Association between body weight and tocilizumab effectiveness in rheumatoid arthritis: results from the BSRBR-RA.

Objectives: Tocilizumab is an IL-6 receptor humanized monoclonal antibody for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) preparations available. Only IV tocilizumab is dosed adjusting for weight. Therefore, we aimed to study the association between body weight and the effectiveness of tocilizumab by the route of administration.

Outcomes following switching from etanercept originator to etanercept biosimilar in 1024 patients with RA: a matched-analysis of the BSRBR-RA.

Objectives: Adults with RA are being switched from etanercept originator to biosimilar in non-medical/cost-saving switching. This analysis aims to investigate outcomes in these patients, including (i) drug survival and (ii) disease activity at 6 months and 12 months, compared with those who remain on the originator.

Methods: Using BSRBR-RA, those who switched directly from etanercept originator to biosimilar were identified and matched to patients receiving the originator, based on gender, age, disease duration and originator start year.

Real-World Study on Effectiveness of Molnupiravir and Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir in Unvaccinated Patients with Chronic Respiratory Diseases with Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Infection Managed in Out-Patient Setting.

While molnupiravir (MOV) and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (NMV-r) were developed for treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 infection, there has been a lack of data on the efficacy among unvaccinated adult patients with chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. A territory-wide retrospective cohort study was conducted in Hong Kong to investigate the efficacy of MOV and NMV-r against severe outcomes of COVID-19 in unvaccinated adult patients with chronic respiratory diseases. A total of 3267 patients were included.

Etanercept originator versus etanercept biosimilar for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis as a first biologic: results from the BSRBR-RA.

Objectives: Etanercept biosimilars show comparable efficacy to their originators among biologic-naïve patients with RA in randomized controlled trials. Nationwide guidelines have obligated prescribing of etanercept biosimilars from 2016, resulting in significant cost savings. This analysis aimed to compare the effectiveness of etanercept originator vs etanercept biosimilar amongst biologic-naïve RA patients treated in routine clinical practice in the UK.

Prevalence of Childhood Obesity in the United States in 1999-2018: A 20-Year Analysis.

Introduction: Obesity is a public health crisis in the USA. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of obesity and severe obesity in US children and adolescents and identify novel targetable risk factors associated with childhood obesity.

Methods: From the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2018, 35,907 children aged 2-19 with body mass index (BMI) data were included.

Cancer Risk of Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker Valsartan: A Population-based Study.

Nitrosamine contamination of generic valsartan was found in 2018. This study aimed to investigate whether long-term use of valsartan increases cancer risk. Patients prescribed valsartan or amlodipine (control group) from 1 January 1, 2003, to June 30, 2010, were identified using the Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, a territory-wide database in Hong Kong.

Use of ticagrelor and the risks of pneumonia and pneumonia-specific death in patients with non-acute coronary syndrome conditions: a population-based cohort study.

Previous studies have shown that ticagrelor reduced risk of pneumonia in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) compared to clopidogrel, however, its effect in patients with non-ACS cardiovascular diseases remains uncertain. The aim was to investigate the effect of ticagrelor on pneumonia and pneumonia-specific death compared to clopidogrel in non-ACS patients in Hong Kong. This was a population-based cohort study.

Association between the liver fat score (LFS) and cardiovascular diseases in the national health and nutrition examination survey 1999-2016.

Background: The liver fat score (LFS) has been proposed to be a simple non-invasive marker of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is highly prevalent in the general population. We tested its association with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and prognosis.

Methods: 17,244 adult participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2016 were included.

The seroprevalence and kinetics of IgM and IgG in the progression of COVID-19.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus first recognized in late December 2019 that causes coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Due to the highly contagious nature of SARS-CoV-2, it has developed into a global pandemic in just a few months. Antibody testing is an effective method to supplement the diagnosis of COVID-19.

Blood lead level and risk of hypertension in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2016.

Lead is a heavy metal without a biological role. High level of lead exposure is known to be associated with hypertension, but the risk at low levels of exposure is uncertain. In this study, data from US NHANES 1999-2016 were analyzed.

Causal associations between urinary sodium with body mass, shape and composition: a Mendelian randomization study.

Observational studies have found associations between urinary sodium (UNa) with obesity, body shape and composition; but the findings may be biased by residual confounding. The objective of this two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study was to analyze their causal associations in both sex-combined and sex-specific models. Genome-wide association studies of UNa, body mass index (BMI), BMI-adjusted waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body fat (BF) percentage and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were identified.

Epidemiology of gout in Hong Kong: a population-based study from 2006 to 2016.

Objective: To determine the incidence and prevalence of gout in the general population and the utilisation of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) among patients with gout in Hong Kong.

Methods: A total of 2,741,862 subjects who attended any outpatient clinics or accident and emergency department (with or without hospitalisation) in 2005 and did not die before 2006 were identified from the Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System (CDARS) of the Hospital Authority in Hong Kong. All subjects were followed until the end of 2016 or death.

Blood and Urine Inorganic and Organic Mercury Levels in the United States from 1999 to 2016.

Background: Mercury is an environmental hazard. Organic mercury is biologically more toxic than inorganic mercury. Therefore, we studied recent trends in the blood levels of organic and inorganic mercury in the United States.

Risk of infections in patients treated with ticagrelor vs. clopidogrel: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: Ticagrelor has been shown to reduce the risk of pneumonia and improve lung function, but the findings across studies were inconsistent. The objective is to investigate the relative safety of ticagrelor vs. clopidogrel on infection outcomes in patients with cardiovascular diseases.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among ethnic groups in China.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is common in China, which has a multi-ethnic population of 1·3 billion. We set out to determine the prevalence of MetS and its components in different ethnic groups.

Methods: This nationwide cross-sectional survey involved 24,796 participants from eight ethnicities in six provinces in China from 2008 to 2011.

Vancomycin-associated acute kidney injury in Hong Kong in 2012-2016.

Background: To study the incidence of vancomycin-associated acute kidney injury (VA-AKI) in Hong Kong and identify risk factors for VA-AKI.

Method: Patients with vancomycin prescription and blood level measurement in 2012-2016 were identified using the Hong Kong Hospital Authority Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System. Acute kidney injury was defined using KDIGO criteria.

Comparative cardiovascular risk in users versus non-users of xanthine oxidase inhibitors and febuxostat versus allopurinol users.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality comparing between xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOIs) and non-XOI users, and between allopurinol and febuxostat.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of gout patients prescribed anti-hyperuricemic medications between 2013 and 2017 using a territory-wide administrative database. XOI users were matched 1:1 to XOI non-users using propensity scores.

The lipid-lowering effect of once-daily soya drink fortified with phytosterols in normocholesterolaemic Chinese: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Phytosterols reduce intestinal cholesterol absorption and help to lower LDL-cholesterol. Many Chinese adults are lactose-intolerant and cannot tolerate bovine milk enriched with phytosterol. Soya-milk is a common beverage in Asia and it has beneficial effects on general health.

Cardiovascular outcomes in trials of new antidiabetic drug classes: a network meta-analysis.

Background: Recent trials suggested that glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors reduced cardiovascular events. Comparative effectiveness of these new antidiabetic drug classes remains unclear. We therefore performed a network meta-analysis to compare the effect on cardiovascular outcomes among GLP-1 RAs, SGLT-2 and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors.

Determining the Optimal Systolic Blood Pressure for Hypertensive Patients: A Network Meta-analysis.

Background: There is clinical trial evidence that lowering systolic blood pressure (SBP) to < 120 mm Hg is beneficial, and this has influenced the latest American guideline on hypertension. We therefore used network meta-analysis to study the association between SBP and cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods: We searched for randomized controlled trials targeting different blood pressure levels that reported cardiovascular events.

Network meta-analysis of cardiovascular outcomes in randomized controlled trials of new antidiabetic drugs.

Background: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) directly comparing cardiovascular outcomes of new antidiabetic drugs are lacking. We used network meta-analysis to compare new antidiabetic drug classes with respect to major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and mortality.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane database, and ClinicalTrials.