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| 3. |
- Andersson, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
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Fiskbestånd och miljö i hav och sötvatten : Resurs- och miljööversikt 2012
- 2012
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Detta är den nionde utgåvan av den samlade översikten över fisk- och kräftdjursbeståndens status i våra vatten. Kunskap om fiskbestånden och miljön är en förutsättning för att utnyttjandet av fiskresurserna skall bli bärkraftigt. För svenska vattenområden beskrivs miljöutvecklingen i ett ekosystemsperspektiv, dels för att tydliggöra fiskens ekologiska roll och beskriva yttre miljöfaktorer som påverkar fiskbestånden, dels för att belysa fiskets effekter på miljön.Fiskbestånd och miljö i hav och sötvatten är utarbetad av Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet (SLU), Institutionen för akvatiska resurser (SLU Aqua), på uppdrag av Havs- och vattenmyndigheten. Rapporten sammanfattar utveckling och beståndsstatus för de kommersiellt viktigaste fisk- och kräftdjursarterna i våra vatten. Bedömningar och förvaltningsråd är baserade på Internationella Havsforskningsrådets (ICES) rådgivning, SLU Aquas nationella och regionala provfiskedata, samt yrkesfiskets rapportering.
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| 4. |
- Apers, Silke, et al.
(författare)
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Assessment of Patterns of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults with Congenital Heart disease - International Study (APPROACH-IS) : Rationale, design, and methods
- 2015
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273 .- 1874-1754. ; 179, s. 334-342
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Data on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) are inconsistent and vary across the world. Better understanding of PROs and their differences across cultural and geographic barriers can best be accomplished via international studies using uniform research methods. The APPROACH-IS consortium (Assessment of Patterns of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults with Congenital Heart disease - International Study) was created for this purpose and investigates PROs in adults with CHD worldwide. This paper outlines the project rationale, design, and methods. Methods/design: APPROACH-IS is a cross-sectional study. The goal is to recruit 3500-4000 adults with CHD from 15 countries in five major regions of the world (Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America). Self-report questionnaires are administered to capture information on PRO domains: (i) perceived health status (12-item Short-form Health Survey & EuroQOL-5D); (ii) psychological functioning (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale); (iii) health behaviors (Health-Behavior Scale-Congenital Heart Disease); and (iv) quality of life (Linear Analog Scale & Satisfaction With Life Scale). Additionally, potential explanatory variables are assessed: (i) socio-demographic variables; (ii) medical history (chart review); (iii) sense of coherence (Orientation to Life Questionnaire); and (iv) illness perceptions (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire). Descriptive analyses and multilevel models will examine differences in PROs and investigate potential explanatory variables. Discussion: APPROACH-IS represents a global effort to increase research understanding and capacity in the field of CHD, and will have major implications for patient care. Results will generate valuable information for developing interventions to optimize patients' health and well-being.
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| 8. |
- Callus, Edward, et al.
(författare)
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Phenotypes of adults with congenital heart disease around the globe : a cluster analysis.
- 2021
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Ingår i: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1477-7525. ; 19:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To derive cluster analysis-based groupings for adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) when it comes to perceived health, psychological functioning, health behaviours and quality of life (QoL).METHODS: This study was part of a larger worldwide multicentre study called APPROACH-IS; a cross sectional study which recruited 4028 patients (2013-2015) from 15 participating countries. A hierarchical cluster analysis was performed using Ward's method in order to group patients with similar psychological characteristics, which were defined by taking into consideration the scores of the following tests: Sense Of Coherence, Health Behavior Scale (physical exercise score), Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Illness Perception Questionnaire, Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Visual Analogue Scale scores of the EQ-5D perceived health scale and a linear analogue scale (0-100) measuring QoL.RESULTS: 3768 patients with complete data were divided into 3 clusters. The first and second clusters represented 89.6% of patients in the analysis who reported a good health perception, QoL, psychological functioning and the greatest amount of exercise. Patients in the third cluster reported substantially lower scores in all PROs. This cluster was characterised by a significantly higher proportion of females, a higher average age the lowest education level, more complex forms of congenital heart disease and more medical comorbidities.CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that certain demographic and clinical characteristics may be linked to less favourable health perception, quality of life, psychological functioning, and health behaviours in ACHD. This information may be used to improve psychosocial screening and the timely provision of psychosocial care.
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| 9. |
- Carlos, Diaz-Gil, et al.
(författare)
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Spatio-temporal composition and dynamics of zooplankton in the Kalmar Sound (western Baltic Sea) in 2009-2010
- 2014
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Ingår i: Boreal Environment Research. - 1239-6095 .- 1797-2469. ; 19:4, s. 323-335
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In pelagic food webs, zooplankton is the link between lower and higher trophic levels. It is thus essential to know how the zooplankton community structure varies with its environment. We investigated the seasonal and spatial variation in the zooplankton diversity and community structure during two consecutive years in the Kalmar Sound, along the Swedish east coast, an area with a strong bathymetric gradient and of high ecological importance for e.g. commercial fish species. Two zooplankton communities were identified in the area: a coastal/estuarine community in the south and an open-water community in the north. They were separated mainly by differing salinity and temperature conditions. Biodiversity increased from spring to autumn and was higher in the open waters.
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| 10. |
- Caruana, Maryanne, et al.
(författare)
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Quality of life in Maltese adults with congenital heart disease: a second look – An APPROACH-IS substudy
- 2017
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Ingår i: International Cardiovascular Forum Journal. - : International Cardiovascular Forum Journal. - 2410-2636 .- 2409-3424. ; 12, s. 18-23
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: A first quality of life (QOL) study among Maltese adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) in 2016 found no significant differences when compared to the general population. The aims of the present study were to (1) compare QOL between Maltese and other European ACHD patients and (2) investigate medical predictors (i.e. number of surgical/non-surgical interventions, heart failure, arrhythmias, pacemaker/implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, cardiac hospitalisation during preceding year, follow-up frequency, other medical conditions, mood/anxiety/psychiatric disorders) of QOL in Maltese patients.Methods: Data collected during “Assessment of Patterns of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults with Congenital Heart disease–International Study” (APPROACH-IS) was used. QOL was measured using linear analog scale (LAS) and Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). QOL in 109 Maltese and 1510 European participants was compared. Multivariable logistic regression was used to test the predictive value of medical factors on QOL in Maltese patients.Results: There were no significant differences in QOL between the two cohorts [mean LAS Malta 80.51 (95% CI 77.96,83.07) vs. European 79.43 (95% CI 78.65,80.21) (p=0.776); mean SWLS Malta 26.00 (95% CI 24.94,27.06) vs. European 26.26 (95% CI 25.95,26.57) (p=0.288)] and no significant differences when cohorts were divided by gender and age. Only a mood/anxiety/other psychiatric disorder significantly predicted poorer QOL on both scales in Maltese patients (LAS (ß=-.389, p<0.001), SWLS (ß=-.352, p=0.001)). Conclusions: Maltese ACHD patients have a good QOL comparable to that of European counterparts. Mood, anxiety and other psychiatric disorders can negatively impact Maltese patients’ QOL. Better access to clinical psychology services should be ensured.
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| 11. |
- Caruana, Maryanne, et al.
(författare)
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Red Flags for Maltese Adults with Congenital Heart Disease : Poorer Dental Care and Less Sports Participation Compared to Other European Patients-An APPROACH-IS Substudy.
- 2017
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Ingår i: Pediatric Cardiology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0172-0643 .- 1432-1971. ; 38:5, s. 965-973
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Studies in recent years have explored lifestyle habits and health-risk behaviours in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients when compared to controls. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in lifestyle habits between Maltese and other European ACHD patients. Data on alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, substance misuse, dental care and physical activity collected in 2013-2015 during "Assessment of Patterns of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults with Congenital Heart disease-International Study" (APPROACH-IS) were analysed. Responses from 119 Maltese participants were compared to those of 1616 participants from Belgium, France, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Significantly fewer Maltese patients with simple (Maltese 84.1% vs. European 97.5%, p < 0.001) and moderately complex CHD (Maltese 83.6% vs. European 97.4%, p < 0.001) brushed their teeth daily. Only 67.2% of Maltese with moderately complex disease had dental reviews in the previous year compared to 80.3% of Europeans (p = 0.02). Maltese patients with simple (Maltese 31.8% vs. European 56.1%, p = 0.002) and moderately complex lesions (Maltese 30.0% vs. European 59.2%, p < 0.001) performed less regular sport activities. Comparison by country showed Maltese patients to have significantly poorer tooth brushing and sports participation than patients from any other participating country. Alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and substance misuse were not significantly different. This study highlights lifestyle aspects that Maltese ACHD patients need to improve on, which might not be evident upon comparing patients to non-CHD controls. These findings should also caution researchers against considering behaviours among patients in one country as necessarily representative of patients on the larger scale.
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| 12. |
- Casteigt, Benjamin, et al.
(författare)
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Atrial arrhythmias and patient-reported outcomes in adults with congenital heart disease : An international study
- 2021
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Ingår i: Heart Rhythm. - : Elsevier BV. - 1547-5271 .- 1556-3871. ; 18:5, s. 793-800
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Atrial arrhythmias (ie, intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia and atrial fibrillation) are a leading cause of morbidity and hospitalization in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Little is known about their effect on quality of life and other patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in adults with CHD. Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of atrial arrhythmias on PROs in adults with CHD and explore geographic variations. Methods Associations between atrial arrhythmias and PROs were assessed in a cross-sectional study of adults with CHD from 15 countries spanning 5 continents. A propensity-based matching weight analysis was performed to compare quality of life, perceived health status, psychological distress, sense of coherence, and illness perception in patients with and those without atrial arrhythmias. Results A total of 4028 adults with CHD were enrolled, 707 (17.6%) of whom had atrial arrhythmias. After applying matching weights, patients with and those without atrial arrhythmias were comparable with regard to age (mean 40.1 vs 40.2 years), demographic variables (52.5% vs 52.2% women), and complexity of CHD (15.9% simple, 44.8% moderate, and 39.2% complex in both groups). Patients with atrial arrhythmias had significantly worse PRO scores with respect to quality of life, perceived health status, psychological distress (ie, depression), and illness perception. A summary score that combines all PRO measures was significantly lower in patients with atrial arrhythmias (-3.3%; P = .0006). Differences in PROs were consistent across geographic regions. Conclusion Atrial arrhythmias in adults with CHD are associated with an adverse impact on a broad range of PROs consistently across various geographic regions.
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| 13. |
- Fedirko, V., et al.
(författare)
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Consumption of fish and meats and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)
- 2013
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Ingår i: Annals of Oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1569-8041 .- 0923-7534. ; 24:8, s. 2166-2173
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- While higher intake of fish and lower consumption of red/processed meats have been suggested to play a protective role in the etiology of several cancers, prospective evidence for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited, particularly in Western European populations. The associations of fish and meats with HCC risk were analyzed in the EPIC cohort. Between 1992 and 2010, 191 incident HCC were identified among 477 206 participants. Baseline diet was assessed using validated dietary questionnaires. A single 24-h diet recall from a cohort subsample was used for calibration. Multivariable proportional hazard regression was utilized to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). In a nested case-control subset (HCC = 122), HBV/HCV status and liver function biomarkers were measured. HCC risk was inversely associated with intake of total fish (per 20 g/day increase, HR = 0.83, 95% CI 0.74-0.95 and HR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.69-0.97 before and after calibration, respectively). This inverse association was also suggested after adjusting for HBV/HCV status and liver function score (per 20-g/day increase, RR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.66-1.11 and RR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.50-1.09, respectively) in a nested case-control subset. Intakes of total meats or subgroups of red/processed meats, and poultry were not associated with HCC risk. In this large European cohort, total fish intake is associated with lower HCC risk.
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| 14. |
- Fedirko, V., et al.
(författare)
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Glycemic index, glycemic load, dietary carbohydrate, and dietary fiber intake and risk of liver and biliary tract cancers in Western Europeans
- 2013
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Ingår i: Annals of Oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0923-7534 .- 1569-8041. ; 24:2, s. 543-553
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The type and quantity of dietary carbohydrate as quantified by glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL), and dietary fiber may influence the risk of liver and biliary tract cancers, but convincing evidence is lacking. Patients and methods: The association between dietary GI/GL and carbohydrate intake with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; N = 191), intrahepatic bile duct (IBD; N = 66), and biliary tract (N = 236) cancer risk was investigated in 477 206 participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. Dietary intake was assessed by country-specific, validated dietary questionnaires. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated from proportional hazard models. HBV/HCV status was measured in a nested case-control subset. Results: Higher dietary GI, GL, or increased intake of total carbohydrate was not associated with liver or biliary tract cancer risk. For HCC, divergent risk estimates were observed for total sugar = 1.43 (1.17-1.74) per 50 g/day, total starch = 0.70 (0.55-0.90) per 50 g/day, and total dietary fiber = 0.70 (0.52-0.93) per 10 g/day. The findings for dietary fiber were confirmed among HBV/HCV-free participants [0.48 (0.23-1.01)]. Similar associations were observed for IBD [dietary fiber = 0.59 (0.37-0.99) per 10 g/day], but not biliary tract cancer. Conclusions: Findings suggest that higher consumption of dietary fiber and lower consumption of total sugars are associated with lower HCC risk. In addition, high dietary fiber intake could be associated with lower IBD cancer risk. © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved.
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| 15. |
- Fedirko, V., et al.
(författare)
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Prediagnostic circulating vitamin D levels and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in European populations: A nested case-control study
- 2014
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Ingår i: Hepatology. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0270-9139 .- 1527-3350. ; 60:4, s. 1222-1230
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The association between vitamin D status and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been well investigated, despite experimental evidence supporting an important role of vitamin D in liver pathophysiology. Our objective was to investigate the association between prediagnostic circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] serum levels and the risk of HCC in a prospective, nested case-control study among 520,000 participants in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. Each case (n=138) diagnosed between 1992 and 2010 was matched to one control by age, sex, study center, date and time of blood collection, and fasting status. Serum baseline levels of 25(OH)D were measured by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Multivariable incident rate ratios (IRRs) of HCC associated with continuous (per 10 nmol/L) or categorical levels (tertiles or a priori-defined categories) of prediagnostic 25(OH)D were calculated using conditional logistic regression. Higher 25(OH)D levels were associated with a 49% reduction in the risk of HCC (highest versus lowest tertile: multivariable IRR=0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.26 to 0.99; Ptrend=0.04; per 10 nmol/L increase: IRR=0.80, 95% CI, 0.68-0.94). The finding did not vary substantially by time from enrolment to diagnosis, and did not change after adjustment for biomarkers of preexisting liver damage, nor chronic infection with hepatitis B or C viruses. The findings were not modified by body size or smoking status. Conclusion: In this prospective study on western European populations, serum levels of 25(OH)D were inversely associated with the risk of HCC. Given the rising incidence of this cancer in low-risk developed countries and the strong public health interest surrounding the potentially cancer-protective roles of vitamin D, additional studies in different populations are required. © 2014 by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.
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| 16. |
- Fogleman, Nicholas D., et al.
(författare)
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Regional variation in quality of life in patients with a Fontan circulation: A multinational perspective
- 2017
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Ingår i: American Heart Journal. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-8703 .- 1097-6744. ; 193, s. 55-62
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- © 2017 Elsevier Inc. Background Impaired quality of life (QOL) is associated with congenital heart disease (CHD) and country of residence; however, few studies have compared QOL in patients with differing complexities of CHD across regional populations. The current study examined regional variation in QOL outcomes in a large multinational sample of patients with a Fontan relative to patients with atrial septal defects (ASDs) and ventricular septal defects (VSDs). Methods From the Assessment of Patterns of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults with Congenital Heart disease—International Study (APPROACH-IS), 405 patients (163 Fontan and 242 ASD/VSD) across Asia, Europe, and North America provided consent for access to their medical records and completed a survey evaluating QOL (0 to 100 linear analog scale). Primary CHD diagnosis, disease complexity, surgical history, and documented history of mood and anxiety disorders were recorded. Differences in QOL, medical complications, and mood and anxiety disorders between Fontan and ASD/VSD patients, and across geographic regions, were examined using analysis of covariance. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to identify variables associated with the QOL ratings. Results Patients with a Fontan reported significantly lower QOL, and greater medical complications and mood and anxiety disorders relative to patients with ASD/VSD. Inpatient cardiac admissions, mood disorders, and anxiety disorders were associated with lower QOL among patients with a Fontan, and mood disorders were associated with lower QOL among patients with ASD/VSD. Regional differences for QOL were not observed in patients with a Fontan; however, significant differences were identified in patients with ASD/VSD. Conclusions Regional variation of QOL is commonplace in adults with CHD; however, it appears affected by greater disease burden. Among patients with a Fontan, regional variation of QOL is lost. Specific attempts to screen for QOL and mood and anxiety disorders among CHD patients may improve the care of patients with the greatest disease burden.
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| 17. |
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| 18. |
- Holbein, Christina E., et al.
(författare)
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A multinational observational investigation of illness perceptions and quality of life among patients with a Fontan circulation
- 2018
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Ingår i: Congenital Heart Disease. - : Computers, Materials and Continua (Tech Science Press). - 1747-079X .- 1747-0803. ; 13:3, s. 392-400
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective First, to compare QOL and illness perceptions between patients with a Fontan circulation and patients with anatomically simple defects (ie, atrial septal defects [ASD] or ventricular septal defects [VSD]). Second, to explore illness perceptions as a mediator of the association between congenital heart disease (CHD) diagnosis and QOL. Design Cross-sectional observational study. Setting Twenty-four cardiology centers from 15 countries across five continents. Patients Four hundred thirty-five adult patients with congenital heart disease (177 Fontan and 258 ASD/VSD) ages 18-83 years. Outcome Measures QOL and illness perceptions were assessed by the Satisfaction With Life Scale and the Brief Illness Perceptions Questionnaire, respectively. Results Patients with a Fontan circulation reported lower QOL (Wald Z = −3.59, p = <.001) and more negative perceptions of their CHD (Wald Z = −7.66, p < .001) compared with patients with ASD/VSD. After controlling for demographics, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and New York Heart Association functional class, path analyses revealed a significant mediation model, αβ = 0.15, p = .002, 95% CI = 0.06-0.25, such that CHD diagnosis was indirectly related to QOL through illness perceptions. Conclusions The Fontan sample’s more negative perceptions of CHD were likely a reflection of life with a more complex defect. Illness perceptions appear to account for unique differences in QOL between groups of varying CHD complexity. Psychosocial screening and interventions may be important treatment components for patients with CHD, particularly those with Fontan circulations.
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| 19. |
- Holbein, Christina E., et al.
(författare)
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Health behaviours reported by adults with congenital heart disease across 15 countries
- 2020
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Ingår i: European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 2047-4873 .- 2047-4881. ; 10, s. 1077-1087
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Health behaviours are essential to maintain optimal health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications in adults with congenital heart disease. This study aimed to describe health behaviours in adults with congenital heart disease in 15 countries and to identify patient characteristics associated with optimal health behaviours in the international sample. Design: This was a cross-sectional observational study. Methods: Adults with congenital heart disease (n = 4028, median age = 32 years, interquartile range 25–42 years) completed self-report measures as part of the Assessment of Patterns of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults with Congenital Heart disease - International Study (APPROACH-IS). Participants reported on seven health behaviours using the Health Behaviors Scale-Congenital Heart Disease. Demographic and medical characteristics were assessed via medical chart review and self-report. Multivariate path analyses with inverse sampling weights were used to investigate study aims. Results: Health behaviour rates for the full sample were 10% binge drinking, 12% cigarette smoking, 6% recreational drug use, 72% annual dental visit, 69% twice daily tooth brushing, 27% daily dental flossing and 43% sport participation. Pairwise comparisons indicated that rates differed between countries. Rates of substance use behaviours were higher in younger, male participants. Optimal dental health behaviours were more common among older, female participants with higher educational attainment while sports participation was more frequent among participants who were younger, male, married, employed/students, with higher educational attainment, less complex anatomical defects and better functional status. Conclusions: Health behaviour rates vary by country. Predictors of health behaviours may reflect larger geographic trends. Our findings have implications for the development and implementation of programmes for the assessment and promotion of optimal health behaviours in adults with congenital heart disease. © The European Society of Cardiology 2019.
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| 20. |
- Holbein, Christina E, et al.
(författare)
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Perceived Health Mediates Effects of Physical Activity on Quality of Life in Patients With a Fontan Circulation
- 2019
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Ingår i: American Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9149 .- 1879-1913. ; 124:1, s. 144-150
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Patients with a Fontan circulation are at risk of a sedentary lifestyle. Given the direct relationship between physical activity and health, promotion of physical activity has the potential to improve outcomes, including quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to describe self-reported physical activity levels in adult Fontan patients and examine associations between physical activity, perceived health status and QOL. The sample consisted of 177 Fontan patients (Mage = 27.5 ± 7.6 years, 52% male) who reported their physical activity, perceived health status, and QOL as part of the cross-sectional Assessment of Patterns of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults with Congenital Heart disease - International Study. Descriptive statistics and univariate analyses of variance with planned contrasts were computed to describe physical activity characteristics. Mediation analyses tested whether perceived health status variables mediated the association between physical activity and QOL. Forty-six percent of patients were sedentary while only 40% met international physical activity guidelines. Higher physical activity was associated with younger age, lower NYHA class, higher perceived general health, and greater QOL. Patients who commuted by walking and engaged in sports reported better perceived health and QOL. Mediation analyses revealed that perceived general health but not NYHA functional class mediated the association between physical activity and QOL (αβ = 0.22, 95% confidence interval = 0.04 to 0.49). In conclusion, Fontan patients likely benefit from regular physical activity, having both higher perceived general health and functional capacity; greater perceived health status may contribute to enhanced QOL. In conclusion, these data support the pivotal role of regular physical activity for Fontan patients.
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| 21. |
- Ko, Jong Mi, et al.
(författare)
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Differential impact of physical activity type on depression in adults with congenital heart disease : A multi-center international study
- 2019
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Ingår i: Journal of Psychosomatic Research. - : Elsevier BV. - 0022-3999 .- 1879-1360. ; 124
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the association between physical activity (PA) and depression in a large international cohort of adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) as data about the differential impact of PA type on depression in this population are lacking.METHODS: In 2018, we conducted a cross-sectional assessment of 3908 ACHD recruited from 24 ACHD-specialized centers in 15 countries between April 2013 to March 2015. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to assess self-reported depressive symptoms and the Health-Behavior Scale-Congenital Heart Disease was used to collect PA information. Cochran-Armitage tests were performed to assess trends between depressive symptom levels and PA participation. Chi-Square and Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests were utilized to examine relations between depressive symptom levels and patient characteristics. Stepwise multivariable models were then constructed to understand the independent impact of PA on depressive symptoms.RESULTS: The overall prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms in this sample was 12% with significant differences in rates between countries (p < .001). Physically active individuals were less likely to be depressed than those who were sedentary. Of the 2 PA domains examined, sport participation rather than active commute was significantly associated with reduced symptoms of depression. After adjustment in multivariable analysis, sport participation was still significantly associated with 38% decreased probability of depressive symptoms (p < .001).CONCLUSIONS: Sport participation is independently associated with reduced depressive symptoms. The development and promotion of sport-related exercise prescriptions uniquely designed for ACHD may improve depression status in this unique population.
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| 22. |
- Ko, Jong Mi, et al.
(författare)
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Physical Activity-Related Drivers of Perceived Health Status in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease
- 2018
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Ingår i: American Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9149 .- 1879-1913. ; 122:8, s. 1437-1442
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Data on the differential impact of physical activity on perceived health status (PHS) in a large adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patient population are lacking. We conducted a cross-sectional assessment of 4,028 ACHD patients recruited from 24 ACHD-specialized centers in 15 countries across 5 continents to examine the association between physical activity and PHS in a large international cohort of ACHD patients. A linear analog scale of the EuroQol-5D 3 level version and the 12-item Short Form Health Survey-version 2 were used to assess self-reported health status and the Health-Behavior Scale-Congenital Heart Disease was used as a subjective measurement of physical activity type, participation, and level. Correlation analyses and Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests examined bivariate relations between sample characteristics and PHS scores. Then, multivariable models were constructed to understand the impact of physical activity on PHS. Only 30% of our sample achieved recommended physical activity levels. Physically active patients reported better PHS than sedentary patients; however, the amount of physical activity was not associated with PHS. Further statistical analyses demonstrated that specifically sport participation regardless of physical activity level was a predictor of PHS. In conclusion, the majority of ACHD patients across the world are physically inactive. Sport participation appears to be the primary physical activity-related driver of PHS. By promoting sport-related exercise ACHD specialists thus may improve PHS in ACHD patients.
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| 23. |
- Koos, Björn, et al.
(författare)
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Platelet-derived growth factor receptor expression and activation in choroid plexus tumors
- 2009
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Ingår i: American Journal of Pathology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9440 .- 1525-2191. ; 175:4, s. 1631-1637
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Choroid plexus tumors are intraventricular neoplasms predominantly affecting young children. In contrast to choroid plexus papillomas, choroid plexus carcinomas progress frequently, necessitating the development of adjuvant treatment concepts. Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling has been shown to support growth in a variety of tumors. The finding of PDGF receptor expression in choroid plexus tumors prompted us to elucidate PDGF receptor activation state using a novel method, in situ proximity ligation assay, on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, archival samples of 19 choroid plexus tumors. As assessed by in situ proximity ligation assay, the proportion of phosphorylated PDGF receptor alpha was low in choroid plexus papillomas and choroid plexus carcinomas, whereas phosphorylated PDGF receptor beta was found to be significantly higher in choroid plexus carcinomas. In the immortalized choroid plexus epithelial cell line Z310 expressing PDGF receptor beta, PDGF-BB exhibited a time- and dose-dependent proliferative response, which was significantly attenuated by imatinib (gleevec). In conclusion, our findings suggest that PDGF receptor beta is functionally involved in the biology of choroid plexus tumors and may represent a molecular target for therapy. In addition, this study demonstrates the feasibility and usefulness of in situ proximity ligation assay for monitoring receptor tyrosine kinase activation in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, archival tissues.
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| 24. |
- Kovacs, Adrienne H., et al.
(författare)
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Anxiety and Depression in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease
- 2024
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Ingår i: Journal of the American College of Cardiology. - : Elsevier Inc.. - 0735-1097 .- 1558-3597. ; 83:3, s. 430-441
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: A comprehensive understanding of adult congenital heart disease outcomes must include psychological functioning. Our multisite study offered the opportunity to explore depression and anxiety symptoms within a global sample.Objectives: In this substudy of the APPROACH-IS (Assessment of Patterns of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease–International Study), the authors we investigated the prevalence of elevated depression and anxiety symptoms, explored associated sociodemographic and medical factors, and examined how quality of life (QOL) and health status (HS) differ according to the degree of psychological symptoms.Methods: Participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, which includes subscales for symptoms of anxiety (HADS-A) and depression (HADS-D). Subscale scores of 8 or higher indicate clinically elevated symptoms and can be further categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. Participants also completed analogue scales on a scale of 0 to 100 for QOL and HS. Analysis of variance was performed to investigate whether QOL and HS differed by symptom category.Results: Of 3,815 participants from 15 countries (age 34.8 ± 12.9 years; 52.7% female), 1,148 (30.1%) had elevated symptoms in one or both subscales: elevated HADS-A only (18.3%), elevated HADS-D only (2.9%), or elevations on both subscales (8.9%). Percentages varied among countries. Both QOL and HS decreased in accordance with increasing HADS-A and HADS-D symptom categories (P < 0.001).Conclusions: In this global sample of adults with congenital heart disease, almost one-third reported elevated symptoms of depression and/or anxiety, which in turn were associated with lower QOL and HS. We strongly advocate for the implementation of strategies to recognize and manage psychological distress in clinical settings. (Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease [APPROACH-IS]; NCT02150603)
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| 25. |
- Larsson, Lena, et al.
(författare)
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Geographical variation and predictors of physical activity level in adults with congenital heart disease
- 2019
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cardiology : Heart & Vasculature. - : Elsevier. - 2352-9067. ; 22, s. 20-25
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Physical activity is important to maintain and promote health. This is of particular interest in patients with congenital heart disease(CHD) where acquired heart disease should be prevented. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum of 2.5 h/week of physical activity exceeding 3 metabolic equivalents (METS) to achieve positive health effects. It is unknown whether physical activity levels (PAL) in adult CHD patients differ by country of origin.Methods3896 adults with CHD recruited from 15 countries over 5 continents completed self-reported instruments, including the Health Behaviour Scale (HBS-CHD), within the APPROACH-IS project. For each patient, we calculated whether WHO recommendations were achieved or not. Associated factors were investigated using Generalized Linear Mixed Models.ResultsOn average, 31% reached the WHO recommendations but with a great variation between geographical areas (India: 10%–Norway: 53%). Predictors for physical activity level in line with the WHO recommendations, with country of residence as random effect, were male sex (OR 1.78, 95%CI 1.52–2.08), NYHA-class I (OR 3.10, 95%CI 1.71–5.62) and less complex disease (OR 1.46, 95%CI 1.16–1.83). In contrast, older age (OR 0.97, 95%CI 0.96–0.98), lower educational level (OR 0.41, 95%CI 0.26–0.64) and being unemployed (OR 0.57, 95%CI 0.42–0.77) were negatively associated with reaching WHO recommendations.ConclusionsA significant proportion of patients with CHD did not reach the WHO physical activity recommendations. There was a large variation in physical activity level by country of origin. Based on identified predictors, vulnerable patients may be identified and offered specific behavioral interventions.
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| 26. |
- Leibold, Allison, et al.
(författare)
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Pain in adults with congenital heart disease : An international perspective
- 2021
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cardiology Congenital Heart Disease. - : Elsevier. - 2666-6685. ; 5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) have many risk factors for chronic pain such as prior cardiac interventions and adult comorbidities. However, the prevalence of chronic pain has not been well described in this population. We sought to determine the prevalence of pain in a large international cohort of patients with ACHD.Methods: Data from the APPROACH-IS dataset was utilized for this study which includes 4028 patients with ACHD from 15 different countries. The prevalence of pain was assessed under the health status patient reported outcome domain utilizing the EuroQol-5D 3 level version tool. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess differences across countries in pain, taking into account country-level random effects for clustering across observations within each country.Results: A total of 3832 patients with ACHD met the study criteria, median age 32 years [IQR 25, 42], 52.6% females. The prevalence of at least moderate pain was reported by 28.9% (95% CO 27.5 = 30.3%) of participants. Pain was associated with country of origin, age, gender, background, education and marital status as well as several clinical variables including disease complexity, cardiac device presence, history of heart failure, psychiatric conditions and presence of other medical conditions. Those with pain had lower levels of perceived health and a lower quality of life score.Conclusion: Pain in patients with ACHD is common, impacting nearly one-third of patients. Given the far reaching implications of pain in patients with ACHD, further study of pain characteristics and treatment management appear warranted.
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| 27. |
- Lévesque, Valérie, et al.
(författare)
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Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease : an International Study
- 2020
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Ingår i: Heart Rhythm. - : Elsevier BV. - 1547-5271 .- 1556-3871. ; 17:5, s. 768-776
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are increasingly used to prevent sudden deaths in the growing population of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Yet, little is known about their impact on patient-reported outcomes (PROs).OBJECTIVE: We assessed and compared PROs in adults with CHD with and without ICDs.METHODS: A propensity-based matching weight analysis was conducted to evaluate PROs in an international cross-sectional study of adults with CHD from 15 countries across 5 continents.RESULTS: A total of 3,188 patients were included: 107 with ICDs and 3,081 weight-matched controls without ICDs. ICD recipients averaged 40.1±12.4 years of age, with >95% having moderate or complex CHD. Defibrillators were implanted for primary and secondary prevention in 38.3% and 61.7%, respectively. Perceived health status, psychological distress, sense of coherence, and health behaviours did not differ significantly in patients with and without ICDs. However, ICD recipients had a more threatening view of their illness (relative % difference 8.56, P=0.011). Those with secondary compared to primary prevention indications had a significantly lower quality of life score (linear analogue scale 72.0±23.1 versus 79.2±13.0, P=0.047). Marked geographic variations were observed. Overall sense of well-being, assessed by a summary score that combines various PROs, was significantly lower in ICD recipients (versus controls) from Switzerland, Argentina, Taiwan, and USA.CONCLUSIONS: In an international cohort of adults with CHD, ICDs were associated with a more threatening illness perception, with a lower quality of life in those with secondary compared to primary prevention indications. However, marked geographic variability in PROs was observed.
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| 28. |
- Lukanova, Annekatrin, et al.
(författare)
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Pre-diagnostic plasma testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, IGF-I and hepatocellular carcinoma : etiological factors or risk markers?
- 2014
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cancer. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0020-7136 .- 1097-0215. ; 134:1, s. 164-173
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Elevated pre-diagnostic testosterone and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentrations have been proposed to increase risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the metabolism of these hormones is altered as a consequence of liver damage and they may have clinical utility as HCC risk markers. A case-control study was nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort and included 125 incident HCC cases and 247 individually matched controls. Testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) and IGF-I were analyzed by immunoassays. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by conditional logistic regression. The area under the receiver operating curves (AUC) was calculated to assess HCC predictive ability of the tested models. After adjustments for epidemiological variables (body mass index, smoking, ethanol intake, hepatitis and diabetes) and liver damage (a score based on albumin, bilirubin, aspartate aminotransaminase, alanine aminotransaminase, gamma-glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase concentrations), only SHBG remained significantly associated with risk (OR for top versus bottom tertile of 3.86 (1.32-11.3), ptrend =0.009). As a single factor SHBG had an AUC of 0.81 (0.75-0.86). A small, but significant increase in AUC was observed when SHBG was added to a model including the liver damage score and epidemiological variables (from 0.89 to 0.91, p=0.02) and a net reclassification of 0.47% (0.45-0.48). The observed associations of HCC with pre-diagnostic SHBG, free testosterone and IGF-I concentrations are in directions opposite to that expected under the etiological hypotheses. SHBG has a potential to be tested as pre-diagnostic risk marker for HCC.
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| 29. |
- McDonnell, Duncan, et al.
(författare)
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Reputation versus office : Why populist radical right governmental participation has differed between Sweden and Denmark
- 2021
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Ingår i: International Political Science Review. - : SAGE Publications. - 0192-5121 .- 1460-373X.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sweden and Denmark have presented contrasting relationships between centre-right and populist radical right (PRR) parties. In Sweden, the centre-right has refused cooperation with the Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna) (SD), even when this cost the centre-right office. However, in Denmark, coalitions led by centre-right parties have cooperated with the Danish People’s Party (Dansk Folkeparti) (DF) on multiple occasions. Through a controlled comparison, we examine what explains these different outcomes. Using Chapel Hill Expert Surveys and public opinion data, we firstly look at the policy congruence between parties and the social acceptability of cooperation. We then examine interview material with representatives from centre-right and PRR parties in Sweden and Denmark to see their explanations of cooperation and non-cooperation. We conclude that, while the office goals of Danish centre-right parties, along with the policy focus and uncontroversial past of DF, explain that case, the reputation and past of SD has precluded a similar outcome.
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| 30. |
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| 31. |
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| 32. |
- Moons, Philip, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Patient-reported outcomes in adults with congenital heart disease : Inter-country variation, standard of living and healthcare system factors
- 2018
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273 .- 1874-1754. ; 251, s. 34-41
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AimsGeographical differences in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of adults with congenital heart disease (ConHD) have been observed, but are poorly understood. We aimed to: (1) investigate inter-country variation in PROs in adults with ConHD; (2) identify patient-related predictors of PROs; and (3) explore standard of living and healthcare system characteristics as predictors of PROs.Methods and resultsAssessment of Patterns of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults with Congenital Heart disease – International Study (APPROACH-IS) was a cross-sectional, observational study, in which 4028 patients from 15 countries in 5 continents were enrolled. Self-report questionnaires were administered: patient-reported health (12-item Short Form Health Survey; EuroQOL-5D Visual Analog Scale); psychological functioning (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale); health behaviors (Health Behavior Scale–Congenital Heart Disease) and quality of life (Linear Analog Scale for quality of life; Satisfaction With Life Scale). A composite PRO score was calculated. Standard of living was expressed as Gross Domestic Product per capita and Human Development Index. Healthcare systems were operationalized as the total health expenditure per capita and the overall health system performance. Substantial inter-country variation in PROs was observed, with Switzerland having the highest composite PRO score (81.0) and India the lowest (71.3). Functional class, age, and unemployment status were patient-related factors that independently and consistently predicted PROs. Standard of living and healthcare system characteristics predicted PROs above and beyond patient characteristics.ConclusionsThis international collaboration allowed us to determine that PROs in ConHD vary as a function of patient-related factors as well as the countries in which patients live.
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| 33. |
- Moons, Philip, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease Following Hospitalization (from APPROACH-IS).
- 2021
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Ingår i: American Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9149 .- 1879-1913. ; 145, s. 135-142
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this international study, we (1) compared patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) who had versus had not been hospitalized during the previous 12 month, (2) contrasted PROs in patients who had been hospitalized for cardiac surgery versus nonsurgical reasons, (3) assessed the magnitude of differences between the groups (i.e., effect sizes), and (4) explored differential effect sizes between countries. APPROACH-IS was a cross-sectional, observational study that enrolled 4,028 patients from 15 countries (median age 32 years; 53% females). Self-report questionnaires were administered to measure PROs: health status; anxiety and depression; and quality of life. Overall, 668 patients (17%) had been hospitalized in the previous 12 months. These patients reported poorer outcomes on all PROs, with the exception of anxiety. Patients who underwent cardiac surgery demonstrated a better quality of life compared with those who were hospitalized for nonsurgical reasons. For significant differences, the effect sizes were small, whereas they were negligible in nonsignificant comparisons. Substantial intercountry differences were observed. For various PROs, moderate to large effect sizes were found comparing different countries. In conclusion, adults with CHD who had undergone hospitalization in the previous year had poorer PROs than those who were medically stable. Researchers ought to account for the timing of recruitment when conducting PRO research as hospitalization can impact results.
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| 34. |
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| 35. |
- Moons, Philip, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Patient-reported outcomes in the aging population of adults with congenital heart disease : results from APPROACH-IS
- 2023
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Ingår i: European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. - : Oxford University Press. - 1474-5151 .- 1873-1953. ; 22:4, s. 339-344
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The congenital heart disease (CHD) population now comprises an increasing number of older persons in their 6th decade of life and beyond. We cross-sectionally evaluated patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in persons with CHD aged 60 years or older, and contrasted these with PROs of younger patients aged 40-59 years and 18-39 years. Adjusted for demographic and medical characteristics, patients ≥60 years had a lower Physical Component Summary, higher Mental Component Summary, and lower anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Anxiety) scores than patients in the two younger categories. For satisfaction with life, older persons had a higher score than patients aged 40-59 years. Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02150603.
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| 36. |
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| 37. |
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| 38. |
- Moons, Philip, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Physical Functioning, Mental Health, and Quality of Life in Different Congenital Heart Defects : Comparative Analysis in 3538 Patients From 15 Countries
- 2021
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Ingår i: Canadian Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0828-282X .- 1916-7075. ; 37:2, s. 215-223
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: We compared physical functioning, mental health, and quality of life (QoL) of patients with different subtypes of congenital heart disease (CHD) in a large international sample and investigated the role of functional class in explaining the variance in outcomes across heart defects.METHODS: In the cross-sectional Assessment of Patterns of Patient-Reported Outcome in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease-International Study (APPROACH-IS), we enrolled 4028 adult patients with CHD from 15 countries. Diagnostic groups with at least 50 patients were included in these analyses, yielding a sample of 3538 patients (median age: 32 years; 52% women). Physical functioning, mental health, and QoL were measured with the SF-12 health status survey, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), linear analog scale (LAS) and Satisfaction with Life Scale, respectively. Functional class was assessed using the patient-reported New York Heart Association (NYHA) class. Multivariable general linear mixed models were applied to assess the relationship between the type of CHD and patient-reported outcomes, adjusted for patient characteristics, and with country as random effect.RESULTS: Patients with coarctation of the aorta and those with isolated aortic valve disease reported the best physical functioning, mental health, and QoL. Patients with cyanotic heart disease or Eisenmenger syndrome had worst outcomes. The differences were statistically significant, above and beyond other patient characteristics. However, the explained variances were small (0.6% to 4.1%) and decreased further when functional status was added to the models (0.4% to 0.9%).CONCLUSIONS: Some types of CHD predict worse patient-reported outcomes. However, it appears that it is the functional status associated with the heart defect rather than the heart defect itself that shapes the outcomes.
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| 39. |
- Moons, Philip, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Prevalence and Effects of Cigarette Smoking, Cannabis Consumption, and Co-use in Adults From 15 Countries With Congenital Heart Disease
- 2019
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Ingår i: Canadian Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0828-282X .- 1916-7075. ; 35:12, s. 1842-1850
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The prevalence and effects of cigarette smoking and cannabis use in persons with congenital heart disease (CHD) are poorly understood. We (1) described the prevalence of cigarette smoking, cannabis consumption, and co-use in adults with CHD; (2) investigated intercountry differences; (3) tested the relative effects on physical functioning, mental health, and quality of life (QOL); and (4) quantified the differential effect of cigarette smoking, cannabis use, or co-use on those outcomes.METHODS: APPROACH-IS was a cross-sectional study, including 4028 adults with CHD from 15 countries. Patients completed questionnaires to measure physical functioning, mental health, and QOL. Smoking status and cannabis use were assessed by means of the Health Behaviour Scale-Congenital Heart Disease. Linear models with doubly robust estimations were computed after groups were balanced with the use of propensity weighting.RESULTS: Overall, 14% of men and 11% of women smoked cigarettes only; 8% of men and 4% of women consumed cannabis only; and 4% of men and 1% of women used both substances. Large intercountry variations were observed, with Switzerland having the highest prevalence for smoking cigarettes (24% of men, 19% of women) and Canada the highest for cannabis use (19% of men, 4% of women). Cigarette smoking had a small negative effect on patient-reported outcomes, and the effect of cannabis was negligible. The effect of co-use was more prominent, with a moderate negative effect on mental health.CONCLUSIONS: We found significant intercountry variability in cigarette and cannabis use in adults with CHD. Co-use has the most detrimental effects on patient-reported outcomes.
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| 40. |
- Moons, Philip, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Religion and spirituality as predictors of patient-reported outcomes in adults with congenital heart disease around the globe.
- 2018
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cardiology. - Ireland : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273 .- 1874-1754. ; 274, s. 93-99
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIMS: Religion and spirituality can be resources for internal strength and resilience, and may assist with managing life's challenges. Prior studies have been undertaken primarily in countries with high proportions of religious/spiritual people. We investigated (i) whether being religious/spiritual is an independent predictor of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in a large international sample of adults with congenital heart disease, (ii) whether the individual level of importance of religion/spirituality is an independent predictor for PROs, and (iii) if these relationships are moderated by the degree to which the respective countries are religious or secular.METHODS AND RESULTS: APPROACH-IS was a cross-sectional study, in which 4028 patients from 15 countries were enrolled. Patients completed questionnaires to measure perceived health status; psychological functioning; health behaviors; and quality of life. Religion/spirituality was measured using three questions: Do you consider yourself religious or spiritual?; How important is religion, spirituality, or faith in your life?; and If religious, to what religion do you belong?. The country level of religiosity/secularity was appraised using data from the Gallup Poll 2005-2009. General linear mixed models, adjusting for patient characteristics and country differences were applied. Overall, 49.2% of patients considered themselves to be religious/spiritual. Being religious/spiritual and considering religion/spirituality as important in one's life was positively associated with quality of life, satisfaction with life and health behaviors. However, among patients living in more secular countries, religion/spirituality was negatively associated with physical and mental health.CONCLUSION: Religiosity/spirituality is an independent predictor for some PROs, but has differential impact across countries.
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| 41. |
- Moons, Philip, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Sense of coherence in adults with congenital heart disease in 15 countries : patient characteristics, cultural dimensions and quality of life
- 2021
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Ingår i: European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. - : Oxford University Press. - 1474-5151 .- 1873-1953. ; 20:1, s. 48-55
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Previous studies have found that sense of coherence (SOC) is positively related to quality of life (QoL) in persons with chronic conditions. In congenital heart disease (CHD), the evidence is scant.Aims: We investigated (i) intercountry variation in SOC in a large international sample of adults with CHD; (ii) the relationship between demographic and clinical characteristics and SOC; (iii) the relationship between cultural dimensions of countries and SOC; and (iv) variation in relative importance of SOC in explaining QoL across the countries.Methods: APPROACH-IS was a cross-sectional, observational study, with 4028 patients from 15 countries enrolled. SOC was measured using the 13-item SOC scale (range 13–91) and QoL was assessed by a linear analog scale (range 0–100).Results: The mean SOC score was 65.5±13.2. Large intercountry variation was observed with the strongest SOC in Switzerland (68.8±11.1) and the lowest SOC in Japan (59.9±14.5). A lower SOC was associated with a younger age; lower educational level; with job seeking, being unemployed or disabled; unmarried, divorced or widowed; from a worse functional class; and simple CHD. Power distance index and individualism vs collectivism were cultural dimensions significantly related to SOC. SOC was positively associated with QoL in all participating countries and in the total sample, with an explained variance ranging from 5.8% in Argentina to 30.4% in Japan.Conclusion: In adults with CHD, SOC is positively associated with QoL. The implementation of SOC-enhancing interventions might improve QoL, but strategies would likely differ across countries given the substantial variation in explained variance.
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| 42. |
- Nygren, Thomas, et al.
(författare)
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TPACK and the design of teaching against misinformation in five school subjects
- 2023
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- We investigate how teaching in practice can stimulate students to become better at handling digital information critically and constructively, in different contexts.In the form of a design study where professional teachers and researchers together develop and test different arrangements in teaching, we examine thequestion of how varying materials and teaching methods can support students' digital source criticism in five different school subjects, namely, history, civics,art, psychology and biology. Teachers technological pedagogical content knowledge (Mishra & Koehler, 2006) is at the core of the design iterations aimed atinvestigating educational innovative designs with a positive impact in ordinary messy classrooms. The results highlight how TPACK reflections in relation todesign iterations may promote students’ abilities to identify, evaluate and use digital information in critical and constructive ways in different school subjects. Wealso present and discuss what students learn and struggle to learn in the five subject specific settings in light of research highlighting the importance of digitalcivic literacy.
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| 43. |
- Paulsson, Janna, et al.
(författare)
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Prognostic but not predictive role of platelet-derived growth factor receptors in patients with recurrent glioblastoma
- 2011
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cancer. - : Wiley. - 0020-7136 .- 1097-0215. ; 128:8, s. 1981-1988
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) signaling has been implicated in the pathogenesis of glioblastomas and represents a target for the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib. To examine the prognostic or predictive role of PDGFRs in recurrent glioblastomas, expression was examined in tumor samples of 101 patients of CSTI571BDE40, a randomized trial comparing hydroxyurea monotherapy and a combination of hydroxyurea and imatinib. Furthermore, PDGFRa phosphorylation was investigated using in situ proximity ligation assay. PDGFRa protein was expressed in 33% of tumors and was associated with male sex, young age, presence of R132H mutated isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 protein and short median survival (142 vs. 187 days, p = 0.028). Tumor PDGFRa phosphorylation was also associated with short survival (p = 0.030). The subset of patients with PDGFRa positive glioblastoma did not have longer survival on treatment with hydroxyurea and imatinib compared with hydroxyurea monotherapy. In conclusion, both PDGFRa protein expression and phosphorylation status had a prognostic role in recurrent glioblastomas but did not define a group that showed benefit from the combination therapy consisting of hydroxyurea and imatinib.
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| 44. |
- Rassart, Jessica, et al.
(författare)
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Illness perceptions in adult congenital heart disease : A multi-center international study.
- 2017
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cardiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5273 .- 1874-1754. ; 244, s. 130-138
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Illness perceptions are cognitive frameworks that patients construct to make sense of their illness. Although the importance of these perceptions has been demonstrated in other chronic illness populations, few studies have focused on the illness perceptions of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). This study examined (1) inter-country variation in illness perceptions, (2) associations between patient characteristics and illness perceptions, and (3) associations between illness perceptions and patient-reported outcomes.METHODS: Our sample, taken from APPROACH-IS, consisted of 3258 adults with CHD from 15 different countries. Patients completed questionnaires on illness perceptions and patient-reported outcomes (i.e., quality of life, perceived health status, and symptoms of depression and anxiety). Patient characteristics included sex, age, marital status, educational level, employment status, CHD complexity, functional class, and ethnicity. Linear mixed models were applied.RESULTS: The inter-country variation in illness perceptions was generally small, yet patients from different countries differed in the extent to which they perceived their illness as chronic and worried about their illness. Patient characteristics that were linked to illness perceptions were sex, age, employment status, CHD complexity, functional class, and ethnicity. Higher scores on consequences, identity, and emotional representation, as well as lower scores on illness coherence and personal and treatment control, were associated with poorer patient-reported outcomes.CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes that, in order to gain a deeper understanding of patients' functioning, health-care providers should focus not only on objective indicators of illness severity such as the complexity of the heart defect, but also on subjective illness experiences.
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| 45. |
- Schlesinger, Sabrina, et al.
(författare)
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Abdominal obesity, weight gain during adulthood and risk of liver and biliary tract cancer in a European cohort
- 2013
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cancer. - : Wiley. - 0020-7136 .- 1097-0215. ; 132:3, s. 645-57
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- General obesity has been positively associated with risk of liver and probably with biliary tract cancer, but little is known about abdominal obesity or weight gain during adulthood. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazard models to investigate associations between weight, body mass index, waist and hip circumference, waist-to-hip and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), weight change during adulthood and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), intrahepatic (IBDC) and extrahepatic bile duct system cancer [EBDSC including gallbladder cancer (GBC)] among 359,525 men and women in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study. Hepatitis B and C virus status was measured in a nested casecontrol subset. During a mean follow-up of 8.6 years, 177 cases of HCC, 58 cases of IBDC and 210 cases of EBDSC, including 76 cases of GBC, occurred. All anthropometric measures were positively associated with risk of HCC and GBC. WHtR showed the strongest association with HCC [relative risk (RR) comparing extreme tertiles 3.51, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 2.095.87; ptrend < 0.0001] and with GBC (RR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.122.16 for an increment of one unit in WHtR). Weight gain during adulthood was also positively associated with HCC when comparing extreme tertiles (RR: 2.48, 95% CI: 1.494.13; <0.001). No statistically significant association was observed between obesity and risk of IBDC and EBDSC. Our results provide evidence of an association between obesity, particularly abdominal obesity, and risk of HCC and GBC. Our findings support public health recommendations to reduce the prevalence of obesity and weight gain in adulthood for HCC and GBC prevention in Western populations.
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| 46. |
- Sim, Thomas G., et al.
(författare)
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Regional variability in peatland burning at mid-to high-latitudes during the Holocene
- 2023
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Ingår i: Quaternary Science Reviews. - : Elsevier. - 0277-3791 .- 1873-457X. ; 305
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Northern peatlands store globally-important amounts of carbon in the form of partly decomposed plant detritus. Drying associated with climate and land-use change may lead to increased fire frequency and severity in peatlands and the rapid loss of carbon to the atmosphere. However, our understanding of the patterns and drivers of peatland burning on an appropriate decadal to millennial timescale relies heavily on individual site-based reconstructions. For the first time, we synthesise peatland macrocharcoal re-cords from across North America, Europe, and Patagonia to reveal regional variation in peatland burning during the Holocene. We used an existing database of proximal sedimentary charcoal to represent regional burning trends in the wider landscape for each region. Long-term trends in peatland burning appear to be largely climate driven, with human activities likely having an increasing influence in the late Holocene. Warmer conditions during the Holocene Thermal Maximum (similar to 9e6 cal. ka BP) were associated with greater peatland burning in North America's Atlantic coast, southern Scandinavia and the Baltics, and Patagonia. Since the Little Ice Age, peatland burning has declined across North America and in some areas of Europe. This decline is mirrored by a decrease in wider landscape burning in some, but not all sub-regions, linked to fire-suppression policies, and landscape fragmentation caused by agricultural expansion. Peatlands demonstrate lower susceptibility to burning than the wider landscape in several instances, probably because of autogenic processes that maintain high levels of near-surface wetness even during drought. Nonetheless, widespread drying and degradation of peatlands, particularly in Europe, has likely increased their vulnerability to burning in recent centuries. Consequently, peatland restoration efforts are important to mitigate the risk of peatland fire under a changing climate. Finally, we make recommendations for future research to improve our understanding of the controls on peatland fires.(c) 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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| 47. |
- Sluman, Maayke A., et al.
(författare)
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Education as important predictor for successful employment in adults with congenital heart disease worldwide
- 2019
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Ingår i: Congenital Heart Disease. - : Computers, Materials and Continua (Tech Science Press). - 1747-079X .- 1747-0803. ; 14:3, s. 362-371
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BackgroundConflicting results have been reported regarding employment status and work ability in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Since this is an important determinant for quality of life, we assessed this in a large international adult CHD cohort.MethodsData from 4028 adults with CHD (53% women) from 15 different countries were collected by a uniform survey in the cross-sectional APPROACH International Study. Predictors for employment and work limitations were studied using general linear mixed models.ResultsMedian age was 32 years (IQR 25-42) and 94% of patients had at least a high school degree. Overall employment rate was 69%, but varied substantially among countries. Higher education (OR 1.99-3.69) and having a partner (OR 1.72) were associated with more employment; female sex (OR 0.66, worse NYHA functional class (OR 0.67-0.13), and a history of congestive heart failure (OR 0.74) were associated with less employment. Limitations at work were reported in 34% and were associated with female sex (OR 1.36), increasing age (OR 1.03 per year), more severe CHD (OR 1.31-2.10), and a history of congestive heart failure (OR 1.57) or mental disorders (OR 2.26). Only a university degree was associated with fewer limitations at work (OR 0.62).ConclusionsThere are genuine differences in the impact of CHD on employment status in different countries. Although the majority of adult CHD patients are employed, limitations at work are common. Education appears to be the main predictor for successful employment and should therefore be encouraged in patients with CHD.
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| 48. |
- Stepien, Magdalena, et al.
(författare)
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Alteration of amino acid and biogenic amine metabolism in hepatobiliary cancers : findings from a prospective cohort study
- 2016
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Ingår i: International Journal of Cancer. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0020-7136 .- 1097-0215. ; 138:2, s. 348-360
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Perturbations in levels of amino acids (AA) and their derivatives are observed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Yet, it is unclear whether these alterations precede or are a consequence of the disease, nor whether they pertain to anatomically related cancers of the intrahepatic bile duct (IHBC), and gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary tract (GBTC). Circulating standard AA, biogenic amines and hexoses were measured (Biocrates AbsoluteIDQ-p180Kit) in a case-control study nested within a large prospective cohort (147 HCC, 43 IHBC and 134 GBTC cases). Liver function and hepatitis status biomarkers were determined separately. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (OR; 95%CI) for log-transformed standardised (mean = 0, SD = 1) serum metabolite levels and relevant ratios in relation to HCC, IHBC or GBTC risk. Fourteen metabolites were significantly associated with HCC risk, of which seven metabolites and four ratios were the strongest predictors in continuous models. Leucine, lysine, glutamine and the ratio of branched chain to aromatic AA (Fischer's ratio) were inversely, while phenylalanine, tyrosine and their ratio, glutamate, glutamate/glutamine ratio, kynurenine and its ratio to tryptophan were positively associated with HCC risk. Confounding by hepatitis status and liver enzyme levels was observed. For the other cancers no significant associations were observed. In conclusion, imbalances of specific AA and biogenic amines may be involved in HCC development.
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| 49. |
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| 50. |
- Van Bulck, Liesbet, et al.
(författare)
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Healthcare system inputs and patient-reported outcomes : a study in adults with congenital heart defect from 15 countries
- 2020
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Ingår i: BMC Health Services Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1472-6963. ; 20:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The relationship between healthcare system inputs (e.g., human resources and infrastructure) and mortality has been extensively studied. However, the association between healthcare system inputs and patient-reported outcomes remains unclear. Hence, we explored the predictive value of human resources and infrastructures of the countries' healthcare system on patient-reported outcomes in adults with congenital heart disease.METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 3588 patients with congenital heart disease (median age = 31y; IQR = 16.0; 52% women; 26% simple, 49% moderate, and 25% complex defects) from 15 countries. The following patient-reported outcomes were measured: perceived physical and mental health, psychological distress, health behaviors, and quality of life. The assessed inputs of the healthcare system were: (i) human resources (i.e., density of physicians and nurses, both per 1000 people) and (ii) infrastructure (i.e., density of hospital beds per 10,000 people). Univariable, multivariable, and sensitivity analyses using general linear mixed models were conducted, adjusting for patient-specific variables and unmeasured country differences.RESULTS: Sensitivity analyses showed that higher density of physicians was significantly associated with better self-reported physical and mental health, less psychological distress, and better quality of life. A greater number of nurses was significantly associated with better self-reported physical health, less psychological distress, and less risky health behavior. No associations between a higher density of hospital beds and patient-reported outcomes were observed.CONCLUSIONS: This explorative study suggests that density of human resources for health, measured on country level, are associated with patient-reported outcomes in adults with congenital heart disease. More research needs to be conducted before firm conclusions about the relationships observed can be drawn.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02150603. Registered 30 May 2014.
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