| 1. |
- Sjövall, Katarina, et al.
(författare)
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Sickness absence among cancer patients in the pre-diagnostic and the post-diagnostic phases of five common forms of cancer
- 2012
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Ingår i: Supportive Care in Cancer. - : Springer. - 0941-4355 .- 1433-7339. ; 20:4, s. 741-747
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose The purpose of this study was to observe sickness absence before and after the cancer diagnosis among cancer patients with five common forms of cancer.Methods Using cohort data, we observed sick leave in the pre- and post-diagnostic phase among patients with colon, rectal, breast, prostate, or lung cancer (n = 2,738). We also identified reference subjects without cancer (total n = 12,246) who were individually matched for age and gender for each specific cancer cohort in order to compare sickness absence between patients with a specific form of cancer and the background population without cancer.Results Lung cancer patients had the highest increase in sick days both pre- and post-diagnosis and prostate cancer patients had the lowest increase. Irrespective of the form of cancer, cancer patients had significantly more sick days in the post-diagnostic phase compared to their reference subjects, ranging from 5 (prostate cancer) to 12 times the amount of sick days (colon and lung cancer). One year post-diagnosis, less than half of the cancer patients were on sick leave, except for lung cancer patients where 63% were still on sick leave.Conclusion Sick leave among cancer patients seems related not only to the cancer diagnosis and its treatment but also to the prodromal illness in the pre-diagnostic phase, especially for forms of cancer with heavier symptom burden such as colon and lung cancer. Although cancer results in substantial increase in sick leave, it is important to acknowledge that a major part of cancer patients return to work within 1 year after the cancer diagnosis.
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| 2. |
- Arvidsson, Barbro, 1945-, et al.
(författare)
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A nurse-led rheumatology clinic’s impact on empowering patients with rheumatoid arthritis : A qualitative study
- 2006
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Ingår i: Nursing and Health Sciences. - Richmond, Australia : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1441-0745 .- 1442-2018. ; 8:133-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to describe a nurse-led rheumatology clinic’s impact on empowering patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory disease that attacks many joints, causing considerable functional restrictions for patients. Consequently, these patients are dependent on a wide variety of health-care services. A descriptive, qualitative design inspired by phenomenography was chosen. The conceptions were collected through interviews with 16 strategically selected patients with RA. Three descriptive categories comprising eight conceptions emerged: teaching (gaining insight and receiving information), regular review (receiving security, realizing regularity, and achieving accessibility), and attention (getting a holistic assessment, receiving coordinated care, and getting sufficient time). A nurse-led rheumatology clinic can be a source for empowering patients with RA to adopt new stances to alternative actions and achieve a higher level of faith in their own abilities.
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| 3. |
- Eriksson, Jonas K, et al.
(författare)
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Infliximab Versus Conventional Combination Treatment and Seven-Year Work Loss in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis : Results of a Randomized Swedish Trial
- 2016
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Ingår i: Arthritis Care and Research. - : Wiley. - 2151-4658 .- 2151-464X. ; 68:12, s. 1758-1766
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective To compare long-term work loss in methotrexate-refractory early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) randomized to addition of infliximab or conventional combination treatment. Methods Multicentre, two-arm, parallel, randomized, active-controlled, open-label trial. RA patients with <1y symptom duration were recruited from 15 rheumatology clinics in Sweden between 2002-2005. Patients who did not achieve low disease activity after 3-4 months methotrexate therapy were randomized to addition of infliximab or conventional combination treatment with sulfasalazine+hydroxychloroquine. Yearly sick leave and disability pension days over 7 years after randomization were retrieved from nationwide registers kept by the Swedish Social Insurance Agency. Results Of 210 working age patients, 109 were randomized to infliximab (mean age=48.4y, 73% women) and 101 to conventional treatment (48.7y, 77%). The year before randomization the mean number of annual work days lost was 127 in the infliximab arm and 118 in the conventional treatment group (mean difference, 9; 95%CI, -23 to 39). Compared to the year before randomization, the mean changes at 7 years were -25 days in the infliximab and -26 days in the conventional treatment group (adjusted mean difference, 10; 95%CI, -25 to 46). The mean cumulative work loss days was 846 in the infliximab group and 701 in the conventional treatment group (adjusted mean difference, 104; 95%CI, -56 to 284). Conclusions Long-term work loss improved significantly in early RA randomized to infliximab+methotrexate or conventional combination therapy. No difference was detected between strategies, and the level of work loss days remained twice that observed in the general population.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT00764725 This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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| 4. |
- Hambardzumyan, Karen, et al.
(författare)
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A Multi-Biomarker Disease Activity Score and the Choice of Second-Line Therapy in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis After Methotrexate Failure
- 2017
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Ingår i: Arthritis & Rheumatology. - : Wiley. - 2326-5191 .- 2326-5205. ; 69:5, s. 953-963
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To investigate whether the Multi-Biomarker Disease Activity (MBDA) score predicts optimal add-on treatment in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were inadequate responders to MTX (MTX-IRs). Methods: We analyzed data from 157 MTX-IRs (with a Disease Activity Score using the erythrocyte sedimentation rate [DAS28-ESR] >3.2) from the Swedish Pharmacotherapy (SWEFOT) trial who were randomized to receive triple therapy (MTX plus sulfasalazine plus hydroxychloroquine) versus MTX plus infliximab. The MBDA score as a predictor of the subsequent DAS28-based response to each second-line treatment was analyzed at randomization with the Breslow-Day test for 2 × 2 groups, using both validated categories (low [<30], moderate [30–44], and high [>44]) and dichotomized categories (lower [≤38] versus higher [>38]). Results: Among the 157 patients, 12% had a low MBDA score, 32% moderate, and 56% high. Of those with a low MBDA score, 88% responded to subsequent triple therapy, and 18% responded to MTX plus infliximab (P = 0.006); for those with a high MBDA score, the response rates were 35% and 58%, respectively (P = 0.040). When using 38 as a cutoff for the MBDA score (29% patients with lower scores versus 71% with higher scores), the differential associations with response to triple therapy versus MTX plus infliximab were 79% versus 44% and 36% versus 58%, respectively (P = 0.001). Clinical and inflammatory markers had poorer predictive capacity for response to triple therapy or MTX plus infliximab. Conclusion: In patients with RA who had an inadequate response to MTX, the MBDA score categories were differentially associated with response to subsequent therapies. Thus, patients with post-MTX biochemical improvements (lower MBDA scores) were more likely to respond to triple therapy than to MTX plus infliximab. If confirmed, these results may help to improve treatment in RA.
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| 5. |
- Rueda, Blanca, et al.
(författare)
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Analysis of IRF5 gene functional polymorphisms in rheumatoid arthritis
- 2006
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Ingår i: Arthritis and Rheumatism. - : Wiley. - 0004-3591 .- 1529-0131. ; 54:12, s. 3815-3819
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Recent findings suggest that interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF-5) may play a crucial role in several cellular processes, including the transcription of genes for inflammatory cytokines. Two genetic variants of the IRF5 gene (rs2004640 in exon 1 and rs2280714 in the 3'-untranslated region) have been shown to exert functional modifications affecting IRF5 messenger RNA splicing and expression, and have been associated with genetic predisposition to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study was to analyze the possible contribution of the IRF5 gene to the predisposition to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Three case-control cohorts from Spain (724 RA patients and 542 healthy controls), Sweden (281 RA patients 474 healthy controls), and Argentina (284 RA patients and 286 healthy controls) were independently analyzed. Genotyping for IRF5 rs2004640 and rs2280714 was performed using a TaqMan 5' allele-discrimination assay. RESULTS: In the 3 cohorts studied, no statistically significant differences in allele or genotype frequencies of the rs2004640 and rs2280714 IRF5 polymorphisms were observed between RA patients and controls. Accordingly, haplotype analysis revealed that none of the IRF5 haplotypes was associated with genetic predisposition to RA. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the IRF5 functional polymorphisms analyzed do not seem to be implicated in genetic susceptibility to RA.
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| 6. |
- van Vollenhoven, R.F., et al.
(författare)
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Addition of infliximab compared with addition of sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine to methotrexate in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (Swefot trial) : 1-year results of a randomised trial
- 2009
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Ingår i: The Lancet. - 0140-6736 .- 1474-547X. ; 374:9688, s. 459-466
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: New treatment strategies for early rheumatoid arthritis are evolving rapidly. We aimed to compare addition of conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine) with addition of a tumour necrosis factor antagonist (infliximab) to methotrexate in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: We undertook a randomised trial in 15 rheumatology units in Sweden. We enrolled patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (symptom duration less than1 year) and administered methotrexate (up to 20 mg per week). After 3-4 months, those who had not achieved low disease activity but who could tolerate methotrexate were randomly allocated by computer addition of either sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine or infliximab. Primary outcome was achievement of a good response according to European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria at 12 months. Patients were followed up to 24 months; here, we present findings at 12 months. Analysis was by intention to treat and we used non-responder imputation. The Swefot (Swedish Pharmacotherapy) study is registered in the WHO database at the Karolinska University Hospital, number CT20080004. Findings: 487 patients were initially enrolled. Of 258 who had not achieved low disease activity with methotrexate, 130 were allocated sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine and 128 were assigned infliximab. 32 of 130 (25%) patients allocated sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine achieved the primary outcome compared with 50 of 128 (39%) assigned infliximab (risk ratio 1·59 [95% CI 1·10-2·30], p=0·0160). Adverse events were balanced fairly well between the two groups and accorded with known adverse events of the drugs used. No deaths occurred in either group. Interpretation: In patients with early rheumatoid arthritis in whom methotrexate treatment failed, addition of a tumour necrosis factor antagonist to methotrexate monotherapy is clinically superior to addition of conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Funding: Swedish Rheumatism Association, Schering-Plough.
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| 7. |
- Arvidsson, Barbro, et al.
(författare)
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Patients' perceptions of drug dispensing in a rheumatological in-patient unit
- 2005
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Ingår i: Musculoskeletal Care. - London : John Wiley & Sons. - 1478-2189 .- 1557-0681. ; 3:4, s. 213-223
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction:The dispensing of drugs in medical care systems is, in most countries, strictly regulated, and nurses are responsible for distributing drugs to in-patients.Aim:To describe the perceptions of patients with rheumatic diseases regarding traditional drug dispensing during in-patient care and rehabilitation in a specialized rheumatological care unit.Method:Twenty in-patients who stayed in the Spenshult Hospital unit for 3-4 weeks and who were on continuous medication were chosen for the study. The phenomenographic approach was used for the collection and analysis of data.Findings:Three descriptive categories emerged - Relief, Active Participation and Dependence. These descriptive categories comprised: three perceptions for Relief (to experience security, to be served, to dare to bother), two for Active Participation (to rely on one's own ability, to search for knowledge) and two for Dependence (lack of independence, lack of information).Conclusion:The patients experienced relief due to the nurse assuming responsibility for the medication and its dispensation. Patients expressed a wish to be more active in the management of their medication, as they trusted their own ability. The patients articulated that they were dependent on the nurse to give them the correct medication and they also asked for more information about their medication.
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