1. |
- Entonen, Anitta H., et al.
(author)
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Prevalent migraine as a predictor of incident hypertension
- 2022
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In: European Journal of Public Health. - : Oxford University Press. - 1101-1262 .- 1464-360X. ; 32:2, s. 297-301
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Migraine has been associated with several diseases. This population-based prospective Finnish postal survey Health and Social Support Study explored whether self-reported migraine predicted incident hypertension independently in a working-age population by utilizing two data sources: the baseline survey from the year 1998 in combination with the follow-up survey data from the years 2003 and 2012 with linkage to the national Social Insurance Institution registry data of the special reimbursement medication for hypertension from 1999 to 2013. The survey follow-up reached until the second follow-up in the year 2012. The register follow-up also included the year 2013. METHODS: The present population-based prospective cohort study, utilizing two different data sources, included 8593 respondents (22.7% response rate) who participated in 1998, 2003, and 2012 but who did not report hypertension at the baseline in 1998, and whose responses could be linked with the Social Insurance Institution registry data from the beginning of 1999 to the end of 2013. The multivariable logistic regression analysis was based on the combined two data sets. RESULTS: A significant association of self-reported migraine and incident hypertension (odds ratio 1.37; 95% confidence interval 1.20-1.57) prevailed in the multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for central socio-demographic and health behaviour variables. CONCLUSION: Extra attention should be paid to prevention and control of hypertension in working-age migraine patients.
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2. |
- Halme, Marie, et al.
(author)
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Educational level and the use of mental health services, psychotropic medication and psychotherapy among adults with a history of physician diagnosed mental disorders
- 2023
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In: International Journal of Social Psychiatry. - : Sage Publications. - 0020-7640 .- 1741-2854. ; 69:2, s. 493-502
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The prevalence of mental disorders is increased among people of low socioeconomic status or educational level, but it remains unclear whether their access to treatment matches their increased need.Aims: Our objective was to examine whether educational level as an indicator of socioeconomic status is associated with use of mental health services, psychotropic medication and psychotherapy in Finland.Method: Cross-sectional data from a follow-up survey of a longitudinal, population-based cohort study were used to form a sample of 3,053 men and women aged 24 to 68 with a current or previous physician diagnosed mental disorder. The prevalence of mental disorders, mental health service use and educational level were assessed with self-report questionnaire. Educational level was determined by the highest educational attainment and grouped into three levels: high, intermediate and low. The associations between educational level and mental health service -related outcomes were assessed with binary logistic regression. Covariates in the fully adjusted model were age, gender and number of somatic diseases.Results: Compared to high educational level, low educational level was associated with higher odds of using antidepressants (OR 1.35, 95% CI [1.09, 1.66]), hypnotics (OR 1.33, 95% CI [1.07, 1.66]) and sedatives (OR 2.17, 95% CI [1.69, 2.78]), and lower odds of using mental health services (OR 0.80, 95% CI [0.65, 0.98]). No associations were found between educational level and use of psychotherapy.Conclusions: The results do not suggest a general socioeconomic status related mismatch. A pharmacological emphasis was observed in the treatment of low educational background participants, whereas overall mental health service use was emphasized among high educational background participants.
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3. |
- Lautamatti, Emmi, et al.
(author)
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A named General Practitioner (GP) is associated with an increase of hospital days in a single predictor analysis : a follow-up of 15 years
- 2023
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In: BMC Health Services Research. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1472-6963. ; 23:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Continuity of care constitutes the basis of primary health care services and is associated with decreased hospitalization. In Finland, accessibility to primary care and increased use of hospital services are recognized challenges for the health care system. Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine whether having a named GP is associated with hospital service use. Methods: The data are part of the Health and Social Support study (HeSSup) based on a random Finnish working-age population sample. The cohort of the study comprised participants of postal surveys in 1998 (n = 25,898) who returned follow-up questionnaires both in 2003 and 2012 (n = 11,924). Background characteristics were inquired in the questionnaires, and hospitalization was derived from national registries (Hilmo-register). Results: A named GP was reported both in 2003 and 2012 only by 34.3% of the participants. The association between hospital days and a named GP was linearly rising and statistically significant in a single predictor model. The strongest associations with hospital use were with health-related factors, and the association with a named GP was no longer significant in multinomial analysis. Conclusion: A named GP is associated with an increased use of hospital days, but in a multinomial analysis the association disappeared. Health related factors showed the strongest association with hospital days. From the perspective of the on-going Finnish health and social services reform, continuity of care should be emphasized.
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4. |
- Lautamatti, Emmi, et al.
(author)
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A named GP increases self-reported access to health care services
- 2022
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In: BMC Health Services Research. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1472-6963. ; 22:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Continuity of care strengthens health promotion and decreases mortality, although the mechanisms of these effects are still unclear. In recent decades, continuity of care and accessibility of health care services have both decreased in Finland. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate whether a named and assigned GP representing continuity of care is associated with the use of primary and hospital health care services and to create knowledge on the state of continuity of care in a changing health care system in Finland. Methods: The data are part of the Health and Social Support (HeSSup) mail survey based on a random Finnish working age population sample of 64,797 individuals drawn in 1998 and follow-up surveys in 2003 and 2012. The response rate in 1998 was 40% (n = 25,898). Continuity of care was derived from the 2003 and 2012 data sets, other variables from the 2012 survey (n = 11,924). The principal outcome variables were primary health care and hospital service use reported by participants. The association of the explanatory variables (gender, age, education, reported chronic diseases, health status, smoking, obesity, NYHA class of any functional limitation, depressive mood and continuity of care) with the outcome variables was analysed by binomial logistic regression analysis. Results: A named and assigned GP was independently and significantly associated with more frequent use of primary and hospital care in the adjusted logistic regression analysis (ORs 1.53 (95% CI 1.35–1.72) and 1.19 (95% CI 1.08–1.32), p < 0.001). Conclusion: A named GPs is associated with an increased use of primary care and hospital services. A named GP assures access to health care services especially to the chronically ill population. The results depict the state of continuity of care in Finland. All benefits of continuity of care are not enabled although it still assures treatment of population in the most vulnerable position.
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5. |
- Lietzén, Raija, et al.
(author)
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Change in β2-agonist use after severe life events in adults with asthma : A population-based cohort study Life events and bronchodilator usage among adults with asthma
- 2017
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In: Journal of Psychosomatic Research. - : Elsevier. - 0022-3999 .- 1879-1360. ; 100, s. 46-52
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: This prospective, population-based cohort study of 1102 Finnish adults with asthma, examined whether exposure to stressful life events is associated with the intensity of usage of inhaled short-acting β2- agonists. Methods: Survey data was collected by two postal questionnaires. Baseline characteristics were obtained in 1998 and data on 19 specific stressful events (e.g. death of a child or spouse or divorce) within the six preceding months in 2003. Exposure to life events was indicated by a sum score weighted by mean severity of the events. Participants were linked to records of filled prescriptions for inhaled short-acting β2-agonists from national registers from 2000 through 2006. The rates of purchases of short-acting β2-agonists before (2000−2001), during (2002−2003) and after (2004–2006) the event exposure were estimated using repeated-measures Poisson regression analyses with the generalized estimating equation. Results: Of the 1102 participants, 162 (15%) were exposed to highly stressful events, 205 (19%) to less stressful events. During the 7-year observation period, 5955 purchases of filled prescription for inhaled short-acting β2- agonists were recorded. After exposure to highly stressful events, the rate of purchases of β2-agonists was 1.50 times higher (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05, 2.13) than before the stressful event occurred. Among those with low or no exposure to life events, the corresponding rate ratios were not elevated (rate ratio 0.81, 95% CI: 0.66, 0.99 and 0.95, 95% CI: 0.83, 1.09 respectively). Conclusion: An increase in β2-agonist usage after severe life events suggests that stressful experiences may worsen asthma symptoms
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6. |
- Lietzén, Raija, et al.
(author)
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Multiple adverse childhood experiences and asthma onset in adulthood : Role of adulthood risk factors as mediators
- 2021
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In: Journal of Psychosomatic Research. - : Elsevier. - 0022-3999 .- 1879-1360. ; 143
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: This population-based study of 21,902 Finnish adults examined whether adulthood risk factors for asthma mediate the association between the exposure to multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) assessed retrospectively and the risk of new-onset asthma in adulthood. Methods: Baseline characteristics, occurrence of ACEs, and risk factors of asthma in adulthood were collected with a postal survey at baseline in 1998. The participants were linked to records on incident asthma from national health registers from 1999 to 2012. Counterfactual mediation analysis was used to examine the effects of multiple ACEs (≥2) on asthma through adulthood risk factors of asthma (mediators). Results: Of the 21,902 participants without asthma at baseline, 7552 (34%) were exposed to multiple ACEs during childhood. During the follow-up period, 2046 participants were diagnosed with incident asthma. Exposure to multiple ACEs increased the risk of asthma onset by 31% compared with ≤1 ACE. The association between ACEs and asthma onset was partly mediated by the following adulthood risk factors: severe life events (29%), smoking (15%), allergic rhinitis (8%), low education level (6%), and obesity (3%). Specific stressful life events mediating the ACE–asthma association were ‘severe financial difficulties’ (24%), ‘emotional, physical or sexual violence’ (15%), ‘major increase in marital problems’ (8%), ‘severe conflicts with supervisor’ (7%), and ‘divorce or separation’ (5%). Conclusions: Exposure to multiple ACEs increased the risk of asthma in adulthood. Adulthood risk factors of asthma mediated a significant proportion of the effect of ACEs on the risk of asthma onset.
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7. |
- Pachito, Daniela V., et al.
(author)
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The effect of exposure to long working hours on alcohol consumption, risky drinking and alcohol use disorder : A systematic review and meta-analysis from the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of the Work-related burden of disease and injury
- 2021
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In: Environment International. - : Elsevier. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 146
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are developing Joint Estimates of the work-related burden of disease and injury (WHO/ILO Joint Estimates), with contributions from a large network of experts. Evidence from mechanistic data suggests that exposure to long working hours may increase alcohol consumption and cause alcohol use disorder. In this paper, we present a systematic review and meta-analysis of parameters for estimating the number of deaths and disability-adjusted life years from alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorder that are attributable to exposure to long working hours, for the development of the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates. Objectives: We aimed to systematically review and meta-analyse estimates of the effect of exposure to long working hours (three categories: 41–48, 49–54 and ≥55 h/week), compared with exposure to standard working hours (35–40 h/week), on alcohol consumption, risky drinking (three outcomes: prevalence, incidence and mortality) and alcohol use disorder (three outcomes: prevalence, incidence and mortality). Data sources: We developed and published a protocol, applying the Navigation Guide as an organizing systematic review framework where feasible. We searched electronic bibliographic databases for potentially relevant records from published and unpublished studies, including the WHO International Clinical Trials Register, Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, and CISDOC on 30 June 2018. Searches on PubMed were updated on 18 April 2020. We also searched electronic grey literature databases, Internet search engines and organizational websites; hand-searched reference list of previous systematic reviews and included study records; and consulted additional experts. Study eligibility and criteria: We included working-age (≥15 years) workers in the formal and informal economy in any WHO and/or ILO Member State but excluded children (<15 years) and unpaid domestic workers. We considered for inclusion randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies and other non-randomized intervention studies with an estimate of the effect of exposure to long working hours (41–48, 49–54 and ≥55 h/week), compared with exposure to standard working hours (35–40 h/week), on alcohol consumption (in g/week), risky drinking, and alcohol use disorder (prevalence, incidence or mortality). Study appraisal and synthesis methods: At least two review authors independently screened titles and abstracts against the eligibility criteria at a first stage and full texts of potentially eligible records at a second stage, followed by extraction of data from publications related to qualifying studies. Two or more review authors assessed the risk of bias, quality of evidence and strength of evidence, using Navigation Guide and GRADE tools and approaches adapted to this project. Results: Fourteen cohort studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising a total of 104,599 participants (52,107 females) in six countries of three WHO regions (Americas, South-East Asia, and Europe). The exposure and outcome were assessed with self-reported measures in most studies. Across included studies, risk of bias was generally probably high, with risk judged high or probably high for detection bias and missing data for alcohol consumption and risky drinking. Compared to working 35–40 h/week, exposure to working 41–48 h/week increased alcohol consumption by 10.4 g/week (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.59–15.20; seven studies; 25,904 participants, I2 71%, low quality evidence). Exposure to working 49–54 h/week increased alcohol consumption by 17.69 g/week (95% confidence interval (CI) 9.16–26.22; seven studies, 19,158 participants, I2 82%, low quality evidence). Exposure to working ≥55 h/week increased alcohol consumption by 16.29 g/week (95% confidence interval (CI) 7.93–24.65; seven studies; 19,692 participants; I2 82%, low quality evidence). We are uncertain about the effect of exposure to working 41–48 h/week, compared with working 35–40 h/week on developing risky drinking (relative risk 1.08; 95% CI 0.86–1.36; 12 studies; I2 52%, low certainty evidence). Working 49–54 h/week did not increase the risk of developing risky drinking (relative risk 1.12; 95% CI 0.90–1.39; 12 studies; 3832 participants; I2 24%, moderate certainty evidence), nor working ≥55 h/week (relative risk 1.11; 95% CI 0.95–1.30; 12 studies; 4525 participants; I2 0%, moderate certainty evidence). Subgroup analyses indicated that age may influence the association between long working hours and both alcohol consumption and risky drinking. We did not identify studies for which we had access to results on alcohol use disorder. Conclusions: Overall, for alcohol consumption in g/week and for risky drinking, we judged this body of evidence to be of low certainty. Exposure to long working hours may have increased alcohol consumption, but we are uncertain about the effect on risky drinking. We found no eligible studies on the effect on alcohol use disorder. Producing estimates for the burden of alcohol use disorder attributable to exposure to long working hours appears to not be evidence-based at this time. Protocol identifier: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.07.025. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42018084077
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8. |
- Salakari, Minna, et al.
(author)
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Life satisfaction and sense of coherence of breast cancer survivors compared to women with mental depression, arterial hypertension and healthy controls
- 2016
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In: Building Sustainable Health Ecosystems. - Cham : Springer. - 9783319446714 - 9783319446721 ; , s. 253-265
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The purpose of the study was to compare the life satisfaction (LS) and sense of coherence (SOC) of women recovering from breast cancer (BC) to LS and SOC of women with depression or hypertension and of healthy controls. Finnish Health and Social Support (HeSSup) follow-up survey data in 2003 was linked with national health registries. BC patients were followed up for mortality until the end of 2012. The statistical computations were carried out with SAS®. There were no significant differences in LS and SOC between the groups with BC, arterial hypertension or healthy controls. Women recovering from BC are as satisfied with their life as healthy controls, and their perceived LS is better and SOC is stronger compared to women with depression. SOC correlated positively (r2 = 0.36, p < 0.001) with LS. However, more studies on determinants of the LS are needed for designing and organizing health care services for BC survivors.
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9. |
- Stenlund, Säde, et al.
(author)
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A healthy lifestyle can support future sexual satisfaction : results from a 9-year longitudinal survey
- 2024
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In: Journal of Sexual Medicine. - : Oxford University Press. - 1743-6095 .- 1743-6109. ; 21:4, s. 304-310
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Previous follow-up studies have demonstrated the association between good health behavior and good sexual functioning for men, but the longitudinal relationship between multiple health behaviors and satisfaction with sex life remains understudied.Aim: The aim of the study was to explore whether good health behavior associates with improved satisfaction with sex life for men and women in a follow-up of 9 years.Methods: This cohort study utilized survey data from the population-based Health and Social Support study. It includes responses from 10 671 working-aged Finns. Using linear regression models, we examined a composite sum score representing 4 health behaviors (range, 0-4) in 2003 as a predictor of satisfaction with sex life in 2012. The analyses adjusted for various covariates in 2003, including satisfaction with sex life, living status, age, gender, education, number of diseases, and importance of sex life in 2012.Outcomes: The outcome in the study was satisfaction with sex life in the year 2012.Results: Participants who exhibited better health behavior at baseline demonstrated improved satisfaction with sex life when compared with those with poorer health behavior (beta = -0.046, P = .009), even when controlling for the aforementioned covariates. The positive effect of reporting all beneficial health behaviors vs none of them was greater than having none vs 3 chronic conditions. Furthermore, this was almost half the effect of how satisfaction with sex life in 2003 predicted its level in 2012. These findings were supported by an analysis of the congruence of health behavior in the observation period from 2003 to 2012 predicting changes in satisfaction with sex life.Clinical Implications: The results could serve as a motivator for a healthy lifestyle.Strengths and Limitations: The current study used a longitudinal large sample and a consistent survey procedure, and it explored the personal experience of satisfaction instead of sexual function. However, the study is limited in representing today's diversity of gender, since the options for gender at the time of survey were only male and female.Conclusion: These findings indicate that engaging in healthy behaviors contributes to the maintenance and enhancement of satisfaction with sex life over time.
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10. |
- Stenlund, Säde, et al.
(author)
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Changed health behavior improves subjective well-being and vice versa in a follow-up of 9 years
- 2022
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In: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes. - : BioMed Central. - 1477-7525. ; 20:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Previous research on health behavior and subjective well-being has mainly focused on interindividual differences or explored certain domains of health behavior. Good health behavior and subjective well-being at baseline can predict each other after a follow-up. In the present cohort study, we explored the outcomes of change for an individual i.e., how changed health behavior is reflected in subsequent subjective well-being and vice versa. Methods: Data (n = 10,855) originates from a population-based Health and Social Support (HeSSup) study on working-age Finns in 2003 and 2012. A composite measure of health behavior included physical activity, dietary habits, alcohol consumption, and smoking status (range 0–4, worst–best) and a composite measure of subjective well-being (with reversed scoring) included three life assessments, i.e., interest, happiness, and ease in life, and perceived loneliness (range 4–20, best–worst). Different multiple linear regression models were used to study how changes in health behavior predict subjective well-being and the opposite, how changes in subjective well-being predict health behavior. Results: A positive change in health behavior from 2003 to 2012 predicted better subjective well-being (i.e., on average 0.31 points lower subjective well-being sum score), whereas a negative change predicted poorer subjective well-being (i.e., 0.37 points higher subjective well-being sum score) (both: p < 0.001) compared to those study subjects who had no change in health behavior. Similarly, when a positive and negative change in subjective well-being was studied, these figures were 0.071 points better and 0.072 points worse (both: p < 0.001) health behavior sum score, respectively. When the magnitude of the effect of change was compared to the range of scale of the outcome the effect of health behavior change appeared stronger than that of subjective well-being. Conclusion: Changes in health behavior and subjective well-being have long-term effects on the level of the other, the effect of the first being slightly stronger than vice versa. These mutual long-term benefits can be used as a motivator in health promotion on individual and societal levels. © 2022, The Author(s).
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