Pulmonary hypertension (PAH) among children and adults has been linked to premature birth, even after adjustments for known risk factors such as congenital heart disease and chronic lung disease. The ...aim of this population-based registry study was to assess the risk of PAH following exposure to premature birth and other factors in the decades when modern neonatal care was introduced and survival rates increased.
Data on pulmonary hypertension and perinatal factors were retrieved from population-based governmental and national quality registers. Cases were adults and children over five years of age with pulmonary hypertension born from 1973 to 2010 and individually matched to six controls by birth year and delivery hospital. Conditional multiple logistic regression was performed to assess the risk of pulmonary hypertension following premature birth and to adjust for known confounding factors for the total study population and for time of birth, grouped into five-year intervals.
In total, 128 cases and 768 controls were included in the study group. Preterm birth was over three times more common among cases (21%) than among controls (6%). The overall adjusted risk of pulmonary hypertension was associated with premature birth, OR = 4.48 (95% CI; 2.10-9.53). Maternal hypertension, several neonatal risk factors and female gender were independently associated with PAH when potential confounders were taken into account. For each five-year period, the risk of PAH following premature birth increased several times for children born in the 2000s and later, OR = 17.08 (95% CI 5.60-52.14).
Preterm birth, along with other factors, significantly contributes to PAH. PAH following premature birth has increased over the last few decades. Our study indicates that new, yet unknown factors may play a role in the risk of preterm-born infants developing PAH later in life.
It may be challenging to differentiate normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) from neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. In this population-based study, we wanted to describe the ...frequency of parkinsonian symptoms among individuals with and without NPH, and whether the motor examination part of the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS-m) score differs between these groups. Furthermore, we wanted to find out whether there was a relationship between UPDRS-m score, NPH symptoms, and radiological signs of NPH. A sample of 168 individuals over the age of 65 with and without self-reported symptoms of NPH underwent a computerized tomography of the brain and clinical examination, including UPDRS-m to grade parkinsonian symptoms. According to diagnostic guidelines, 38 fulfilled criteria for NPH, whereas 130 had unlikely NPH. Bradykinesia was significantly more common among those with NPH (79%) compared to those with unlikely NPH (32%) (
p
< 0.001). The corresponding figures for rigidity were 43 vs. 15% (
p
< 0.001), for postural instability 71 vs. 22% (
p
< 0.001), and for tremor at rest 5 vs. 6% (not significant). The total UPDRS-m score was significantly higher among individuals with NPH (median = 12) than without (median = 1) and correlated significantly with the degree of NPH symptoms (
r
= −0.72) and ventriculomegaly (
r
= 0.31). In this study, parkinsonian symptoms, except resting tremor, were frequent in individuals with NPH and correlated with the severity of NPH symptoms. Asymmetric symptoms were uncommon. We recommend a liberal use of neuroradiological imaging when investigating a patient with parkinsonian features.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Studies of secondary prevention for cardiovascular disease show low fulfilment of guideline-recommended targets. This study explored whether nurse-led follow-up could increase adherence to statins ...over time and reasons for discontinuation. All patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome at Östersund hospital between 2010-2014 were screened for the randomized controlled NAILED-ACS trial. The trial comprises two groups, one with nurse-led annual follow-up and medical titration by telephone to reach set intervention targets and one with usual care. All discontinuations of statins were recorded prospectively for at least 36 months and categorized as avoidable or unavoidable. Kaplan-Meier estimates were conducted for first and permanent discontinuations. Predictors for discontinuation were analysed using multivariate Cox regression, statin type and mean LDL-C at end of follow-up. Female gender was a predictor for discontinuation. Allocation in the intervention group predicted increased risk for a first but decreased risk for permanent discontinuation. A nurse-led telemedical secondary prevention programme in a relatively unselected ACS cohort leads to increased adherence to statins over time, greater percentage on potent treatment and lower LDL-C compared to usual care. An initially increased tendency toward early discontinuation in the intervention group stresses the importance of a longer duration of structured follow-up.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background
Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is first-line treatment for urinary incontinence (UI) in women. Self-management via a mobile app is a new cost-effective method for PFMT delivery. This ...study analyzes factors associated with improvement among app users.
Methods
A pragmatic observational study in a community setting. Upon downloading the app Tät®, users answered questions regarding their age, education, residence, and UI symptoms. After 3 months, users answered follow-up questions regarding symptoms and frequency of training and app usage, and the validated Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) questionnaire. Only non-pregnant, non-postpartum adult women with UI who answered the PGI-I questionnaire were included. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze possible associations between these factors with any improvement and with great improvement according to the PGI-I. The models were adjusted for age.
Results
The study included 2,153 participants who had completed self-management, that is, 11.5% of eligible women who completed the baseline questionnaire. Of these participants, 65.6% reported improvement of UI. Any improvement was associated with age, frequency of PFMT, and app use, accounting for 27.9% of variability (Nagelkerke R
2
). Lower incontinence severity, frequency of PFMT, and app use were associated with great improvement.
Conclusion
Self-management of urinary incontinence is easily accessible to many women and improvement rates are comparable with other forms of PFMT. Demographic factors and incontinence severity showed no or incongruent association, whereas regular PFMT and app use predicted any and great improvement. App use showed an additional effect beyond frequency of training.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Only sparse epidemiological data are available regarding the risk of ischemic stroke (IS) after coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Here we aimed to describe the incidence and predictors of IS ...associated with CABG performed after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), as well as trends over time. We analyzed data for 248,925 unselected AMI patients. We separately analyzed groups of patients who underwent CABG early or late after the index infarction. IS incidence rates per year at risk were 15.8% (95% confidence interval, 14.5-17.1) and 10.9% (10.6-11.2), respectively, among patients with and without CABG in the early cohort, and 4.0% (3.5-4.5) and 2.3% (2.2-2.3), respectively, among patients with and without CABG in the late cohort. Predictors of post-AMI IS included prior IS, CABG, prior atrial fibrillation, prior hemorrhagic stroke, heart failure during hospitalization, older age, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Reduced IS risk was associated with use of statins and P2Y12 inhibitors. IS incidence markedly decreased among patients who did not undergo CABG, while no such reduction over time occurred among those who underwent CABG. This emphasizes the need to optimize modifiable risk factors and to consistently use treatments that may reduce IS risk among CABG patients.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Introduction
We investigated the long‐term effects of using a mobile app to treat stress urinary incontinence with a focus on pelvic floor muscle training.
Material and methods
A previous randomized ...controlled trial of 123 women aged 27–72 years found that three months of self‐managing stress urinary incontinence with support from the Tät® app was effective. We followed up the women in the app group (n = 62) two years after the initial trial with the same primary outcomes for symptom severity (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form) and condition‐specific quality of life (ICIQ‐Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Quality of Life) and compared the scores with those at baseline.
Results
Of the 62 women, 61 and 46 (75.4%), respectively, participated in three‐month and two‐year follow‐ups. Baseline data did not differ between responders and non‐responders at follow‐up. The mean decreases in International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form and ICIQ‐Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Quality of Life scores after two years were 3.1 (95% confidence interval 2.0–4.2) and 4.0 (95% confidence interval 2.1–5.9), respectively. Of the 46 women, four (8.7%) rated themselves as very much better, nine (19.6%) as much better, and 16 (34.8%) as a little better. The use of incontinence protection products decreased significantly (p = 0.04), and the proportion of women who felt they could contract their pelvic muscles correctly increased from 14/46 (30.4%) at baseline to 31/46 (67.4%) at follow‐up (p < 0.001).
Conclusions
Self‐management of stress urinary incontinence with support from the Tät® app had significant and clinically relevant long‐term effects and may serve as first‐line treatment.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
There is limited data on long-term outcomes after hospitalization for ACS. We aimed to estimate the rate of recurrent cardiovascular events in the long-term, in a population-based, unselected cohort ...of ACS patients. We included 1379 patients with ACS hospitalized at Östersund hospital 2010-2014 and followed them from the day after discharge to 31 December 2017. The primary endpoint was the unadjusted rate of the composite of CV death, AMI and ischemic stroke. Risk factors for the primary endpoint were assessed in a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model. During a median follow-up of 4.7 years, the unadjusted rate of the primary endpoint was 10.3% at 1 year and 28.6% at the end of follow-up. Predictors of increased risk for subsequent events were congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, angina pectoris, prior revascularization with PCI or CABG and treatment with diuretics at discharge. Lipid-lowering therapy at discharge and revascularization with PCI or CABG were associated with a lower risk of recurrent events. The risk of recurrent cardiovascular was high at 1 year and continued to be so during the following almost 3 years of median follow-up. Established predictors of cardiovascular risk were confirmed.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Objective: The prevalence of asthma among elite endurance athletes is high, but less is known about the incidence of asthma among athletes. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence rate of ...physician-diagnosed asthma among elite endurance athletes.
Method: An annual postal questionnaire was sent to an open prospective cohort of elite endurance athletes between 2011 and 2015. Athletes from Swedish National teams, students at universities with elite sport partnership, and pupils at Swedish National elite sport schools, competing in cross-country skiing, biathlon, ski orienteering, or orienteering were invited (n = 666). Incidence rate of physician-diagnosed asthma was calculated among those without asthma at baseline (n = 449). Risk factors for incident physician-diagnosed asthma were identified using a multivariate logistic regression analysis.
Results: Response rate was 88.7% (n = 591) at baseline. The median age of participants was 17 (range 15-36) years at inclusion. The study population included 407 (69%) skiers and 184 (31%) orienteers. The prevalence of asthma at baseline was 23.9% (n = 141). Incidence rate (95% confidence interval CI) of physician-diagnosed asthma was 61.2 (45.7-80.3) per 1,000 person-years. Risk factors (odds ratio OR (95% CI)) for incident physician-diagnosed asthma were family history of asthma (1.97 1.04-3.68), being a skier (3.01 1.42-7.21), and wheezing without having a cold (4.15 1.81-9.26).
Conclusion: The incidence rate of physician-diagnosed asthma is high among Swedish elite endurance athletes.
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