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Background: Preeclampsia has been suggested to increase the risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD); however, most studies were unable to adjust for potential confounders including pre-existing comorbidities such as renal disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to examine the association between preeclampsia and the risk of ESKD in healthy women, while taking into account pre-existing comorbidity and potential confounders.Methods and Findings: Using data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register (MBR), women who had singleton live births in Sweden between 1982 and 2012, including those who had preeclampsia, were identified. Women with a diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD), CVD, hypertension, or diabetes prior to the first pregnancy were excluded. The outcome was a diagnosis of ESKD, identified from the Swedish Renal Registry (SRR) from January 1, 1991, onwards along with the specified cause of renal disease. We conducted Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to examine the association between preeclampsia and ESKD adjusting for several potential confounders: maternal age, body mass index (BMI), education, native country, and smoking. This analysis accounts for differential follow-up among women because women had different lengths of follow-up time. We performed subgroup analyses according to preterm preeclampsia, small for gestational age (SGA), and women who had 2 pregnancies with preeclampsia in both. The cohort consisted of 1,366,441 healthy women who had 2,665,320 singleton live births in Sweden between 1982 and 2012. At the first pregnancy, women's mean (SD) age and BMI were 27.8 (5.13) and 23.4 (4.03), respectively, 15.2% were smokers, and 80.7% were native Swedish. The overall median (interquartile range [IQR]) follow-up was 7.4 years (3.2-17.4) and 16.4 years (10.3-22.0) among women with ESKD diagnosis. During the study period, 67,273 (4.9%) women having 74,648 (2.8% of all pregnancies) singleton live births had preeclampsia, and 410 women developed ESKD with an incidence rate of 1.85 per 100,000 person-years. There was an association between preeclampsia and ESKD in the unadjusted analysis (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.93-6.33; p < 0.001), which remained in the extensively adjusted (HR = 4.96, 95% CI 3.89-6.32, p < 0.001) models. Women who had preterm preeclampsia (adjusted HR = 9.19; 95% CI 5.16-15.61, p < 0.001) and women who had preeclampsia in 2 pregnancies (adjusted HR = 7.13, 95% CI 3.12-16.31, p < 0.001) had the highest risk of ESKD compared with women with no preeclampsia. Considering this was an observational cohort study, and although we accounted for several potential confounders, residual confounding cannot be ruled out.Conclusions: The present findings suggest that women with preeclampsia and no major comorbidities before their first pregnancy are at a 5-fold increased risk of ESKD compared with parous women with no preeclampsia; however, the absolute risk of ESKD among women with preeclampsia remains small. Preeclampsia should be considered as an important risk factor for subsequent ESKD. Whether screening and/or preventive strategies will reduce the risk of ESKD in women with adverse pregnancy outcomes is worthy of further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: About 30% of the cervical cancer cases in Sweden occur in women older than 60. The primary aim was to evaluate the acceptability of repeated self-sampling at home for HPV-testing in elderly women. The prevalence of HPV and HPV related dysplasia as well as the sensitivity of cytology was evaluated. Methods: Repeated self-sampling at home for HPV testing was offered 375 women in each of the four age groups 60, 65, 70 and 75 years. Women with two consecutive positive HPV tests were examined with sampling for histology and cytology. Findings: A self-sample was provided by 59.5% (893/1500) of the invited women. The overall prevalence of HPV was 4.4% (95% CI 3.2–6.0, n = 39) in the first test, and 2.5% were persistent positive in the second test (95% C 1.6–3.8, n = 22) collected on average 5.5 months later. Dysplasia, was found in 1.8% (16/893) (95% CI 1.1–3.0) and CIN 2+ in 1.0% (9/893) (95%CI 0.5–2.0) of the women. Of the 16 women with dysplasia in histology, 13 (81.2%) had a normal cytology. Interpretation: Repeated self-sampling at home combined with HPV testing was well accepted among elderly women. A high prevalence of CIN was diagnosed by histology. Cytology showed extremely low sensitivity and should not be recommended for this age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Genital mucosa is the main portal of entry for various incoming pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hence it is an important site for host immune defenses. Tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells defend tissue barriers against infections and are characterized by expression of CD103 and CD69. In this study, we describe the composition of CD8+ TRM cells in the ectocervix of healthy and HIV-infected women.Methods: Study samples were collected from healthy Swedish and Kenyan HIV-infected and uninfected women. Customized computerized image-based in situ analysis was developed to assess the ectocervical biopsies. Genital mucosa and blood samples were assessed by flow cytometry.Results: Although the ectocervical epithelium of healthy women was populated with bona fide CD8+ TRM cells (CD103+CD69+), women infected with HIV displayed a high frequency of CD103-CD8+ cells residing close to their epithelial basal membrane. Accumulation of CD103-CD8+ cells was associated with chemokine expression in the ectocervix and HIV viral load. CD103+CD8+ and CD103-CD8+ T cells expressed cytotoxic effector molecules in the ectocervical epithelium of healthy and HIV-infected women. In addition, women infected with HIV had decreased frequencies of circulating CD103+CD8+ T cells.Conclusions: Our data provide insight into the distribution of CD8+ TRM cells in human genital mucosa, a critically important location for immune defense against pathogens, including HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To analyse whether the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV among (1) all women in Sweden and (2) migrant women, diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse CIN2+ reaches the threshold of 0.1%, which has been suggested to be cost-effective for HIV testing.Design: Population-based register study.Setting: Counties of Stockholm and Gothenburg, Sweden, 1990-2014.Population: All women, born between 1940 and 1990, with at least one cervical cytology or histology registered in the Swedish National Cervical Screening Register (NKCx).Methods: Data were collected from the NKCx and the Swedish National HIV register. The proportion of women with undiagnosed HIV among women with CIN2+ compared with women with a normal/mildly abnormal cytology/histology was assessed.Main Outcome Measures: Proportion of women with undiagnosed HIV.Results: The proportion of undiagnosed HIV was higher among all women with CIN2+ than among those without CIN2+ : 0.06% (95% CI 0.04-0.08) versus 0.04% (95% CI 0.04-0.04); P = 0.017). Among migrant women, the proportion of undiagnosed HIV was higher among those with CIN2+ than among those without [0.30% (95% CI 0.20-0.43) versus 0.08% (95% CI 0.07-0.10); P < 0.001] and exceeded 0.1%, suggesting the cost-effectiveness of HIV testing. Women with undiagnosed HIV at the time of CIN2+ had a significantly lower nadir CD4+ T-cell count, as a measure of immunosuppression, compared with women without CIN2+ before HIV diagnosis (median nadir CD4, 95 cells/mm3 versus 210 cells/mm3 ; P < 0.01).Conclusions: HIV testing should be performed in migrant women with unknown HIV status diagnosed with CIN2+ .Tweetable Abstract: HIV testing should be performed in migrant women with unknown HIV status diagnosed with CIN2+ . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Despite improved treatment strategies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), some patients do not respond satisfactorily. The aim of this study was to investigate the course and outcome of early RA diagnosed during the 1990s and followed for 8 years with a focus on those who did not respond well to treatment.Method: This study included 640 patients (66% women) who were enrolled in the BARFOT (Better Anti-Rheumatic PharmacOTherapy) RA inception cohort between the years 1993 and 1999. The 28-joint count Disease Activity Score (DAS28) < 2.6 criteria were used to assess remission. Persistent disease (PD) was defined as absence of remission at all predefined follow-up visits at 1, 2, 5, and 8 years. Function was assessed by Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Signals of Functional Impairment (SOFI) scores and radiological joint damage by the Sharp/van der Heijde score (SHS).Results: Of the 640 patients, 214 (37%) had PD (43% of the women and 25% of the men). Over the 8 years of follow-up, patients with PD had significantly worse mean values for patient's global health measured on a visual analogue scale (VAS patGH), VAS pain, HAQ, SOFI, and SHS compared with those in the non-PD group. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that female gender, current smoking, disease activity at baseline, and absence of remission at 6 months independently predicted PD.Conclusions: Of the patients who entered the early RA inception cohort, 37% suffered a PD course over 8 years. The consequences of PD with regard to general health, pain, function, and joint damage were considerable. Of note, PD was more common in women than in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background It is widely believed that autoimmune diseases affect predominantly in women, but the available evidence came from case control study with potential selection and recall bias. We aimed to examine the gender-specific incidence of autoimmune diseases by using national wide registers in Sweden. Methods Swedish Hospital Discharge Register and Outpatient Register were used to identify a set of autoimmune diseases between 1987 and 2010. Gender-specific incidence rate was standardized directly according to the Swedish age distribution in 2000. Results A total of 403,757 individuals were diagnosed with autoimmune diseases between 1987 and 2010 in Sweden. The overall incidence of 32 autoimmune disease was 60% higher in women than men. Female predominance was noted in 18 specific diseases, whereas the rest of them showed no difference or male predominance. The age of onset was different between men and women in 27 autoimmune diseases. Conclusions Our study suggested that the classical view of female predominance of autoimmune diseases may be far from striking than previously believed. Further studies are needed to examine whether there is true difference between men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the relationship between country of birth and the utilization of coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) after a first-time myocardial infarction (MI). Design, setting and patients: 117 494 MI patients of all ages who were admitted to coronary care units between 2001 and 2009 in Sweden were followed-up for three months after admission. Main outcome measures: Undergoing coronary angiography, PCI or CABG after first-time MI. Results: proportion of patients undergoing angiography and PCI increased whereas proportion of patients undergoing CABG also delay time for all three procedures decreased over the study period. The proportion of women undergoing any of the three procedures was markedly lower and delay time longer than those of men regardless of study period and migration background. Overall foreign-born first MI patients had higher rate of angiography (HR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.27-1.33), PCI (HR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.24-1.30) and CABG (HR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.15-1.28) compared with Sweden born first MI patients. After controlling for potential confounding factors in multivariable models, the overall differences vanished for angiography and reduced markedly for PCI and CABG. However, multivariable stratified analysis by specific country of birth yielded higher rate of angiography among men born in Uganda (HR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.00-4.43) and Peru (HR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.07-3.68) and lower rate among men born in Croatia (HR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.52-0.99) and women born in Thailand (HR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.35-0.94). PCI adjusted rates were higher among women born in Palestine state (HR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.15-5.16), Iraq (HR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.04-1.74) and Poland (HR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.02-1.44) and rate of CABG was higher among immigrants from some parts of Asia, including men born in Sri Lanka (HR = 3.19, 95% CI: 1.43-7.12), India (HR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.21-3.14), Vietnam (HR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.32-5.33), Palestine State (HR = 2.11, 95% CI: 1.06-4.24), and women born in Syria (HR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.25-4.45), Iraq (HR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.02-2.94), and Turkey (HR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.03-2.79). Conclusions: The observed high rate of CABG for immigrants and particularly those born in some Asian countries was not explained by the potential confounding factors. A more severe coronary disease in this population might explain this high rate but needs further research. Awareness and subsequent intervention at earlier stage of coronary disease among immigrants could prolong their life and reduce the healthcare costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hearing difficulties constitute a large public health problem. Knowledge about their consequences in terms of sickness absence due to otoaudiological diagnoses is very scarce. The aim of this study was to gain such knowledge. Both individuals with sick leave due to otoaudiological diagnoses and sick-leave spells due to these diagnoses were examined, in a nationwide setting. Methods: Through Swedish nationwide registers we identified all 4768 individuals, aged 16-64 years and living in Sweden who were sickness absent due to otoaudiological diagnoses (ICD10; H60-H95) in 2005. We described the demographic characteristics of these individuals, as well as aspects regarding prevalence and duration of such sick-leave spells, in general and in four specific diagnosis groups; otological, hearing, vertigo, and tinnitus. Results: Sick leave due to otoaudiological diagnoses was more common among women in all diagnosis groups except with tinnitus. Individuals with a hearing or tinnitus sick-leave diagnosis had a higher educational level and were hospitalized fewer days compared to those sickness absent due to vertigo or otological diagnoses. Particularly, sick-leave spells due to hearing or tinnitus diagnoses tended to be long, in many cases lasting the entire year. The majority of the individuals only had one sick-leave spell in 2005. Conclusions: Although the actual number of individuals with a sick-leave spell due to specific otoaudiological diagnosis might not be considered high, the high prevalence of long sick-leave spells due to particularly hearing and tinnitus diagnoses indicates the importance of preventive and rehabilitative actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes with onset in younger ages affects both length of life and health status due to debilitating and life-threatening long-term complications. In addition, episodes and fear of hypoglycaemia and of long-term consequences may have a substantial impact on health status. This study aims to describe and analyse health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals with onset of diabetes at the age of 15-34 years and with a disease duration of 1, 8, 15 and 24 years compared with control individuals matched for age, sex and county of residence. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 839 individuals with diabetes and 1564 control individuals. Data on socioeconomic status and HRQoL using EQ-5D were collected by a postal questionnaire. Insulin treatment was self-reported by 94% of the patients, the majority most likely being type 1. Results: Individuals with diabetes reported lower HRQoL, with a significantly lower mean EQ VAS score in all cohorts of disease duration compared with control individuals for both men and women, and with a significantly lower EQ-5Dindex for women, but not for men, 15 years (0.76, p = 0.022) and 24 years (0.77, p = 0.016) after diagnosis compared with corresponding control individuals. Newly diagnosed individuals with diabetes reported significantly more problems compared with the control individuals in the dimension usual activities (women: 13.2% vs. 4.0%, p = 0.048; men: 11.4% vs. 4.1%, p = 0.033). In the other dimensions, differences between individuals with diabetes and control individuals were found 15 and 24 years after diagnosis: for women in the dimensions mobility, self-care, usual activities and pain/ discomfort and for men in the dimension mobility. Multivariable regression analysis showed that diabetes duration, being a woman, having a lower education and not being married or cohabiting had a negative impact on HRQoL. Conclusions: Our study confirms the negative impact of diabetes on HRQoL and that the difference to control individuals increased by disease duration for women with diabetes. The small difference one year after diagnosis could imply a good management of diabetes care and a relatively quick adaptation. Our results also indicate that gender differences still exist in Sweden, despite modern diabetes treatment and management in Sweden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity and cardiovascular diseases are increasing globally and any association between reproduction and these conditions is of concern. Unfortunately, little is known about normal levels of metabolic risk factors in women of different body mass index throughout the reproductive cycle. This study is one of the first to describe the metabolic risk profile of lactating overweight or obese women at 8–12 weeks postpartum. Methods: During 2007–2009, 66 overweight or obese Swedish lactating women without known diseases underwent detailed measurements of their metabolic profiles, dietary intake and general health before entering a lifestyle intervention trial. Baseline measurements took place between 8–12 wk postpartum. Almost all women were exclusively breastfeeding their term infants. Results: The women were regarded as healthy, as reflected in the absence of diagnosed diseases, their own perceptions and in normal hemoglobin, albumin and fasting plasma glucose values. Four women were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. In these cases, underlying conditions included large waist circumference, low HDL cholesterol values, high triglyceride values and relatively high blood pressure. The metabolic profile differed between overweight and obese women; obese women had significantly higher levels of fasting insulin (p = 0.017), borderline higher HOMA values (p = 0.057) and significantly higher triglyceride values (p = 0.029), as well as larger waist and hip circumferences (p<0.001 and p<0.001). However, no significant differences between overweight and obese women were detected for LDL or total cholesterol levels. Overweight and obese women reported similar total energy and macronutrient intakes, but obese women tended to be less physically active (p = 0.081). Conclusions: Among generally healthy lactating women, obesity as compared to overweight is associated with increased metabolic risk. This cut-off is thus important also in the early postpartum period, and obesity among these women should warrant proper health investigation. Macronutrient intake did not differ between the groups and, hence, cannot explain these differences. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01343238 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To date little is known regarding how factors measured in adolescence predict sickness absence in adulthood, and whether different patterns of factors exist for women and men that could contribute to an explanation of adult gender differences in sickness absence. Methods: All pupils in the last year of compulsory school in the municipality of Luleå with complete information from surveys (questionnaires) in 1981 and 1983 (compulsory and upper-secondary schooling; 16 and 18 years of age, N=719) were followed with register data on medically certified sickness absence (1993-2007). Generalised linear models were applied to calculate Risk Ratios with 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) comparing annual mean numbers of sickness absence spells in exposed versus unexposed groups. Results: In the multivariate model, the following factors were found to be predictive of future sickness absence in women: participating in an upper secondary school program in 1983 dominated by women (> 60%): 1.41 (95% CI 1.00 - 1.97); sometimes sickness absence from school in 1981: 1.60 (95% CI 1.18 - 2.17) and low parental socioeconomic status in 1981: 2.20 (95% CI 1.44 - 3.38). In men, low school grades in 1981: 4.36 (95% CI 2.06 - 9.22) and fathers not in gainful employment in 1981: 2.36 (95% CI 1.53 - 3.66) were predictive. Conclusion: The findings suggest that sickness absence in adulthood is predicted by factors measured in adolescence. These predictors may differ for women and men. For women, early life absence and social environmental factors, for men low achievements at school and lack of employment of their father seem to be predictive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The herpes zoster burden of disease in Sweden is not well investigated. There is no Swedish immunization program to prevent varicella zoster virus infections. A vaccine against herpes zoster and its complications is now available. The aim of this study was to estimate the herpes zoster burden of disease and to establish a pre-vaccination baseline of the minimum incidence of herpes zoster. Methods Data were collected from the Swedish National Health Data Registers including the Patient Register, the Pharmacy Register, and the Cause of Death Register. The herpes zoster burden of disease in Sweden was estimated by analyzing the overall, and age and gender differences in the antiviral prescriptions, hospitalizations and complications during 2006-2010 and mortality during 2006-2009. Results Annually, 270 per 100,000 persons received antiviral treatment for herpes zoster, and the prescription rate increased with age. It was approximately 50 % higher in females than in males in the age 50+ population (rate ratio 1.39; 95% CI, 1.22 to 1.58). The overall hospitalization rate for herpes zoster was 6.9/100,000 with an approximately three-fold increase for patients over 80 years of age compared to the age 70-79 group. A gender difference in hospitalization rates was observed: 8.1/100,000 in females and 5.6/100,000 in males. Herpes zoster, with a registered complication, was found in about one third of the hospitalized patients and the most common complications involved the peripheral and central nervous systems. Death due to herpes zoster was a rare event. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate the significant burden of herpes zoster disease in the pre-zoster vaccination era. A strong correlation with age in the herpes zoster-related incidence, hospitalization, complications, and mortality rates was found. In addition, the study provides further evidence of the female predominance in herpes zoster disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate potential gender differences in the role of hypertension as a risk factor for metabolic syndrome (MetS) we used a random population sample of 50-year-old men (n=595) and women (n=667; all born in 1953) who were examined in 2003-2004. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure values were dichotomized at 140 mm Hg and 90 mm Hg, respectively. MetS was defined using NCEP (National Cholesterol Education Programme) and IDF (International Diabetes Federation) criteria. MetS was more prevalent in men than in women (NCEP 16% versus 10%, P=0.003; IDF 26% versus 16%, P=0.000) and systolic hypertension was more common in men than in women (high SBP 24% versus 18%, P=0.003; high DBP 29% versus 24%, P=0.074). Women with high SBP had about a seven-fold increased NCEP risk compared with normotensive women (odds ratio (OR) 6.91, confidence interval (CI) 2.90-16.42), whereas high SBP in men was associated with about a three-fold increased NCEP risk (OR 2.72, CI 1.69-4.38). A similar pattern was observed for the IDF criterion of MetS. All interaction terms (sex × hypertension) were significant at P<0.01. At middle age, despite that fewer women had hypertension or MetS than men, hypertension carries a relatively greater risk for MetS in women than in men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts from the 6th International Dermato-Epidemiology Association Congress in Malmö, Sweden on August 26-28, 2012 including skin cancer prevention, superior outcome of women having cutaneous melanoma, and the influence of air pollution on the prevalence of atopic dermatitis.

Abstract: Background and aims: Lower socioeconomic status (SES), based on economic situation, education and occupation, has been associated with greater morbidity and mortality in a wide range of diseases, and socioeconomic inequalities have been found in several chronic pain populations. Since women are overrepresented in several clinical pain conditions, there is a need to understand the influence of SES among women with pain. In a previous cross-sectional study, socioeconomic- and work conditions were associated with pain among women from the general population of Sweden. In the present study, based on baseline and follow-up measures from 2300 of the same sample, we examined associations between pain variables, socioeconomic status and work conditions over time by means of multiple logistic/linear regression analyses. Additionally, a possible mediating role of depressive symptoms on the relationship between SES and pain was examined. Methods: The study was a prospective panel survey with two measurements 12 months apart among 2300 women with and without pain from the general population in Stockholm (aged 18–64). Logistic and linear regression analyses were used to identify associations between SES and pain outcomes. Results: Results revealed that pain is a rather stable condition with large impact on daily functioning among many women. Certain SES variables (educational level, financial strain, occupational level) were related to pain and pain related disability prospectively. Financial strain and to be a blue-collar worker were related to the incidence of pain among all women, while educational level was related to worse pain outcomes among women with pain in terms of pain intensity, pain frequency, number of pain locations and pain-related disability. Symptoms of depression were associated with pain incidence and with pain variables (intensity, number of pain locations and pain-related disability) and with lower SES. Conclusions: Financial strain and occupational level were here identified as risk factors for the incidence of pain, and could be interpreted as increasing both physical and psychological stress and thereby work both as predisposing the individual to pain and to perpetuate the development of a pain condition. Educational level was associated with the course of pain in terms of pain duration and pain-related disability which may indicate that once affected by pain, lower educational level may be related to less functional coping strategies in the adaptation to the pain condition. Depressive symptoms could be understood as a mediator of the relationship between SES and pain among women in terms of limiting the individual''s strategies to handle pain in a functional manner by increasing passive behavior patterns such as avoidance. Implications: The interplay between SES and symptoms of depression should be regarded in preventive interventions and in treatment of pain among women. An overall risk-profile in terms of psychosocial and biological factors needs to be assessed early on within pain treatment for women. Increased knowledge of socioeconomic risk factors for long term pain, e.g. low educational level, is needed on all levels among all professionals within the healthcare system in order to facilitate effective communication in the treatment of women with pain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: To identify/quantify predictors of QOL among women with pain over time. Methods: The study comprised 2,300 women aged 18-64 years with and without pain. A longitudinal panel survey with two waves of measurement, 1 year apart, by means of questionnaires was used. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to identify and quantify predictors of QOL. Results: After controlling for socio-demographics, physical health, and baseline pain parameters, QOL, psychological factors, and pain-related disability at base line, as well as their changer scores, predicted differential aspects of social, psychological, and physical QOL, respectively, over time. Aspects of social support were central for the social dimension of QOL and to a lower degree for the psychological dimension. Change scores of burnout and distress were related to all dimensions of QOL. Conclusions: QOL seems to be a rather stable characteristic influenced not only by pain but also related to psychosocial factors over time. Addressing such factors seems central in treatment interventions aiming at improving QOL among individuals with pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The reported incidence rates of vestibular schwannomas (VS) vary substantially, but it is unclear as to what extent the variation reflects differences in risk or recording practices. Our aim was to describe the incidence rates of VS in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden between 1987 and 2007.Methods: Comprehensive data were available from all registries only for the period from 1987 to 2007. An analysis of a longer time period (1965-2007) was conducted with the Norwegian and Swedish data.Results: The average age-standardised incidence rates during 1987-2007 varied from 6.1 per 1,000,000 person-years (95% confidence interval (CI), 5.4-6.7) among Finnish men to 11.6 (95% CI, 10.4-12.7) in Danish men, and from 6.4 per 1,000,000 person-years (95% CI, 5.7-7.0) among Swedish women to 11.6 (95% CI, 10.5-12.8) among Danish women. An overall annual increase of 3.0% (95% CI 2.1-3.9) was observed when all countries and both sexes were combined, with considerable differences between countries. However, the practices of both reporting and coding VS cases varied markedly between countries and over time, which poses a challenge for interpretation of the results.Conclusion: The overall incidence of VS increased in all the four Nordic countries combined between 1987 and 2007, with marked differences between countries. However, the incidence rates more or less stabilised in the late 1990s, showing relatively constant incidence rates and even some decline after 2000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To locate preoperatively continent women with pelvic organ prolapse at risk of developing incontinence after surgery by means of reducing the prolapse preoperatively with a speculum and a pessary. Design. Prospective observational cohort study. Setting. Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northern Alvborgs County Hospital, Varbergs Hospital, and Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden, between 2000 and 2004. Population. Patients scheduled for anterior wall repair with no history of incontinence. Methods. Data were collected using a questionnaire, a voiding diary, a gynecological examination including staging of prolapse with the Pelvic Organ Quantification System and clinical testing preoperatively and one year after vaginal repair. The first test included a cough test while the prolapse was reduced with a speculum. The second test was performed with the patient undergoing a standardized quantification test and a 48-hour pad test after reducing the prolapse with a pessary. Postoperatively, clinical testing was repeated one year after surgery without any device in place. Main Outcome Measures. Reported symptoms of leakage during movement or coughing. Results. Seventy-four patients were included. Before surgery, six (8.1%) women tested positive during the speculum test and seven (9.5%) during the pessary test. Eight women (10.8%) were found to have subjective urinary stress incontinence after 1 year. This was only confirmed in four women during stress testing. The positive predictive values for subjective stress incontinence of the speculum and the pessary tests were 42.9% (95%CI 12.0-76.9) and 33.3% (95%CI −4.4 to +71.5), respectively. The negative predictive values of the tests were 92.5% (95%CI 90.3-1.00) and 91.1% (95%CI 88.5-99.7). Conclusions. The tested preoperative methods predicting de novo subjective stress incontinence after anterior wall repair did not show sufficient positive predictive values to be clinically useful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Relatively few studies published to date have investigated IVF and cancer risk. In this study we compared the occurrence of cancer in women who gave birth after IVF with all other women who gave birth in the study period. METHODS All women who were treated with IVF and gave birth during the years 1982–2006 in Sweden were identified from all IVF clinics, and the occurrence of cancer in these women was identified by linkage with the nationwide Swedish cancer register. Comparison was made with Mantel–Haenszel odds ratios (ORs), adjusting for year of delivery and maternal age, parity and smoking. Cancer before IVF was only studied in first parity women. Specific cancer forms were also studied. RESULTS Among 24058 women who had been treated with IVF, 1279 appeared in the cancer register. The total number of women studied in the population was 1 394 061, and 95 775 of these were registered in the cancer register. The risk for cancer before IVF was increased [OR 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27–1.48] and was especially high for ovarian cancer (3.93). The risk for cancer after IVF was significantly lower (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.67–0.82), mainly due to a lower than expected risk for breast and cervical cancer. The risk for ovarian cancer was increased but lower than the risk before IVF (2.13). CONCLUSIONS Cancer or cancer treatment may increase the risk for infertility leading to IVF. After IVF, in most cases with treatment with fertility hormones, a significantly low cancer risk was found. Ovarian cancer showed an increased risk, although lower than before IVF. One possible reason is ovarian pathology causing both infertility and an increased cancer risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To examine whether the perceived poor outcome of dietary treatment makes Swedish women with coeliac disease (CD) prone to use more health care services than other women. Material and methods. The health care consumption over 36 consecutive months was examined for 137 Swedish women aged 20-80 years with CD in remission after living on a gluten-free diet for a median of 4 years (range 1-8 years). Comparisons were made with the health care consumption of 411 women in the general population matched for age and residence. Results. The results show that women with CD use health care services annually a median of 5.0 times (range 0-76) that is more than female controls 3.6 (0-311) (p < 0.05) mainly in primary care and for complaints related to mental and behavioral disorders (ICD F), diseases of the digestive system (ICD K) and diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (ICD M). Conclusions. Women with CD used health care services in keeping with studies indicating reduced health-related quality of life of people with this condition. The results provide evidence that women with CD in remission suffer from co-morbidities that may signal a need for a multidisciplinary follow-up of subjects with CD in Sweden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

im: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological movement disorder with a female preponderance, an increasing prevalence with age and comorbidity. Previous studies on the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and RLS are still sparse but knowledge is increasing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the unique impact of RLS on HRQOL in a population-based sample. Methods: A random sample of 5000 women aged 25-64 years was selected from the general Swedish population. The women were sent diagnostic questions on RLS together with the Short Form 12 (SF-12) questionnaire for assessment of physical and mental HRQOL. The unique burden of RLS on HRQOL was analyzed by excluding RLS-positive women from four self-reported diagnostic groups (diabetes, depression, heart problems, muscle and joint pain) and by excluding subjects with these diagnoses from the group of RLS-positive women. Results: Compared with mental SF-12 scores for the RLS-negative women in our population, mental HRQOL of the RLS sample in our study was lower in every age group but not significantly lower in the age group 35-44 years. Physical SF-12 scores for RLS-positive women were also below scores for RLS-negative women in every age group but significance was only found in women between 45 and 54 years. A unique burden of RLS on HRQOL remained after statistical adjustment for comorbidities. Conclusion: RLS-positive women had an impaired mental HRQOL compared to RLS-negative women in the studied population. The physical aspects of HRQOL were less affected among RLS-positive women. The impaired well-being among women with RLS further strengthens the importance of identifying women with this condition and evaluating their need for medication or other actions in order to improve their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the dominant diagnosis in in-patient care in Sweden and the third most common cause for long-term sick leave and disability pension. Women are higher consumers of health care than men and have higher frequencies of sickness absenteeism. The aim of this paper was to evaluate whether a five-year long rehabilitation programme for women with CVD affected the use of hospital care and sickness absenteeism. Methods: 130 women below 65 years of age with CVD were randomized to either intervention (n = 69, mean age 52.4 years) with an intensive lifestyle programme (e.g. physical exercise, smoking cessation, dietary advice), including stress management or to standard care (n = 61, mean age 54.3 years). All patients went through baseline medical examinations, including self-administered questionnaires. This procedure was repeated yearly during the rehabilitation period. The frequency of cardiac-related healthcare use was followed via official registers. Results: Emergency visits and number of in-patient days decreased significantly in the intervention group from year one to year five (p<0.05) but remained unchanged in the control group. Scheduled doctor visits decreased significantly in both groups. There were no significant differences between groups regarding proportion of women on sick leave after one, three and five years. Conclusions: This extensive intervention programme reduced visits at emergency wards and numbers of in-patient days, which in the long run may have beneficial effects on public finances and the patient’s quality of life. The study confirmed previous findings from interventions showing difficulties in influencing sick-leave rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the association between renal dysfunction and long-term prognosis among middle-aged women surviving an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: The Stockholm Female Coronary Risk Study included 291 women <66 years of age, hospitalized for an ACS during the years 1991–1994 in the greater Stockholm area. All patients underwent clinical screening for cardiovascular prognostic factors, including blood samples 3 to 6 months after the event. Creatinine clearance (CCr) was calculated using the Cockcroft-Gaults formula and related to adverse outcome. Hazard ratios (HR) for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, respectively, in each tertile of CCr, were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: There were 40 deaths, including 23 from cardiovascular causes, during a median follow-up of 9 years. The unadjusted HRs for all-cause mortality for the 1st (CCr < 78 mL/min) and 2nd (CCr 78–96 mL/min) tertiles of CCr were 3.17 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34-7.45) and 1.76 (95% CI 0.69-4.48), respectively, compared with the 3rd (CCr > 96 mL/min) tertile. The corresponding HRs for cardiovascular mortality were 3.66 (95% CI 1.20-11.1) and 1.28 (95% CI 0.34-4.76). After multivariable adjustment for potential confounders, the association between all-cause mortality and CCr in the 1st compared with the 3rd tertile remained statistically significant (HR 4.37, 95% CI 1.39-13.7). Conclusions: Renal dysfunction is related to long-term mortality in middle-aged women hospitalized for ACS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Low levels of IGF-binding protein 1 (IGFBP1) are associated with metabolic syndrome and predict diabetes development in men. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of IGFBP1 in women who later develop diabetes, in relation to abdominal obesity, and to compare these levels with those of men. METHODS: IGFBP1 levels were determined at baseline and after 8 years in a case–control, prospective study of Swedish women aged 35–56 years. Individuals with normal oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) who developed abnormal glucose regulation (n=240) were pair matched to controls for age and family history of diabetes and also compared to men of the same age (n=355). RESULTS: Low fasting IGFBP1 and increased waist measurement predicted development of diabetes in women (n=60; odds ratio (OR) 70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 8–661, lowest tertile and OR 27, 95% CI 5–141, highest tertile). In women developing diabetes, baseline IGFBP1 levels were lower than expected for fasting insulin values, were associated with impaired suppression after OGTT and increased during 8 years despite an increase in fasting insulin. All individuals in the highest tertile for waist and with ≤40% suppression of IGFBP1 developed diabetes within 8 years. Circulating IGFBP1 concentrations were higher in women compared to men. Women and men who developed diabetes had a similar degree of abdominal obesity, corrected for height. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that low IGFBP1 and elevated waist measurement predict diabetes development and that IGFBP1 production is suppressed by a novel factor(s) in women developing diabetes. Increasing levels of IGFBP1 during the emergence of diabetes in men and women suggest the emergence of hepatic insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors examined the association between the metabolic syndrome and risk of incident endometrial and fatal uterine corpus cancer within a large prospective cohort study. Approximately 290,000 women from Austria, Norway, and Sweden were enrolled during 1974–2005, with measurements of height, weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and circulating levels of glucose, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. Relative risks were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression. The metabolic syndrome was assessed as a composite z score, as the standardized sum of z scores for body mass index, blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides. A total of 917 endometrial carcinomas and 129 fatal cancers were identified. Increased risks of incident endometrial carcinoma and fatal uterine corpus cancer were seen for the metabolic syndrome factors combined, as well as for individual factors (except for cholesterol). The relative risk of endometrial carcinoma for the metabolic syndrome was 1.37 (95% confidence interval: 1.28, 1.46) per 1-unit increment of z score. The positive associations between metabolic syndrome factors (both individually and combined) and endometrial carcinoma were confined to the heaviest women. The association between the metabolic syndrome and endometrial carcinoma risk seems to go beyond the risk conferred by obesity alone, particularly in women with a high body mass index. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background. Little is known about the association of eating disorder subtypes across multiple categories of substance use in population-based samples. We examined the association between eating disorders and substance use in a large population-based sample. Method. Female participants (n=13 297) were from the Swedish Twin Registry [Lichtenstein et al., Twin Research and Human Genetics (2006) 9, 875-882]. Substance use was examined in four defined groups - (1) anorexia nervosa (AN); (2) bulimia nervosa (BN); (3) AN and BN (ANBN); and (4) binge eating disorder (BED) as well as a referent group without eating disorder (no ED). Secondary analyses examined differences between restricting AN (RAN) and binge and/or purge AN (ANBP). Results. In general, eating disorders were associated with greater substance use relative to the referent. The AN group had significantly increased odds for all illicit drugs. Significant differences emerged across the RAN and ANBP groups for alcohol abuse/dependence, diet pills, stimulants, and polysubstance use with greater use in the ANBP group. Across eating disorder groups, (1) the BN and ANBN groups were more likely to report alcohol abuse/dependence relative to the AN group, (2) the ANBN group was more likely to report diet pill use relative to the AN, BN and BED groups, and (3) the BN group was more likely to report diet pill use relative to the no ED, AN and BED groups. Conclusions. Eating disorders are associated with a range of substance use behaviors. Improved understanding of how they mutually influence risk could enhance understanding of etiology and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Despite venous thromboembolism (VTE) being a major cause of morbidity and mortality, there is still limited information on its prevalence and incidence in the general population. Objective: To evaluate risk factors, distribution and epidemiology of VTE in the Malmö area with 280 000 inhabitants. Methods: Patients diagnosed with VTE at Malmö University Hospital in 1998–2006 were invited to a prospective population-based study. Blood sampling and a questionnaire study could be performed in 70% of patients. Remaining 30% were excluded due to language problems, dementia, other severe disease, or unwillingness to participate. Results: During 1998–2006 1140 VTE patients (559 men [49%, age 62±16 years] and 581 women [51%, age 61±20 years]) were included. Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) occurred in 882 (77%), pulmonary embolism (PE) in 330 (29%), and both DVT and PE in 72 (6%). The most common acquired risk factors among VTE patients were hormone therapy (24% of female DVT patients and 19% of female PE patients), immobilisation (17% of DVT patients and 18% of PE patients), previous surgery (13% of DVT patients and 19% of PE patients), and concomitant malignant disease (12% of DVT patients and 11% of PE patients). A positive family history for VTE was obtained from 25% of DVT patients and 22% of PE patients. Yearly incidences of VTE, DVT and PE in Malmö were 66, 51, and 19/100.000, respectively. Conclusion: Hormone therapy, immobilisation, previous surgery and concomitant malignancy were the most common acquired risk factors among VTE patients in this population-based study. The VTE-incidence was lower than in earlier epidemiological studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

CONTEXT: Craniopharyngioma patients without GH therapy are at an increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and particularly concerning women. No previous study on long-term GH therapy in adults with childhood onset (CO) craniopharyngioma was identified. OBJECTIVE: To investigate CVD risk in adults with CO craniopharyngioma on complete hormone replacement, including long-term GH therapy, and to investigate the impact of disease-related factors on CVD risk. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: In a cross-sectional study of operated CO craniopharyngiomas (1958–2000) from a defined area of Sweden (2.5 million), we enrolled 42 patients (20 women) with a median age of 28 years (range 17–57) and assessed CVD risk of 20 (4–40) years after first operation. Comparisons were made with matched controls and between patients with tumor growth into the third ventricle (TGTV) versus non-TGTV. GH therapy was 10–12 years in women and men. RESULTS: In comparison with controls, both male and female patients had increased body mass index, fat mass, insulin, and leptin levels. Overall, while not significantly increased in male patients, 55–60% of female patients had a medium–high CVD risk, compared with 10–20% in controls. An increased CVD risk (all P<0.05) and higher levels of fat mass and insulin were recorded in the TGTV group versus the non-TGTV group. Late puberty induction and lack of androgens were shown in female patients. CONCLUSIONS: Adult patients with CO craniopharyngioma, especially those with TGTV, have persistently increased CVD risk. Conventional hormone substitution, including GH, is insufficient to normalize CVD risk, suggesting an important role for irreversible hypothalamic dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts on oral nursing program which include the practical skills of cardiovascular nurses and allied professions in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in Europe by Asa Axelsson and colleagues, training programmes for CPR in Sweden and their clinical consequences by Anneli Strömsöe and colleagues, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in women with coronary artery disease by Hallveig Broddadóttir and colleagues.

The article presents a study which examined the association between consistent compliance to Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and lower incidence of heart failure (HF) in 36, 019 women aged between 48 and 83 years old in Sweden. Food intake of DASH diet components were scored based on recommended food and nutritional guidelines, and the rate of HF-associated hospitalization or mortality were measured with the use of Cox proportional hazard models. Results showed that there were 443 women who developed HF, but adjustments for age, physical activity, and health status identified a 37% lower incidence of HF. It concludes that diets that comply with the DASH diet are associated to lower rate of HF.

Abstract: Background: Female urinary incontinence (UI), overactive bladder (OAB), and other lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are highly prevalent conditions with a profound influence on well-being and quality of life. There are a few studies describing progression as well as remission, in the short term, of UI in the general population as well as in selected groups; at present, there are very few population-based studies describing the natural course of other LUTS in the same women, and there are no long-term longitudinal studies. Objective: To describe the prevalence of UI, OAB, and other LUTS in the same women studied prospectively over time and, thus, to assess possible progression or regression. Design, setting, and participants: A longitudinal population-based study was performed in one primary health care district in the city of Gothenburg, Sweden. The participants were a sample of women aged ≥20 yr who were randomly selected from the Swedish National Population Register, assessed in 1991 (n =2911), and available for reassessment in 2007 (n =1408). Methods: A self-administered postal questionnaire regarding UI, OAB, and other LUTS was returned by 77% of the contacted women in 1991. The same women who responded in 1991 and who were still alive and available in the Swedish National Population Register 16 yr later were reassessed using a similar self-administered postal questionnaire. Results and limitations: In 2007, 1081 of the available 1408 women responded to the questionnaire (77%). The overall prevalence of UI, OAB, nocturia, and daytime micturition frequency of eight or more times per day increased by 13%, 9%, 20% (p <0.001), and 3% (p <0.05), respectively, from 1991 to 2007. The incidence of UI and OAB were 21% and 20%, respectively, and the corresponding remission rates were 34% and 43%, respectively. Women with OAB symptoms were classified as OAB dry or OAB wet, depending on the presence or absence of concomitant UI. The prevalence of OAB dry did not differ between the two assessment occasions (11% and 10%, respectively), but the prevalence of OAB wet increased from 6% to 16% (p <0.001). Conclusions: UI and other LUTS constitute dynamic conditions. In this study, there was a marked overall increase in the prevalence of UI, OAB, and nocturia in the same women from 1991 to 2007. Both incidence and remission of most symptoms were considerable. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aim: To examine the effect of hospitalization during adolescence on the likelihood of giving birth. Methods: 142 998 women born in 1973–75 were followed with the help of the Swedish Medical Birth Register (MBR) and the Swedish Total Population Register (TPR) up until the end of 2000 with respect to their likelihood of giving birth. All analyses were adjusted for parental socio-economic characteristics and factors related to the studied women's own birth. Results: The likelihood of giving birth between 20 and 27 years of age was positively affected by hospitalization at least once during adolescence according to the Swedish Hospital Discharge Register (HDR); adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 1.32, 95% confidence interval: 1.29–1.35. Women hospitalized due to genitourinary diseases, respiratory diseases, abdominal problems and abuse of alcohol and drugs were more likely to have given birth during the study period, while hospitalizations according to cerebral palsy and congenital malformations tended to decrease childbearing. Women hospitalized due to psychiatric diseases had an increase likelihood of given birth at 20–24 years but a reduced thereafter. Conclusion: A majority of the causes of hospitalization during adolescence increased the likelihood of giving birth between ages 20 to 27. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To identify predictors of self-reported psychological and somatic symptoms in a multiethnic primary health care sample in a multivariate analysis. Methods The study was performed in 1,055 out of 1,442 consecutive adult patients visiting a Swedish health care centre. Logistic regression analyses were applied to assess the relationships between symptoms and the explanatory variables. Results Self-reported psychological and somatic symptoms were common among all groups. The country of birth is significantly and independently related to all self-reported symptom categories except gastrointestinal. Furthermore, female gender and poor perceived health were both strong predictors of all self-reported symptom categories irrespective of other confounders. Conclusion Respondents born in other European countries, in Turkey and the former Yugoslavia had high odds for depression, tension and musculoskeletal symptoms. In addition to that, being born outside Sweden was strongly related to musculoskeletal symptoms. Female gender and poor perceived health were related to all self-reported psychological and somatic symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Environmental and genetic factors influence thyrotoxicosis, but how population migration affects the disease panorama is not known. In an urban area in southern Sweden, during the years 1990 until 2003, the population increased from 232 000 to 267 000. In parallel, the proportion of inhabitants born outside Sweden increased. The aim was to investigate whether the incidence of Graves' thyrotoxicosis (GD), toxic multinodular goiter (TMNG), and solitary toxic adenoma (STA) has changed in Malmö since 1990 and to study the influence of geographic origin. DESIGN AND METHOD: An open label prospective registration of thyrotoxicosis, gender, age, smoking habits, and ethnic background during 2003–2005 in an urban area in southern Sweden (Malmö) was undertaken. RESULTS: The total incidence of thyrotoxicosis has changed from 43 to 41.6 cases/100 000/year from the years 1988–1990 to 2003–2005 (p-value 0.72). GD increased from 22 to 29.6 (p-value 0.0051), TMNG decreased from 16 to 9.9 (p-value 0.0011) and STA from 4.8 to 2.1 (p-value 0.0054)/100 000/year. The total incidence of GD was higher in inhabitants born outside Sweden up to the age of 69 years and age-specific incidence showed a peak in women aged 50–59 years old in both groups. The greatest difference between immigrants and Swedes up to the age of 69 years was observed in women aged 20–29 years old. CONCLUSION: The incidence of GD has increased and of TMNG has decreased in Malmö since 1990. Geographic origin seems to affect the incidence of GD. Whether the observed peak in age-related incidence in women 50–59 years is explained by menopausal changes has to be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the association between country of birth and hospitalization for pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ectopic pregnancy (EP), endometriosis, and infertility. Design: Follow-up study. Setting: Sweden. Participant(s): A total of 2,170,177 women living in Sweden at some point between 1990 and 2004, categorized into 10 different groups according to country of birth. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Hospitalization for PID, EP, endometriosis, and infertility. Results: For PID and infertility, all groups of foreign-born women exhibited significantly increased risks compared with Swedish-born women. The highest risks of PID were found among women from southern Europe, Eritrea/Ethiopia/Somalia, and other African countries, whereas the highest risks of infertility were found among women from Middle Eastern countries, other Asian countries, and other African countries. Compared with PID and infertility, country of birth was less associated with endometriosis and EP, although some differences were found. All relative risks were adjusted for age, time period, and the women''s socioeconomic status. Conclusion(s): Even in a country like Sweden, which offers publicly financed treatment for infertility, differences based on country of birth exist. Although data on partners'' income were not available to us, it is possible that other factors besides socioeconomic factors are present in the etiology of female health problems related to infertility. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Research has focused more on symptoms, risk factors and treatment, than on individuals’ experiences of illness and recovery after myocardial infarction (MI). Therefore, the aim of the study was to describe the experiences of present everyday life of women and men 4–6 months after MI and their expectations for the future. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 women and 19 men from January 2000 to November 2001. Data were analysed with content analysis. Two themes, ‘Managing consequences of MI’ and ‘Finding a meaning in what had happened’, were generated. The first theme reveals that many of the patients had not established a stable health condition, even if symptoms and emotional distress had diminished over time. They had to manage health problems, lifestyle modifications, emotional reactions and changes in social life. The support from their social network encouraged them to move on. The second theme shows that patients also found positive consequences of what they had gone through, new life values and hopes in the future. The conclusions were that most of the patients moved on and began to regain a balance in everyday life, but some patients still struggled hard to find this balance. Those patients experienced large difficulties with managing their everyday life and felt a lack of support from their social network. Health professionals can be an important resource in helping patients in their adaptation to changes if they are more sensitive to patients’ needs of support both in a short- and long-term perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assessed the cost-effectiveness of the treatment of high risk women with osteoporosis, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia in Sweden, using one model and a societal perspective. Cost-effective scenarios were found in all these chronic disorders. These findings are of relevance for decisions on the efficient allocation of health care resources. There is a need to assess the cost-effectiveness (CE) of treatment of osteoporosis from a societal perspective and to relate this to the CE of interventions in other disease areas. This is of relevance for decisions on the efficient allocation of health care resources within and between disease areas. The purpose of the paper was to estimate the CE of the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis and to put that into the perspective of treating hypertension and hyperlipidaemia. The CE was assessed for different high risk female populations aged 50–80 years. The estimation of CE was based on a model populated with data for Sweden. Compared to no intervention, a 5-year treatment of osteoporosis, hypertension, and hyperlipidaemia, is cost effective for most of the assessed high risk female populations. The cost per gained quality adjusted life year (QALY) for the treatment of a 70-year-old woman never exceeded SEK 330,000 (US$ 44,000), which is generally judged as an acceptable cost for a gained QALY. The study demonstrates that it is possible to produce reliable estimates of the CE of treatments in different disease areas within the context of a single model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This population study based on a representative sample from a Swedish county I nvestigates the prevalence, duration, and determinants of widespread pain (WSP) in the population using two constructs and estimates how WSP affects work status. In addition, this study investigates the prevalence of widespread pain and its relationship to pain intensity, gender, age, income, work status, citizenship, civil status, urban residence, and health care seeking. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a postal questionnaire was sent to a representative sample (n = 9952) of the target population (284,073 people, 18-74 years) in a county (Östergötland) in the southern Sweden. The questionnaire was mailed and followed by two postal reminders when necessary. Results: The participation rate was 76.7% (n = 7637); the non-participants were on the average younger, earned less money, and male. Women had higher prevalences of pain in 10 different predetermined anatomical regions. WSP was generally chronic (90-94%) and depending on definition of WSP the prevalence varied between 4.8-7.4% in the population. Women had significantly higher prevalence of WSP than men and the age effect appeared to be stronger in women than in men. WSP was a significant negative factor -- together with age 50-64 years, low annual income, and non-Nordic citizen -- for work status in the community and in the group with chronic pain. Chronic pain but not the spreading of pain was related to health care seeking in the population. Conclusion: This study confirms earlier studies that report high prevalences of widespread pain in the population and especially among females and with increasing age. Widespread pain is associated with prominent effects on work status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Because occupational classification systems tend to be less precise in the female sector of the working market there has been concern that this might imply more misclassification of socioeconomic position among women, biasing comparisons of gender-specific socioeconomic differences in risk. Methods: The Stockholm Heart Epidemiology Program (SHEEP) is a population-based case-control study of risk factors for incident myocardial infarction. The study base included all Swedish citizens aged 45–70 in Stockholm County during 1992–94, 550 female and 1201 male cases, and 776 female and 1538 male controls. The use of an occupational classification as the base for categorizing socioeconomic position was compared with socioeconomic position based on detailed self-reported information on job titles and work tasks. Results: Women are categorized into fewer occupational categories than men and the socioeconomic heterogeneity within occupational categories is substantial for women as has been reported by others. However, despite more occupational categories for male types of jobs the socioeconomic heterogeneity within occupational categories is actually larger for men, implying larger misclassification among men. In simulations with different levels of socioeconomic misclassification among women, the effects on the gender comparison of socioeconomic differences in disease risk were small and they were mostly compensated for by less misclassification among men. Conclusions: The findings do not support the assumption that misclassification of socioeconomic position among women due to a restricted working market and a crude occupational classification for female jobs is an important issue when comparing measures of socioeconomic inequalities in health between men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immigrants in general seem to be more vulnerable than the host populations to developing nutrition-related chronic conditions. This may be in part related to diverging dietary habits.Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the nutrient intake and its relationship to metabolic variables among immigrant versus native Swedish women.Design: A cross-sectional health survey of 157 randomly selected foreign-born and native Swedish women. This included 24 h dietary recall repeated four times and administered in the native language.Results: Underreporting was significant, especially among immigrant women. There were no major differences in terms of energy distribution of the macronutrients between very low energy reporters and acceptable energy reporters, indicating that the dietary data reflected the qualitative composition in spite of the underreporting of energy intake. Immigrant women consumed less alcohol and obtained a lower proportion of their energy from saturated fatty acids, but a higher proportion from polyunsaturated fatty acids, sucrose and total carbohydrates. Associations between dietary variables and metabolic risk factors were relatively weak.Conclusions: Underreporting might have attenuated possible associations between diet and risk factors. The study illustrates specific problems in the dietary assessment and the need to develop valid techniques when studying groups of people of diverging ethnic backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective . The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and co-morbidity of long-standing, intense, and frequent symptoms of pain and dysfunction in the jaw-face, head, and cervical region among adult females drawn from the Sami population in northern Sweden. Methods . A total of 487 females, taken from the register of the Swedish Sami Parliament or registered as reindeer owners or reindeer herders in the Swedish Board of Agriculture and living in the Arctic region of northern Sweden, participated in a questionnaire study. Results . The prevalence of pain and/or dysfunction in the jaw-face region was 32%, of headaches 61%, and of pain in the cervical region 56%. When the criterion of frequent symptoms (once a week or more often) was used, prevalence dropped to 17%, 19%, and 30%, respectively, and when that of intense symptoms, defined as 5 or more on an 11-point numerical rating scale, was added, prevalence dropped further to 8%, 11%, and 20%, respectively. The majority reported long-standing symptoms (67–98% depending on symptom). A high statistically significant relationship was found between frequent symptoms of pain and/or dysfunction in the jaw-face, frequent headaches, and frequent cervical pain ( p [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary patterns reflecting food habits may be associated with chronic diseases, yet little is known about the stability of these patterns. The objective of this study was to observe over time the stability of dietary patterns measured with exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Four random subsamples of 1000 women between 49 and 70 y old were chosen from >60,000 women included in the Swedish Mammography Cohort. Subjects in these subsamples were administered a FFQ 4, 5, 6, or 7 y after the baseline questionnaire; 3607 of the women responded (90% response rate). The stability of dietary patterns was evaluated with Spearman correlation coefficients between pattern scores at baseline and follow-ups and by a test of internal stability, which evaluated the significance of changes within patterns between baseline and follow-up. We found 3 major dietary patterns: a healthy pattern, a Western pattern, and an alcohol pattern. Correlations between explored dietary pattern scores at baseline and at follow-up decreased from 0.59 (P < 0.01) after 4 y to 0.50 (P < 0.01) after 7 y for the healthy pattern, from 0.47 (P < 0.01) to 0.39 (P < 0.01) for the Western pattern and from 0.54 (P < 0.01) to 0.46 (P < 0.01) for the alcohol pattern. After 4 and 5 y, there was no evidence for internal instability in any of the 3 patterns. The Western pattern became internally unstable after 6 and 7 y and the alcohol pattern was unstable after 7 y. Our findings for this specific population suggest that in longitudinal studies, dietary exposures should be updated after at least 7 y. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE-- The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in middle-aged women and to examine the variability and practical use of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in the screening for IGT and diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-- All 64-year-old women living in Göteborg, Sweden, were invited to take part in a screening examination (n = 4,856). Of these, 82% (n = 3,998) responded and 53% (n = 2,595) participated and underwent anthropometric measurements and a 75-g standardized OGTT that was repeated within 2 weeks in those not showing normal glucose tolerance (NGT). RESULTS -- The prevalences of known and new diabetes, IGT at both OGTTs, and impaired fasting glucose were 4.7, 4.8, 14.4, and 6.4%, respectively. Half of the women with diabetes were previously undiagnosed, and 37% of the diagnoses were based on OGTT and diabetes 2-h values at both or one of the two examinations. Women with IGT at both OGTTs, in comparison with those with one impaired and one normal OGTT, had higher BMI, waist girth, and blood pressure. More than 40% of the women showed impaired glucose metabolism. CONCLUSIONS-- Among these women, the prevalence of undetected diabetes was high and repeated OGTTs were needed to identify and not misclassify a considerable proportion of patients. The degree of glucose tolerance impairment and the number of abnormal OGTTs were directly associated with occurrence of components of the metabolic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackground: Although both depressive symptoms and social isolation in relation to coronary heart disease have been studied previously, few have examined their joint effects on coronary atherosclerosis progression in women. Method: Among the women enrolled in the Stockholm Female Coronary Angiography Study, Sweden, between 1991 and 1994, 102 were evaluated for coronary atherosclerosis progression using a computer-assisted standardized assessment, repeated quantitative coronary angiographic documentation, of the mean luminal diameter change over 3 years in 10 predefined coronary segments. Depressive symptoms and social isolation were assessed by standard questionnaires. Results: Multivariable controlled mixed model ANOVAs revealed that women who were both depressed and socially isolated had the greatest disease progression: their absolute mean luminal diameter decreased by 0.18 mm [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.11–0.24] and their percent narrowing was 5.5% (95% CI = 3.6–7.4), whereas in women who lacked both psychological risk factors, the mean luminal diameter decrease was 0.04 mm and their percent narrowing was 0.9%. These associations were independent of the baseline luminal diameter and standard risk factors, including age, smoking history, hypertension, and high-density lipoproteins. Conclusions:In women with coronary disease, depressive symptoms and social isolation in combination accelerated disease progression, suggesting a direct psychosocial effect on the atherosclerotic process. These findings provide an additional opportunity for therapeutic and preventive efforts against progression of coronary disease in women.Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores restructuring of illness meaning among eight Swedish-born female patients, assessed as somatizing, encountering caregivers imposing a “psychological language” of distress. Data were collected 1997–2001 from 32 interviews and analysed with a Grounded Theory approach. Two major trends were identified in the participants’ process of restructuring illness meaning: first, a trend of accepting a “psychological language” of understanding distress and then of paying attention to stress and demanding work conditions. The term “burnout” was introduced. For participants, giving meaning to illness had been a continuous and interactive process in which new meanings had been integrated within a framework of both constancy and change. Restructuring illness meaning had not been uncomplicated. Participants tried to bridge illness perspectives and treatment strategies within their daily life situations of handling distress. The social context had been important for bridging gaps in illness perspectives and in creating coherence between frames of meanings. The results support the view that Antonovsky's concept of Sense of Coherence (SOC) may have relevance when considering the process of restructuring illness meaning, and that constructing coherence between experience, expression, past and new meanings given to illness, may be significant for patients’ recovery. The results stress the importance of research exploring the interaction between individuals and social and cultural groups in multicultural milieus in order to obtain insights as to how people make sense of their clinical encounter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present, cross-sectional study explored whether self-reported symptoms are related to physiological stress indicators in a group of 43-year-old women representing the general population in Sweden. Analyses were performed both on raw scores of physiological indicators and on a multisystem summary index of allostatic load as a measure of cumulative biological burden. Participants answered a health questionnaire and underwent a medical examination including blood pressure, heart rate measurements, determination of blood lipids and stress hormones. Urinary epinephrine and norepinephrine were measured both on a working day and a work free day at home. In addition, salivary morning cortisol was measured on a non-work day. The physiological profiles based on raw scores from 222 women showed that women with a high symptom load had significantly higher levels of cortisol (p < 0.05), and higher heart rate (p < 0.05) than did those with a low symptom load. In contrast, women with a low symptom load had significantly higher levels of epinephrine on a work free day than did women with a high symptom load (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in norepinephrine responses. When analysing the summary measure of allostatic load in relation to symptom prevalence no significant difference between the symptom groups emerged. One possible explanation for this result could be that a majority of the study population was healthy, reporting a low level of symptoms in general. However, the results support the notion that common, medically unexplained symptoms among women are associated with certain biological parameters known to play a role in the development of ill health. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective We sought to analyse how much of the total burden of disease in Sweden, measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), is a result of inequalities in health between socioeconomic groups. We also sought to determine how this unequal burden is distributed across different disease groups and socioeconomic groups. Methods Our analysis used data from the Swedish Burden of Disease Study. We studied all Swedish men and women in three age groups (15-44, 45-64, 65-84) and five major socioeconomic groups. The 18 disease and injury groups that contributed to 65% of the total burden of disease were analysed using attributable fractions and the slope index of inequality and the relative index of inequality. Findings About 30% of the burden of disease among women and 37% of the burden among men is a differential burden resulting from socioeconomic inequalities in health. A large part of this unequally distributed burden falls on unskilled manual workers. The largest contributors to inequalities in health for women are ischaemic heart disease, depression and neurosis, and stroke. For men, the largest contributors are ischaemic heart disease, alcohol addiction and self-inflicted injuries. Conclusion This is the first study to use socioeconomic differences, measured by socioeconomic position, to assess the burden of disease using DALYs. We found that in Sweden one-third of the burden of the diseases we studied is unequally distributed. Studies of socioeconomic inequalities in the burden of disease that take both mortality and morbidity into account can help policy-makers understand the magnitude of inequalities in health for different disease groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to quantify the global burden of osteoporosis as judged by hip fracture and the burden in different socio-economic regions of the world. The population mortality in 1990 and the incidence of hip fracture in different regions were identified, where possible in 1990. Excess mortality from hip fracture used data for Sweden, and disability weights were assigned to survivors from hip fracture. In 1990 there were an estimated 1.31 million new hip fractures, and the prevalence of hip fractures with disability was 4.48 million. There were 740,000 deaths estimated to be associated with hip fracture. There were 1.75 million disability adjusted life-years lost, representing 0.1% of the global burden of disease world-wide and 1.4% of the burden amongst women from the established market economies. We conclude that hip fracture is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent studies from Sweden and the United States, a high vitamin A intake has been associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) and increased fracture risk. In Sweden and the United States, food items such as milk and breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamin A, whereas in Denmark there is no mandatory fortification with vitamin A. In the present study, we investigated relations between vitamin A intake and BMD and fracture risk in a Danish population consuming mostly unfortified food items. Within a population-based cohort study in 2,016 perimenopausal women, associations between BMD and vitamin A intake were assessed at baseline and after 5-year follow-up. Moreover, associations between baseline vitamin A intake and 5-year changes in BMD were studied. Finally, fracture risk was assessed in relation to vitamin A intake. In our cohort, dietary retinol intake (0.53 mg/day) was lower than the intake reported in recent studies form Sweden (0.78 mg/day) and the United States (1.66 mg/day). Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses showed no associations between intake of vitamin A and BMD of the femoral neck or lumbar spine. Neither did BMD differ between those 5% who had the highest, and those 5% who had the lowest, vitamin A intake. During the 5-year study period, 163 subjects sustained a fracture (cases). Compared to 978 controls, logistic regression analyses revealed no difference in vitamin A intake. Thus, in a Danish population, average vitamin A intake is lower than in Sweden and the United States and not associated with detrimental effects on bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This prospective, multicentre, randomized, double-blind and placebo controlled study was performed to describe the natural course of uncomplicated lower urinary tract infection (UTI). A total of 1143 women 18 y and above, consulting at 18 primary health care centres in northern Sweden for symptoms suggestive of UTI were included. The symptoms urgency, dysuria, suprapubic pain and loin pain were registered, and urine cultures performed at inclusion and follow-up visits 8–10 d and 5–7 weeks later. Associations between all symptoms and bacteriuria or bacterial counts were unpredictable. Eradication of symptoms and bacteriuria and combinations of them were studied in 288 patients placebo treated for 7 d, of whom 39% dropped out after the first follow-up visit. The spontaneous cure rate of symptoms was 28% after the first week, and 37% had neither symptoms nor bacteriuria after 5–7 weeks. Considering the high dropout rate after the first follow-up visit, the spontaneous cure rate of symptoms and bacteriuria was calculated to 24% at the end of study. We conclude that patient near-laboratory tests are required to establish the diagnosis of lower UTI, and the guidelines for diagnosis of UTI need to be revised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]