Whether atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains controversial. From Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 (LHID2000), we identified 11,458 patients newly diagnosed with AF. The comparison group comprised 45,637 patients without AF. Both cohorts were followed up to measure the incidence of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Univariable and multivariable competing-risks regression model and Kaplan-Meier analyses with the use of Aelon-Johansen estimator were used to measure the differences of cumulative incidences of DVT and PE, respectively. The overall incidence rates (per 1,000 person-years) of DVT and PE between the AF group and non-AF groups were 2.69 vs 1.12 (crude hazard ratio [HR]= 1.92; 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.54-2.39), 1.55 vs 0.46 (crude HR = 2.68; 95 % CI = 1.97-3.64), respectively. The baseline demographics indicated that the members of the AF group demonstrated a significantly older age and higher proportions of comorbidities than non-AF group. After adjusting for age, sex, and comorbidities, the risks of DVT and PE remained significantly elevated in the AF group compared with the non-AF group (adjusted HR = 1.74; 95 %CI = 1.36-2.24, adjusted HR = 2.18; 95 %CI = 1.51-3.15, respectively). The Kaplan-Meier curve with the use of Aelon-Johansen estimator indicated that the cumulative incidences of DVT and PE were both more significantly elevated in the AF group than in the non-AF group after a long-term follow-up period (p<0.01). In conclusion, the presence of AF is associated with increased risk of VTE after a long-term follow-up period.
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Both balanitis and herpes zoster (HZ) may be influenced by the immune system. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between balanitis and HZ. We selected patients aged 20 years and older who were newly diagnosed with balanitis from 2000 to 2010 through the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000. The non-balanitis cohort consisted of randomly selected patients who were matched to the balanitis cohort by age. Distributions of age and comorbidities were compared between the balanitis and non-balanitis cohorts; the categorical variables were examined using a Chi-squared test and the continuous variables were examined using a t-test. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios and 95 % confidence intervals for HZ among the balanitis patients in relation to the non-balanitis patients. We identified 4,028 patients with balanitis who were matched based on age with 16,112 patients without balanitis. By the end of the 12-year follow-up, the patients with balanitis had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of HZ than the non-balanitis patients. The risk of HZ for patients without comorbidities was 1.54-fold higher in the balanitis cohort than in the non-balanitis cohort. The higher risk of HZ occurred during the first 6 years of follow-up after a diagnosis of balanitis. Balanitis is a risk factor for HZ. Men with balanitis have a higher risk of developing HZ. HZ vaccination might be necessary for men with balanitis.