1. |
- Arnstad, Ellen Dalen, et al.
(author)
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Early Self-Reported Pain in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis as Related to Long-Term Outcomes : Results From the Nordic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Cohort Study
- 2019
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In: Arthritis care & research. - : WILEY. - 2151-464X .- 2151-4658. ; 71:7, s. 961-969
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective To study self-reported pain early in the disease course of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) as a predictor of long-term disease outcomes. Methods Consecutive cases of JIA with disease onset from 1997 to 2000 from defined geographical areas of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark were prospectively enrolled in this population-based cohort study. Self-reported, disease-related pain was measured on a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS pain). Inclusion criteria were a baseline visit with a pain score 6 months after disease onset, followed by an 8-year study visit. Remission was defined according to Wallace et al (2004) preliminary criteria. Functional disability was measured by the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire and the Child Health Questionnaire Parent Form if the child was age <18 years and by the Health Assessment Questionnaire if age >= 18 years. Damage was scored using the Juvenile Arthritis Damage Index. Results The final study cohort consisted of 243 participants, and 120 participants (49%) had oligoarticular onset. At baseline, 76% reported a VAS pain score >0 compared to 57% reporting at 8 years. Half of those who reported baseline pain also reported pain at 8 years but at a lower intensity. Compared to no pain, higher pain intensity at baseline predicted more pain at 8 years, more functional disability, more damage, and less remission without medication. Baseline pain predicted more use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs/biologics during the disease course. Participants with oligoarticular JIA reporting pain at baseline were more likely to develop extended oligoarticular JIA or other JIA categories with an unfavorable prognosis. Conclusion Early self-reported, disease-related pain among children and adolescents with JIA is common and seems to predict persistent pain and unfavorable long-term disease outcomes.
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2. |
- Arnstad, Ellen Dalen, et al.
(author)
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Fatigue in young adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis 18 years after disease onset : data from the prospective Nordic JIA cohort
- 2021
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In: Pediatric Rheumatology. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1546-0096. ; 19:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background To study fatigue in young adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) 18 years after disease onset, and to compare with controls. Methods Consecutive children with onset of JIA between 1997 and 2000, from geographically defined areas of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland were followed for 18 years in a close to population-based prospective cohort study. Clinical features, demographic and patient-reported data were collected. Inclusion criteria in the present study were a baseline visit 6 months after disease onset, followed by an 18-year follow-up with available self-reported fatigue score (Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), 1-7). Severe fatigue was defined as FSS >= 4. For comparison, Norwegian age and sex matched controls were used. Results Among 377 young adults with JIA, 26% reported severe fatigue, compared to 12% among controls. We found higher burden of fatigue among participants with sleep problems, pain, poor health, reduced participation in school/work, physical disability, active disease, or use of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)/biologics/systemic steroids. In contrast, participants without these challenges, had fatigue scores similar to controls. Active disease assessed at all three time points (baseline, 8-year and 18-year follow-up) was associated with higher mean fatigue score and higher percentage of severe fatigue compared to disease courses characterized by periods of inactive disease. Predictors of fatigue at the 18-year follow-up were female sex and diagnostic delay of >= 6 months at baseline, and also pain, self-reported poor health, active disease, and previous/ongoing use of DMARDs/biologics at 8 years. Conclusions Fatigue is a prominent symptom in young adults with JIA, with higher fatigue burden among participants with poor sleep, pain, self-reported health problems, active disease, or use of DMARDs/biologics. Participants without these challenges have results similar to controls. Patient- and physician-reported variables at baseline and during disease course predicted fatigue at 18-year follow-up.
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3. |
- Lynge, Elsebeth, et al.
(author)
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Exposure to tetrachloroethylene in dry cleaning shops in the Nordic countries
- 2011
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In: Annals of Occupational Hygiene. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1475-3162. ; 55:4, s. 387-396
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: Tetrachloroethylene is the dominant solvent used in dry cleaning worldwide and many workers are potentially exposed. We report here on results of 1296 measurements of tetrachloroethylene undertaken in Nordic dry cleaning shops 1947–2001. Methods: We searched documents and files in the Nordic institutes of occupational health for air measurements of tetrachloroethylene. Repeated measurements from the same facility during a short time interval were registered only once using the time-weighted average. We registered also changes over time in occupational exposure limits (OELs) to tetrachloroethylene. Results: Only scattered measurements were available from the early years, and the exposure level seemed fairly stable up until the mid 1970s. The median exposure level was 20 p.p.m. in 1976 and decreased to 3 p.p.m. in 2000. Exposure levels in the four Nordic countries followed similar trends. In the late 1960s, the OELs varied between the Nordic countries from 30 to 100 p.p.m. Sweden was first to lower the limit, but limits gradually converged over time. At present, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden use 10 p.p.m., while Norway uses 6 p.p.m. Over time, the average observed exposure level was lower than the OEL in all countries, but in Denmark and Sweden, up to one-third of measured exposures exceeded the OEL. Overall, the stationary measurements for maintenance work showed 36 p.p.m., while the personal measurements showed 7.5 p.p.m. for dry cleaners and 6.25 p.p.m. for shop assistants. Conclusion: The Nordic data illustrate that it is possible over time to control chemical exposures even in an industry consisting of many small and scattered work places.
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4. |
- Myklestad, Kirsti, et al.
(author)
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Do parental heights influence pregnancy length?: a population-based prospective study, HUNT 2
- 2013
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In: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2393. ; 13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The objective of this study was to examine the association of maternal and paternal height with pregnancy length, and with the risk of pre- and post-term birth. In addition we aimed to study whether cardiovascular risk factors could explain possible associations. Methods: Parents who participated in the Nord-Trondelag Health Study (HUNT 2; 1995-1997) were linked to offspring data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (1997-2005). The main analyses included 3497 women who had delivered 5010 children, and 2005 men who had fathered 2798 pregnancies. All births took place after parental participation in HUNT 2. Linear regression was used to estimate crude and adjusted differences in pregnancy length according to parental heights. Logistic regression was used to estimate crude and adjusted associations of parental heights with the risk of pre-and post-term births. Results: We found a gradual increase in pregnancy length by increasing maternal height, and the association was essentially unchanged after adjustment for maternal cardiovascular risk factors, parental age, offspring sex, parity, and socioeconomic measures. When estimated date of delivery was based on ultrasound, the difference between mothers in the lower height quintile (<163 cm cm) and mothers in the upper height quintile (>= 173 cm) was 4.3 days, and when estimated date of delivery was based on last menstrual period (LMP), the difference was 2.8 days. Shorter women (< 163 cm) had lower risk of post-term births, and when estimated date of delivery was based on ultrasound they also had higher risk of pre-term births. Paternal height was not associated with pregnancy length, or with the risks of pre-and post-term births. Conclusions: Women with shorter stature had shorter pregnancy length and lower risk of post-term births than taller women, and when EDD was based on ultrasound, they also had higher risk of preterm births. The effect of maternal height was generally stronger when pregnancy length was based on second trimester ultrasound compared to last menstrual period. The association of maternal height with pregnancy length could not be explained by cardiovascular risk factors. Paternal height was neither associated with pregnancy length nor with the risk of pre-and post-term birth.
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5. |
- Skrastad, Ragnhild B., et al.
(author)
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A prospective study of screening for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy at 11-13 weeks in a Scandinavian population
- 2014
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In: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. - : Wiley. - 1600-0412 .- 0001-6349. ; 93:12, s. 1238-1247
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ObjectiveTo investigate the prediction of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension using maternal characteristics, mean arterial pressure (MAP), uterine artery pulsatility index (UtAPI), pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and placental growth factor (PlGF) at gestational weeks 11-13 in a Scandinavian population with a medium to high prior risk for developing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. DesignProspective screening study. SettingNational Center for Fetal Medicine, Trondheim, Norway. Population579 women who were nulliparous or had a previous history of preeclampsia or gestational hypertension. MethodsWomen were examined between 11(+0) and 13(+6)weeks, with interviews for maternal characteristics and measurements of MAP, UtAPI, PAPP-A and PlGF. The tests were evaluated separately and in combined models with receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves. Main outcome measuresPrediction of preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. ResultsThe best model for severe preeclampsia (MAP+UtAPI+PlGF+PAPP-A) achieved an area under the ROC curve of 0.866 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.756-0.976]. The best models for preeclampsia (MAP+UtAPI+age) achieved 0.738 (0.634-0.841), gestational hypertension (MAP) 0.820 (0.727-0.913) and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy overall (MAP+PlGF+age) 0.783 (0.709-0.856). Using the best model we could identify 61.5% (95% CI 31.6-86.1) of severe preeclampsia, 38.5% (95% CI 20.2-59.4) of preeclampsia and 42.9% (95% CI 21.8-66) of gestational hypertension at a fixed 10% false-positive rate. ConclusionsMaternal characteristics, MAP, UtAPI, PAPP-A and PlGF showed limited value as screening tests. Further research on biochemical and biophysical tests and algorithms combining these parameters is needed before first trimester screening for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is included in antenatal care in Scandinavia.
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6. |
- Stafne, Signe N., et al.
(author)
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Does regular exercise during pregnancy influence lumbopelvic pain? A randomized controlled trial
- 2012
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In: Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. - : Wiley. - 1600-0412 .- 0001-6349. ; 91:5, s. 552-559
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective. To study lumbopelvic pain in women randomized to a regular exercise program during pregnancy in comparison to women receiving standard antenatal care. Design. A two-armed, two-center, randomized controlled trial. Setting. St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital and Stavanger University Hospital. Population. A total of 855 pregnant women were randomized to intervention or control groups. Methods. The intervention was a 12 week exercise program, including aerobic and strengthening exercises, conducted between 20 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. One weekly group session was led by physiotherapists, and home exercises were encouraged twice a week. The control group received standard antenatal care. Main outcome measures. Self-reports of lumbopelvic pain and sick leave due to lumbopelvic pain. The data were analysed according to the intention-to-treat principle. Results. There were no significant differences between groups of women reporting lumbopelvic pain at 36 weeks (74 vs. 75%, p=0.76). The proportion of women on sick leave due to lumbopelvic pain was lower in the intervention group (22% vs 31%, p=0.01). Conclusions. Exercise during pregnancy does not influence the prevalence of lumbopelvic pain, but women offered a regular exercise course seem to handle the disorder better.
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7. |
- Svedahl, Sindre Rabben, et al.
(author)
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Inflammatory Markers in Blood and Exhaled Air after Short-Term Exposure to Cooking Fumes
- 2013
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In: Annals of Occupational Hygiene. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1475-3162. ; 57:2, s. 230-239
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Cooking fumes contain aldehydes, alkanoic acids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heterocyclic compounds. The inhalation of cooking fumes entails a risk of deleterious health effects. The aim of this study was to see if the inhalation of cooking fumes alters the expression of inflammatory reactions in the bronchial mucosa and its subsequent systemic inflammatory response in blood biomarkers. Twenty-four healthy volunteers stayed in a model kitchen on two different occasions for 2 or 4h. On the first occasion, there was only exposure to normal air, and on the second, there was exposure to controlled levels of cooking fumes. On each occasion, samples of blood, exhaled air, and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) were taken three times in 24h and inflammatory markers were measured from all samples. There was an increase in the concentration of the d-dimer in blood from 0.27 to 0.28mg ml(1) on the morning after exposure to cooking fumes compared with the levels the morning before (P-value 0.004). There was also a trend of an increase in interleukin (IL)-6 in blood, ethane in exhaled air, and IL-1 in EBC after exposure to cooking fumes. In a sub-analysis of 12 subjects, there was also an increase in the levels of ethaneufrom 2.83 parts per billion (ppb) on the morning before exposure to cooking fumes to 3.53 ppb on the morning after exposure (P 0.013)uand IL-1ufrom 1.04 on the morning before exposure to cooking fumes to 1.39 pg ml(1) immediately after (P 0.024). In our experimental setting, we were able to unveil only small changes in the levels of inflammatory markers in exhaled air and in blood after short-term exposure to moderate concentrations of cooking fumes.
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8. |
- Tollefsen, Elin, et al.
(author)
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Allergy: a systemic disease? The HUNT and Young-HUNT study, Norway.
- 2008
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In: Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. - : Wiley. - 0905-6157 .- 1399-3038. ; 19:8, s. 730-736
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A systemic nature of allergic diseases has been hypothesized. As part of this discussion, we studied if adolescent allergic wheeze and increasing combinations of allergic organ involvements (lung, nose and skin) would also increase the reporting of other health problems (headache, muscle pain and abdominal pain). In addition, we studied if parental asthma was associated with adolescent clustering of allergic expressions and if parental asthma with additional health problems (headache or muscle pain) was associated with adolescent reporting allergy in combination with headache, muscle pain and abdominal pain. Adolescents 13-19 yr (n = 8817, 89%) participated in the Young-HUNT study, Norway, 1995-97. Parental data on asthma were eligible in n = 5620. Health and lifestyle were measured by questionnaires and interviews. Associations with additional health problems were significantly strengthened with combinations of wheeze and other allergic expressions. Odds Ratio for associations 'wheeze only', 'wheeze and rhinitis' and 'wheeze, rhinitis and eczema' were for headache 2.1, 3.4 and 3.7; for muscle pain 2.8, 3.2 and 4.9; for abdominal pain 3.6, 4.0 and 4.9. All p for trend were < 0.010. Similar results were obtained when studying allergic wheeze; p for trend < 0.001. Parental asthma was associated with clustering of adolescent allergic expressions, and parental asthma with headache or muscle pain was significantly associated with reported allergy combined with similar health problems in their offspring. The results indicate that allergy may be expressed beyond organs commonly viewed as part of an allergic disease, and hence may support a hypothesis of a systemic nature of allergic diseases.
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9. |
- Tollefsen, Elin, et al.
(author)
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Female gender is associated with higher incidence and more stable respiratory symptoms during adolescence
- 2007
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In: Respiratory Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 1532-3064 .- 0954-6111. ; 101:5, s. 896-902
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Childhood asthma and wheeze is more common among boys than girls, white the opposite is found in adults. The main objective was to study the incidence and the course of wheeze and asthma during adolescence with focus on gender differences. In addition, we explored associations between lifestyle factors at baseline and wheeze at follow-up. A total of 2399 adolescents answered validated questionnaires on respiratory symptoms and lifestyle in 1995-1997 (13-15 years) and at follow-up in 2000-2001 (17-19 years). The risk of reporting wheeze and asthma at follow-up was greater in girls compared to boys among subjects reporting no respiratory symptoms at baseline; Relative risk: 1.4 and 2.4, respectively. More girls than boys reported current wheeze at follow-up, both among those with current wheeze (girls 60%, boys 48%) and previous wheeze (girls 33%, boys 28%) at baseline. In girls, development of current wheeze was significantly associated with current smoking (OR = 2.8) and stable current wheeze was significantly associated with overweight (OR = 2.4). Similar associations were not significant in boys. More girls than boys developed wheeze, had stable wheeze or had relapse of previous symptoms during the four year follow-up. The impact of smoking and overweight may put girls at a higher risk of respiratory symptoms than boys. Awareness of the gender difference in respiratory symptoms is important for diagnosis and preventive strategies during adolescence. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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10. |
- Yanes, Manar, et al.
(author)
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Laryngeal and Pharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma After Antireflux Surgery in the 5 Nordic Countries
- 2022
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In: Annals of Surgery. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0003-4932 .- 1528-1140. ; 276:2, s. E79-E85
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify whether antireflux surgery prevents laryngeal and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.Summary Background Data: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) seems to increase the risk of laryngeal and pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.Methods: All-Nordic (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) population-based cohort study of adults with documented GERD in 1980 to 2014. First, cancer risk after antireflux surgery was compared to the expected risk in the corresponding background population by calculating standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Second, cancer risk among antireflux surgery patients was compared to nonoperated GERD patients using multivariable Cox regression, providing hazard ratios (HR) with 95% CIs, adjusted for sex, age, calendar period, and diagnoses related to tobacco smoking, obesity, and alcohol overconsumption.Results: Among 814,230 GERD patients, 47,016 (5.8%) underwent antireflux surgery. The overall SIRs and HRs of the combined outcome laryngeal or pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (n=39) were decreased after antireflux surgery [SIR=0.62 (95% CI 0.44-0.85) and HR=0.55 (95% CI 0.38-0.80)]. The point estimates were further decreased >10 years after antireflux surgery [SIR=0.48 (95% CI 0.26-0.80) and HR=0.47 (95% CI 0.26-0.85)]. The risk estimates of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma were particularly decreased >10 years after antireflux surgery [SIR=0.28 (95% CI 0.08-0.72) and HR=0.23 (95% CI 0.08-0.69)], whereas no such decrease over time after surgery was found for pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Analyses of patients with severe GERD (reflux esophagitis or Barrett esophagus) showed similar results.Conclusion: Antireflux surgery may decrease the risk of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and possibly also of pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
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