| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Ancelle-Park, R., et al.
(författare)
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Summary of the evidence of breast cancer service screening outcomes in Europe and first estimate of the benefit and harm balance sheet
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Medical Screening. - : SAGE Publications. - 0969-1413 .- 1475-5793. ; 19, s. 5-13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives To construct a European 'balance sheet' of key outcomes of population-based mammographic breast cancer screening, to inform policy-makers, stakeholders and invited women. Methods From the studies reviewed, the primary benefit of screening, breast cancer mortality reduction, was compared with the main harms, over-diagnosis and false-positive screening results (FPRs). Results Pooled estimates of breast cancer mortality reduction among invited women were 25% in incidence-based mortality studies and 31% in case-control studies (38% and 48% among women actually screened). Estimates of over-diagnosis ranged from 1% to 10% of the expected incidence in the absence of screening. The combined estimate of over-diagnosis for screened women, from European studies correctly adjusted for lead time and underlying trend, was 6.5%. For women undergoing 10 biennial screening tests, the estimated cumulative risk of a FPR followed by non-invasive assessment was 17%, and 3% having an invasive assessment. For every 1000 women screened biennially from age 50-51 until age 68-69 and followed up to age 79, an estimated seven to nine lives are saved, four cases are over-diagnosed, 170 women have at least one recall followed by non-invasive assessment with a negative result and 30 women have at least one recall followed by invasive procedures yielding a negative result. Conclusions The chance of saving a woman's life by population-based mammographic screening of appropriate quality is greater than that of over-diagnosis. Service screening in Europe achieves a mortality benefit at least as great as the randomized controlled trials. These outcomes should be communicated to women offered service screening in Europe.
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| 3. |
- Andersen, Caroline, et al.
(författare)
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Worse glycaemic control in LADA patients than in those with type 2 diabetes, despite a longer time on insulin therapy
- 2013
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Ingår i: Diabetologia. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0012-186X .- 1432-0428. ; 56:2, s. 252-258
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Our aim was to study whether glycaemic control differs between individuals with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and patients with type 2 diabetes, and whether it is influenced by time on insulin therapy. We performed a retrospective study of 372 patients with LADA (205 men and 167 women; median age 54 years, range 35-80 years) from Swedish cohorts from SkAyenne (n = 272) and Vasterbotten (n = 100). Age- and sex-matched patients with type 2 diabetes were included as controls. Data on the use of oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHAs), insulin and insulin-OHA combination therapy was retrieved from the medical records. Poor glycaemic control was defined as HbA(1c) a parts per thousand yen7.0% (a parts per thousand yen53 mmol/mol) at follow-up. The individuals with LADA and with type 2 diabetes were followed for an average of 107 months. LADA patients were leaner than type 2 diabetes patients at diagnosis (BMI 27.7 vs 31.0 kg/m(2); p < 0.001) and follow-up (BMI 27.9 vs 30.2 kg/m(2); p < 0.001). Patients with LADA had been treated with insulin for longer than those with type 2 diabetes (53.3 vs 28.8 months; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the patient groups with regard to poor glycaemic control at diagnosis, but more patients with LADA (67.8%) than type 2 diabetes patients (53.0%; p < 0.001) had poor glycaemic control at follow-up. Patients with LADA had worse glycaemic control at follow-up compared with participants with type 2 diabetes (OR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.2, 2.7), adjusted for age at diagnosis, HbA(1c), BMI at diagnosis, follow-up time and duration of insulin treatment. Individuals with LADA have worse glycaemic control than patients with type 2 diabetes despite a longer time on insulin therapy.
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| 4. |
- Andersson, Anne, 1966-, et al.
(författare)
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Adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy after breast cancer in Sweden 2008-2010 : a nationwide survey
- 2019
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Ingår i: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY. - : American Society of Clinical Oncology. - 0732-183X. ; 37:15
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: In estrogen receptor (ER) positive early breast cancer (EBC) adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) is crucial to reduce recurrence and mortality. Previous studies have shown that adherence to AET is lower than expected and could negatively affect outcome. Since the year of 2000, BC patients in Sweden are treated in accordance to national guidelines. Treatment is offered at a low cost for the patient. The aim of the study was to estimate the adherence to AET in Sweden by regions and age groups. Methods: Women with a first primary EBC diagnosis 2008-2010 were identified through the Swedish Cancer Registry (SCR). Individual tumour and treatment data were retrieved from the Swedish National Breast Cancer Registry (SNBCR). Patients with ER negative tumours, small tumours (≤ 10 mm) and metastatic disease was excluded from the study since there were no indication to AET. Likewise, were individuals with AET registered to be administered by a third part excluded. Dispensed treatment from pharmacies was obtained through the Swedish Prescription Registry and medication possession rate (MPR) was calculated as number of dispensed doses divided by treatment duration in days. Good adherence to treatment in a patient was set at MPR ≥ 80 %. Adherence was calculated for 3 and 5 years. Results: Twenty-one thousand sixteen (21 016) individuals with a first primary BC between 2008 and 2010 was identified through SCR of which 20 596 were registered in the SNBCR. A total of 10 176 met the inclusion criteria in the study. Adherence after 3 years was 88.0 % and after 5 years 82.5 %. Adherence differed between regions in Sweden and was positively associated with age at diagnosis between 41-74 years. Urban areas had a lower adherence than rural areas (80.7 % vs 83.6 %; p= <0.001). Conclusions: Adherence to AET in Sweden was good, although there were differences by age and urban and rural areas. Further studies are needed to identify factors affecting differences in adherence, with the purpose of initiate actions to increase adherence to AET in ER positive EBC patients.
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| 5. |
- Bakhtadze, Ekaterine, et al.
(författare)
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Common variants in the TCF7L2 gene help to differentiate autoimmune from non-autoimmune diabetes in young (15-34 years) but not in middle-aged (40-59 years) diabetic patients
- 2008
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Ingår i: Diabetologia. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0012-186X .- 1432-0428. ; 51:12, s. 2224-2232
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Type 1 diabetes in children is characterised by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells and the presence of certain risk genotypes. In adults the same situation is often referred to as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). We tested whether genetic markers associated with type 1 or type 2 diabetes could help to discriminate between autoimmune and non-autoimmune diabetes in young (15-34 years) and middle-aged (40-59 years) diabetic patients. In 1,642 young and 1,619 middle-aged patients we determined: (1) HLA-DQB1 genotypes; (2) PTPN22 and INS variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphisms; (3) two single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs7903146 and rs10885406) in the TCF7L2 gene; (4) glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and IA-2-protein tyrosine phosphatase-like protein (IA-2) antibodies; and (5) fasting plasma C-peptide. Frequency of risk genotypes HLA-DQB1 (60% vs 25%, p =9.4x10(-34); 45% vs 18%, p= 1.4x10(-16)), PTPN22 CT/TT (34% vs 26%, p=0.0023; 31% vs 23%, p=0.034), INS VNTR class I/I (69% vs 53%, p=1.3x10(-8); 69% vs 51%, p=8.5x10(-5)) and INS VNTR class IIIA/IIIA (75% vs 63%, p=4.3x10(-6); 73% vs 60%, p=0.008) was increased in young and middle-aged GAD antibodies (GADA)-positive compared with GADA-negative patients. The type 2 diabetes-associated genotypes of TCF7L2 CT/TT of rs7903146 were significantly more common in young GADA-negative than in GADA-positive patients (53% vs 43%; p=0.0004). No such difference was seen in middle-aged patients, in whom the frequency of the CT/TT genotypes of TCF7L2 was similarly increased in GADA-negative and GADA-positive groups (55% vs 56%). Common variants in the TCF7L2 gene help to differentiate young but not middle-aged GADA-positive and GADA-negative diabetic patients, suggesting that young GADA-negative patients have type 2 diabetes and that middle-aged GADA-positive patients are different from their young GADA-positive counterparts and share genetic features with type 2 diabetes.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Baldeh, Tejan, et al.
(författare)
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Development and use of health outcome descriptors : a guideline development case study
- 2020
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Ingår i: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. - : BioMed Central. - 1477-7525. ; 18:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: During healthcare guideline development, panel members often have implicit, different definitions of health outcomes that can lead to misunderstandings about how important these outcomes are and how to balance benefits and harms. McMaster GRADE Centre researchers developed ‘health outcome descriptors’ for standardizing descriptions of health outcomes and overcoming these problems to support the European Commission Initiative on Breast Cancer (ECIBC) Guideline Development Group (GDG). We aimed to determine which aspects of the development, content, and use of health outcome descriptors were valuable to guideline developers.Methods: We developed 24 health outcome descriptors related to breast cancer screening and diagnosis for the European Commission Breast Guideline Development Group (GDG). Eighteen GDG members provided feedback in written format or in interviews. We then evaluated the process and conducted two health utility rating surveys.Results: Feedback from GDG members revealed that health outcome descriptors are probably useful for developing recommendations and improving transparency of guideline methods. Time commitment, methodology training, and need for multidisciplinary expertise throughout development were considered important determinants of the process. Comparison of the two health utility surveys showed a decrease in standard deviation in the second survey across 21 (88%) of the outcomes.Conclusions: Health outcome descriptors are feasible and should be developed prior to the outcome prioritization step in the guideline development process. Guideline developers should involve a subgroup of multidisciplinary experts in all stages of development and ensure all guideline panel members are trained in guideline methodology that includes understanding the importance of defining and understanding the outcomes of interest.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Blomstedt, Yulia, et al.
(författare)
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Flawed conclusions on the Vasterbotten Intervention Program by San Sebastian et .al
- 2019
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Ingår i: BMC Public Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2458. ; 19:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- An evaluation of Vasterbotten Intervention Programme (VIP) was recently conducted by San Sebastian et al. (BMC Public Health 19:202, 2019). Evaluation of health care interventions of this kind require 1) an understanding of both the design and the nature of the intervention, 2) correct definition of the target population, and 3) careful choice of the appropriate evaluation method. In this correspondence, we review the approach used by San Sebastian et al. as relates to these three criteria. Within this framework, we suggest important explanations for why the conclusions drawn by these authors contradict a large body of research on the effectiveness of the VIP.
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| 11. |
- Blomstedt, Yulia, et al.
(författare)
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Impact of a combined community and primary care prevention strategy on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality : a cohort analysis based on 1 million person-years of follow-up in Västerbotten County, Sweden, during 1990-2006
- 2015
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 5:12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the Västerbotten Intervention Programme (VIP) by comparing all eligible individuals (target group impact) according to the intention-to-treat principle and VIP participants with the general Swedish population.DESIGN: Dynamic cohort study.SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: All individuals aged 40, 50 or 60 years, residing in Västerbotten County, Sweden, between 1990 and 2006 (N=101 918) were followed from their first opportunity to participate in the VIP until age 75, study end point or prior death.INTERVENTION: The VIP is a systematic, long-term, county-wide cardiovascular disease (CVD) intervention that is performed within the primary healthcare setting and combines individual and population approaches. The core component is a health dialogue based on a physical examination and a comprehensive questionnaire at the ages of 40, 50 and 60 years.PRIMARY OUTCOMES: All-cause and CVD mortality.RESULTS: For the target group, there were 5646 deaths observed over 1 054 607 person-years. Compared to Sweden at large, the standardised all-cause mortality ratio was 90.6% (95% CI 88.2% to 93.0%): for women 87.9% (95% CI 84.1% to 91.7%) and for men 92.2% (95% CI 89.2% to 95.3%). For CVD, the ratio was 95.0% (95% CI 90.7% to 99.4%): for women 90.4% (95% CI 82.6% to 98.7%) and for men 96.8% (95% CI 91.7 to 102.0). For participants, subject to further impact as well as selection, when compared to Sweden at large, the standardised all-cause mortality ratio was 66.3% (95% CI 63.7% to 69.0%), whereas the CVD ratio was 68.9% (95% CI 64.2% to 73.9%). For the target group as well as for the participants, standardised mortality ratios for all-cause mortality were reduced within all educational strata.CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that the VIP model of CVD prevention is able to impact on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality when evaluated according to the intention-to-treat principle.
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
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| 14. |
- Bordás, Pál, 1955-
(författare)
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Evaluation of the effectiveness of mammography screening in Northern Sweden.
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Service screening with mammography was implemented in Northern Sweden between 1989 and 1998, covering 190,000 women aged 40-74 years constituting the target population in the area. The aim of this thesis was the evaluation of mammography screening in Northern Sweden with special focus on selected screening performance indicators and on the disease outcome. We analysed interval cancer (IC) incidence and episode sensitivity in the Norrbotten Mammography Screening Programme (NMSP) for the period 1989-2002. An overall IC rate at 1.1/1000 and IC rate ratio at 38% was found and epsiode sensitivity was estimated at 62-73%, in concert with reference values of the European guidelines. Radiological classification of the IC cases in three rounds of the NMSP showed that true, occult, missed and minimal signs IC, were present in 48%, 10%, 14% and 28% of the cases. We analysed early death from breast cancer (n=342) in Northern Sweden during the first five years of mammography service screening. Most fatal cases were advanced and incurable on diagnosis. In a few screen-detected cases with favourable prognostic factors the fatal outcome was unexpected. We estimated breast cancer survival by detection mode in 5120 women with breast cancer. We found a significantly favourable survival among IC cases compared to cases among uninvited. We studied breast cancer mortality in relation to mammography screening. Our findings indicated a long-term reduction of breast cancer mortality by 26-30% among women invited to screening and by 31-35% among women screened compared to not screened. We conclude from our evaluation of the mammography screening in Northern Sweden that women benefited from this public health intervention in form of improved survival and reduced mortality.
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| 15. |
- Bordás, Pál, 1955-, et al.
(författare)
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Interval cancer incidence and episode sensitivity in the Norrbotten mammography screening programme, Sweden
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Medical Screening. - : SAGE Publications. - 0969-1413 .- 1475-5793. ; 16:1, s. 39-45
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To estimate the interval cancer incidence, its determinants and the episode sensitivity in the Norrbotten Mammography Screening Programme (NMSP). SETTING: Since 1989, women aged 40-74 years (n = 55,000) have been invited to biennial screening by the NMSP, Norrbotten county, Sweden. METHODS: Data on 1047 invasive breast cancers from six screening rounds of the NMSP (1989-2002) were collected. We estimated the invasive interval cancer rates, rate ratios and the episode sensitivity using the detection and incidence methods. A linear Poisson-model was used to analyse association between interval cancer incidence and sensitivity. RESULTS: 768 screen-detected and 279 interval cancer cases were identified. The rate ratio of interval cancer decreased with age. The 50-59 year age group showed the highest rate ratio (RR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.41-0.65) and the 70-74 year age group the lowest (RR = 0.23, 95% CI 0.15-0.36). The rate ratios for the early (0-12 months) and late (13-24 months) interval cancers were similar (RR = 0.18, 95% CI 0.15-0.22 and 0.20, 95% CI 0.17-0.24). There was a significantly lower interval cancer incidence in the prevalence round as compared with the incidence rounds. According to the detection method the episode sensitivity increased with age from 57% in the age group 40-49 years to 84% in the age group 70-74 years. The corresponding figures for the incidence method were 50% and 77%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study showed an interval cancer incidence of 38% and the episode sensitivity of 62-73%, depending on the method of calculation. Our results are of clinically acceptable level and concert with the reference values of the European guidelines.
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
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| 18. |
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| 19. |
- Broeders, Mireille, et al.
(författare)
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The impact of mammographic screening on breast cancer mortality in Europe : a review of observational studies
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Medical Screening. - : SAGE Publications. - 0969-1413 .- 1475-5793. ; 19, s. 14-25
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives To assess the impact of population-based mammographic screening on breast cancer mortality in Europe, considering different methodologies and limitations of the data. Methods We conducted a systematic literature review of European trend studies (n = 17), incidence-based mortality (IBM) studies (n = 20) and case-control (CC) studies (n = 8). Estimates of the reduction in breast cancer mortality for women invited versus not invited and/or for women screened versus not screened were obtained. The results of IBM studies and CC studies were each pooled using a random effects meta-analysis. Results Twelve of the 17 trend studies quantified the impact of population-based screening on breast cancer mortality. The estimated breast cancer mortality reductions ranged from 1% to 9% per year in studies reporting an annual percentage change, and from 28% to 36% in those comparing post- and prescreening periods. In the IBM studies, the pooled mortality reduction was 25% (relative risk [RR] 0.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.69-0.81) among invited women and 38% (RR 0.62, 95% CI 0.56-0.69) among those actually screened. The corresponding pooled estimates from the CC studies were 31% (odds ratio [OR] 0.69, 95% CI 0.57-0.83), and 48% (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.42-0.65) adjusted for self-selection. Conclusions Valid observational designs are those where sufficient longitudinal individual data are available, directly linking a woman's screening history to her cause of death. From such studies, the best 'European' estimate of breast cancer mortality reduction is 25-31% for women invited for screening, and 38-48% for women actually screened. Much of the current controversy on breast cancer screening is due to the use of inappropriate methodological approaches that are unable to capture the true effect of mammographic screening.
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| 20. |
- Brunström, Mattias, et al.
(författare)
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Association of education and feedback on hypertension management with risk for stroke and cardiovascular disease
- 2022
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Ingår i: Blood Pressure. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0803-7051 .- 1651-1999. ; 31:1, s. 31-39
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose Education and feedback on hypertension management has been associated with improved hypertension control. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of such interventions to reduce the risk of stroke and cardiovascular events. Materials and Methods Individuals >= 18 years with a blood pressure (BP) recording in Vasterbotten or Sodermanland County during the study period 2001 to 2009 were included in 108 serial cohort studies, each with 24 months follow-up. The primary outcome was risk of first-ever stroke in Vasterbotten County (intervention) compared with Sodermanland County (control). Secondary outcomes were first-ever major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), myocardial infarction, and heart failure, as well as all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. All outcomes were analysed using time-to-event data included in a Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, systolic BP at inclusion, marital status, and disposable income. Results A total of 121 365 individuals (mean [SD] age at inclusion 61.7 [16.3] years; 59.9% female; mean inclusion BP 142.3/82.6 mmHg) in the intervention county were compared to 131 924 individuals (63.6 [16.2] years; 61.2% female; 144.1/81.1 mmHg) in the control county. A first-ever stroke occurred in 2 823 (2.3%) individuals in the intervention county, and 3 584 (2.7%) individuals in the control county (adjusted hazard ratio 0.96, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.03). No differences were observed for MACE, myocardial infarction or heart failure, whereas all-cause mortality (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.95) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.98) were lower in the intervention county. Conclusions This study does not support an association between education and feedback on hypertension management to primary care physicians and the risk for stroke or cardiovascular outcomes. The observed differences for mortality outcomes should be interpreted with caution.
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| 21. |
- Brunström, Mattias, et al.
(författare)
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Association of physician education and feedback on hypertension management with patient blood pressure and hypertension control
- 2020
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Ingår i: JAMA Network Open. - : American Medical Association (AMA). - 2574-3805. ; 3:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) is the most important risk factor for premature death worldwide. However, hypertension detection and control rates continue to be suboptimal.To assess the association of education and feedback to primary care physicians with population-level SBP and hypertension control rates.This pooled series of 108 population-based cohort studies involving 283 079 patients used data from primary care centers in 2 counties (Västerbotten and Södermanland) in Sweden from 2001 to 2009. Participants were individuals aged 18 years or older who had their blood pressure (BP) measured and recorded in either county during the intervention period. All analyses were performed in February 2019.An intervention comprising education and feedback for primary care physicians in Västerbotten County (intervention group) compared with usual care in Södermanland County (control group).Difference in mean SBP levels between counties and likelihood of hypertension control in the intervention county compared with the control county during 24 months of follow-up.A total of 136 541 unique individuals (mean [SD] age at inclusion, 64.6 [16.1] years; 57.0% female; mean inclusion BP, 142/82 mm Hg) in the intervention county were compared with 146 538 individuals (mean [SD] age at inclusion, 65.7 [15.9] years; 58.3% female; mean inclusion BP, 144/80 mm Hg) in the control county. Mean SBP difference between counties during follow-up, adjusted for inclusion BP and other covariates, was 1.1 mm Hg (95% CI, 1.0-1.1 mm Hg). Hypertension control improved by 8.4 percentage points, and control was achieved in 37.8% of participants in the intervention county compared with 29.4% in the control county (adjusted odds ratio, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.29-1.31). Differences between counties increased during the intervention period and were more pronounced in participants with higher SBP at inclusion. Results were consistent across all subgroups.This study suggests that SBP levels and hypertension control rates in a county population may be improved by educational approaches directed at physicians and other health care workers. Similar strategies may be adopted to reinforce the implementation of clinical practice guidelines for hypertension management.
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| 22. |
- Brunström, Mattias, et al.
(författare)
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From efficacy in trials to effectiveness in clinical practice : The Swedish Stroke Prevention Study
- 2016
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Ingår i: Blood Pressure. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0803-7051 .- 1651-1999. ; 25:4, s. 206-211
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Blood pressure treatment has shown great efficacy in reducing cardiovascular events in randomized controlled trials. If this is effective in reducing cardiovascular disease in the general population, is less studied. Between 2001 and 2009 we performed an intervention to improve blood pressure control in the county of Vasterbotten, using Sodermanland County as a control. The intervention was directed towards primary care physicians and included lectures on blood pressure treatment, a computerized decision support system with treatment recommendations, and yearly feed back on hypertension control. Each county had approximately 255000 inhabitants. Differences in age and incidence of cardiovascular disease were small. During follow-up, more than 400000 patients had their blood pressure recorded. The mean number of measurements was eight per patient, yielding a total of 3.4 million blood pressure recordings. The effect of the intervention will be estimated combining the blood pressure data collected from the electronic medical records, with data on stroke, myocardial infarction and mortality from Swedish health registers. Additional variables, from health registers and Statistics Sweden, will be collected to address for confounders. The blood pressure data collected within this study will be an important asset for future epidemiological studies within the field of hypertension.
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| 23. |
- Chikovore, Jeremiah, et al.
(författare)
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HIV/AIDS and sexuality : concerns of youths in rural Zimbabwe
- 2009
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Ingår i: African Journal of AIDS Research. - Grahamstown : National inquiry services centre. - 1608-5906 .- 1727-9445. ; 8:4, s. 503-513
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Concerns regarding HIV and AIDS were elicited from 546 school youths (51% female, age range 9-25 years) in a Zimbabwean rural district, through a self-generated question-writing process. Concerns emerged around how to avoid HIV infection at a time when they were undergoing secondary sexual development, had growing feelings of love, and were even engaging in sexual activity, while they had limited access to preventive methods due to denial by the adult world. Fears were expressed in regard to how to tell one's HIV status, even just after sex. HIV and AIDS were visualised in terms of suffering, loneliness, quarantine and death. The youths stressed they would have difficulties communicating with other people should they suspect or find they were infected with HIV, as this would imply they had been sexually active. They seemed to have knowledge about HIV and AIDS which either was incomplete or they could not apply, given a context of silence and denial about their sexuality. Some of their knowledge was coloured with misconceptions, suggesting contradictory information from multiple sources. After more than two decades of the epidemic in Zimbabwe, the scenario portrayed raises questions about HIV/AIDS interventions targeting young people. The question posed is why is the situation of these youths in this state when several stakeholders are actively participating in debates and interventions for the sake of their wellbeing? HIV/AIDS campaigns and interventions may need to consider young people's complex social contexts, the factors generating and sustaining their situation, and what role diverse actors and social-change processes play in this.
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| 24. |
- Chikovore, Jeremiah, et al.
(författare)
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"How Can I Gain Skills if I Don't Practice?'' The Dynamics of Prohibitive Silence against Pre-Marital Pregnancy and Sex in Zimbabwe
- 2013
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 8:1, s. e53058-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Young people face sexual and reproductive health (SRH) problems including Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is critical to continue documenting their situation including the contexts they live in. As part of a larger study that explored perspectives of men to SRH and more specifically abortion and contraceptive use, 546 pupils (51% female; age range 9-25 years) from a rural area in Zimbabwe were invited to write anonymously questions about growing up or other questions they could not ask adults for fear or shame. The pupils were included following descriptions by adults of the violence that is unleashed on unmarried young people who engaged in sex, used contraceptives, or simply suggested doing so. The questions by the young people pointed to living in a context of prohibitive silence; their sexuality was silenced and denied. As a consequence they had poor knowledge and their fears and internal conflicts around sexuality and pregnancy were not addressed. Current action suggests concerted effort at the policy level to deal with young people's SRH in Zimbabwe. It nevertheless remains necessary, as a way to provide support to these efforts, to continue examining what lessons can be drawn from the past, and how the past continues to reflect in and shape present dynamics and relations. There is also need to look more critically at life skill education, which has previously been described as having failed to address adequately the practical needs of young people. Life skill education in Zimbabwe has rarely been systematically evaluated. A fuller understanding is also needed of the different factors co-existing in contemporary African societies and how they have been and continue to be constituted within history, and the implications to the promotion of adolescent SRH.
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| 25. |
- Chikovore, Jeremiah, et al.
(författare)
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The hide and seek game : men’s perspectives on abortion and contraceptive use within marriage in a rural community in Zimbabwe
- 2002
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Ingår i: Journal of Biosocial Science. - 0021-9320 .- 1469-7599. ; 34:3, s. 317-332
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This paper is based on a study aimed at understanding the perceptions of men to induced abortion and contraceptive use within marriage in rural Zimbabwe. Two qualitative methods were combined. Men were found to view abortion not as a reproductive health problem for women. Instead, they described abortion as a sign of illicit sexual activity and contraceptive use as a strategy married women use to conceal their involvement in extramarital sexual activity. Men felt anxious and vulnerable for lack of control over women. In the absence of verbal communication on sexual matters, women and men resort to what are called here 'hide-and-seek' strategies, where women acquire and use contraceptives secretly while men search for evidence of such use. It is concluded that promoting women's sexual and reproductive health requires both short- and long-term strategies. The short-term strategy would entail providing women with reproductive technology they can use without risking violence. The long-term strategy would entail understanding men's concerns and the way these are manifested. In turn this requires the use of methodologies that encourage dialogue with research participants, in order to capture their deep meanings and experiences.
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