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Biomedical subjects

K Svärdsudd

Publications and source records attributed to K Svärdsudd.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

The relationship between age, gender, well-being and symptoms, and the use of pharmaceuticals, herbal medicines and self-care products in a Swedish municipality.

BACKGROUND: A relatively small proportion of the population accounts for a substantial part of the public drug cost. Therefore, identifying the characteristics of high users of drugs is an important step towards limiting the cost of drugs. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between age, gender, well-being and symptoms, and the use of pharmaceutical specialities, herbal medicines and self-care products. METHODS: A postal questionnaire was sent to a representative population sample (n = 1.312) from a small Swedish municipality. The relationship between age, gender, well-being and symptoms, and the use of drugs and self-care products was tested using multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The questionnaire was answered by 827 subjects. The use of prescribed pharmaceuticals increased with age in both genders. Women used prescribed and non-prescribed pharmaceuticals as well as herbal medicines and self-care products more than men. Subjects who reported low scores for well-being had significantly higher odds of having used prescribed pharmaceuticals than subjects with high scores. Bad perceived health was the only well-being measure that was associated with high odds for the use of herbal medicines. Most symptoms occurred more frequently in users than in nonusers of pharmaceuticals. Subjects with many symptoms (six or more) had higher odds of having used pharmaceuticals and self-care products than those with few symptoms. CONCLUSION: High age, female gender and low perceived well-being significantly increased the use of drugs, particularly prescribed pharmaceuticals. Subjects with many symptoms used pharmaceuticals and self-care products more than those with few symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Reported current use of prescription drugs and some of its determinants among 35 to 65-year-old women in mid-Sweden: A population-based study.

To investigate prescribed drug utilization in a middle-aged female population and factors possibly related to drug consumption in this population. A random sample of 4200 women aged 35-65 years, drawn from the population register of seven countries in mid-Sweden, received a postal questionnaire. Two thousand nine hundred ninety one (2991) (71.2%) women responded. Forty percent (40%) of the women were currently using drugs and 12% of the users were taking four drugs or more. Polypharmacy increased by age. A large number of factors were correlated with current drug use. In multivariate analyses age, perceived health, body mass index, and educational level remained significantly related to drug use, while factors such as menopausal state, smoking habits, employment status, marital status, and physical activity lost their significance. Current drug use among women increased by age, bad perceived health status, obesity, and college or university education.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Secular changes in cardiovascular risk factors over 30 years in Swedish men aged 50: the study of men born in 1913, 1923, 1933 and 1943.

OBJECTIVES: To study secular trends in cardiovascular risk factors in men aged 50 over a period of 30 years. DESIGN: Cross-sectional studies of successive cohorts of men from 1963 to 1993. SETTING: City of Göteborg, Sweden. SUBJECTS: Four random population samples of men born in 1913, 1923, 1933 and 1943, aged 50 when they were examined in 1963, 1973, 1983, and 1993 (n = 855, 226, 776, and 798, respectively). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, serum cholesterol and triglycerides and smoking habits over three decades. RESULTS: Over 30 years, men increased in weight from a mean (SD) of 75.9 (11.0) kg to 82.8 (12.1) kg and gained 3.4 cm in height, with a net increase in body mass index from 24.8 (3.2) to 26.0 (3.4) kg m-2 (P < 0.0001), and a concomitant increase in waist circumference. The proportion of men who were overweight but not obese (BMI = 25-30 kg m-2) increased from 38 to 47%, whereas the prevalence of frank obesity (more than 30 kg m-2) increased from 6% in 1963 to 11% in 1993. Despite the increase in weight, mean systolic blood pressure fell by almost 10 mmHg (P < 0.0001). Mean serum cholesterol concentration decreased from 6.42 (1.12) to 5.88 (1.04) (P < 0.0001). Serum triglycerides increased from 1.26 (0.77) to 1.69 (1.04) mmol L-1 (P = 0.001). The proportion of men who smoked decreased from 56% in 1963 to 30% in 1993 (P < 0.0001). This was due more to an increase in smoking cessation rates than to an increase in the proportion of men who had never smoked. In particular, smokers and former smokers are now more obese than the corresponding categories 30 years ago and smokers are no longer leaner than men who have never smoked. CONCLUSIONS: Over a period of 30 years, serum cholesterol as well as systolic blood pressure and the prevalence of smoking decreased. This favourable decline in coronary risk factors was offset by an appreciable increase in body mass index and waist circumference.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

The prevalence of migraine in women aged 40-74 years: a population-based study.

The objective of this study was to investigate the age-dependence of the prevalence and characteristics of migraine headache and migraine visual aura. A neurologist interviewed 728 women attending a mammography screening programme. International Headache Society (IHS) criteria were used. The lifetime prevalence of migraine headache was 31.5% and the 1-year prevalence 18.0%. The magnitude of the decline of the prevalence of active (one or more attacks in the previous year) migraine headache was estimated to 50% per decade. The prevalence of active migraine visual aura was 3.8%. This did not vary by age. Except for the pain intensity and the presence of nausea, other characteristics and concomitant symptoms did not change with age. Active migraine headache and migraine visual aura in middle-aged and older women are common and modified differently by age. We suggest that the decline of prevalence of active migraine headache with age is caused by a decrease in pain intensity.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Identifying dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome: the value of pain or discomfort, and bowel habit descriptors.

BACKGROUND: The utility of current diagnostic criteria for dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in clinical practice is largely unknown. We aimed to compare the diagnostic value of different definitions and questionnaires in a population. METHODS: The Abdominal Symptom Questionnaire (ASQ) was mailed to a representative sample (n = 1506, 20-87 years old), and every fifth person (n = 302) concomitantly received the Bowel Disease Questionnaire (BDQ). The diagnostic agreement for dyspepsia and for IBS, defined in accordance with the Manning and the modified Rome criteria and a new simple definition, was analysed. RESULTS: In the ASQ the agreement on the IBS status for the three IBS definitions was > or = 88%, and in the BDQ > or = 93%. Agreement for the three definitions on the two questionnaires was > or = 88% regardless of which definition of IBS was applied. Agreement between questionnaires was similar (88%) for dyspepsia. For both IBS and dyspepsia the kappa coefficients indicated moderate to substantial concordance. 'Pain or discomfort' did not cover all linguistic aspects of dyspepsia. Prevalence rates of dyspepsia were comparable in the ASQ and BSQ, whereas higher prevalences of IBS with the ASQ was related to the cutoff levels for reporting abdominal pain or discomfort. CONCLUSION: It is possible to identify IBS more simply by self-report questionnaires.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effects on physicians' sick-listing practice of an administrative reform narrowing sick-listing benefits.

OBJECTIVE: To find out whether administrative changes regulating sick-listing benefits affect sick-listing practice among physicians in hospitals and primary health care. SETTING: New sick-listing cases from four social security offices in mid-Sweden. DESIGN: A natural experiment design was used with a sample of newly started sick-listed cases collected 6 months before a sick-listing reform and a further sample taken 6 months after. The data were collected in a 1-year follow-up period in both samples. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Net days of sick-listing and percentage partial sick-listings. Compliance by doctors in providing information asked for in sickness certification forms. RESULTS: Doctors filled in the forms more completely after the reform than they did before it. There was an inverse correlation between completeness of information and length of sick-listing. When potential confounding factors were taken into account, no change was seen in the proportion of partial sick-listing, in the mean number of net days of sick-listing or in the distribution of length of sick-listing periods. The proportion of all sick-listings made by general practitioners increased. CONCLUSIONS: Administrative changes restricting sick-listing benefits did change some aspects of sick-listing practice but had no effect on length of sick-listing.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Variations in sick-listing practice among male and female physicians of different specialities based on case vignettes.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the influence on sick-listing of speciality and sex of the prescribing doctor and of patients' way of presenting their problem. DESIGN: A sample of 360 general practitioners (GPs), 180 psychiatrists and 180 orthopaedic surgeons were presented case vignettes and asked to fill in a sick certificate for each case. The cases were chosen to reflect common causes of sick-listing in Sweden. The vignettes for each case were presented in three versions with uniform biomedical information plus a variation in the patient's attitude to sick-listing. SETTING: Swedish general practice and hospital physicians. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of cases not being sick-listed and costs for the period certified. RESULTS: The most important factor affecting sick-listing was the patient's attitude to sick-listing. Patients wishing sick-listing were sick-listed to a greater extent than those who were reluctant. In addition, GPs sick-listed more than orthopaedic surgeons and less than psychiatrists. Female doctors sick-listed more than male doctors, irrespective of speciality and patient attitude. CONCLUSION: Sick-listing is influenced by the physician's speciality and sex. Doctors are strongly influenced by how the patients present their problem.

Female↗
PubMed2000

Sick-listing habits among general practitioners in a Swedish county.

OBJECTIVE: To describe sick-listing habits in general practice, how common it is and for how long and for what diagnoses it is granted. DESIGN: Medical audit study. SETTING: Primary health care. SUBJECTS: 53 general practitioners (GPs) registering all cases during a 2-week period when sick-listing was considered. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percentage of GP consultations that involved sick-listing, number of days of certified sick-leave, percentage of partial sick-listing, GP sex differences. RESULTS: 9% of all consultations included a consideration about sick-listing, and in only 6% of these instances was a certificate not issued. The median length of the certified sickness period was 14 days. Musculoskeletal problems were by far the most common diagnosis. Female patients were more often partially sick-listed than males. Female GPs sick-listed a larger proportion of their patients than male GPs. Risk factors for long certification periods were in fact associated with long certification periods. Even in cases where the GP would not recommend sick-listing a certificate was issued in 87%. CONCLUSIONS: Patients appear to have a strong influence on sick-listing practice, and there are important sex differences among GPs in this practice.

Absenteeism↗
PubMed2000

Endomysium antibodies are superior to gliadin antibodies in screening for coeliac disease in patients presenting supposed functional gastrointestinal symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To study the accuracy of IgA- and IgC-gluten antibodies and endomysium antibodies as screening tools for endoscopy with small bowel biopsy for histologic diagnosing of coeliac disease. DESIGN: Comparing serology with histologic examination--the "gold standard" for diagnosing coeliac disease. SETTINGS: 1. The municipality of Osthammar, Sweden. 2. The catchment area of the University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. PATIENTS: 1. A random subsample (50 with dyspepsia, 50 with irritable bowel syndrome and 50 symptomless) of a representative sample from an adult Swedish general population (20-80 years; n = 1260). 2. All patients with a diagnosis of coeliac disease admitted to the University Hospital in Uppsala, Sweden during the course of 10 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The accuracy of IgA- and IgG-gluten antibodies and endomysium antibodies. RESULTS: There were no significant correlations between IgA-gluten antibodies and IgG-gluten antibodies, on the one hand, and symptoms or symptom severity, on the other. Using duodenal biopsy results as the gold standard, IgA-gluten antibodies had a low specificity and IgG-gluten antibodies a low sensitivity, whereas endomysium antibodies had an excellent accuracy. CONCLUSION: Endomysium antibodies seem to be the screening test of choice. The load of diagnostic upper endoscopies would be considerably decreased compared to using gluten antibodies.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Does hypertension or a previous myocardial infarction influence the blood pressure and heart rate responses to changes in body position? Results from a study with serial measurements in the supine and standing positions in 60-year-old men.

An age-related attenuation of the normal increase in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate upon standing has previously been observed in man. Whether this is due to ageing as such, or a consequence of a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease in older compared to younger subjects, is unclear. This population-based study was conducted to address this question. It was carried out in three groups of 60-year-old men: (i) with hypertension (n = 75), (ii) with a previous myocardial infarction (n = 39), and (iii) without any of these diseases, thus constituting a control group (n = 41). Blood pressure and heart rate were assessed during three 7-min periods (supine-standing-supine), using an unbiased non-invasive method. The cardiovascular responses were both qualitatively and quantitatively similar in all three groups, i.e. the increases in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate upon standing, and decreases upon laying down, were of a similar magnitude. In conclusion, 60-year-old men with hypertension or a previous myocardial infarction had blood pressure and heart rate responses similar to those of men of the same age who did not have these diseases. This indicates that the attenuated response previously reported in older compared to younger people is not explained by the higher prevalence of these cardiovascular diseases in the elderly, but is merely an age-dependent characteristic.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2000

Determinants of urinary incontinence in a population of young and middle-aged women.

BACKGROUND: Urinary incontinence and genital prolapse are prevalent conditions in the female population. The aim of this study was to study possible determinants of female urinary incontinence in a population-based sample of young and middle-aged women. METHODS: Of 641 eligible women aged 20-59 years in a primary health care district, 487 (76%) responded to a questionnaire and accepted an invitation to a gynecological examination. The examination included digital assessment of the pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS). Genital prolapse presence (cystocele, rectocele, uterine prolapse or absence of the urethrovesical crease) was graded in relation to the vaginal introitus. RESULTS: The prevalence of urinary incontinence was 28%, 3.5% having daily leakage. Stress urinary incontinence was the dominant type. The odds ratio (OR) of having incontinence increased from 1 to 3.5 with increasing age and from 1 to 2.7 with increasing parity. The OR also increased with decreasing PFMS; from 1 in the group with the best PFMS to 3.4 in the group unable to contract their pelvic musculature. In addition, women with cystocele and/or absence of the urethrovesical crease had a 2.5-fold increased OR of incontinence (95% CI 1.5-4.2), smoking increased the OR 1.9 times (95% CI 1.1-3.2) and estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) increased the OR 2.9 times (95% CI 1.4-5.9). There were no significant correlations with the presence of chronic disease, episiotomy or the birth weights of children but small non-significant correlations with performed hysterectomy and the woman's weight. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary incontinence is a frequent symptom in the female general population and related to age, pelvic floor muscle strength, genital prolapse, smoking, parity and estrogen replacement therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Smoking and abdominal obesity: risk factors for venous thromboembolism among middle-aged men: "the study of men born in 1913".

BACKGROUND: Risk factors for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are mostly derived from case-control studies of hospitalized patients, and there are few long-term population-based studies. OBJECTIVE: To study the long-term risk factors for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism among middle-aged men. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. SETTING: General community, "The Study of Men Born in 1913." SUBJECTS: A random population sample of 855 men, all aged 50 years at baseline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Eight-hundred fifty-five men participated in a screening examination in 1963 at the age of 50 years, and 792 of these men were reexamined in 1967 at the age of 54. All the men were followed up with periodic examinations until the age of 80. Objective methods were used to ascertain a diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. RESULTS: Waist circumference (P=.004) and smoking (P = .02) predicted a venous thromboembolic event in multivariate survival analysis. Men in the highest decile of waist circumference (> or =100 cm) had an adjusted relative risk of 3.92 (95% confidence interval, 2.10-7.29; P<.001) compared with men with a waist circumference of less than 100 cm. For men who smoked 15 g of tobacco (15 cigarettes) a day or more, the adjusted relative risk was 2.82 (95% confidence interval, 1.30-6.13; P= .009) compared with nonsmokers. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking and abdominal obesity were independent risk factors for venous thromboembolic events during follow-up. In addition to the prevention of smoking and obesity, a more aggressive strategy regarding the use of prophylactic agents among smokers and obese patients, in various risk situations, may be justified.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1999

Reproductive hormones and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in serum as early markers of pelvic pain during late pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: The object was to study serum concentrations of reproductive hormones and aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen in early pregnancy as markers of pelvic pain (sacral pain or symphyseal pain) during later pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, clinical cohort study was performed, with repeated examinations of 200 women. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of relaxin and serum concentrations of propeptide of type III procollagen (a collagen turnover marker) measured in early pregnancy were significantly correlated with pelvic pain with onset during pregnancy and reported in late pregnancy (positively and negatively, respectively). In a multivariate analysis, relaxin and propeptide of type III procollagen concentrations remained independently and significantly correlated with pelvic pain. CONCLUSION: Serum concentrations of relaxin and propeptide of type III procollagen measured in early pregnancy may reflect the cause of and indicate an increased risk of pelvic pain (back pain or symphyseal pain) during late pregnancy. The mechanism is unclear.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Elevated serum levels of methylmalonic acid and homocysteine in elderly people. A population-based intervention study.

OBJECTIVES: There is uncertainty amongst clinicians about the definitions of cobalamin and folate deficiency and therefore about the indications for treatment. In this report we present the results of systematic cobalamin and folic acid treatment based upon serum cobalamin, total homocysteine (tHcy) and methylmalonic acid (MMA) analyses in a population-based sample. SUBJECTS: A 20% random sample of persons 70 years or older in a defined geographical area were invited to a survey (n = 266). Sixty-nine persons who had serum cobalamin < 300 pmol L-1 and serum MMA >/=0.37 micromol L-1 or serum tHcy >/=15 micromol L-1 and who had no cobalamin or folic acid substitution were selected for treatment. INTERVENTIONS: Initially all 69 patients were given cobalamin orally or intramuscularly. Those who remained high in tHcy were in addition given folic acid treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum cobalamin, serum MMA and serum tHcy. RESULTS: After 6 months of cobalamin treatment, serum MMA became normal in 13 out of 15 persons. Mean serum tHcy decreased but was normalized in only 15 out of 56 persons. After 3 months of folic acid treatment added to those who still had an abnormal serum tHcy, serum tHcy had normalized in all but one person. CONCLUSIONS: Cobalamin treatment normalizes increased MMA values and combined cobalamin and folic acid treatment normalizes tHcy, suggesting a pretreatment deficiency of tissue cobalamin and folate in spite of normal serum cobalamin and folate values in the majority of cases.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1999

Elevated serum levels of methylmalonic acid and homocysteine in elderly people. A population-based intervention study.

OBJECTIVES: There is uncertainty amongst clinicians about the definitions of cobalamin and folate deficiency and therefore about the indications for treatment. In this report we present the results of systematic cobalamin and folic acid treatment based upon serum cobalamin, total homocysteine (tHcy) and methylmalonic acid (MMA) analyses in a population-based sample. SUBJECTS: A 20% random sample of persons 70 years or older in a defined geographical area were invited to a survey (n = 266). Sixty-nine persons who had serum cobalamin < 300 pmol L-1 and serum MMA >/=0.37 micromol L-1 or serum tHcy >/=15 micromol L-1 and who had no cobalamin or folic acid substitution were selected for treatment. INTERVENTIONS: Initially all 69 patients were given cobalamin orally or intramuscularly. Those who remained high in tHcy were in addition given folic acid treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum cobalamin, serum MMA and serum tHcy. RESULTS: After 6 months of cobalamin treatment, serum MMA became normal in 13 out of 15 persons. Mean serum tHcy decreased but was normalized in only 15 out of 56 persons. After 3 months of folic acid treatment added to those who still had an abnormal serum tHcy, serum tHcy had normalized in all but one person. CONCLUSIONS: Cobalamin treatment normalizes increased MMA values and combined cobalamin and folic acid treatment normalizes tHcy, suggesting a pretreatment deficiency of tissue cobalamin and folate in spite of normal serum cobalamin and folate values in the majority of cases.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1999

The influence of sociodemographic characteristics on well-being and symptoms in a Swedish community. Results from a postal questionnaire survey.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of sociodemographic characteristics on self-reported well-being and symptoms. DESIGN: A postal questionnaire was sent to a representative population sample drawn from the population census. SETTING: The municipality of Håbo, Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: Out of 1312 subjects in the population sample, 827 (63%) participated in the study, i.e. answered the questionnaire. RESULTS: Sociodemographic characteristics significantly influenced most well-being variables and symptoms. The prevalence of symptoms in the categories depression and tension, as well as headache, decreased while most other symptoms increased with age. Women had more symptoms than men. Married subjects, compared to others, had higher social and mental but lower physical well-being. Subjects from households with up to three persons, and subjects with comprehensive school only, had lower physical well-being than other subjects. Working subjects generally had a higher well-being than non-working subjects. CONCLUSION: Sociodemographic characteristics had a significant influence on most well-being variables and symptoms.

Adolescent↗