| 1. |
- Axén, Iben, et al.
(författare)
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The use of weekly text messaging over 6 months was a feasible method for monitoring the clinical course of low back pain in patients seeking chiropractic care
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. - : Elsevier. - 0895-4356 .- 1878-5921. ; 65:4, s. 454-461
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: This study critically evaluates a new method of collecting frequent data using mobile phones and text messages. Fluctuating conditions such as low back pain (LBP) need frequent monitoring to describe the clinical course in detail and to account for individual and subgroup variations.Study Design and Setting: In this multicentre prospective observational study, 262 subjects with nonspecific LBP were followed with weekly text messages for 6 months, with the question “How many days this previous week has your low back pain been bothersome?” The text replies were instantly recorded in a data file to be merged with baseline and follow up data (age, gender, pain intensity, duration, and self- rated health) collected through ordinary questionnaires. The response rate, user-friendliness, and compliance of this method were evaluated.Results: The mean response rate for the text messages throughout the study was 82.5% and was unaffected by season. The method was found to be user friendly. Dropout was not affected by age and gender, but compliance was possibly somewhat affected by outcome.Conclusion: Weekly text messages are a useful method of data collection to examine the clinical course of LBP in the primary care sector.
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| 2. |
- Björk, Jonas, et al.
(författare)
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Risk predictions for individual patients from logistic regression were visualized with bar-line charts.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1878-5921 .- 0895-4356. ; 65, s. 335-342
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The interface of a computerized decision support system is crucial for its acceptance among end users. We demonstrate how combined bar-line charts can be used to visualize predictions for individual patients from logistic regression models. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Data from a previous diagnostic study aiming at predicting the immediate risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) among 634 patients presenting to an emergency department with chest pain were used. Risk predictions from the logistic regression model were presented for four hypothetical patients in bar-line charts with bars representing empirical Bayes adjusted likelihood ratios (LRs) and the line representing the estimated probability of ACS, sequentially updated from left to right after assessment of each risk factor. RESULTS: Two patients had similar low risk for ACS but quite different risk profiles according to the bar-line charts. Such differences in risk profiles could not be detected from the estimated ACS risk alone. The bar-line charts also highlighted important but counteracted risk factors in cases where the overall LR was less informative (close to one). CONCLUSION: The proposed graphical technique conveys additional information from the logistic model that can be important for correct diagnosis and classification of patients and appropriate medical management.
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| 5. |
- Gallo, Valentina, et al.
(författare)
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STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology - Molecular Epidemiology STROBE-ME: an extension of the STROBE statement
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1878-5921 .- 0895-4356. ; 64:12, s. 1350-1363
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Advances in laboratory techniques have led to a rapidly increasing use of biomarkers in epidemiological studies. Biomarkers of internal dose, early biological change susceptibility and clinical outcomes are used as proxies for investigating the interactions between external and/or endogenous agents and body components or processes. The need for improved reporting of scientific research led to influential statements of recommendations such as the STrengthening Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement. The STROBE initiative established in 2004 aimed to provide guidance on how to report observational research. Its guidelines provide a user-friendly checklist of 22 items to be reported in epidemiological studies, with items specific to the three main study designs: cohort studies, case-control studies and cross-sectional studies. The present STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology - Molecular Epidemiology (STROBE-ME) initiative builds on the STROBE statement implementing 9 existing items of STROBE and providing 17 additional items to the 22 items of STROBE checklist. The additions relate to the use of biomarkers in epidemiological studies, concerning collection, handling and storage of biological samples; laboratory methods, validity and reliability of biomarkers; specificities of study design; and ethical considerations. The STROBE-ME recommendations are intended to complement the STROBE recommendations. (C) 2011 The Authors. All rights reserved.
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| 6. |
- Gjertsen, Finn, et al.
(författare)
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Changes in statistical methods affected the validity of official suicide rates
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0895-4356 .- 1878-5921. ; 64:10, s. 1102-1108
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE:This study investigates whether changes in registration and coding practices influenced official suicide rates in Norway from 1988 to 2002.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING:A Poisson regression model was used to evaluate rates of suicide and potentially competing underlying causes of death. Setting in Norway 1988-2002.RESULTS:From 1988 to 1994, suicide mortality decreased significantly, by 23.7%. Simultaneously, rates of causes of death potentially masking suicide decreased or remained fairly stable. From 1994 to 2002, however, there were no significant changes in suicide rates but accidental poisoning, which may mask suicide, increased significantly by 32.4%. Also, "ill-defined causes" of death increased by 16.7%, indicating poorer data quality.CONCLUSION:This study suggests that the decreasing suicide rate in 1988-94 reflects a real change. However, the general quality of mortality statistics has deteriorated since the late 1990s, making it difficult to assess developments since 1994. Such variations in the reliability of official suicide statistics complicate international comparisons. However, shifts in the death rate because of "ill-defined" causes could serve as a warning that data quality is not consistent over time.
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| 8. |
- Hedman, Linnea, 1979-, et al.
(författare)
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Good agreement between parental and self-completed questionnaires about allergic diseases and environmental factors in teenagers
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0895-4356 .- 1878-5921. ; 63:7, s. 783-789
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: To study whether the methodological change from parent to index subject as questionnaire respondent affected the prevalence estimates and risk factor patterns for allergic diseases in a longitudinal study.STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective study of asthma and allergic diseases among children was begun in 1996 within the Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden Study. In 2002, about 3,342 (95% of invited) teenagers (13 to 14 years) completed the annual questionnaire. A random sample of 294 (84% of invited) parents also completed the same extended International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire. Skin prick tests were performed in 1996 and 2000.RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the prevalence of rhinitis, eczema, or related environmental factors between parental and self-reports, except for the question of having a dog at home. The absolute agreement was high, whereas the kappa values were fair or moderate. Kappa values of questions regarding parental smoking were 0.8-0.9. Allergic sensitization was the major risk factor for both rhinitis and eczema, and the odds ratios were similar regardless of who reported the condition.CONCLUSION: The agreement between the parental and teenagers' reports was good, and the methodological change did not affect the study results.
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| 9. |
- Jobs, Elisabeth, et al.
(författare)
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Serum cathepsin S is associated with serum C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 independently of obesity in elderly men
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0021-972X .- 1945-7197. ; 95:9, s. 4460-4464
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Cathepsin S has been suggested provide a mechanistic link between obesity and atherosclerosis, possibly mediated via adipose tissue-derived inflammation. Previous data have shown an association between circulating cathepsin S and inflammatory markers in the obese, but to date, community-based reports are lacking. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate the association between serum levels of cathepsin S and markers of cytokine-mediated inflammation in a community-based sample, with prespecified subgroup analyses in nonobese participants. METHODS: Serum cathepsin S, C-reactive protein (CRP), and IL-6 were measured in a community-based cohort of elderly men (Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men; mean age 71 years, n = 991). CRP and IL-6 were also measured at a reexamination after 7 yr. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, diabetes treatment, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, hypertension treatment, serum cholesterol, serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, prior cardiovascular disease, smoking, and leisure time physical activity, higher cathepsin S was associated with higher CRP (regression coefficient for 1 sd increase, 0.13; 95% confidence interval 0.07-0.19; P < 0.001) and higher serum IL-6 (regression coefficient for 1 sd increase, 0.08; 95% confidence interval 0.01-0.14; P = 0.02). These associations remained similar in normal-weight participants (body mass index <25 kg/m(2), n = 375). In longitudinal analyses, higher cathepsin S at baseline was associated with higher serum CRP and IL-6 after 7 yr. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide additional evidence for the interplay between cathepsin S and inflammatory activity and suggest that this association is present also in normal-weight individuals in the community.
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