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Biomedical subjects

V Rafnsson

Publications and source records attributed to V Rafnsson.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Cancer incidence among Icelandic farmers 1977-1987.

The purpose of the present study was to describe the cancer pattern in a cohort of farmers in Iceland and to compare their cancer incidence to that of other Icelandic males. This is a retrospective cohort study. The study population was obtained from a register at the Farmers' Pension Fund and comprised 5922 men. Viewed as a whole the cohort shows a significant lower incidence for all tumours than expected. The same is true of SIR for cancer of colon, lung, prostate, bladder and other urinary organs with SIR of 47, 41, 71 and 51, respectively. However, some etiologic factors may contribute to the increased risk of some cancer sites among farmers. There was an excess for Hodgkin's disease SIR 251, and for cancer of lips, skin (excl. melanomas), nervous system, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and leukemia with SIR of 183, 150, 128, 142 and 151, respectively, however not statistically significant. The authors suggest that something in farmers lifestyle protects them from various kinds of cancer.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMed1991

Mortality among professional drivers.

The mortality of truck drivers and taxi drivers was studied in Reykjavík. The national mortality rate was used for comparison, and the follow-up lasted until 1 December 1988. The 868 truck drivers (28,788.0 person-years) had an excess of lung cancer deaths [24 observed, 11.2 expected, standardized mortality ratio (SMR) 2.14], but fewer deaths than expected from respiratory diseases (15 observed versus 30.1 expected). The SMR from lung cancer did not steadily increase as the duration of employment increased, nor did it change with the length of follow-up. The SMR values did not deviate substantially from unity for the taxi drivers. Since the high mortality from lung cancer among the truck drivers did not seem to be due to their smoking habits, it might have been caused by one or more occupational factors, especially in light of this group's exposure to engine exhaust gases.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1990

Mortality study of fertiliser manufacturers in Iceland.

A retrospective cohort study was carried out on workers in a fertiliser plant to assess the risk of stomach and lung cancer. The cohort comprised 603 subjects and their death rates were compared with those of the general male population in Iceland. The study period was 1954 to 1985. The results do not provide evidence of an excess of deaths from stomach or lung cancer. Total mortality was lower than expected and even lower when the analysis was restricted to those who had worked at the plant for more than one year. Shiftwork operators had the highest SMRs for all cancers, however, with a reverse dose response according to duration of employment, indicating that this might be due to factors unrelated to manufacture of fertilisers. As examples of these factors life style and social class may be implicated, as well as possible selection of weaker subjects to do this assumed easy work.

Chemical Industry↗
PubMed1989

Mortality among farmers in Iceland.

A retrospective cohort study was performed to determine the cause of death among 5923 farmers in Iceland. Information on deaths occurring between 1977 and 1985 was obtained through the Statistical Bureau of Iceland. The vital status could be ascertained for all subjects in the study. Expected death rates were calculated, based on the national rates for males in the corresponding age groups and calendar years. The number of deaths from all causes, malignant neoplasms, lung cancer, ischaemic heart disease, respiratory diseases and accidents was less than expected in the total cohort and in nearly all subcohorts. There was no statistically significant excess risk, however: SMR for skin cancer was 2.30, SMR for Hodgkin's disease was 1.71, for leukaemia SMR was 1.60, and for brain cancer SMR was 1.23 in the total cohort. The results are in agreement with those of most previous studies of farmers, but because of the short follow-up time, the excess risk found for deaths from skin and haematological malignancies did not reach statistical significance. Further follow-up is planned in the future.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMed1989

[Musculoskeletal disorders in the Icelandic population].

In an attempt to survey the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms in the Icelandic population, this study was carried out on a random sample of men and women of the ages 16 to 65 years. The aims were to gather reference material for future use as a basis for comparison with results from different subgroups of the working population. The cohort comprised 855 subjects, 421 men and 434 women. The questionnaires used had been developed by a working group supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers. The participation rate was 73.5 per cent. The highest prevalence of symptoms during previous 12 months was that for symptoms are reported by the men from the neck, shoulders, lower back and head. The prevalence of symptoms in each region differed considerably between age groups. We are not aware of any other study performed with such questionnaires on a representative national sample. In this sample, the prevalence of symptoms was high in both sexes, as compared to those prevalences found in a variety of Swedish populations representing a vide range of occupations and work tasks.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Mortality and cancer incidence among marine engineers and machinists in Iceland.

A retrospective cohort study of mortality and cancer morbidity was carried out among 295 marine engineers and 182 machinists with special regard to cancer of the lung. The cohort was defined as all graduates from engineering and machinists school in Iceland during 1936-1955. During vocational training, as well as in their professional lives, marine engineers and machinists are exposed to asbestos, different kinds of mineral oils, and exhaust gases with marked individual variation as regards mode and magnitude of exposure. For deaths occurring between 1951 and 1982 information was obtained from the Statistical Bureau of Iceland. Significantly increased standardized mortality ratios were determined for cancer of the trachea, bronchus, and lung for the entire cohort. Record linkage with the Cancer Register revealed 36 cancers in the period 1955-1982. No statistically significant excess was found for the overall cancer incidence or for the incidence of cancer at any particular site. A special survey of smoking status showed that cigarette smoking was not as common among the subjects of the cohort as among the general male population in Reykjavik. These results support the suggestion that the increased mortality of lung cancer in the study group had a causal relationship to occupational exposure, particularly to asbestos exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Mortality among masons in Iceland.

An investigation was carried out to determine the cause of death among 450 masons in Iceland who had been exposed to hexavalent chromium, a trace element in cement. The cohort was defined as all men born between 1905 and 1945 who had, according to the Register of Masons and Stone-cutters, finished vocational training as masons. For deaths occurring between 1951 and 1982 information was obtained from the Statistical Bureau of Iceland. Expected death rates were calculated, based on the national rates for men in the corresponding age groups. The total number of deaths from all causes was less than expected for the whole study period (81 v 85.86) but, with a 20 year latent period, 58 deaths were found against 50.57 expected; with a 30 year latent period, 38 deaths were found against 27.82 expected, which may, to a large extent, be accounted for by an excess of deaths from lung cancer. Nine deaths from lung cancer were found in the cohort, eight with 20 and 30 year latent periods compared with expected rates of 2.87, 2.19, and 1.28 respectively. The results seem to indicate that the increased number of deaths from lung cancer among the masons has a causal relation to occupational exposure.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Smoking--a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in women? Considerations based on a prospective population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden.

A longitudinal population study of 1462 women aged 38-60 was carried out in Gothenburg, Sweden during 1968-69. The participants have been followed up for 12 years. The relationships between smoking and cardiovascular disease and between smoking and mortality have been evaluated. No significant increased risk was observed for smoking women concerning the 12-year incidence of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, electrocardiographic changes suggesting ischaemic heart disease, stroke or death from all causes. Multivariate analysis could not demonstrate an independent effect of the cigarette smoking habit in women on these end-points. In agreement with the results from the Framingham prospective study we could not in our prospective study verify the markedly increased risk of myocardial infarction in smoking women, which has been observed in a number of cross-sectional studies of women and also in prospective studies of men.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Prognosis for women with different symptoms and signs suggesting ischaemic heart disease--a 12-year follow-up. The population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden.

A longitudinal population study of a total of 1462 women aged 38-60 was carried out in 1968-69 in Gothenburg, Sweden. The women have been re-studied in 1974-75 and 1980-81. The incidences of myocardial infarction during the following 12-year period were: three of 29 women with a history of angina pectoris (10%), four of 23 women with initial ECG changes at rest (17%) and one of 30 with ECG changes during work (3%). In addition, all women of similar age in Gothenburg with myocardial infarction during the years 1968-70 have been followed-up with respect to mortality, and in all there were 47 women who were alive on arrival at hospital. The figures for the 12-year overall mortality in the population study were: three women with angina pectoris (10%), four women with ECG changes at rest (17%) and three women with ECG changes during work (10%) and in the series of women with myocardial infarction 21 of 47 (45%). It seemed that the mortality among women with a history of angina pectoris or ECG changes at rest or during exercise indicating ischaemic heart disease was only slightly increased, if at all, compared to other women in the population, while having had a myocardial infarction significantly increased the mortality risk.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Morbidity and mortality in relation to blood pressure and antihypertensive treatment. A 12-year follow-up study of a population sample of Swedish women.

Morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and total mortality have been studied in a longitudinal population study initially comprising 1462 women representative of the general female population. When related to the initial blood pressure (BP) levels of women not on antihypertensive drugs (hypertensives and non-hypertensives), the distributions of women with myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke during the 12-year follow-up period seemed to be U-shaped, with the highest incidences in women with the lowest and the highest BP levels. Women recognized as untreated hypertensives in the initial study were offered regular control by the study team during the whole 12-year period and were treated when treatment was considered indicated. They were found to be similar to the non-hypertensives with regard to the incidence of MI and stroke and total mortality. Our encouraging results may be explained by continuity of medical care, the antihypertensive treatment per se or the types of antihypertensive drugs administered.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and cardiovascular disease. Results from a population study of women in Göteborg, Sweden.

In a prospective study of a population sample of women, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was studied in relation to the incidence of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, stroke and intermittent claudication. ESR could not be proved to be predictive of these manifestations of cardiovascular disease. Similar results were obtained when the population was studied cross-sectionally. The ESR was higher in women with hyperlipidaemia (serum triglyceride greater than or equal to 2.0 mmol/l or serum cholesterol greater than or equal to 9 mmol/l), in women with arterial hypertension (treated or untreated, with systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 160 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure greater than 95 mm Hg or both) and in overweight women (women within the upper 10 centiles of weight index) compared to women of the same age in the population sample who did not fulfill the criteria according to the above definitions. ESR was similar in hyperuricaemic women (upper 5 centiles of serum uric acid) and in those who were not hyperuricaemic. No association was found between smoking habits and ESR. Weak correlations were found between ESR and serum triglycerides, serum cholesterol and serum uric acid, respectively. Although some correlations were found, ESR cannot replace other examinations in the search for risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in women with different manifestations of joint disease.

A comprehensive population study of women aged 44-46 was carried out in Göteborg, Sweden in 1974-75. The mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the rate of high ESR values (defined as ESR greater than or equal to 30 mm) were higher in women with manifestations of joint diseases than in other women, the differences being statistically significant for women with swollen or deformed finger joints and symptoms from the wrists. Women with manifestations of active joint disease at the time of the examination had even higher ESR values, the differences being statistically significant also for women with symptoms from the finger joints. High ESR values were more common in women with a positive serological test for rheumatoid factor and joint manifestations indicating arthritis and osteoarthrosis. The "arthritis" and "osteoarthrosis" groups each included about one-third of the subjects with rheumatoid factor. It is concluded that although ESR values are moderately increased in subjects with different manifestations of joint disease, the vast majority of such subjects have ESR values less than 30 mm.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cytogenetics of myelodysplasia and acute myeloid leukaemia in aircrew and people treated with radiotherapy.

Increased risk of acute myeloid leukaemia has been reported in aircrew, possibly in association with cosmic radiation. We studied the cytogenetics of seven aircrew members who had acute myeloid leukaemia or myelodysplasia and found deletion or loss of chromosome 7 in four. The same abnormality was found in eight of 19 patients with leukaemia after radiotherapy alone. By comparison, only 81 of 761 unselected cases of myelodysplasia or acute myeloid leukaemia had the same cytogenetic abnormalities. Our results support the concept that deletions or loss of the long arm of chromosome 7 in myelodysplasia and acute myeloid leukaemia could indicate previous exposure to ionising radiation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Long-term follow-up after methyl chloride intoxication.

In this study, the authors investigated mortality and cancer patterns among a group of individuals accidentally exposed to methyl chloride 32 y earlier. This group of 24 persons had survived the immediate intoxication, which had occurred on a trawler during a fishing trip. The authors selected a reference group, which contained five times as many individuals as the study group, from registers of crews, and they controlled for age, occupation, social class, and lifestyle factors. The authors established a record linkage through personal identification numbers with the national death register and cancer register, thus securing 100% follow-up. The Mantel-Haenszel point estimate (M-H) was 2.2, and the 95% confidence interval (CI) was 1.3-3.1 for all causes of death. There was an excess of deaths from cardiovascular diseases (M-H = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.2-3.8). This excess mortality was more prominent among deckhands who had been subject to higher exposure; risk ratios (RRs) were elevated for all causes of death (RR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.0-5.7), as well as for cardiovascular diseases (RR = 3.9, 95% CI = 1.0-14.4). In addition, the authors noted elevated risks for all cancers (M-H = 1.5, 95% CI = 0.3-5.6) and for lung cancer (M-H = 2.7, 95% CI = 0.1-52.6). The authors concluded that exposure to methyl chloride may have contributed to the risk of cardiovascular disease. Investigators need to conduct further studies on groups exposed to methyl chloride to refute or confirm this result.

Aged↗