Background and Purpose— It has been suggested that statins increase the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage in individuals with a history of stroke, which has led to a precautionary principle of avoiding statins in patients with prior intracerebral hemorrhage. However, such prescribing reticence may be unfounded and potentially harmful when considering the well-established benefits of statins. This study is so far the largest to explore the statin-associated risk of intracerebral hemorrhage in individuals with prior stroke. Methods— We conducted a population-based, propensity score–matched cohort study using information from Danish national registers. We included all individuals initiating statin treatment after a first-time stroke diagnosis (intracerebral hemorrhage, N=2728 or ischemic stroke, N=52 964) during 2002 to 2016. For up to 10 years of follow-up, they were compared with a 1:5 propensity score–matched group of statin nonusers with the same type of first-time stroke. The difference between groups was measured by adjusted hazard ratios for intracerebral hemorrhage calculated by type of first-time stroke as a function of time since statin initiation. Results— Within the study period, 118 new intracerebral hemorrhages occurred among statin users with prior intracerebral hemorrhage and 319 new intracerebral hemorrhages in users with prior ischemic stroke. The risk of intracerebral hemorrhage was similar for statin users and nonusers when evaluated among those with prior intracerebral hemorrhage, and it was reduced by half in those with prior ischemic stroke. These findings were consistent over time since statin initiation and could not be explained by concomitant initiation of other medications, by dilution of treatment effect (due to changes in exposure status over time), or by healthy initiator bias. Conclusions— This large study found no evidence that statins increase the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage in individuals with prior stroke; perhaps the risk is even lower in the subgroup of individuals with prior ischemic stroke.
Background: Depression is associated with an increased risk of a series of cardiovascular diseases and with increased symptom burden in patients with atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study was to determine the association between depression as well as antidepressant treatment and the risk of incident atrial fibrillation. Design: A nationwide register-based study comparing the atrial fibrillation risk in all Danes initiating antidepressant treatment from 2000 to 2013 (N ¼ 785,254) with that in a 1:5-matched sample from the general population. Methods: Cox regression was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), both after initiation of treatment and in the month before when patients were assumed to have medically untreated depression. Results: Antidepressant treatment was associated with a threefold higher risk of atrial fibrillation during the first month (aHR ¼ 3.18 (95% CI: 2.98-3.39)). This association gradually attenuated over the following year (aHR ¼ 1.37 (95% CI: 1.31-1.44) 2-6 months after antidepressant therapy initiation, and aHR ¼ 1.11 (95% CI: 1.06-1.16) 6-12 months after). However, the associated atrial fibrillation risk was even higher in the month before starting antidepressant treatment (aHR ¼ 7.65 (95% CI: 7.05-8.30) from 30 to 15 days before, and aHR ¼ 4.29 (95% CI: 3.94-4.67) the last 15 days before). Overall, 0.4% of patients were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation from 30 days before to 30 days after antidepressant treatment. Conclusions: Antidepressant users had a substantially increased atrial fibrillation risk, particularly before treatment initiation. Whether this mirrors a causal relation between depression and atrial fibrillation may have large consequences for public health and should be discussed.
Background At time of discharge after a pneumonia admission, care planning for older persons with dementia is essential. However, care planning is limited by lack of knowledge on the short-term prognosis. Aim To investigate 30-day mortality and readmission after hospital discharge for pneumonia in persons with versus without dementia, and to investigate how these associations vary with age, time since discharge, and medication use. Methods Using the Danish registries, we investigated 30-day mortality and readmission in persons (+65 years) discharged after pneumonia in 2000–2016 (N = 298,872). Adjusted mortality rate ratios (aMRRs) and incidence rate ratios (aIRRs) were calculated for persons with versus without dementia, and we investigated if these associations varied with use of benzodiazepines, opioids, and antipsychotics, and with age and time since discharge. Results Among 25,948 persons with dementia, 4,524 died and 5,694 were readmitted within 30 days. The risk of 30-day mortality was 129% higher (95% CI 2.21–2.37) in persons with versus without dementia after adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, admission-related factors, and comorbidities. Further, the highest mortality risk was found in persons with both dementia and use of antipsychotics (aMRR: 3.39, 95% CI 3.19–3.59); 16% of deaths in this group could not be explained by the independent effect of each exposure. In those with dementia, the highest aMRRs were found for the youngest and for the first days after discharge. The risk of 30-day readmission was 7% higher (95% CI 1.04–1.10) in persons with versus without dementia. In those with dementia, the highest aIRRs were found for the first days after discharge. Conclusions Dementia was associated with higher short-term mortality after pneumonia, especially in users of antipsychotics, and with slightly higher readmission, especially in the first days after discharge. This is essential knowledge in the care planning for persons with dementia who are discharged after a pneumonia admission.
SummaryPsychological stress is thought to be a risk factor for herpes zoster. However, 2 large population-based studies in Denmark and the United Kingdom found no consistent increase in risk of herpes zoster after partner bereavement.
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