Depression, anxiety, and the risk of cancer: An individual participant data meta-analysis
Researchers performed meta-analyses within the Psychosocial Factors and Cancer Incidence (PSY-CA) consortium to develop a stronger foundation for addressing associations between depression, anxiety, and the incidence of various cancer types. They found that depression and anxiety are not related to increased risk for most cancer outcomes, except for lung and smoking-related cancers.
Importance of accounting for timing of time-varying exposures in association studies: Hydrochlorothiazide and non-melanoma skin cancer
The researchers used different models to determine how non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) risk varies with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) exposure and explored how the results may be contingent on modeling strategies. Data was collected from study participants who were part of the Ontario Health Study cohort. In parametric models considering all exposures, longer duration of past HCTZ use was linked to a higher risk of NMSC, while cumulative dose did not show a consistent association. However, weighted cumulative exposure model results indicated that only exposures occurring 2.5–4 years ago were associated with the current hazard of NMSC.
Assessing skin cancer risk factors, sun safety behaviors and melanoma concern in Atlantic Canada: a comprehensive survey study
Using data from 7,861 Atlantic PATH participants, this study sought to understand sun exposure, sun protection, and level of worry for cutaneous melanoma (CM), a deadly form of skin cancer, among Atlantic Canadians. The researchers found that provinces with high CM incidence had higher rates of sunburns, total sun exposure, recreational sun exposure, and tanning. However, they also displayed more protective behaviours.
Nonfasting remnant cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk prediction in Albertans: a prospective cohort study
This study aimed to assess the relationship between nonfasting remnant cholesterol and cardiovascular disease (CVD) using data from 13,988 Alberta’s Tomorrow Project participants. The researchers found that nonfasting remnant cholesterol was positively associated with CVD incidence, whereas low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was negatively associated with it.
Added value of waist circumference to body mass index for predicting fracture risk in obesity: a prospective study from the CARTaGENE cohort
The researchers aimed to assess associations between waist circumference (WC) and fracture incidence within BMI categories to examine whether BMI modifies the relationships. Using data from 18,236 CARTaGENE participants, they found that larger WC was associated with a greater risk for fractures among those in the normal-to-overweight category.
Association of infertility with type and timing of menopause: a prospective cohort study
This study sought to uncover the association between past infertility and type and timing of menopause among midlife women. Using data from 13,243 midlife females from Alberta’s Tomorrow Project, the researchers found that women with past infertility were more likely to experience surgical menopause and had greater risk of earlier surgical menopause until age 43 years but experienced no differences in the timing of natural menopause.
Multivariate extension of penalized regression on summary statistics to construct polygenic risk scores for correlated traits
The authors developed a summary-statistics-based multivariate penalized regression approach to improve the prediction of complex human traits and disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, by considering genetic correlations between these conditions. The study utilized genotypes from 29,330 subjects from the CARTaGENE cohort to determine the predictive performance of polygenic risk scores (PRS) for genetically correlated traits in simulation for several PRS construction methods.
The contributions of neighbourhood design in promoting metabolic health
Using data from 6,718 Alberta’s Tomorrow Project participants, the researchers assessed associations between neighbourhood built environment and metabolic syndrome, or the presence of at least three clinical risk factors among lipid levels, blood pressure, and waist circumference. They found that neighbourhoods with more points of interest and greater overall active living environment-friendliness were associated with fewer metabolic syndrome risk factors and lower odds of metabolic syndrome. Higher dwelling density was also linked to having fewer metabolic syndrome risk factors.
Development and external validation of partial proportional odds risk prediction models for cancer stage at diagnosis among males and females in Canada
This study examined health patterns in Alberta’s Tomorrow Project participants before cancer diagnosis to find factors related to cancers caught early versus late. The researchers found factors then tested them in a similar group from the British Columbia Generations Project.
Relationship between lifestyle habits and cardiovascular risk factors in familial hypercholesterolemia
This study’s objective was to assess the relationship between lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors in adults with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), the most prevalent genetic disorder causing premature cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and deaths. Using data from 122 CARTaGENE participants, researchers suggest that a healthy lifestyle (e.g., not smoking, being physically active, eating a healthy diet, having a light to moderate alcohol consumption, sleeping 7-8 hours per day) is favorably associated with CVD risk factors in adults with FH.