1. |
- Davídsdóttir, Lóa, et al.
(author)
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Hepatocellular carcinoma in individuals with HBV infection or HBV-HCV co-infection in a low endemic country
- 2010
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In: Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1502-7708 .- 0036-5521. ; 45:7-8, s. 944-952
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The aim of this nationwide cohort study was to assess the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection in Sweden, a low endemic country.MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 12,080 patients with HBV and 3238 patients with HBV-HCV co-infection were notified to the Swedish institute for Infectious Disease Control between 1990 and 2004. After excluding 1850 patients with acute HBV and 584 patients infected in adult life, we analyzed the cohort of 9646 subjects with chronic HBV infection. In the co-infection cohort, 1697 patients were analyzed after excluding 1541 cases with acute HBV. The Swedish national cancer registry was used for follow-up. The HCC incidence rate in the cohorts was compared with the HCC incidence rate in the general population and the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was calculated for different strata according to estimated infection period.RESULTS: HCC was found in 45 patients in the HBV cohort. In the stratum of 40-49 years of infection we found a SIR of 47 and in stratum 50-59 years the SIR was 54. In the co-infected cohort 10 HCCs were found. The SIR in the stratum 20-29 years of infection was 34 and the SIR in the stratum 30 years and over was 91.CONCLUSIONS: This national cohort study of HBV infected and HBV-HCV co-infected subjects in a low endemic country confirms a highly increased risk of liver cancer compared to the general population.
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2. |
- Duberg, Ann-Sofi, et al.
(author)
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Cause of death in individuals with chronic HBV and/or HCV infection, a nationwide community-based register study
- 2008
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In: Journal of Viral Hepatitis. - : Wiley. - 1352-0504 .- 1365-2893. ; 15:7, s. 538-550
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Studies on chronic viral hepatitis and mortality have often been made on selected populations or in high-endemic countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the causes of death and the mortality rates in the nationwide cohorts of people chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Sweden, a low-endemic country. All notifications on chronic HBV infection and HCV infection 1990-2003 were linked to the Cause of Death Register. A total of 9517 people with chronic HBV infection, 34 235 people with HCV infection and 1601 with chronic HBV-HCV co-infection were included, and the mean observation times were 6.4, 6.3 and 7.9 years, respectively. The mortality in the cohorts was compared with age- and gender-specific mortality in the general population and standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated. All-cause mortality was significantly increased, SMR 2.3 (HBV), 5.8 (HCV) and 8.5 (HBV-HCV), with a great excess liver-related mortality in all cohorts, SMR 21.7, 35.5 and 46.2, respectively. In HCV and HBV-HCV infected there was an increased mortality due to drug-related psychiatric diagnoses (SMR: 20.7 and 27.6) and external causes (SMR: 12.4 and 11.4), predominantly at younger age. To conclude, this study demonstrated an increased all-cause mortality, with a great excess mortality from liver disease, in all cohorts. In people with HCV infection the highest excess mortality in younger ages was from drug-related and external reasons.PMID: 18397223 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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3. |
- Duberg, Ann-Sofi, 1957-
(author)
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Hepatitis C virus infection : a nationwide study of associated morbidity and mortality
- 2009
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The hepatitis C virus (HCV) was characterised in 1989. HCV was transmitted through transfusion of blood/blood products, but injection drug use is now the most common route of transmission. The infection is usually asymptomatic but becomes chronic in about 75%, and in 20 years 15-25% develops liver cirrhosis, with a risk for liver failure and liver cancer. HCV has also been associated with lymphoproliferative disorders. The aim of this thesis was to study morbidity and mortality in a national, population-based cohort of HCV-infected individuals. The study population consisted of all persons with a diagnosed HCV-infection recorded in the national surveillance database. This file was linked to other national registers to obtain information of emigration, deaths, cancers, and inpatient care. All personal identifiers were removed before analysis. In Paper I the standardized incidence ratios (SIR) for Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), multiple myeloma, acute and chronic lymphatic leukaemia, and thyroid cancer were studied. In the HCV-cohort (n: 27,150) there was a doubled risk for NHL and multiple myeloma in patients infected for more than 15 years, compared with the general population (age-, sex- and calendar-year specific incidence rates). The results strengthened these earlier controversial associations. The SIR and also the absolute risk for primary liver cancer were estimated in Paper II. In the HCV-cohort (n: 36,126) the individuals infected for more than 25 years had a more than 40 times increased risk for liver cancer compared with the general population. The absolute risk of primary liver cancer was 7% within 40 years of HCV-infection. Mortality and cause of death were studied in Paper III. The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) demonstrated a 5.8 times excess mortality in the HCV-cohort (n: 34,235) compared with the general population, and a 35.5 times excess mortality from liver disease. Deaths from illicit drugs and external reasons were common in young adults. Paper IV presents a study of inpatient care. The HCV-cohort (n: 43,000) was compared with a matched reference population (n: 215,000). Cox regression was used to estimate the likelihood, a hazard ratio, for admission to hospital, and frequencies and rates to estimate the total burden. In the HCV-cohort inpatient care was high and about 50% was psychiatric, often drug-related care. The likelihood for liver-related admissions was very high, and serious liver complications increased in the 2000s, indicating that HCV-associated liver disease will increase the next decade. In the 2000s, about 1000 individuals per year were treated with HCV-combination therapy. To conclude, the risk for NHL and multiple myeloma was doubled, and liver- and drug-related morbidity and mortality was very high in the HCV-cohort. Serious liver complications increased in the 2000s and will probably increase the coming decade.
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4. |
- Duberg, Ann-Sofi, et al.
(author)
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Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and other nonhepatic malignancies in Swedish patients with hepatitis C virus infection
- 2005
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In: Hepatology. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0270-9139 .- 1527-3350. ; 41:3, s. 652-659
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), multiple myeloma (MM), thyroid cancer (TC), chronic lymphatic leukemia (CLL), acute lymphatic leukemia (ALL), and Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). A Swedish cohort of 27,150 HCV-infected persons notified during 1990-2000 was included in the study. The database was linked to other national registers to calculate the observation time, expressed as person-years, and to identify all incident malignancies in the cohort. The patients were stratified according to assumed time of previous HCV infection. The relative risk of malignancy was expressed as a standardized incidence ratio (SIR)-the observed number compared to the expected number. During 1990-2000 there were 50 NHL, 15 MM, 14 ALL, 8 TC, 6 CLL, and 4 HL diagnoses in the cohort. Altogether, 20 NHL, 7 MM, 5 TC, 4 CLL, 1 ALL, and 1 HL patient fulfilled the criteria to be included in the statistical analysis. The observation time was 122,272 person-years. The risk of NHL and MM was significantly increased in the stratum with more than 15 years of infection (SIR 1.89 [95% CI, 1.10-3.03] and 2.54 [95% CI, 1.11-5.69], respectively). The association was not significant in TC or CLL. In conclusion, we report the incidence of several malignancies in a nationwide cohort of HCV-infected persons. Although the delayed diagnosis of HCV probably has resulted in an underestimation of the risk, this study showed a significantly increased risk of NHL and MM.
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5. |
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6. |
- Duberg, Ann-Sofi, et al.
(author)
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The burden of hepatitis C in Sweden : a national study of inpatient care
- 2011
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In: Journal of Viral Hepatitis. - : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Inc.. - 1352-0504 .- 1365-2893. ; 18:2, s. 106-118
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The spread of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Sweden in the 1970s indicated that serious liver complications (SLC) would increase in the 2000s. The aim of this study was to analyse the burden of HCV-associated inpatient care in Sweden, to demonstrate the changes over time and to compare the findings with a noninfected population. The HCV-cohort (n: 43 000) was identified from the national surveillance database 1990-2006, and then linked to national registers to produce an age-, sex-, and region-matched noninfected comparison population (n: 215 000) and to obtain information on demographics, cancers, inpatient care and prescriptions. Cox regression was used to estimate the likelihood (hazard ratios) for admission to hospital in the HCV compared with the noninfected cohort. The hazard ratios were 4.03 (95% CI: 3.98-4.08) for all care, 77.52 (71.02-84.60) for liver-related care and 40.74 (30.58-54.27) for liver cancer care. The admission rate in the HCV-cohort compared with the noninfected cohort, the rate ratio (age- and sex-adjusted) for all inpatient care was 5.91 (95% CI: 5.87-5.94), and the rate ratio for liver-related care was 70.05 (66.06-74.28). In the HCV-cohort, 45% of all episodes were for psychiatric, mostly drug-related, care. Inpatient care for SLC increased in the 2000s. To conclude, drug-related care was common in the HCV-infected cohort, the demand for liver-related care was very high, and SLC increased notably in the 2000s, indicating that the burden of inpatient care from serious liver disease in HCV-infected individuals in Sweden is an increasing problem.
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7. |
- Duberg, Ann-Sofi, et al.
(author)
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The epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in Sweden
- 2008
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In: Eurosurveillance. - : European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. - 1025-496X .- 1560-7917. ; 13:21
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In Sweden, infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been a notifiable disease since 1990, when diagnostic methods became available. Blood donor screening indicated that about 0.5% of the Swedish population (9 millions) had been HCV infected. Here we present the Swedish hepatitis C epidemic based on data from all the HCV notifications 1990-2006. During this time about 42,000 individuals (70% men) were diagnosed and reported as HCV infected. The majority (80%) were born in 1950 or later, with a high percentage (60%) born in the 1950s and 1960s. Younger people, 15-24 years old at notification, were reported on the same level each year. The main reported routes of HCV transmission were intravenous drug use in 65%, blood transfusions/products in 6%, and sexual in 2%, though unknown or not stated in 26%. Approximately 6,000 of all notified individuals have died during the study period. To conclude, the Swedish HCV epidemic is highly related to the increase of intravenous drug use in the late 1960s and 1970s, with a high proportion of people now chronically infected for more than 25 years, resulting in an increase of severe liver complications in form of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Furthermore the unchanged number of notifications of newly infected younger people indicates an ongoing HCV epidemic.PMID: 18761966 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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8. |
- Eckerblad, Jeanette, et al.
(author)
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Symptom burden in community-dwelling older people with multimorbidity : a cross-sectional study
- 2015
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In: BMC Geriatrics. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 1471-2318. ; 15
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Globally, the population is ageing and lives with several chronic diseases for decades. A high symptom burden is associated with a high use of healthcare, admissions to nursing homes, and reduced quality of life. The aims of this study were to describe the multidimensional symptom profile and symptom burden in community-dwelling older people with multimorbidity, and to describe factors related to symptom burden. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 378 community-dwelling people >= 75 years, who had been hospitalized >= 3 times during the previous year, had >= 3 diagnoses in their medical records. The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale was used to assess the prevalence, frequency, severity, distress and symptom burden of 31 symptoms. A multiple linear regression was performed to identify factors related to total symptom burden. Results: The mean number of symptoms per participant was 8.5 (4.6), and the mean total symptom burden score was 0.62 (0.41). Pain was the symptom with the highest prevalence, frequency, severity and distress. Half of the study group reported the prevalence of lack of energy and a dry mouth. Poor vision, likelihood of depression, and diagnoses of the digestive system were independently related to the total symptom burden score. Conclusion: The older community-dwelling people with multimorbidity in this study suffered from a high symptom burden with a high prevalence of pain. Persons with poor vision, likelihood of depression, and diseases of the digestive system are at risk of a higher total symptom burden and might need age-specific standardized guidelines for appropriate management.
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9. |
- Ekdahl, Ann, et al.
(author)
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Being met as a person and not as a diagnosis : meanings of healthcare encounters for women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease grade III or IV
- 2024
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In: Health Care for Women International. - : Routledge. - 0739-9332 .- 1096-4665. ; , s. 1-13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Our study seeks to elucidate meanings of healthcare encounters for women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV. We conducted 12 narrative interviews which were analyzed using phenomenological hermeneutic interpretation. Our analysis revealed one theme; being met as a person and not as a diagnosis with three subthemes: getting sufficient time and feeling involved in care; fulfillment of personal needs; and experiencing disrespect and injustice. We found that meanings of healthcare encounters center on the expectation of being seen as a person. Feeling disrespected and injust leaves women unsupported and could pose serious health risks.
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10. |
- Ekdahl, Ann, et al.
(author)
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Living with an ever-present breathlessness : Women's experiences of living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV
- 2022
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. - : Wiley. - 0283-9318 .- 1471-6712. ; 36:4, s. 1064-1073
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV has a major impact on a person's everyday life. This qualitative study focuses on women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe women's experiences of living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV. Method: A purposive sample of fifteen women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV participated in the study. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews that were subjected to qualitative content analysis. Findings: One theme was identified, stabilizing an ever-present breathlessness by restoring strength, and three categories are as follows: managing a restricted everyday life as an expert of their illness, being afraid of contracting infections leading to suffocation and suffering and importance of continuous help and support from significant others and digital media. Breathlessness restricted women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, living with a body they have to wait for. Managing everyday life was adapted to their limited abilities and energy. This required detailed planning, good knowledge of their breathing and body. Women were afraid of contracting life-threatening infections that caused suffering, especially COVID-19. The fear leads to isolation and digital media was described as an important means of communication. Significant others gave support and help that was practical and emotional. Women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease experienced lack of continuous help and support from healthcare professionals. Conclusion: Stabilizing an ever-present breathlessness by restoring strength required women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV to conduct detailed planning to manage everyday life. Being afraid of contracting infections and the consequences of suffocation had increased since the pandemic COVID-19 outbreak, which led to self-isolation and an inactive everyday life. To get help, support and socialize, women used digital media.
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