ABSTRACT
Objectives: This study aimed to explore how the Greenlandic population experienced the course of both acute and long-term COVID-19. It was motivated by the unique epidemiologic situation in Greenland, with delayed community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 relative to the rest of the world. Methods: In a survey among 310 Greenlandic adults, we assessed the association between previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and overall health outcomes by administering three repeated questionnaires over 12 months after infection, with a response rate of 41% at the 12-month follow-up. The study included 128 individuals with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from January/February 2022 and 182 test-negative controls. Participants were recruited through personal approaches, phone calls, and social media platforms. Results: A total of 53.7% of 162 participants who were test-positive recovered within 4 weeks and 2.5% were hospitalized due to SARS-CoV-2. The most common symptoms were fatigue and signs of mild upper respiratory tract infection. Less than 5% reported sick leave above 2 weeks after infection. Compared with participants who were test-negative, there was an increased risk of reporting fatigue (risk differences 25.4%, 95% confidence interval 8.8-44.0) and mental exhaustion (risk differences 23.4%, 95% confidence interval 4.8-42.2) up to 12 months after a positive test. Conclusions: Our results indicate that during a period dominated by the Omicron variant, Greenlanders experienced a mild acute course of COVID-19, with quick recovery, minimizing the impact on sick leave. Long COVID may be present in Greenlanders, with symptoms persisting up to 12 months after infection. However, it is important to consider the small sample size and modest response rate as limitations when interpreting the results.
ABSTRACT
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a serious condition associated to both maternal and offspring complications. Yet, no globally accepted consensus exists on how to test and diagnose GDM. In Greenland, the clinical criteria for testing and diagnosing GDM are adapted from Danish guidelines. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of GDM among Greenlanders using both the current clinical GDM criteria and the recent WHO 2013 criteria and, further, to study the association between GDM, pre-pregnant overweight or obesity and macrosomia. A cross-sectional study of all 450 Greenlandic women who gave birth to a singleton in Nuuk within 1 year was performed. Based on an oral glucose tolerance test measuring capillary whole blood glucose, 119 women were categorised as having clinical GDM, WHO 2013 GDM or not GDM. Macrosomia defined as birth weight above 4,000 g was used as outcome variable. The prevalence of clinical GDM and WHO 2013 GDM was 0.4% (95% CI; 0-1.1) and 6.9% (95% CI; 4.5-9.2). WHO 2013 GDM, fasting blood glucose, pre-pregnant maternal overweight and obesity were associated with macrosomia. WHO 2013 GDM criteria were superior to clinical criteria in predicting macrosomia indicating that it may be time to consider the diagnostic strategy used in Greenland. Pre-pregnant overweight may also need more intensified lifestyle-intervention. ABBREVIATIONS: GDM: Gestational diabetes mellitus; VP: venous plasma; CWB: capillary whole blood; OGTT: oral glucose tolerance test; WHO: World Health Organisation; FIGO: The International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics; BMI: body mass index; GA: gestational age.
