Gastric cancer (GC) survivors may be more likely to develop osteoporosis. However, few studies on the relationship between GC and osteoporosis have been conducted on large patient populations. We aimed to determine the incidence of osteoporosis and identify related factors by comparing patients with GC and matched controls using the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (KNHIS-NSC). This study included 9078 patients with GC and 36,312 controls (1:4 propensity score-matched for sex, age, residence, and income). The hazard ratio (HR) for osteoporosis was significantly greater for GC patients than for controls according to Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) score-adjusted models (adjusted HR = 1.13). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the cumulative incidence of osteoporosis during the follow-up period commencing from the index date was significantly greater in GC patients than in the controls (p = 0.0087). A positive correlation of osteoporosis with GC was detected for those aged < 65 years, males, and those with CCI scores = 0. In conclusion, the study findings suggest that men with GC aged < 65 years may be at an increased risk for osteoporosis. Research into additional risk factors and the optimal timing of interventions are needed to prevent fractures and minimize bone loss in GC survivors.

Given the global significance of gout and gastric cancer (GC) as major health problems with interrelated impacts, we examined the development of GC in Korean patients with gout. We conducted a nested case-control study using data from 10,174 GC patients and 40,696 control patients from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database. Propensity score matching (1:4) with propensity score overlap-weighted adjustment was used to reduce selection bias and estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between gout and GC. An adjusted OR for GC was not significantly higher in patients with gout than in control patients (1.02; 95% CI, 0.93-1.12; p = 0.652). Additionally, no association between gout and GC was observed in subgroup analyses such as sex, age, level of income, region of residence, or Charlson Comorbidity Index score. In conclusion, these results suggest that gout is not a significant independent risk factor for GC among the Korean population. Additional investigation is required to establish a causal association between gout and GC, and to generalize these results to general populations.

The potential connection between proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk remains unclear, with specific ethnic genetic backgrounds playing a role in PPI-induced adverse effects. In this nested case-control study, we investigated the risk of CRC in relation to preceding PPI use and the duration of use using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database, including 9374 incident CRC patients and 37,496 controls. To assess the impact of preceding PPI exposure (past vs. current) and use duration (days: <30, 30-90, and ≥90) on incident CRC, we conducted propensity score overlap-weighted multivariate logistic regression analyses, adjusted for confounding factors. Our findings revealed that past and current PPI users had an increased likelihood of developing CRC. Regardless of duration, individuals who used PPIs also had higher odds of developing CRC. Subgroup analyses revealed that CRC occurrence increased independent of history or duration of prior PPI use, consistent across various factors such as age, sex, income level, and residential area. These findings suggest that PPI use, regardless of past or present use and duration of use, may be related to an increased risk of developing CRC in the Korean population.

Considering the global importance of both gout and colorectal cancer (CRC) as significant health issues with mutual relevance, we aimed to examine the risk of colorectal cancer in Korean patients with gout. In this nested case-control study, we used data from 9920 CRC patients and 39,680 controls the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database. Propensity score overlap-weighted multivariate logistic regression analyses, adjusted for confounders, were used to assess the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of the association between gout and CRC. Adjusted OR for CRC were similar between patients with gout and the control group (0.95; 95% CI, 0.86-1.04; p = 0.282). However, after adjustment, subgroup analysis revealed an 18% reduction in the probability of CRC among patients younger than 65 years with gout (95% CI, 0.70-0.95; p = 0.009). Conversely, absence of an association between gout and subsequent CRC persisted regardless of sex, income, residence, and Charlson Comorbidity Index score, even among individuals aged 65 years or older. These results imply that gout may not be a significant independent risk factor for CRC among the general population. However, in patients younger than 65 years with gout, a slightly reduced likelihood of CRC was observed. Further research is necessary to establish a causal relationship between gout and CRC and to generalize these findings to other populations.

There is limited information regarding the potential association between chronic periodontitis (CP) and gastric cancer, especially in the Korean population. This study aimed to explore this relationship. This nested case-control study analyzed data from 10,174 patients with gastric cancer and 40,696 controls from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort using propensity score matching. Standardized differences were used to compare baseline characteristics between study groups. Logistic regression analyses adjusted for confounders were conducted to assess the association between history of CP and gastric cancer occurrence. CP histories and comprehensive subgroup analyses in the 1- and 2-year periods preceding the index date were evaluated. Individuals with a history of CP within the 1-year and 2-year periods showed an increased likelihood of developing gastric cancer. Subgroup analyses consistently supported these findings in male participants aged <65 years and individuals with various income levels or living in residential areas. However, no significant associations were observed among participants aged ≥65 years. In conclusion, CP may be a potential risk factor for gastric cancer development in the Korean population. Regular screening for gastric cancer may be necessary for high-risk individuals, specifically men aged <65 years with a history of CP.

UNASSIGNED: Depression and anxiety are common and deleterious in people living with dementia (PLWD). It is currently unknown whether routinely provided psychological therapy can help reduce these symptoms in PLWD. This study aimed to investigate improvements in depression and anxiety symptoms over the course of therapy offered in primary care psychological therapy services in PLWD and to compare outcomes to people without dementia.
UNASSIGNED: National data from Improving Access to Psychological Therapies services (IAPT) across England linked with Hospital Episode Statistics data, the Mental Health Services Dataset, and HES-ONS mortality data were used to identify 1,549 PLWD who completed a course of psychological treatment in IAPT between 2012-2019 and a propensity score matched control group without identified dementia. Outcome measures included pre-post intervention changes in depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7) symptoms and therapy outcomes (reliable improvement, recovery, deterioration).
UNASSIGNED: Symptoms of depression (t(1548)=31·05, p<·001) and anxiety (t(1548)=30·31, p<·001) improved in PLWD over the course of psychological therapy with large effect sizes (depression: d=-0·83; anxiety: d=-0·80). However, PLWD were less likely to reliably improve (OR=·75, 95%CI[·63,·88], p<·001) or recover (OR=·75, 95%CI[·64,·88], p=·001), and more likely to deteriorate (OR=1·35, 95%CI[1·03,1·78], p=·029) than a matched control sample without dementia.
UNASSIGNED: Psychological therapy may be beneficial for PLWD with depression or anxiety, but it is currently not as effective as for people without dementia. More research is needed to improve access to psychological therapies and to understand this discrepancy and how therapies can be adapted to further improve outcomes.
UNASSIGNED: This work was supported by the Alzheimer\'s Society.