Journal of women's health
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2020
Time to Cancer Diagnosis in Young Women Presenting to Surgeons with Breast-Related Symptoms: A Population-Based Cohort Study.
Background: Delay in diagnosis may be a contributing factor to the observed correlation between young age and advanced disease. We examined time to cancer diagnosis in young women presenting to surgeons with breast-related complaints. Materials and Methods: This population-based cohort study included all women aged 18-44 presenting to a surgeon with breast-related complaints between 2005 and 2015 in a large health care plan (n = 157,264). Data included demographics, diagnosis codes, and workup. ⋯ But nonspecific visit codes (other than breast mass) were associated with delays to imaging and biopsy. Among, women diagnosed with breast cancer, age under 40 years (odds ratio [OR]: 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4-3.9), being postpartum (OR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.1-5.9), and a nonspecific visit code (OR: 8.3, 95% CI: 4.9-14.2) were associated with delay. Conclusions: Symptomatic women with lower a-priori likelihood of malignancy (younger age, postpartum, or nonspecific visit code) are at significantly greater risk of delayed diagnosis of cancer. Physicians should be aware of the diagnostic challenge in young women presenting with nonspecific symptoms.
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2020
Editorial CommentSex and Gender Disparities in the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2020
Meta AnalysisPregravid Oral Contraceptive Use and the Risk of Preterm Birth, Low Birth Weight, and Spontaneous Abortion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Background: Although oral contraceptives (OCs) have been widely used by women of childbearing age, their influence on pregnancy and birth outcomes, such as preterm birth (PB), low birth weight (LBW), and spontaneous abortion (SAB), is unclear. The aim of this systemic review was to assess these complications in women who had used OCs before pregnancy compared with those in a control group. Materials and Methods: The databases of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched up to December 2018. ⋯ Results showed that the risk of PB was slightly higher in the exposed group (OR = 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07-1.27, p = 0.0005); however, there was a lower risk for SAB compared with the control group (OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.41-0.96, p = 0.03). No significant difference was found in the incidence of LBW (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 0.92-2.02, p = 0.12). Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated a higher risk for PB and a lower risk for SAB in women with previous ORs use, whereas no association was found between ORs use and LBW risk.
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Journal of women's health · Apr 2020
Sex Differences in Autoimmune Multimorbidity in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and the Risk of Cardiovascular and Renal Disease: A Longitudinal Study in the United States, 2001-2017.
Background: Autoimmune diseases are usually more prevalent in women. The risks of cardiovascular and renal disease in those with multiple autoimmune diseases have not been fully described. Materials and Methods: Using a national database from a large health insurer in the United States (years 2001-2017) containing ∼75 million members, we calculated age- and sex-specific co-prevalence of 12 autoimmune disorders for individuals with type 1 diabetes. ⋯ Patients with type 1 diabetes and Addison's disease had a threefold increased risk of renal failure. Conclusions: Patients with type 1 diabetes, particularly women, frequently have coexisting autoimmune diseases that are associated with higher rates of renal failure, ischemic stroke, and myocardial infarction. Additional study is warranted, as are preventive efforts in this high-risk population.