Biomedical subjects

O Søndergaard

Publications and source records attributed to O Søndergaard.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

[Randomized population study of screening for intestinal cancer with Hemoccult-II].

The aim of the randomised study was to compare mortality rates from colorectal cancer (CRC) in persons screened with faecal occult-blood tests every two years during a 10-year period with those of unscreened similar controls. Thirty thousand nine hundred and sixty-seven persons aged 45-75 years in 1985 were allocated to screening and another 30,966 to a control group. Only participants who completed the first round with Hemoccult-II were invited for further screening. Participants with positive tests were offered colonoscopy. The primary endpoint was death from CRC. Sixty-seven percent completed the first screening round, and of these more than 90% accepted repeated screenings. During the 10 year study, 481 persons in the screening group had a diagnosis of CRC, compared with 483 unscreened controls. CRC mortality was significantly lower in the screening group (205 deaths) than in controls (249 deaths) (mortality ratio 0.82 [95% conf. lim. 0.68-0.99], p = 0.03). Our findings indicate that biennial screening by faecal occult-blood tests can reduce CRC mortality.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1996

Randomised study of screening for colorectal cancer with faecal-occult-blood test.

BACKGROUND: Case-control studies and a voluntary-based follow-up study have suggested that repeated screening with faecal-occult-blood (FOB) tests can lead to a reduction in mortality from colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this randomised study was to compare mortality rates after FOB tests every 2 years during a 10-year period with those of unscreened similar controls. METHODS: 140,000 people aged 45-75 years lived in Funen, Denmark, in August, 1985, and were considered for inclusion in our study. Before randomisation we excluded individuals who had CRC or precursor adenomas and those who had taken part in a previous pilot study. Randomisation of 137,485 people in blocks of 14 allocated three per 14 to the screening group (30,967), three per 14 to the control group (30,966), and eight not to be enrolled in the study (75,552). Controls were not told about the study and continued to use health-care facilities as normal. Hemoccult-II blood tests (with dietary restrictions but without rehydration) were sent to screening-group participants. Only those participants who completed the first screening round were invited for further screening--five rounds of screening during a 10-year period. Participants with positive tests were asked to attend to full examination and were offered colonoscopy whenever possible. The primary endpoint was death from CRC. FINDINGS: Of the 30,967 screening-group participants, 20,672 (67%) completed the first screening round and were invited for further screening; more than 90% accepted repeated screenings. During the 10-year study, 481 people in the screening group had a diagnosis of CRC, compared with 483 unscreened controls. There were 205 deaths attributable to CRC in the screening group, compared with 249 deaths in controls. CRC mortality, including deaths attributable to complications from CRC treatment, was significantly lower in the screening group than in controls (mortality ratio 0.82 [95% CI 0.68-0.99]) p = 0.03). INTERPRETATION: Our findings indicate that biennial screening by FOB tests can reduce CRC mortality. This study is being continued to improve its statistical power and to assess the effect of the removal of more precursor adenomas in the screening-group participants than in controls on CRC incidence.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1993

[Serum sodium as prognostic factor in hepatic coma].

UNLABELLED: Among 17,628 discharges from the Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Odense University Hospital during the period 1 April 1973 to 31 May 1992, 66 (3.74/1000) discharges in 55 patients were found with the EDP-code 573.00 coma hepaticum. The case records of these patients were examined, and the lowest serum sodium values were compared between the patients who survived hepatic coma and those who did not and were correlated to the total duration of hospitalisation and the serum creatinine value measured at the same time as the lowest serum sodium value. The case records of 54 patients could be found, but in one case there was no serum sodium value; thus, the final material included 53 patients with 53 cases of hepatic coma and 53 lowest serum sodium values, 25 from patients who survived hepatic coma and 28 from patients who died. 15/28 (53.6%) lowest serum sodium values during fatal coma admissions were 119 mmol/l or below, whereas 6/25 values during non-fatal coma admissions were 119 mmol/l or below (p < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between the lowest measured serum sodium value and the total duration of hospitalisation (p < 0.00004). Exponential regression analysis showed negative correlation between serum creatinine and serum sodium (p = 0.0144). CONCLUSION: The correlations mentioned above may raise the question whether serum sodium should be kept at 120 mmol/l or above in patients suffering from hepatic coma. It is not predictable whether such a measure will prevent or attenuate cerebral symptoms and improve survival rate.

Hepatic Encephalopathy↗

PubMed1989

[Serious infections in alcoholics. 1. Bacteremia, lobar pneumococcal pneumonia and pneumococcal meningitis in alcoholics 1974-1987].

During the period 1974-1987, the frequency of infections in alcoholics discharged from hospitals in Funen showed an increase of 5.53 +/- 3.38 (p = 0.0039) per 10,000 alcoholics discharged per year. The frequency of discharged alcoholics increased by 3.72 +/- 0.60 per 10,000 discharged patients per year. Infections were diagnosed in 0.48 per cent of the discharged alcoholics and in 0.18 per cent of the discharged non-alcoholics (p less than 0.00001). Pneumococcal infections were relatively more frequent in alcoholics (p less than 0.05).

Alcoholism↗

PubMed1989

Repeated screening for colorectal cancer with fecal occult blood test. A prospective randomized study at Funen, Denmark.

Two screenings with Hemoccult-II were performed in a randomized study, allocating 30,970 persons to screening and 30,968 as controls in a population of 140,000 between 45 and 74 years old on the island of Funen, Denmark. The test was completed in 20,672 initially and in 18,779 of these during rescreening 2 years later. Positive H-II tests were found in 215 and 159 persons during the two screenings, respectively. A total colonoscopy was performed in 187 and 144, and cancer was detected in 37 and 13 and adenomata in 86 and 76, respectively. Interval cancers had developed in 40 persons at the end of the second screening, and 39 non-responders had developed cancer. Cancer was diagnosed in 115 controls and an adenoma in 100 during the same period. Interval cancers presented as rectal cancers more frequently than those detected by screening. Early cancers were more frequent in the screening group, and, accordingly, more patients had curative and also less extensive surgery, with a low postoperative mortality. The total number of deaths from colorectal cancer was 37 in the screening group, including interval cancers and cancers in non-responders and persons who developed cancer before they could be invited, which suggests a reduction in mortality of 27% (51 deaths among controls, compared with 37). The reduction is as yet not statistically significant, and final evaluation must await at least one more screening, ending in 1990, and a follow-up of some years. Removal of more large adenomas during screening makes it possible that the incidence of cancer will decrease.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1987

Initial mass screening for colorectal cancer with fecal occult blood test. A prospective randomized study at Funen in Denmark.

A Danish study allocated at random 30,970 persons to screening with Hemoccult-II and 30,968 as controls in a population of 140,000 between 45 and 74 years old. Persons with known colorectal cancer, adenoma, and distant spread from all types of cancer were excluded. The test was completed in 20,672 persons from August 1985 to September 1986, and 215 (1%) were found to be positive. Colonoscopy in 203 and double-contrast barium enema in 6 detected 37 persons with cancer and 86 with adenomas. Dukes A cancer was detected in 19 in the screening group, in contrast to 2 among controls. Synchronous adenomas were found in 23 with a positive test and 10 controls. Interval cancer was found in nine persons within 1-11 months after a negative test. Eighteen persons got cancer before invitation and six defectors as well. In all, colorectal cancer was detected in 70 persons in the screening group and in 38 controls; the figures for adenomas alone were 103 and 38, respectively. The study is designed to detect a possible reduction in mortality from colorectal cancer of 25% within 5 years after three screenings with intervals of 2 years. The second screening will begin in September 1987. It remains to be shown whether a reduction may be obtained both in mortality and in incidence of colorectal cancer.

Adenoma↗

PubMed1986

Participation in mass screening for colorectal cancer with fecal occult blood test.

A Danish, randomized study with Hemoccult-II, including 60,000 persons between 45 and 74 years old, began in 1985. Methods of increasing acceptability are described for the first 8000. The first 1000 refusals are also analyzed. Written invitations including prestamped envelopes for return of the slides resulted in an acceptability of 58.8%. Two reminders increased the figure to 65.6%. Personal attempts to change the mind of those refusing increased the last figure to 68.9%. Incomplete slides were returned by 49 persons, but on request 43 sent a complete set. All 78 persons with positive tests had colonoscopy, which detected carcinomas in 10 and adenomas in 39. The study confirmed that results of trials from different countries are difficult to compare because of major differences among populations and methods. However, the present results were similar to those obtained in a Swedish study including only persons between 60 and 64 years old.

Aged↗