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Biomedical subjects

S Sabroe

Publications and source records attributed to S Sabroe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Fatal accidents in house fires. The most significant causes, such as smoking and alcohol abuse, multiplied by four the incidence during the last 40 years].

A population-based descriptive investigation of housefire accidents in Denmark was carried out for the two five year periods 1953-58 and 1988-93, based on death certificates, police reports and autopsy reports. The number of deaths due to housefire accidents in Denmark has increased (1953-58: 136 (66 men and 70 women), 1988-93: 363 (212 men and 150 women), mostly due to an increase in tobacco-smoking related fire accidents. In 1988-93 the three common causes of housefire deaths were tobacco-smoking, often in combination with alcohol intoxication or handicap (51%), cooking-accidents (10%) and accidents with candles (9%). The largest risk groups were chronic alcoholics, handicapped and elderly people. In conclusion, warnings should be issued against smoking in bed and use of loose-fitting clothing while cooking on an open fire. Protective aprons and devices for use while smoking, self-extinguishing cigarettes and use of fireproof materials in furniture and clothing may prevent ignition. Smoke-alarms may secure early warning.

Accidents, Home↗
PubMed1997

Birth weight and cognitive function in young adult life: historical cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation between birth weight and cognitive function in young adult life. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study based on birth registry data and cognitive function measured during evaluation for military service. SUBJECTS: 4300 Danish conscripts born between 1973 and 1975. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mean score in the Boerge Prien test of cognitive function; score is the number of correct answers to 78 questions and correlates with full scale intelligence quotient (IQ). RESULTS: Mean score in the Boerge Prien test increased from 39.9 at a birth weight of < or = 2500 g to 44.6 at a birth weight of 4200 g even after adjustment for gestational age and length at birth, maternal age and parity, and other variables. Above a birth weight of 4200 g the test score decreased slightly. CONCLUSION: Birth weight is associated with cognitive performance in young adult life. Interference with fetal growth may influence adult cognitive performance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

[Thymomoa in Denmark].

This is a descriptive study of thymomas notified to the national Danish Cancer Registry and registered by the departments of pathology during the years 1943-1993. A total of 433 cases of benign and malignant thymomas were included over these 50 years with an increase of the incidence to a stable rate of 2.5/million/year from start to 1973. The male:female ratio is 1:1. While the age-specific incidence rate for persons below 40 years is constantly low throughout the period of investigation, a doubling of the rate is registered for persons between 70 and 79 during the period 1978-1993. The incidence rate in Copenhagen is much higher compared to other regions of Denmark. The above-mentioned increase in incidence is due mainly to an underreporting of benign thymomas during the first period of investigation (1943-1977), but may also be due to improved diagnostic capabilities and to more uniform methods of registration during the last period (1978-1993).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Nicotine patches in smoking cessation: a randomized trial among over-the-counter customers in Denmark.

The authors examined the effect of 24-hour nicotine patches in smoking cessation among over-the-counter customers in Denmark, based on a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Participants were consecutive customers to whom nicotine patches were offered as the only treatment. Forty-two pharmacies in the areas of Aarhus and Copenhagen in Denmark participated in the trial, and 522 customers who smoked 10 or more cigarettes per day were randomized to either nicotine patches or placebo from January to March 1994. Customers with chronic diseases and pregnant or breastfeeding women were excluded from the trial. Twenty-four-hour patches were offered free of charge during a 3-month period. Those smoking 20 or more cigarettes per day started on a dose of 21-mg/day patches. Customers who smoked less started on patches of 14 mg/day; and for all of the participants, the dose was gradually reduced to 7-mg/day patches during the study period. Smoking behavior and compliance were recorded by means of self-administered questionnaires and telephone interviews. Smoking status was recorded in intervals of 4 weeks, which was fixed to be a treatment period, and 26 weeks after inclusion. There was a significant increase in smoking cessation rates after 8 weeks of follow-up but only among smokers who started on 21-mg/day patches. There was a marked placebo effect at each time of contact during the trial, especially in those smoking fewer than 20 cigarettes per day. Although the noncompliance rate was high overall due to discontinuation in the use of patches by relapsed smokers, noncompliance among successful quitters was low. More side effects were seen in the nicotine group than in the placebo group, but none of the reported side effects were serious. It appears that regular healthy smokers who were customers of nonprescribed nicotine patches and who received 21-mg/day nicotine patches benefited from the active treatment (44.1% stopped smoking after 4 weeks), but almost as many stopped smoking in the placebo group (37.3% after 4 weeks). No significant differences in smoking cessation rates were seen among smokers who started with the low-dose nicotine or placebo patches.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1997

Colorectal function in patients with spinal cord lesions.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to describe the frequency and severity of colorectal problems among patients with spinal cord lesions and to determine whether these problems are associated with age, gender, time since the lesion, and level and severity of the lesion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A detailed questionnaire describing colorectal and bladder function was sent to all 589 members of The Danish Paraplegic Association; 424 responded (72 percent). RESULTS: Only 19 percent felt a normal desire to defecate, whereas the remaining patients felt no desire to defecate (38 percent) or a combination of abdominal discomfort (37 percent) and headache, physical uneasiness, and perspiration (25 percent). Digital stimulation of the anal canal before defecation or digital evacuation of the rectum was used regularly by 65 percent of patients. Fecal incontinence was experienced by 75 percent of patients; however, most patients only had a few episodes of fecal incontinence each month (15 percent) or each year (56 percent). Overall, 39 percent of patients reported that colorectal dysfunction caused some or major restrictions on social activities or on their quality of life, and 30 percent regarded colorectal complaints to be worse than both bladder and sexual dysfunction. The severity of most symptoms was significantly correlated with the severity of the lesion, and the self-reported impact on social activities or quality of life was significantly more severe among women than men. CONCLUSION: Colorectal dysfunction is very common among spinal cord-injured patients, often causing restriction on social activities and quality of life. Therefore, these problems deserve more attention in the treatment of spinal cord-injured patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Glycosylated hemoglobin as predictor of adverse fetal outcome in type 1 diabetic pregnancies.

The study aimed to determine whether a consistent dose-response association can be demonstrated, after adjustment for maternal age and White classification, between glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values before conception and in the first trimester of pregnancy of insulin-dependent diabetic mothers and adverse fetal outcome (abortions and major malformations). This is a historical follow-up study based on medical records in a geographically defined catchment area. The study comprised 60 pregnancies with HbA1c determinations before pregnancy and 161 with HbA1c in the first trimester in women with type 1 diabetes admitted between 1980 and 1992. Relative risk calculations indicated a highly significant and consistent correlation between HbA1c values above 6.6% and adverse fetal outcome after adjustment for differences in maternal age and White classification. Our data support a clinically significant and consistent relationship between adverse fetal outcome and HbA1c in the first trimester of pregnancy of type 1 mothers, without any indication of a cut-off level below which further improvement in HbA1c was of minor importance.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1997

Data quality of administratively collected hospital discharge data for liver cirrhosis epidemiology.

We estimated the validity, i.e., whether the diagnostic criteria were fulfilled for the patients registered with the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis in a Danish hospital discharge registry, and the completeness, i.e., whether all patients with liver cirrhosis were included in the registry. Information in the regional hospital discharge registry in the Country of Aarhus, Denmark was compared with hospital records and information in a pathology registry. 85.4% of the patients registered with a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis (validity). 93.2% of the patients registered with biopsy proven liver cirrhosis in the pathology registry were found in the discharge registry (completeness) with a diagnosis of liver cirrhosis. The hospital discharge registry showed relatively few misclassifications and the Danish National Registry of Patients (NRP), which is based on the regional registries, may provide a unique study base for future research.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1997

The Danish strong analgesic surveillance system.

The legal consumption of strong analgesics is increasing and research addressing the complex consequences of this expansion is needed. We describe the Danish strong analgesic surveillance system comprising copies of all prescriptions of strong analgesics purchased at Danish pharmacies. The system is operated by the Public Health officers and has been computerized since 1993. In addition to specific informations about the drugs in question the system comprises personal registration numbers (CPR) of both patients and doctors issuing the prescription. The system therefore allows: 1) a precise and valid identification of the individuals purchasing and prescribing strong analgesics, 2) an option to describe possible changes in consumption over time, and 3) the possibility of a highly reliable record linkage with other Danish population-based data sources. Validation studies are reported and strengths and limitations of the system are discussed.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1996

[Decline of violence in ]rhus. Violence registered in ]rhus hospital during a period of 12 years].

The aim of this study was to describe the changes in frequency and character of interpersonal violence in Aarhus during a twelve year period. A one year (1993-1994) prospective registration of all persons exposed to violence and attending the casualty wards or the Department of Forensic Medicine was performed. The results were compared with similar studies performed in 1981-1982 and 1987-1988. The incidence in the last one year period had decreased significantly to 5.5 cases/1000 inhabitants compared to 6.5 in 1981-1982 and 7.5 in 1987-1988. The decrease was most distinct among men between 15-24 years of age. Ninety percent of the lesions were minor and the severity did not differ from the former study. Among risk factors associated to severe violence were men between 25-49 years of age, foreigners, use of knives and domestic violence. Firearms were only involved in 0.8% of the cases. Significantly higher proportion of the victims reported the incidence to the police in 1993-1994 than previously.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Smoking and breast cancer].

Two hypotheses have been suggested concerning the relationship between smoking and breast cancer: 1) smoking has a protective effect on the development of breast cancer because of an anti-oestrogenic effect; 2) smoking increases the risk of breast cancer because of a direct carcinogenic effect. The present study examined the relationship between smoking and breast cancer in 3240 women who were referred for mammography. There was no support for the first hypothesis. In contrast, women had an increased risk of developing breast cancer after 30 years of smoking with a relative risk of 1.6, and smokers with breast cancer were eight years younger than non-smokers with breast cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Analyses of data quality in registries concerning diabetes mellitus--a comparison between a population based hospital discharge and an insulin prescription registry.

To evaluate the data quality in the Danish National Registry of Patients (DNRP) and the Prescription Registry in the country of Northern Jutland (487,000 inhabitants) concerning insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and insulin treated diabetes mellitus, a comparison between data in the two registries was made. From the Regional Hospital Registry in the County of Northern Jutland, containing discharge diagnoses from all admissions to hospitals in the county, we identified all patients with the IDDM diagnosis between 1987 and 1993. From the Regional Prescription Registry all insulin prescriptions taken up at pharmacies in the county in 1993 were identified. All persons were identified by their individual identification number (CPR-number), and a record linkage between the two data sources was made. The predictive value of an IDDM-registration in the DNRP was 96% and the corresponding completeness 91%. In the Prescription Registry the completeness was 96%. Both registries seem to be valuable study bases for epidemiological research in diabetes mellitus.

Denmark↗
PubMed1996

Identification of patients treated with strong analgesics: an assessment of two Danish information systems with respect to epidemiological research.

Pain is a significant health problem, and there is considerable need for clinical and epidemiological research in this topic. A prerequisite for doing research on patients treated with strong analgesics is that it is possible to identify the patients. We assessed two Danish population-based information systems, in which patients treated with strong analgesics are registered by using the patients' personal registration numbers as identifier. The two systems, which we compared, were (1) a surveillance system administered by the National Board of Health, and (2) the drug prescription register in the Danish National Health Service. During August 1994, 3787 patients were registered in the surveillance system and 3812 in the National Health Service in North Jutland County. Ninety-five persons were registered only in the surveillance system, and 120 only in the National Health Service register. A capture-recapture analysis showed a coverage of 96.9% for the surveillance system and 97.5% for the National Health Service. We thus conclude that the two systems form a valuable study base of patients treated with strong analgesics in epidemiological research.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Use of microbiological diagnostics and antibiotics in Danish general practice.

This article analyzes the use of antibiotics in Danish general practice. We observed considerable variation in the prescription of antibiotics among general practitioners (GPs). Internationally, Denmark has a low consumption of antibiotics. The use of antibiotics was closely associated with GPs' use of drugs, other than antibiotics, and to some extent with use of microbiological diagnostic tests. These findings provide evidence for the assumption that the consumption of antibiotics can be decreased further, which stresses the need for a restrictive policy concerning antibiotics.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1996

A framework for evaluation of secondary data sources for epidemiological research.

BACKGROUND: As part of the development in information technology, increasing amounts of health care data are available for epidemiological research. METHODS: In this review, we discuss the following factors affecting the value of secondary data in research: 1) completeness of registration of individuals, 2) the accuracy and degree of completeness of the registered data, 3) the size of the data source, 4) the registration period, 5) data accessibility, availability and cost, 6) data format, and 7) possibilities of linkage with other data sources (record linkage). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The importance of these issues depends on the use of the data and on the problems they have to address. If the evaluation is satisfactory with respect to the above-mentioned factors relevant to the particular study, the data source could be a very cost-effective way of solving the research problem.

Bias↗
PubMed1996

Do stressful life events affect duration of gestation and risk of preterm delivery?

The present study was designed to test the relation between stressful life events experienced during pregnancy and the risk of preterm delivery and shortened duration of pregnancy. We collected data prospectively in a general population sample, including repeated questionnaire measures of exposure to stressful life events during pregnancy. Between August 1989 and September 1991, 8,719 Danish-speaking women with singleton pregnancies attended antenatal care. Of these women, 5,873 (67%) completed all questionnaires. When indicating an event, the woman was asked to rate the amount of stress induced by this event. Measurement of gestational duration was primarily based on early ultrasound scan. When we evaluated life events independently of the individual's appraisal, we found no association with duration of gestation or risk of preterm delivery. In contrast, life events assessed by the subject as highly stressful were associated with shorter mean duration of gestation and increased risk of preterm delivery. This association was observed primarily with events experienced between the 16th and 30th week of gestation. Women who had one or more highly stressful life events had a risk of preterm delivery 1.76 times greater than those without stressful events (95% confidence interval = 1.15-2.71). We found no evidence for a buffering effect of social support.

Adult↗