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- Ekblom Bak, Elin
(författare)
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Physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and abdominal obesity in relation to cardiovascular disease risk : epidemiological studies
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Although Sweden saw a decline in death rates related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) between 1987 and 2011, it is still the most common cause of death for both women and men. Lifestyle-related factors such as inadequate physical activity (PA), poor cardiorespiratory fitness (CF), and excess body fat are all recognised as important predictors of CVD morbidity and mortality. More recently, studies have highlighted the possible detrimental effects of prolonged sitting, which mainly substitutes for daily non-exercise PA (NEPA). Conversely, more preferable levels of these lifestyle factors are associated with lower CVD risk and increased life expectancy. Despite the extensive research performed within this field, there is still no consensus.The main objective of this thesis was therefore to examine the interrelationship between different levels of PA, CF, and abdominal adiposity and their association with CVD risk factors, CVD morbidity, and longevity in population-based samples of Swedish men and women of different ages. A second objective was to develop a new and more precise method for estimation of CF in a mixed, healthy, population.The main findings were- In a cross-sectional population based random sample of Swedish men (n=781) and women (n=890) aged 20 to 65 years were CF and abdominal obesity each independently and strongly beneficially associated with individual CVD risk factors, as well as to a clustered CVD risk factor profile. For the clustered risk, each unit of fitness (ml·kg-1·min-1) was associated with a 5% decrease in risk and each unit of waist circumference (cm) with a 5% increase in risk. This was seen in women as well as men, younger as well as older people, and daily smokers as well as non-smokers; however, there were some differences within the subgroups.- In the same population, higher levels of self-reported PA and CF, but mainly the latter, were independently associated in a beneficial way with both individual and clustered CVD risk factors. Furthermore, a notable interaction of excess clustered CVD risk was shown for being insufficiently physical active according to general guidelines in combination with not being fit.- In a representative cohort of 60-year-old men (n=2039) and women (n=2193) in Stockholm County, a generally active daily life was associated with beneficial metabolic health at baseline and an approximately 30% lower risk for a first-time cardiovascular event and all-cause mortality, respectively, after 12.5 years. These relationships were independent of regular exercise.- A new submaximal cycle ergometer test for estimation of maximal oxygen uptake was developed. The test is simple, low-risk, and easily administered, and does not require laboratory equipment or expertise. In a mixed population (in terms of age, activity status, and gender), the test showed a significantly increased precision compared with one of the most commonly used submaximal exercise tests today.In conclusion, these results indicate that in clinical practice it is important to evaluate both PA and CF as well as abdominal obesity status. Regarding PA, it is important to highlight the separate beneficial associations of a daily active life including NEPA on the one hand, and intentional regular exercise on the other.
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| 2. |
- Olai, Lena, 1958-
(författare)
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Life After a Stroke Event : With Special Reference to Aspects on Prognosis, Health and Municipality Care Utilization, and Life Satisfaction Among Patients and Their Informal Caregivers
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Objectives. The aim of this thesis was to study the prognosis, health care utilization and health situation in stroke patients, and informal caregiver burden during the first post-stroke year. Material and methods. 390 patients, 65 years or older, discharged from hospital after a stroke, were followed with repeated patient interviews, patient record and register data, and hospital staff and informal caregiver questionnaires. Results. Prognosis assessments performed by hospital staff at discharge regarding the course of events during the following year were highly accurate and were mainly influenced by the patient’s pre- and post-morbid state. The risk of dying or having a new stroke decreased rapidly during the early post-morbid phase. Health care utilization, in hospitals as well as in primary health care, and municipal social service support was considerably higher after the stroke than before, but the utilization of services was lower than previously reported. Health problem prevalence according to interview and record scrutiny was modest, peaked early after discharge and then declined. Support from informal caregivers increased significantly after discharge and remained high during the first post-stroke year. The support given was mainly determined by patient functional ability, distance to patient, relation to patient, municipal social service support provided, and patient sex. The informal caregivers reported considerable strain and burden, with significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression than the stroke patients. Moreover, there was a parallel between the patient’s and the caregiver’s situation regarding anxiety, emotional and social situation, and home, social and outdoor activities. Conclusion. Hospital staff prognosis assessments of patient outcomes during the next year were highly accurate. Risk of recurrence and mortality, and health problem prevalence was high in the early post-stroke period, and than declined. Health care utilization and municipality social support increased over time. Informal caregivers reported considerable strain and burden.
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| 3. |
- Lindvall, Kristina, 1981-
(författare)
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Being able to be stable : exploring primary weight maintenance as a public health strategy for obesity prevention
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background Overweight and obesity are considerable public health issues internationally as well as in Sweden. On a global level, the obesity prevalence has nearly doubled over the last 30 years. Currently in Sweden, more than one third of all women, and slightly more than half of all men, are either overweight or obese. The long-term results of obesity treatment programs are modest as reported by other studies. The importance of extending the focus to not only obesity treatment, but also prevention of weight gain, has therefore been emphasized.Aim The overall aim of this thesis is to explore the concept of primary weight maintenance (PWM) and to increase the knowledge of the attitudes, behaviours, strategies and surrounding circumstances that are important for PWM in a Swedish middle-aged population.Material and methods All study participants were recruited based on their previous participation in a health survey in their home setting; The Västerbotten Intervention Programme (VIP) in Västerbotten Sweden (paperI-IV), or the Upstate Health and Wellness Study in Upstate New York (IV), USA. All subjects had participated twice, with a time period of ten years between health surveys. The prevalence of obesity between the years 1990-2004 was calculated for VIP participants (paper I). Ten-year non-gain (lost weight or maintained body weight within 3% of baseline weight) or weightgain (≥3%) was calculated for individuals aged 30, 40, or 50 years at baseline. A multivariate logistic regression model was built to predict weight non-gain. In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 maintainers and four slight gainers in Sweden and analysed using Grounded Theory (paper II). A questionnaire study was conducted including 2138 Swedish and 2134 US participants (paper III and IV). Analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation, and linear regression were performed to identify attitudes, strategies, and behaviours that are predictive of PWM in different age, sex and BMI subgroups in Sweden (paper III). Further, the pattern of ten-year weightchange (% and kg) in 1999-2009 was calculated for Swedish and US women within different subgroups (paper IV). ANOVA, correlation and chi-squaretests were conducted to contrast eating and exercise habits between the two countries that may explain the differences in weight change.Results The prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥30) in Västerbotten increased from 9.4% in 1990 to 17.5% in 2004 (I). Older age, being female, being overweight at baseline, later survey year, baseline diagnosis of diabetes, and lack of snuff use increased the chances of not gaining weight. Based on the in-depth interviews, describing attitudes, behaviours and strategies of importance for PWM, a model was constructed (II). Weight maintenance was characterized as “a tightrope walk” and four strategies of significance for PWM were described as “to rely on heritage”, “to find the joy”, “to find the routine” and “to be in control”. The questionnaire study aimed at identifying predictors of PWM in different age, sex and BMI groups (III). The pattern of significant predictors was widely disparate between different subgroups. Of 166 predictors tested, 152 (91.6%) were predictive of PWM in at least one subgroup. However, only 4.6% of these were significant in half of the subgroups or more. The mean percent weight changes (in all cases weightgain), between 1999-2009 for Swedish and US women, were 4.9% (SD=5.8) and 9.1% (SD=13.7) respectively (p for t-test˂0.001) (IV). For the US women, the largest weight change occurred among the 30 year olds for all three BMI strata. For the Swedish, it was seen among overweight and obese 30 year old women. The largest difference in ten-year weight change between the two countries for any two matched subgroups was seen in normal weight 30 year olds. Significantly more of the women in this Swedish subgroup stated having more of healthy behaviours. However, there was a tendency for unhealthy behaviours to be strongly associated with greater weight gain in the US, but much less so in Sweden.Conclusion: Younger individuals, those of normal body weight, and those without health conditions (e.g. diabetes type 2) and cardiovascular riskfactors – were the least likely to maintain their weight over the 10 year period (I). Educational efforts on the prevention of overweight and obesity should therefore be broadened to include those individuals. The in-depth interview study showed great variety with regard to attitudes, strategies and behaviours important for PWM (II). The results from this study informs health personnel about the need to tailor advice related to body weight, not only to different sub-groups of individuals trying to lose weight but also to subgroups of primary weight maintainers who are trying to maintain weight. This statement was also supported by the questionnaire data, where the large disparity in the pattern of significant variables between subgroups suggests that these interventions should be tailored to the person’s demographic (age,sex and BMI) (III). Paper IV showed that even though the prevalence of obesity among Swedish women has increased substantially during these ten years, it has not kept pace with the increase in the US. One explanation for this may be that normal 30 year old Swedish women have more healthy behaviours than do US women. However, the insensitivity of the Swedish women to weight gain for healthy versus unhealthy alternatives may also be a factor. If the exact reason behind this phenomenon can be identified this may contribute to a deeper understanding of PWM both in Sweden and the US.
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| 4. |
- Eriksson, Kerstin Margareta, 1955-
(författare)
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A 3-year lifestyle intervention in primary health care : effects on physical activity, cardiovascular risk factors, quality of life and cost-effectiveness
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: A sedentary lifestyle diminishes quality of life (QOL) and contributes to increasing prevalence of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and thus increases the economic burden on health care and society. Expensive and tightly controlled lifestyle interventions reduce cardiovascular risk and onset of diabetes. Transferring these findings to the primary care setting is of clinical importance. The primary aim of this thesis was to apply a lifestyle intervention program in the primary care setting among individuals with moderate-to-high risk for CVD, and evaluate the effects on physical activity, cardiovascular risk factor levels and QOL. A secondary aim was to investigate the cost-effectiveness. Methods: A randomized controlled trial with one intervention group (n=75) and one control group (n=76) with follow-up at 3, 12, 24 and 36 months was used. Patients with the diagnosis obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes or any combination thereof (mean age 54 yr, 57% female) were recruited from a primary health centre in northern Sweden. The three-month intervention period consisted of group-based supervised exercise sessions and diet counselling, followed by regular, but sparse, group meetings with a behavioural approach during three years. Clinical measurements included anthropometrics, aerobic fitness, blood pressure and metabolic traits. Questionnaires on self-reported physical activity, stages of change for physical activity, and QOL were used. In a cost-utility analysis the costs, gained quality-adjusted life years (QALY), and savings in health care were considered. Probability of cost-effectiveness was described using Net Monetary Benefit Method. Results: Overall, the lifestyle intervention generated beneficial improvements in anthropometrics, blood pressure, aerobic fitness and activity level, and QOL, compared to the control group which only received one information meeting. At 36 months, intention-to-treat analyses showed that lifestyle modification reduced waist circumference (–2.2 cm), waist-hip ratio (–0.02), systolic blood pressure (–5.1 mmHg), and diastolic blood pressure (–1.6 mmHg) and significantly improved aerobic fitness (5%). BMI, lipid or glucose values did not differ between groups. Progression to active stages of change for physical activity and increases in time spent exercising and total physical activity were reported. Both physical and mental dimensions of QOL were improved during the study period, but after 3 years differences persisted mainly in physical dimensions. Cost per gained QALY was low, 1668-4813 USD (savings not counted). Visits to family physicians significantly decreased and there was a net saving of 47 USD per participant. Probabilities of cost-effectiveness were 89-100% when 50 000 USD was used as threshold of willingness to pay for a gained QALY. Conclusions: A group-based lifestyle intervention program in a primary health care setting favourably influences cardiovascular risk-factor profiles, increases physical activity level, and improves several dimensions of QOL in high-risk individuals, at least up to 3 years. The intervention method was highly cost-effective in relation to standard care. The results emphasize the advantage of an intervention that combines supervised exercise with regular follow-ups for reaching long term effects. The study high-lights the feasibility of lifestyle interventions in the primary care setting and the importance of health care professionals supporting change in lifestyle.
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