PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Flemming F Madsen

Publications and source records attributed to Flemming F Madsen.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

[Increasing prevalence of specific IgE against aeroallergens in an adult Danish population--two cross-sectional studies in 1990 and 1998].

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that the prevalence of respiratory allergy has increased in children in many countries. However, this evidence is largely based on questionnaire data, and little is known about similar trends in adults. We investigated whether the prevalence of specific IgE to aeroallergens had increased in an adult general population over an 8-year period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two cross-sectional surveys were carried out in 1990 and 1998. A screening questionnaire on respiratory symptoms sent to random samples of 15-41-year-old subjects living in Copenhagen (Denmark) preceded both surveys. Random samples of responders were invited to a health examination, which included assessment of specific IgE to six common aeroallergens. Totals of 312 (74.6% of those invited) and 482 (53.4% of those invited) subjects were examined in 1990 and 1998, respectively. Serum samples from both surveys were analysed in 1999. RESULTS: The prevalence of specific IgE to at least one allergen increased significantly from 1990 to 1998 (26.5% versus 33.9%; odds ratio adjusted for sex, age, and season of examination, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.32). This increase remained unexplained after adjustment for changes in questionnaire variables on life-style and home environment. The clinical significance of this increase was underlined by a corresponding increase in the prevalence of allergic rhinitis symptoms associated with specific IgE positivity. DISCUSSION: We found that the prevalence of specific IgE positivity to aeroallergens increased in an adult Danish general population from 1990 and 1998.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Length of stay in medical departments. Similarities and differences in Denmark].

INTRODUCTION: The relation between the length of stay after admission to a medical ward, the available resources, and the quality of the results is not well established. There is no documentation that allocation of resources results in improved quality. In Denmark we have recently focused on the quality of cancer treatment and have allocated resources without any evidence that it will improve survival, whereas less attention has been paid to less prestigious diseases. Length of stay can be an indicator of quality, as we operate with an efficient work process as a goal. But it is not a goal by itself, as only when coupled with cure or improvement in the disease can it be worth aiming at. We therefore compared the length of stay in Danish Departments of Internal Medicine to look for differences or similarities. MATERIAL AN METHODS: The homepage of the Danish National Board of Health, www.tal.dk (now terminated) was visited and data drawn for analyses. RESULTS: Six days seems to be the average length of stay in most departments, with some extreme deviations. A tendency towards a short stay in the department of Cardiology and a long term stay in the Geriatric Department was found as expected, but again extreme deviations were seen. DISCUSSION: No typical pattern was seen in the length of stay. A short stay is not attractive in itself, only when combined with a high quality of care and a healthy economy. Conversely, too short a stay can be risky if it is because of overcrowding and this must be prevented.

Denmark↗
PubMed2002

[Lung cancer: survival rate differences in Danish counties. Survival analysis of 33.838 patients during the period 1984-1998].

INTRODUCTION: The quality of care for Nordic cancer patients has been considered to be low in Denmark. Our quality problem was believed to be caused by the structure of our secondary health care. But there may be other explanations for the poor survival in Denmark, and the comparison with the other Nordic countries may be flawed by confounding factors, such as smoking habits and spread of cancer at the time of diagnosis. We therefore, analysed differences in regional survival after diagnosis of carcinoma of the lung in Denmark to look for signs of similar flaws. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample from the National Cancer Registry of all cases of carcinoma of the lung, diagnosed in 1984-1995. Persons older than 80 were excluded. Age and spread of cancer were included in a Cox analysis. RESULTS: Survival was dependent on residence. Within the first five months of diagnosis, survival was significantly poorer in Copenhagen City and better in the counties of Aarhus, Aalborg, and Viborg. At five months, the differences had diminished and only the counties of Fyn and Sønderjylland differed from the nationel average in a negative way. DISCUSSION: Better results were achieved than previously expected in some Danish counties. Interpretation of the Nordic results should be more critical and include possible confounders, such as smoking and spread of cancer at diagnosis. The Danish problem with cancer may be because of the delay of patient and doctor in the primary health care, together with an extreme life-style, including too much urban life and tobacco smoking.

Adult↗