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Biomedical subjects

J I Brevik

Publications and source records attributed to J I Brevik.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Geographic variation in body mass index measured among men born in Norway between 1967-80].

BACKGROUND: Conscripts born in 1980 were only 0.2 cm higher but weighed on average 3.3 kg more than those born in 1967. This weight gain corresponds to an average increase of body mass index (BMI) of 0.92 kg/m2. A description of geographical differences in changes of BMI is given. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All men born in Norway 1967-80, with Norwegian citizenship and known county of residence at the age of 18 are included, a total of 399,512 men. BMI was calculated for each birth cohort on the basis of data from the medical examinations for military service obtained from the Central Service Administration. RESULTS: Significant geographical differences in changes of BMI were found. Conscripts from Northern Norway had the largest increase of BMI, 2.0 kg/m2. The percentage of conscripts from Northern Norway with a BMI > or = 30 kg/m2 (obesity) increased from 1.5 for those born in 1967 to 6.5 for those born 13 years later. The smallest weight gain was observed among conscripts from the central counties of southeastern Norway; their average BMI increased only 0.5 kg/m2. The geographical differences became evident in the 1973-76 birth cohorts and are present also among the more recent birth cohorts. INTERPRETATION: To disclose the causes of these differences would be important in the prevention of overweight in young men.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Height, weight and body mass index measured among men born 1967-80].

BACKGROUND: Statistics Norway has published data on the average height of conscripts since 1910. Average height of men was 171.4 cm in 1920 and increased by 7.3 cm to 178.7 cm in 1970. Over the last 30 years, average height has increased only 1 cm, to 179.7 cm in 2000. The concern now is the fact that the average body weight of conscripts has been increasing. To monitor this development, statistics, based on BMI would be warranted. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The basis for such a statistics is explored in a study including all men born 1967-1980 known to the Norwegian central population registry as of December 1997; a total of 475,076 men. Data from the medical examinations for military service were obtained from the National Service Administration for 413,051 (86.9%). Of these men 400,297 (96.9%) were born in Norway, 12,754 abroad. RESULTS: The proportion of men born in Norway who were not examined averaged 6.4%. This percentage was much the same for each cohort. The reasons for being exempted from examination were the same, this indicates that there was no difference in selection bias between cohorts. No data were available for the assessment of the reliability and validity of the measurements. Nevertheless, trends in average height, weight and BMI give a clear picture of changes that have occurred. INTERPRETATION: Provided that validity of the measurements can be secured, it is concluded that examinations for military service can offer useful data for a health index on the growth and development of young men.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Psychiatric morbidity in primary public health care: a multicentre investigation. Part II. Hidden morbidity and choice of treatment.

A total of 1,281 patients were examined during consultation with their GP in a Nordic multicentre study focusing on the prevalence of psychiatric illness, hidden psychiatric morbidity, treatment and pathways to specialized care. The methodology and prevalence were reported in an accompanying paper. The present paper presents results concerning the variables hidden psychiatric morbidity, treatment and pathways to specialized care. The GPs detected 44% of the psychiatric cases compared with the result of a diagnostic interview (PSE). The distinction between psychosis and non-psychosis did not influence the GPs' ability to detect a mental illness. According to the GPs' assessment the majority of patients suffering from a mental disorder consulted their GP about physical complaints. The GPs treated the patients themselves, and only a limited number of cases were referred to psychiatrists or psychologists.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Psychiatric interventions for prevention of mental disorders. A psychosocial perspective.

Technology for psychiatric prevention is poorly developed, and knowledge about the causes of mental illness is difficult to apply to practical preventive work. As it would take many years before the effects of primary preventive efforts would be visible, secondary and tertiary prevention are essential to reducing the prevalence of mental illness. Recent studies on reducing the negative health consequences of acute stress seem to justify some optimism that psychosocially-oriented prevention is possible. Experience with the preventive benefits of social support at times of crisis suggests that active social support can prevent social disintegration at the community level and mental health problems for individuals.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Prognostic factors in patients with rotator tendinosis (stage II impingement syndrome) of the shoulder.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate prognostic factors in patients with rotator tendinosis (stage II impingement syndrome) of the shoulder. DESIGN: Analytic retrospective study of factors associated with success or failure of treatment. SETTING: Departments of orthopaedics and physical medicine and rehabilitation. PARTICIPANTS: 125 patients aged 18-66 who had rotator tendinosis resistant to treatment in primary health care; some had active treatment (arthroscopic surgery or a supervised exercise regimen), some not (placebo laser or withdrawal from active treatment). PREDICTORS: Medication, sickness leave, physical and psychosocial measures at baseline. RESULTS: Active treatment, not on sickness leave, and not on regular medication were the best independent prognostic factors, with an estimated odds ratio for success of 4.8 (1.7 to 13.6), 4.4 (1.6 to 12.1), and 4.2 (1.5 to 11.1), respectively. Reported shoulder-related work demands did not alter the impact of sickness leave. The influence of regular medication was particularly high in those who had no disease apart from the painful shoulder (odds ratio 17.0). Patients who had taken medication for the painful shoulder regularly during the previous year, usually chose two or three agents from the following groups: analgesics, benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants, and antiinflammatory drugs. CONCLUSION: Prognosis for rotator tendinosis is improved by active treatment and a more restricted prescription of medication and sick leave. Polymedication should be avoided.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Influence of anthropometric and psychological variables pain and disability on isometric endurance of shoulder abduction in patients with rotator tendinosis of the shoulder.

Predictors of isometric endurance of shoulder abduction were investigated in 18- to 75-year-old women (n = 59, mean age 48 years) and men (n = 53, mean age 46 years) with unilateral rotator tendinosis of the shoulder (median duration 1-2 years). They were asked to keep both shoulders abducted at 45 degrees, both wrists loaded with 2 kg, for as long as possible. The average force exerted to keep the required position was 17% higher in men compared to women. Mean times to exhaustion were: 103 seconds (SD 109) for the involved shoulder and 160 seconds (SD 81) for the uninvolved shoulder in women; compared to 159 seconds (SD 109) and 289 seconds (SD 109) in men. Increased pain, emotional distress and disability were associated with decreased endurance in the involved shoulder. Gender and emotional distress were the most powerful predictors of time to exhaustion in the uninvolved shoulder, and accounted for 41.7% of the total variance (R2). Age, body weight, self-efficacy for pain and active coping were poor predictors. This study indicates that isometric endurance is a psychophysiological measure in patients with shoulder pain. Reported pain, emotional distress and disability should be taken into account for interpretation of results.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Psychiatric morbidity in primary public health care: a Nordic multicentre investigation. Part I: method and prevalence of psychiatric morbidity.

The prevalence of mental illness in five different Scandinavian primary care populations was investigated in this study. Patients consecutively consulting their general practitioner a particular week-day were included in the study. Initially the SCL-25 was applied and next the high scores and a sample of the low scores were interviewed by the PSE. In the analysis the screening procedure was first validated. The internal validity of the SCL was tested by means of Rasch latent structure analysis and the external validity tested by ROC/QROC analysis. Based on this, a short 8-item version of the SCL was developed. The prevalence of mental illness in all centres was 0.26 with a minimum of 0.14 in Nacka and a maximum of 0.34 in Turku.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Arthroscopic surgery compared with supervised exercises in patients with rotator cuff disease (stage II impingement syndrome)

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of arthroscopic surgery, a supervised exercise regimen, and placebo soft laser treatment in patients with rotator cuff disease (stage II impingement syndrome). DESIGN: Randomised clinical trial. SETTING: Hospital departments of orthopaedics and of physical medicine and rehabilitation. PATIENTS: 125 patients aged 18-66 who had had rotator cuff disease for at least three months and whose condition was resistant to treatment. INTERVENTIONS: Arthroscopic subacromial decompression performed by two experienced surgeons; exercise regimen over three to six months supervised by one experienced physiotherapist; or 12 sessions of detuned soft laser treatment over six weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Change in the overall Neer shoulder score (pain during previous week and blinded evaluation of function and range of movement by one clinician) after six months. RESULTS: No differences were found between the three groups in duration of sick leave and daily intake of analgesics. After six months the difference in improvement in overall Neer score between surgery and supervised exercises was 4.0 (95% confidence interval -2 to 11) and 2.0 (-1.4 to 5.4) after adjustment for sex. The condition improved significantly compared with placebo in both groups given the active treatments. Treatment costs were higher for those given surgery (720 pounds v 390 pounds). CONCLUSIONS: Surgery or a supervised exercise regimen significantly, and equally, improved rotator cuff disease compared with placebo.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Persecutory affective psychoses: a follow-up.

A series of 66 cases with persecutory affective psychoses was followed up between 5 and 44 years. These psychoses can be considered as a subgroup of catamnestically verified paranoid reactive psychoses. They comprise cases with and without clouded consciousness. The long-term prognosis is best for cases with clouded consciousness at the initial stage of the psychosis. The characteristics of premorbid personality, psychological precipitating factors and psychotic symptomatology are illustrated by several tables.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Phenytoin, phenobarbitone and serum cholesterol.

Epileptics receiving phenytoin and/or phenobarbitone medication are observed to have an exceedingly low incidence of myocardial infarction. Serum cholesterol samples from 96 epileptics treated with these anticonvulsant drugs have been measured and found not to deviate from values found in a mass screening carried out in the same geographical area. Since medication with phenytoin/phenobarbitone reduces vitamin D levels in serum and intake of this vitamin is positively correlated to myocardial infarction, we suggest that vitamin D might be a factor to be considered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Visits to a small coastal communities of Northern Norway by a doctor and a health insurance officer.

What can we learn by visiting small remote communities, giving information about health insurance and social allowances, assisting clients in completing application forms, etc.? In the present study we met attitudes that made some people bear numet needs instead of craving their legal rights. Our visits improved the communication between the people concerned and the Local Health Insurance Office. The officer realized what impairment might mean for working capacity in such communities, and got in a better position to handle various applications.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Complaints that predict drop-out from a detoxification and counselling unit.

Sixty-one consecutive clients in a multidrug addiction detoxification and counselling unit were interviewed by their medical counsellor about bodily pain, distress, and coherence in their life. Clients who did not complete the 3-week postdetoxification program reported a higher level of fatigue and difficulties with concentration compared with completers. Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence test showed less favourable values in noncompleters than in completers. No significant difference was found on the Hopkins Symptom checklist. Factor analysis showed that both pain and emotional distress belonged to one dimension. Fatigue was the symptom that predicted drop-out when adjusting for other complaints and background factors.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Arthroscopic surgery versus supervised exercises in patients with rotator cuff disease (stage II impingement syndrome): a prospective, randomized, controlled study in 125 patients with a 2 1/2-year follow-up.

The effectiveness of arthroscopic surgery, supervised exercises, and placebo was compared in 125 patients with rotator cuff disease (impingement syndrome stage II) in a randomized clinical trial. The median age was 48 years, and the median duration of complications was 1 to 2 years. The treatments were arthroscopic subacromial decompression performed by 2 experienced surgeons, an exercise regimen supervised for 3 to 6 months by 1 experienced physiotherapist, or 12 sessions of detuned soft laser (placebo) for 6 weeks. The criterion for success was a Neer shoulder score > 80. Fifteen (50%) and 11 (22%) of the patients randomized to placebo and exercises, respectively, had surgery during the 2 1/2-year follow-up period and were classified as having failure with the treatments. The success rate was higher (P < .01) for patients randomized to surgery (26 of 38) and exercises (27 of 44) compared with the placebo group (7 of 28). The odds ratio for success after surgery compared with exercises was 1.5 (95% confidence interval 0.6 to 3.7; P = .49). Including all patients who underwent operation, the success rate in those not on sick leave (19 of 21) before surgery was higher compared with those on sick leave (18 of 36) (adjusted odds ratio 5.6 [1.2 to 29.2]). Similar results were observed for patients not receiving versus those receiving regular pain medication before surgery (adjusted odds ratio 4.2 [1.2 to 15.8]).

Adult↗