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Biomedical subjects

H Aberg

Publications and source records attributed to H Aberg.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Quality of life is not negatively affected by diet and exercise intervention in healthy men with cardiovascular risk factors.

Health-related quality of life was assessed in a diet and exercise intervention study among 157 healthy men aged 35-60 years (mean +/- s.d.; 46.2 +/- 5.0) with moderately raised cardiovascular risk factors. The men were randomized to four groups, diet (D, n = 40), exercise (E, n = 39), diet plus exercise (DE, n = 39), and no active intervention (controls (C) n = 39). Quality of life was measured with two self-administered questionnaires; Subjective Symptoms Assessment Profile and Minor Symptom Evaluation Profile, at baseline and after 1.5, 3 and 6 months. Cardiovascular risk factors were investigated at baseline and after 6 months. As a result of changes in dietary habits and physical exercise in the three intervention groups, several important cardiovascular risk factors were significantly reduced. The quality of life/well-being did not differ between the four groups and did not change significantly in any of the groups during the study. There was, however, a tendency towards fewer gastrointestinal symptoms in group D and fewer cardiac symptoms in group DE. We conclude that advice on lifestyle changes in the form of diet and exercise reduce risk factors in middle-aged men without negative effects on their quality of life.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The costs and effects of two different lipid intervention programmes in primary health care.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the costs and effects of two different intervention strategies for the nonpharmacological treatment of hypercholesterolaemia. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial. Subjects were randomly allocated to one of two intervention models and followed up for 1 year. SETTING: Vårby Health Centre, a primary care practice located in a suburb of Stockholm. SUBJECTS: Subjects with a total serum cholesterol in the range 7.0-7.8 mmol L-1 and no signs of ischaemic heart disease or diabetes mellitus, randomized to a low-intensity (n = 35) or medium-intensity (n = 41) intervention. INTERVENTION: Two strategies were used, one labelled medium-intensity strategy which followed national current guidelines for nonpharmacological treatment of hypercholesterolaemia, the other was a low-intensity strategy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total serum cholesterol and intervention costs. RESULTS: Both intervention strategies resulted in small (mean 3.5%) decreases in total cholesterol with no significant difference between the groups. The cost per subject in the low-intensity group was SEK 753 and in the medium-intensity group SEK 3614. CONCLUSIONS: Because the effect of the two intervention programmes did not differ, the low-intensity programme is to be preferred from a cost-effectiveness point of view. If only one-third of the population in Stockholm county with cholesterol levels > or = 6.5 mmol L-1 are discovered by the primary health care system, and follow the treatment advice, the net savings in the low-intensity model compared to the current guidelines here presented as the moderate-intensity model, would be SEK 93 million.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Seasonal changes in the levels of antidiuretic hormone and melatonin in the elderly.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and melatonin in plasma were measured every 4 hr during a 24-hr period in 69 elderly volunteers (42 males and 27 females) aged 75.6 +/- 8.8 years (+/- SD) and 73.5 +/- 9.5 years, respectively. The population was divided into three groups, which were examined February 27-28, April 25-26, and November 14-15. For the males, the mean ADH level during 24 hr was lowest in April and highest in November with a level five times higher than in April. The ADH level in February was about three times higher that in April. Females did not show any seasonal variation in the ADH system. The melatonin levels were lowest in November, higher in February, and even higher in April in both male and female volunteers. The ADH increased with age in males (R2 = 0.13; P < 0.05) but not in females (R2 = 0.07; NS). The melatonin concentration decreased with age for the whole group, aged 60-98 years.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Serum levels of relaxin during the menstrual cycle and oral contraceptive use.

Serum relaxin levels were analysed in 12 healthy women every other day during the menstrual cycle and during a second cycle on oral contraceptives. Relaxin levels in 7 women with posterior pelvic and lumbar pain were also measured. Relaxin was detected during both the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle in some of the healthy women. Serum levels were further increased during the use of oral contraceptives. Oestradiol levels in the untreated women correlated to the relaxin levels. Women with posterior pelvic and lumbar pain had higher relaxin levels than did healthy women, a finding that needs to be further explored. Our data indicate the existence of sources for relaxin production other than the corpus luteum in the non-pregnant woman. Endogenous and exogenous oestrogens may stimulate the production of relaxin.

Contraceptives, Oral↗
PubMed1995

The public view on cardiovascular risk factors and changes in lifestyle.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the public knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors including hyperlipidaemia, and attitudes to changes in lifestyle and to the role of the primary health care in preventive work. DESIGN: Postal questionnaire. SETTING: A physically defined area in south-western Stockholm. SUBJECTS: 1000 randomly selected individuals of both sexes 40 to 64 years, stratified into 5-year groups. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Knowledge of and attitudes to cardiovascular risk factors. Contact with the primary health care and expectancy of physicians' interest in patients' lifestyles. RESULTS: Response rate was 75%. The awareness of cardiovascular risk factors was high, but only 51% knew what constitutes healthy food, and two thirds doubted that they could change their eating habits. Forty-eight percent had visited the primary health care during the previous year. Eighty-four percent thought that the physicians should know about their patients' smoking, 83% about drinking habits, and 75% about eating habits. Physicians were expected to spend 40% of their time on preventive work. Only 26% believed that press information about hyperlipidaemia and heart disease did more good than harm. CONCLUSION: Knowledge was good about causative cardiovascular risk factors, but poor about healthy eating. Physicians were expected to have an interest in patients' lifestyle and in prevention. This type of knowledge is important for preventive work.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Different long-term metabolic effects of enalapril and atenolol in patients with mild hypertension. EGTA Group.

The primary objective in this multicentre, double-blind randomised, parallel study was to compare the metabolic effects of 12 months of treatment with an ACE inhibitor (enalapril) with those of a selective beta-blocker (atenolol) in patients with mild hypertension. The patients (35-69 years of age) were included if they were without antihypertensive drugs and after six months of nonpharmacological treatment had supine DBPs between 90 and 104 mmHg; 220 patients were randomised to enalapril (20 or 40 mg/day) and 218 to atenolol (50 or 100 mg/day). After 12 months of treatment, atenolol significantly increased the glucose concentrations at 60, 90 and 120 minutes after an oral intake of 75 g glucose (P < 0.01), while enalapril did not. Atenolol significantly increased fasting blood glucose and insulin concentration 120 minutes after glucose intake, while enalapril did not. Plasma total cholesterol and triglycerides increased significantly in patients having atenolol but not in those having enalapril. HDL cholesterol decreased significantly in the atenolol group but not in the enalapril group. The proportions of patients with clinical adverse experiences were similar in both treatment groups. These results indicate that enalapril does not influence either glucose tolerance or lipoprotein metabolism while atenolol does. These findings are consistent over the 12 month treatment period and confirm earlier short-term study results.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Smoking habits before, during and after pregnancy among Swedish women and their partners in suburban Stockholm.

Smoking habits of pregnant women and their partners at three health centres in Stockholm, Sweden, were monitored by a postal questionnaire. Of 582 women enlisted at the antenatal clinics, 433 (74%) were included. 253 (58%) women and 230 (53%) partners responded. 30% of the women were smokers at the start of pregnancy, compared with 27% of the men. During pregnancy 18% continued to smoke, and after the birth of the child 21% were smokers. The male partners stopped or decreased smoking less often. Fewer women aged 25 or more were smokers. The number of heavy smokers decreased considerably during and after pregnancy. The women were more prone to stop smoking if the partner was a non-smoker. 87% made some restriction in their smoking habits after the baby was born.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Health of the elderly with regard to sleep and nocturnal micturition.

A questionnaire study was carried out among pensioners in Jämtland County, Sweden. The questionnaire was answered by 1,115 persons, representing a response rate of 74%. It covered various aspects of health, with emphasis on sleep, fatigue, thirst, and other symptoms that may interfere with night-time sleep. The data were analysed with regard to the stated number of night-time disturbances due to urination. Nocturnal micturition was often associated with increased sleep disorders, a poorer quality of sleep, increased thirst, particularly at night, and increased fatigue in the daytime. All the relationships were clearer in women than in men. There was no relationship between reported enuresis in childhood and an increased frequency of voiding when the subject became older.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Treatment of pelvic joint dysfunction in primary care--a controlled study.

The study evaluated the manual treatment of dysfunction of the pelvic joints. This is one of many condition causing low back pain. In 1987-1988 a general practitioner with special knowledge of physical examination and manual treatment of lumbar and pelvic dysfunctions made a survey of patients with acute or subacute low back pain as the main cause of the patient-to-doctor contact. Patients with defined criteria of pelvic joint dysfunction (n = 46) were randomized. After dropouts and exclusions, 18 patients with defined criteria of pelvic joint dysfunction received manual treatment, while 21 patients with similar dysfunction served as controls and received placebo treatment in a form of massage. Both groups were seen only once to evaluate whether a single treatment might be sufficient. After a period of three weeks, evaluation was made by an independent observer. Subjective pain measurement and a mobility test showed no significant difference. Sick-leave and consumption of analgesics (both decided by patient) were significantly less in the treatment group.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Evaluation of the adenosine triphosphate test in the diagnosis of urinary tract infection.

Determination by bioluminescence of the bacterial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level in urine was evaluated as a method for detection of bacteriuria in 1126 women with symptoms of UTI and 530 attending for follow-up. Conventional urine culture was used as reference method. The criterion for bacteriuria was growth of greater than or equal to 10(5) cfu/ml, giving a prevalence of 0.60. ATP levels of less than 10 nmol/l and greater than 50 mmol/l indicated abacteriuria and bacteruiria, respectively, whereas intermediate concentrations required culture if the nitrite test was negative. With this diagnostic strategy the sensitivity and specificity was 0.96 and 0.90 at the first visit and 0.90 and 0.98 at follow-up. With some methodological improvement the ATP test could be useful in medium-sized and small laboratories.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1991

Diurnal variation in the levels of antidiuretic hormone in the elderly.

The secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and the serum osmolality were measured at 4-h intervals throughout a 24-h period in 69 healthy elderly volunteers. In male subjects the concentrations of plasma ADH were always twofold higher than in female subjects. The normal diurnal rhythm, with increased ADH secretion during the night, was not seen in this group of elderly subjects, with the exception of elderly men who did not urinate during the night, in whom a substantial increase in plasma ADH levels occurred. In as many as 25% of all the ADH measurements performed (n = 455) ADH was not detectable by the method used. The lack of a definite diurnal rhythm in most of the elderly subjects could to some extent explain the increased diuresis during the night in the elderly.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Cost-benefit analysis of non-pharmacological treatment of hypertension.

In this study a non-pharmacological treatment (NPT) programme and conventional drug treatment of hypertension was compared in a cost-benefit analysis. The NPT programme involved 400 patients and was conducted at 8 health centres during the period 1984-1986. It consisted of monthly visits by a nurse, visits by a doctor every 6 months, home blood pressure (BP) measurements, dietary advice, relaxation, physical activity, etc. The patients were also followed up for 2 years after the study to assess whether the programme still worked, and whether future treatment costs were affected. The treatment costs were about SEK 5300 higher per patient for the NPT programme. The benefits, in the form of reduced treatment costs for the period 1986-1988 and willingness to pay (WTP) for the NPT programme, were about SEK 3200. Thus the NPT programme resulted in a loss of about SEK 2100 per patient. However, a longer follow-up period is needed for any specific conclusions to be drawn about the costs and benefits of the NPT programme, as compared with conventional drug treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Non-pharmacological treatment of hypertension: differences between health centres in patients' blood pressure and success at withdrawal from drugs.

Four hundred patients from eight health centres were recruited for this two-year study on the possibility of replacing antihypertensive drugs by non-pharmacological therapy. This consisted of monthly check-ups and blood pressure measurements at home by the patients plus advice about changes of lifestyle--salt restriction, weight reduction, physical activity, and reduction of alcohol and tobacco. The non-pharmacological treatment was effective and 44% had discontinued drugs after two years without any increase in diastolic blood pressure. Twenty-five per cent reduced their weight by 4% or more. There were no changes in sodium or potassium output. Thirty-five per cent increased their physical activity and 20% decreased it. When the results for each health centre were compared, striking differences in hypertensive characteristics of patients and the outcome of antihypertensive drug treatment were found. In one health centre 69% of patients were not taking drugs after two years. In some health centres the non-pharmacological treatment was quite successful, but in others the attempt failed. A prerequisite for successful use of pharmacological treatment is that the problem of non-compliance should be solved.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Efficacy of single-dose versus seven-day trimethoprim treatment of cystitis in women: a randomized double-blind study.

Single-dose trimethoprim treatment of cystitis was compared with 7-day treatment in a randomized double-blind study in primary health care. Consecutive female patients (613) with symptoms of lower urinary tract infection (UTI) and positive bacteriuria screening tests were enrolled. In 502 cases UTI was confirmed by urine culture. Follow-up was performed twice, after 2-3 and 5-6 weeks. Short-term efficacy could be evaluated in 425 cases and accumulated efficacy in 344. Short-term efficacy was 82% for single-dose and 94% for 7-day treatment (P less than .001). Accumulated efficacy was 71% for single-dose and 87% for 7-day therapy (P less than .001). Fewer adverse reactions were noted with single-dose therapy (not significant). The cure rate for UTI caused by P-fimbriated Escherichia coli was not different from that of other E. coli infections. Infections with Staphylococcus saprophyticus showed a lower cure rate than E. coli infections with the single-dose regimen (P less than .05 for short-term efficacy).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Lower serum magnesium level after exposure to cold in women with primary Raynaud's phenomenon.

Serum levels of magnesium (s-Mg), calcium (s-Ca), potassium (s-K) and sodium (s-Na) were measured in 80 women with primary Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and in 24 age-matched female controls recruited from a population survey. The blood samples were taken after a 40-min standardized whole body cooling test. The mean s-Mg level in the group with RP was significantly lower than in the controls (0.81 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.86 +/- 0.07 mmol l-1, P less than 0.05). One year later, 66 members of the RP group and 22 members of the control group were investigated further, but without any exposure to cold. No differences in mean s-Mg values were found between the groups. The mean s-Mg level was significantly higher in the blood samples taken later without cold exposure than at the initial examinations after exposure to cold in the RP group, but not in the controls. The s-Mg level was lower after exposure to cold in 82% of the women with RP, compared to 45% of the controls (P less than 0.001). No differences in the other electrolytes were found. It is concluded that exposure to cold under standardized conditions may decrease the s-Mg level in women with primary RP. Further studies of the role of magnesium in patients with RP are required.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Female urinary tract infection in primary health care: bacteriological and clinical characteristics.

Female patients with symptoms of urinary tract infection (n = 1136) were studied in primary health care with respect to (a) clinical symptoms as predictors of bacteriuria; (b) relation between aetiological agent and clinical picture, especially for P-fimbriated Escherichia coli; and (c) clinical findings in cases with 10(2)- less than 10(5) CFU/ml of E. coli. Prevalence of bacteriuria (greater than or equal to 10(5) CFU/ml) was 61%. Concurrence of urgency/frequency and dysuria, short duration of symptoms and hematuria increased the probability of bacteriuria and were also significantly more frequent among cases with low counts of E. coli (10(2) less than 10(5) CFU/ml in pure culture or mixed flora) than among cases with sterile urine, indicating an aetiological role of E. coli in many of those cases. Infections with P-fimbriated E. coli were as benign as the P-fimbriae-negative. The rate of P-fimbriation was 29% in specimens containing greater than or equal to 10(5) CFU/ml of E. coli, 30% among specimens with less than 10(5) CFU/ml in pure culture and 10% in specimens containing less than 10(5) CFU/ml of E. coli in mixed culture. Patients infected with Klebsiella, Enterobacter or Proteus did not show a higher rate of previous urinary tract disease or anomalies.

Adolescent↗