Our data show an association between subclinical hyperthyroidism and development of atrial fibrillation but do not support the hypothesis that unrecognized subclinical hyperthyroidism or subclinical hypothyroidism is associated with other cardiovascular disorders or mortality.

Combining results from 4 clinical trials, randomization to cinacalcet led to significant reductions in the risk of parathyroidectomy, fracture, and cardiovascular hospitalization, along with improvements in self-reported physical function and diminished pain. These data suggest that, in addition to its effects on PTH and mineral metabolism, cinacalcet had favorable effects on important clinical outcomes.

pproximately 347 million persons worldwide have diabetes mellitus. 1,2 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 25.8 million persons (8.3% of the US population) had diabetes in 2010. 3 Substantial racial/ ethnic differences in the prevalence of diabetes in the United States have also been noted. National estimates report that, in persons aged 20 years or older in the United States, 14.2% of American Indians and Alaskan natives, 12.6% of non-Hispanic blacks, 11.8% of Hispanics, 8.4% of Asian Americans, and 7.1% of non-Hispanic whites have received a diagnosis of diabetes. 3 Diabetic eye disease is a leading cause of vision loss in persons aged 20 to 74 years. 4 Of the visually disabling conditions in persons with diabetic eye disease, diabetic macular edema (DME), left untreated, is a common cause of vision loss. 5 It affects central vision and can lead to decline in vision ranging from slight visual blurring to blindness, substantially affecting independence and quality of life. 6,7 At least since the 1980s and until 2010, focal/grid laser photocoagulation was the standard of care for treating macular edema, reducing the risk of vision loss, and increasing the possibility of vision gain compared with no treatment. 8 More recently, in phase II and III trials of ranibizumab and aflibercept and phase II trials of bevacizumab, intravitreal injections of antivascular endothelial growth factor agents have been shown to be superior to focal/ grid laser photocoagulation in decreasing the risk of vision loss and increasing the possibility of vision gain. [9][10][11][12][13][14] In planning the IMPORTANCE Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a leading cause of vision loss in persons with diabetes mellitus. Although there are national estimates for the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and its risk factors among persons with diabetes, to our knowledge, no comparable estimates are available for DME specifically.OBJECTIVES To estimate the prevalence of DME in the US population and to identify associated risk factors. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSA cross-sectional analysis of 1038 participants aged 40 years or older with diabetes and valid fundus photographs in the 2005 to 2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESThe overall prevalence of DME and its prevalence according to age, race/ethnicity, and sex. RESULTSOf the 1038 persons with diabetes analyzed for this study, 55 had DME, for an overall weighted prevalence of 3.8% (95% CI, 2.7%-4.9%) or approximately 746 000 persons in the US 2010 population aged 40 years or older. We identified no differences in the prevalence of DME by age or sex. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the odds of having DME were higher for non-Hispanic blacks than for non-Hispanic whites (odds ratio [OR], 2.64; 95% CI, 1.19-5.84; P = .02). Elevated levels of glycosylated hemoglobin A 1c (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.26-1.71 for each 1%; P < .001) and longer duration of diabetes (OR, 8.51; 95% CI, 3.70-19.54 for Ն10 vs <10 yea...

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IMPORTANCE Individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) have reduced life expectancy; however, there are limited data available on lifetime income in patients with SCD. OBJECTIVE To estimate life expectancy, quality-adjusted life expectancy, and income differences between a US cohort of patients with SCD and an age-, sex-, and race/ethnicity-matched cohort without SCD. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Cohort simulation modeling was used to (1) build a prevalent SCD cohort and a matched non-SCD cohort, (2) identify utility weights for quality-adjusted life expectancy, (3) calculate average expected annual personal income, and (4) model life expectancy, quality-adjusted life expectancy, and lifetime incomes for SCD and matched non-SCD cohorts. Data sources included the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Newborn Screening Information System, and published literature. The target population was individuals with SCD, the time horizon was lifetime, and the perspective was societal. Model data were collected from

Results: In the simultaneous control analysis, patients who achieved target for none of the markers had a 51% greater risk for death than those who achieved target for all three markers (reference group). Patients who achieved any target for any single marker had a 35 to 39% higher risk for death, and patients who achieved target for any two of the three markers had a 15 to 21% higher risk for death compared with the reference group. In the time in target analysis, patients with parathyroid hormone in target for 4 quarters had a 25% lower risk for death compared with those who did so for <1 quarter (reference group). Patients with calcium in target for 4 quarters had a 14% lower risk, and patients with phosphorus in target for 4 quarters had a 38% lower risk.Conclusions: Consistent control of the markers of bone metabolism and disease within published targets is a strong predictor of survival in hemodialysis patients.

SummaryBackground and objectives Parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphate have been independently associated with cardiovascular event risk. Because these parameters may be on the same causal pathway and have been proposed as quality measures, an integrated approach to estimating event risks is needed.Design, setting, participants, & measurements Prevalent dialysis patients were followed from August 31, 2005 to December 31, 2006. A two-stage modeling approach was used. First, the 16-month probabilities of death and composite end point of death or cardiovascular hospitalization were estimated and adjusted for potential confounders. Second, patients were categorized into 1 of 36 possible phenotypes using average parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphate values over a 4-month baseline period. Associations among phenotypes and outcomes were estimated and adjusted for the underlying event risk estimated from the first model stage.Results Of 26,221 patients, 98.5% of patients were in 22 groups with at least 100 patients and 20% of patients were in the reference group defined using guideline-based reference ranges for parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphate. Within the 22 most common phenotypes, 20% of patients were in groups with significantly (P,0.05) higher risk of death and 54% of patients were in groups with significantly higher risk of the composite end point relative to the in-target reference group. Increased risks ranged from 15% to 47% for death and from 8% to 55% for the composite. More than 40% of all patients were in the three largest groups with elevated composite end point risk (high parathyroid hormone, target calcium, and high phosphate; target high parathyroid hormone, target calcium, and high phosphate; and target high parathyroid hormone, target calcium, and target phosphate).Conclusion After adjusting for baseline risk, phenotypes defined by categories of parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphate identify patients at higher risk of death and cardiovascular hospitalization. Identifying common high-risk phenotypes may inform clinical interventions and policies related to quality of care.