During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sweden implemented social distancing measures to reduce infection rates. However, the recommendation meant to protect individuals particularly at risk may have had ...negative consequences. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on very old Swedish peoples' mental health and factors associated with a decline in mental health.
We conducted a cross-sectional study among previous participants of the SilverMONICA (MONItoring of Trends and Determinants of CArdiovascular disease) study. Of 394 eligible participants, 257 (65.2%) agreed to participate. Of these, 250 individuals reported mental health impact from COVID-19. Structured telephone interviews were carried out during the spring of 2021. Data were analysed using the χ2 test, t-test, and binary logistic regression.
Of 250 individuals (mean age: 85.5 ± 3.3 years, 54.0% women), 75 (30.0%) reported a negative impact on mental health, while 175 (70.0%) reported either a positive impact (n = 4) or no impact at all (n = 171). In the binary logistic regression model, factors associated with a decline in mental health included loneliness (odds ratio 95% confidence interval) (3.87 1.83-8.17) and difficulty adhering to social distancing recommendations (5.10 1.92-13.53). High morale was associated with positive or no impact on mental health (0.37 0.17-0.82).
A high percentage of very old people reported a negative impact on mental health from the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily from loneliness and difficulty adhering to social distancing measures, while high morale seemed to be a protective factor.
Abstract
Aims
There is inconsistent evidence on the relation of alcohol intake with incident atrial fibrillation (AF), in particular at lower doses. We assessed the association between alcohol ...consumption, biomarkers, and incident AF across the spectrum of alcohol intake in European cohorts.
Methods and results
In a community-based pooled cohort, we followed 107 845 individuals for the association between alcohol consumption, including types of alcohol and drinking patterns, and incident AF. We collected information on classical cardiovascular risk factors and incident heart failure (HF) and measured the biomarkers N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide and high-sensitivity troponin I. The median age of individuals was 47.8 years, 48.3% were men. The median alcohol consumption was 3 g/day. N = 5854 individuals developed AF (median follow-up time: 13.9 years). In a sex- and cohort-stratified Cox regression analysis alcohol consumption was non-linearly and positively associated with incident AF. The hazard ratio for one drink (12 g) per day was 1.16, 95% CI 1.11–1.22, P < 0.001. Associations were similar across types of alcohol. In contrast, alcohol consumption at lower doses was associated with reduced risk of incident HF. The association between alcohol consumption and incident AF was neither fully explained by cardiac biomarker concentrations nor by the occurrence of HF.
Conclusions
In contrast to other cardiovascular diseases such as HF, even modest habitual alcohol intake of 1.2 drinks/day was associated with an increased risk of AF, which needs to be considered in AF prevention.
Graphical Abstract
Hazard ratio for incident atrial fibrillation for alcohol consumption in gram per day by non-linear Cox regression plotted on the log-scale (N = 92 452). The model uses age as time scale and is sex and cohort stratified. The reference value is 0 g/day.
The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in Sweden and any regional differences. To assess short- and long-term survival analysis after an episode of PE, ...before and after excluding patients with known malignancies, and to determine the most common comorbidities prior to the PE event.
All in-hospital patients, including children, diagnosed with acute PE in 2005 were retrieved from the Swedish National Patient Registry (NPR) and incidence rates were calculated. All registered comorbidities from 1998 until the index events were collected and survival up to 4 years after the event were calculated and compared to matched controls.
There were 5793 patients of all ages diagnosed with acute PE in 2005 resulting in a national incidence of 0.6/1000/year. The mean age was 70 years and 52% were women. The most frequent comorbidities were cardiac-, vascular-, infectious- and gastrointestinal diseases, injuries and malignancies. The mortality rates were more than doubled in patients with recent PE compared to that in a matched control group (49.1% vs 21.9%), and the excess mortality remained after exclusion of deaths occurring within one year and after exclusion of patients with any malignancy prior to the event.
PE is associated with high age as well as with multiple comorbidities, and with an increased short- and long-term mortality. This study highlights the importance of a proper follow-up after an acute PE.
The Västerbotten intervention program (VIP), is a public health promotion program in northern Sweden with the aim of preventing cardiovascular disease. Positive effects have been reported although ...the evidence is not unequivocal. Since only historical controls have been used, effects from other sources than the program have largely been uncontrolled for and health related quality of life (HRQoL) has not been evaluated. By using the neighbouring county of Norrbotten (NB) as the reference population, we compare HRQoL in Västerbotten (VB) and in NB. In 2014 the Northern Sweden survey, Monitoring of Trends and Determinants in Cardiovascular Disease (MONICA), examined a random sample from the two counties. HRQoL was measured with the EQ-5D-3L. In total, 1112 subjects aged 40-74 years participated, 516 in VB and 594 in NB. Differences in mean QoL between VB and NB were analysed via Student's t-test and the Pearson chi-square test. Average HRQoL measured by the EQ-5D-index was 0.798 in VB and 0.811 in NB, a difference of 0.013 (p = 0.2, CI -0.009 to 0.036). For subjects aged 45-54 years, the HRQoL was lower in VB than in NB, a difference of 0.048 (p = 0.041; CI 0.002 to 0.0094). Men had higher HRQoL than women, and university educated had higher HRQoL than those without university education. EQ-VAS showed similar results. Subjects from NB and from VB did not differ regarding age, gender and level of education. In NB, HRQoL decrease with age, a pattern not seen in VB. We found similar levels of HRQoL in VB and in NB.
To study mortality in relation to fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-h plasma glucose levels within the normoglycemic range.
Data from 19 European cohorts comprising 12,566 men and 10,874 women who ...had FPG <6.1 mmol/l and 2-h plasma glucose <7.8 mmol/l at baseline examination were analyzed. Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD), non-CVD, and all causes were estimated for individuals whose 2-h plasma glucose > FPG (group II) compared with those whose 2-h plasma glucose ≤ FPG (group I).
A total of 827 (246) CVD and 611 (351) non-CVD and 1,438 (597) all-cause deaths occurred in men (women). Group II was older and had higher BMI, blood pressure, and fasting insulin than group I. The multivariate-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) for CVD, non-CVD, and all-cause mortality were 1.22 (1.05-1.41), 1.09 (0.92-1.29), and 1.16 (1.04-1.30) in men and 1.40 (1.03-1.89), 0.99 (0.79-1.25), and 1.13 (0.94-1.35) in women, respectively, for group II as compared with group I. HRs were 1.25 (1.05-1.50), 1.09 (0.89-1.34), and 1.18 (1.03-1.35) in men and 1.60 (1.03-2.48), 1.05 (0.78-1.42), and 1.18 (0.93-1.51) in women, respectively, after additional adjustment for fasting insulin in a subgroup of individuals.
In individuals with both FPG and 2-h plasma glucose within the normoglycemic range, high 2-h plasma glucose was associated with insulin resistance and increased CVD mortality.
Objectives: The Swedish Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Register (SPAHR) is an open continuous register, including pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary ...hypertension (CTEPH) patients from 2000 and onwards. We hereby launch the first data from SPAHR, defining baseline characteristics and survival of Swedish PAH and CTEPH patients.
Design: Incident PAH and CTEPH patients 2008-2014 from all seven Swedish PAH-centres were specifically reviewed.
Results: There were 457 PAH (median age: 67 years, 64% female) and 183 CTEPH (median age: 70 years, 50% female) patients, whereof 77 and 81%, respectively, were in functional class III-IV at diagnosis. Systemic hypertension, diabetes, ischaemic heart disease and atrial fibrillation were common comorbidities, particularly in those >65 years. One-, 3- and 5-year survival was 85%, 71% and 59% for PAH patients. Corresponding numbers for CTEPH patients with versus without pulmonary endarterectomy were 96%, 89% and 86% versus 91%, 75% and 69%, respectively. In 2014, the incidence of IPAH/HPAH, associated PAH and CTEPH was 5, 3 and 2 per million inhabitants and year, and the prevalence was 25, 24 and 19 per million inhabitants.
Conclusion: The majority of the PAH and CTEPH patients were diagnosed at age >65 years, in functional class III-IV, and exhibiting several comorbidities. PAH survival in SPAHR was similar to other registers.
Early detection of coronary atherosclerosis using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), in addition to coronary artery calcification (CAC) scoring, may help inform prevention strategies. ...We used CCTA to determine the prevalence, severity, and characteristics of coronary atherosclerosis and its association with CAC scores in a general population.
We recruited 30 154 randomly invited individuals age 50 to 64 years to SCAPIS (the Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study). The study includes individuals without known coronary heart disease (ie, no previous myocardial infarctions or cardiac procedures) and with high-quality results from CCTA and CAC imaging performed using dedicated dual-source CT scanners. Noncontrast images were scored for CAC. CCTA images were visually read and scored for coronary atherosclerosis per segment (defined as no atherosclerosis, 1% to 49% stenosis, or ≥50% stenosis). External validity of prevalence estimates was evaluated using inverse probability for participation weighting and Swedish register data.
In total, 25 182 individuals without known coronary heart disease were included (50.6% women). Any CCTA-detected atherosclerosis was found in 42.1%; any significant stenosis (≥50%) in 5.2%; left main, proximal left anterior descending artery, or 3-vessel disease in 1.9%; and any noncalcified plaques in 8.3% of this population. Onset of atherosclerosis was delayed on average by 10 years in women. Atherosclerosis was more prevalent in older individuals and predominantly found in the proximal left anterior descending artery. Prevalence of CCTA-detected atherosclerosis increased with increasing CAC scores. Among those with a CAC score >400, all had atherosclerosis and 45.7% had significant stenosis. In those with 0 CAC, 5.5% had atherosclerosis and 0.4% had significant stenosis. In participants with 0 CAC and intermediate 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease according to the pooled cohort equation, 9.2% had CCTA-verified atherosclerosis. Prevalence estimates had excellent external validity and changed marginally when adjusted to the age-matched Swedish background population.
Using CCTA in a large, random sample of the general population without established disease, we showed that silent coronary atherosclerosis is common in this population. High CAC scores convey a significant probability of substantial stenosis, and 0 CAC does not exclude atherosclerosis, particularly in those at higher baseline risk.
Five modifiable risk factors are associated with cardiovascular disease and death from any cause. Studies using individual-level data to evaluate the regional and sex-specific prevalence of the risk ...factors and their effect on these outcomes are lacking.
We pooled and harmonized individual-level data from 112 cohort studies conducted in 34 countries and 8 geographic regions participating in the Global Cardiovascular Risk Consortium. We examined associations between the risk factors (body-mass index, systolic blood pressure, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, current smoking, and diabetes) and incident cardiovascular disease and death from any cause using Cox regression analyses, stratified according to geographic region, age, and sex. Population-attributable fractions were estimated for the 10-year incidence of cardiovascular disease and 10-year all-cause mortality.
Among 1,518,028 participants (54.1% of whom were women) with a median age of 54.4 years, regional variations in the prevalence of the five modifiable risk factors were noted. Incident cardiovascular disease occurred in 80,596 participants during a median follow-up of 7.3 years (maximum, 47.3), and 177,369 participants died during a median follow-up of 8.7 years (maximum, 47.6). For all five risk factors combined, the aggregate global population-attributable fraction of the 10-year incidence of cardiovascular disease was 57.2% (95% confidence interval CI, 52.4 to 62.1) among women and 52.6% (95% CI, 49.0 to 56.1) among men, and the corresponding values for 10-year all-cause mortality were 22.2% (95% CI, 16.8 to 27.5) and 19.1% (95% CI, 14.6 to 23.6).
Harmonized individual-level data from a global cohort showed that 57.2% and 52.6% of cases of incident cardiovascular disease among women and men, respectively, and 22.2% and 19.1% of deaths from any cause among women and men, respectively, may be attributable to five modifiable risk factors. (Funded by the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK); ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05466825.).
Abstract Background Leptin levels are elevated in obese humans. Several studies have shown an association between hyperleptinemia and development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD), ...but the relationship between leptin and vascular function remains unclear. Aim To evaluate associations between circulating plasma leptin and measures of vascular function in a large sample of elderly individuals from the community. Methods This cross-sectional study included 1016 subjects aged 70 (50% women) from the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS). The invasive technique forearm plethysmography with intra-arterial infusions of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside was used for estimation of endothelial dependent vasodilatation (EDV) and endothelial independent vasodilatation (EIDV), respectively, in resistance arteries, and the non-invasive technique ultrasound assessed flow mediated vasodilation (FMD) in conduit arteries. The aortic augmentation index (AoAI), a surrogate measure of arterial stiffness, was evaluated by pulse wave analysis. Associations of vascular function, arterial stiffness and blood pressure with leptin were explored. Results In sex-adjusted models, high levels of leptin were inversely associated with EDV and EIDV. These associations remained after stratification for sex, traditional risk factors of CVD and insulin resistance, but were attenuated after taking a measure of obesity (body mass index) into account. In addition, leptin associated with arterial stiffness and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion Hyperleptinemia associated inversely with vasodilatation in resistance arteries. Furthermore, hyperleptinemia associated with arterial stiffness and hypertension. These associations were attenuated after adjusting for body mass index suggesting that leptin may be the mediator between obesity and impaired vascular function.
Radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) is one of the most common chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases, affecting about 0.2% of the Swedish population. Adequate nutritional intake is ...essential for maintaining physiological functions. A poor diet increases the risk of developing conditions such as obesity, osteoporosis, and/or atherosclerosis. Diet quality is also theorized to affect systemic inflammation. Dietary habits in patients with r-axSpA are largely unknown. The aims of this study were to assess dietary nutrient intake in r-axSpA patients and examine whether it differs compared to persons without r-axSpA.
r-axSpA patients (modified NY criteria) at the rheumatology clinic in Region Västerbotten, northern Sweden, were invited to take part in the Backbone study which investigates disease severity and comorbidities. In total, 155 patients were included. Nutritional intake was assessed by the semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire MiniMeal-Q. Controls were collected from the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (n = 30,154), a study that invited participants 50-64 years of age by random selection from the Swedish population register. Out of the 155 r-axSpA patients, 81 were in the same age span. Four controls were identified for each patient, matched on age (± 1 year), sex, and geographic location. Data on dietary intake was available for 319 controls. Statistical comparisons of dietary intake between patients with r-axSpA and controls were done by exact conditional logistic regression analysis, adjusted for country of birth, educational level, single household, weight, smoking status, and energy intake.
Patients had a comparatively significantly higher energy intake from carbohydrates, a lower fiber density, and a lower intake of marine omega-3 fatty acids. Furthermore, intake of vitamins D, E, and K as well as selenium, folate, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin A, and β-carotene (a precursor of vitamin A and marker of vegetable and fruit intake) was significantly lower among patients compared to controls.
Our results suggest that r-axSpA patients have an impaired dietary intake. Notably, intake was lower in several nutrients theorized to have anti-inflammatory properties (fiber density, marine-omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and selenium). We further propose that nutrition screening might be incorporated into the management of r-axSpA patients.
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