Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common type of glaucoma. However, little is known about POAG in adults and exposure to air pollution. The current study aims to investigate whether exposure to particulate matter with a mass median aerodynamic diameter of ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) is associated with POAG diagnosis. Patient data were obtained from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2010 (LHID2010) of Taiwan for the 2008–2013 period. PM2.5 concentration data, collected from the Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network established by the Environmental Protection Administration of Taiwan, were categorized into four groups according to World Health Organization (WHO) exposure standards for PM2.5. We estimated the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs for risk factors for POAG with logistic regression. The OR of per WHO standard level increase was 1.193 (95% CI 1.050–1.356). Compared with the normal level, the OR of WHO 2.0 level was 1.668 (95% CI 1.045–2.663, P < 0.05). After excluding confounding risk factors for POAG in this study, we determined that increased PM2.5 exposure is related to POAG risk (ORs > 1, P < 0.05). In this study, PM2.5 was an independent factor associated with open-angle glaucoma. Further research is required to better understand the mechanisms connecting PM2.5 and open-angle glaucoma.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disease that leads to dementia, health impairment, and high economic cost. Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory and allergic disease of the respiratory system that leads to health problems and has major effects on the daily lives of patients and their caregivers. Particulate matter (PM) refers to air pollutants 2.5 μm or less in diameter that are a source of concern because of their role in numerous diseases, including AR and other neurodegenerative diseases. To date, no study has demonstrated how PM2.5 exacerbates AR and results in AD. We conducted a national population-based cohort study by obtaining patient data from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan for the 2008–2013 period. PM2.5 concentration data were obtained from the ambient air quality monitoring network established by the Environmental Protection Administration of Taiwan. Monthly PM2.5 exposure levels were categorized into quartiles from Q1–Q4. The Cox proportional hazards analysis, after adjusting for age, sex, low income, and urbanization level, revealed that patients with AR had an elevated risk of developing AD (hazard ratio (HR): 2.008). In addition, the cumulative incidence of AD in the AR group was significantly higher than in the comparison group. The PM2.5 levels at Q2–Q4 (crude HR: 1.663–8.315; adjusted HR: 1.812–8.981) were stratified on the basis of the PM2.5 exposure group and revealed that AR patients exposed to PM2.5 are significantly prone to develop AD. In addition, the logistic regression analyses, after adjustment, demonstrated that an increase in the PM2.5 exposure level at Q2–Q4 (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 2.656–5.604) increased the risk of AR in AD patients. In conclusion, an increased PM2.5 exposure level could be correlated with AR, which could in turn cause AD. AR increased the risk of AD, in which exposure to PM2.5 increases the higher probability of AD.

AbstractBackgroundPostoperative sepsis is a major type of sepsis. Sociodemographic characteristics, incidence trends, surgical procedures, comorbidities, and organ system dysfunctions related to the disease burden of postoperative sepsis episodes are unclear.MethodsWe analyzed epidemiological characteristics of postoperative sepsis based on the ICD-9-CM codes for the years 2002 to 2013 using the Longitudinal Health Insurance Databases of Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database.ResultsWe identified 5,221 patients with postoperative sepsis and 338,279 patients without postoperative sepsis. The incidence of postoperative sepsis increased annually with a crude mean of 0.06% for patients aged 45–64 and 0.34% over 65 years. Patients with postoperative sepsis indicated a high risk associated with the characteristics, male sex (OR:1.375), aged 45–64 or ≥ 65 years (OR:2.639 and 5.862), low income (OR:1.390), aged township (OR:1.269), agricultural town (OR:1.266), and remote township (OR:1.205). Splenic surgery (OR:7.723), Chronic renal disease (OR:1.733), cardiovascular dysfunction (OR:2.441), and organ system dysfunctions had the highest risk of postoperative sepsis.ConclusionRisk of postoperative sepsis was highest among men, older, and low income. Patients with splenic surgery, chronic renal comorbidity, and cardiovascular system dysfunction exhibited the highest risk for postoperative sepsis. The evaluation of high-risk factors assists in reducing the disease burden.