were associated with an increased risk of developing ALS. A prospective case–control-study of 108 sporadic ALS cases matched by age and sex to 122 controls was performed in Brittany from 2006 to 2008. A strong association was found between agricultural activity and ALS (odds ratio: 2.919; p = 0.01), while rural residence itself did not influence the risk of the disease. Bulbar forms of onset prevailed among agricultural workers as compared with other occupations (55 vs. 26%; p = 0.009). These results suggest a potential role of exposure to agricultural chemicals or contact with animals linked to agricultural work. The prevalence of bulbar forms of onset in agricultural workers has not been reported before. In addition to variable methodological approaches, differences in agricultural practices could explain the discrepancy between these findings and other studies.     

Paternal and maternal age as risk factors for schizophrenia: a case–control study

Objective: Advanced parental age might constitute a generic risk factor for mental and somatic disorders. The current study tested whether this concerns also patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: A total of 231 schizophrenic, 56 other severe mental disorders patients and 204 controls were diagnosed according to DSM-IV-TR. Data were tested with ANOVA models including relative risk and odds ratios.

Results: Patients with schizophrenia manifested higher paternal (32.55?±?6.35 vs. 29.42?±?6.07, p?p?p?=?.001) but not maternal age (26.69?±?5.89; p?=?.296) compared to controls. There was no difference between the two patient groups concerning either paternal or maternal age (p?>?.05). There seems to be a higher risk for the development of schizophrenia in offspring with paternal age above 25 years and maternal age above 22 years at delivery.

Conclusions: The current study provides further support for the suggestion that advanced paternal age constitutes a risk factor (in a non-dose dependent and gender-independent way) for the development of schizophrenia but also for other mental disorders. In contrast, advanced maternal age characterises schizophrenia specifically. The higher risk is evident after 25 years of paternal and 22 years of maternal age, respectively.