Housing conditions and risk of incident COPD: a Danish cohort study, 2000-2018.

BACKGROUND: More knowledge is needed on the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) associated with housing conditions and indoor environment based on cohort studies with a long follow-up time. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between housing conditions and indoor environment and the risk of developing COPD. METHODS: In this cohort study, we followed 11,590 individuals aged ≥ 30 years free of COPD at baseline. Information on incident COPD and housing conditions and indoor environment was obtained from the Danish national registers and the Danish Health and Morbidity Survey year 2000. Poisson regression of incidence rates (IRs) were used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of COPD. RESULTS: The overall IR of COPD was 8.6 per 1,000 person-years. Individuals living outside the biggest cities vs. living in the biggest cities (≥ 50,000) had a lower risk of COPD (200-4,999; IRR 0.77 (95% CI 0.65-0.90). Individuals living in semi-detached houses had a higher risk compared to individuals living in detached houses (IRR 1.29 (95% CI 1.07-1.55)). Likewise, individuals living in rented homes had a higher risk (IRR 1.47 (95% CI 1.27-1.70)) compared to individuals living in owned homes. The IR of COPD was 17% higher among individuals living in dwellings build > 1982 compared with individuals living in older dwellings (< 1962), not statistically significant though (IRR 0.83 (95% CI 0.68-1.03)). Likewise, the IR of COPD was 15% higher among individuals living in the densest households compared with individuals living in the least dense households, not statistically significant though (IRR 1.15 (95% CI 0.92-1.45)). This was primary seen among smokers. There was no difference in risk among individuals with different perceived indoor environments. Overall, similar patterns were seen when stratified by smoking status with exception of perceived indoor environment, where opposite patterns were seen for smokers and never smokers. CONCLUSION: Individuals living in semi-detached houses or rented homes had a higher risk of developing COPD compared to individuals living in detached or owned homes. Individuals living in cities with < 50.000 residents had a lower risk of COPD compared to individuals living in cities with ≥ 50.000 residents.

The rise and fall of a social support intervention feasibility trial targeting loneliness in patients with cardiac disease - lessons learned and future perspectives.

BACKGROUND: One of the psychosocial factors recognized for its positive impact on health outcomes among patients with heart disease, is social support provided by network members. However, an increasing number of patients report to experience loneliness. This study addresses the gap in research on the feasibility of an individually structured social support intervention targeting patients treated for cardiac disease who experience loneliness. METHOD: A feasibility trial of a 6-month social support intervention targeted patients treated for cardiac disease who experienced loneliness. The intervention involved providing the patient with an informal caregiver, either a person from the patient's social network or a peer, in the long-term rehabilitation phase. Furthermore, the intervention included nurse consultations and motivational text messages. Feasibility was assessed in terms of acceptability and adherence. RESULTS: During October 2022-July 2023, n = 464 patients were screened for loneliness and 28 (6.0%) screened positive of which 17 (60.7%) accepted to be contacted and receive additional information about the social support intervention. Of these, 2 (11.8%) accepted participation. The low recruitment rate did not meet the predetermined acceptability criterion of 25%. CONCLUSION: This individually structured social support intervention targeting patients treated for cardiac disease who experience loneliness was non-feasible. The study highlights the complexities of engaging lonely patients in a social support intervention program and contributes with valuable insights for future research aiming to develop effective social support interventions tailored to the needs of cardiac patients who experience loneliness. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05503810) 18.08.2022.

Self-reported mental and physical health is associated with not returning to work in patients with ischemic heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) can lead to prolonged sick leave and loss of ability to work. This study aimed to describe non-return to work (non-RTW) across three IHD subgroups at 3 and at 12 months post discharge, and explore whether baseline characteristics, and patient-reported mental and physical health were associated with work detachment. METHODS: Data from the national cohort study DenHeart were used, including the patient-reported outcomes (PROs) Short-Form 12, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale and HeartQoL measured at discharge and register-based follow-up at 3 and at 12 months. A total of 3873 patients with IHD ≤ 63 years old and part of the workforce prior to hospitalisation, were included in the analyses and divided into three groups: chronic IHD/stable angina, non-STEMI (non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction)/unstable angina and STEMI (ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction). A composite outcome of 'prolonged sick leave' and/or 'left the workforce' was defined as non-return to work (non-RTW). Adjusted logistic regression models were performed. RESULTS: Overall, the frequency of non-RTW was 37.7% and 38.0% at 3 and 12 months, respectively, thus not improving with time. The largest proportion of non-RTW was found in STEMI patients, followed by non-STEMI/unstable angina and IHD/stable angina patients. Several clinical and socio-demographic factors, as well as patient-reported mental and physical health were associated with non-RTW among the subgroups. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate a need for identifying IHD patients at risk of non-RTW after discharge based on their mental and physical health and a need for initiatives to minimize unwanted non-RTW.

Emotion Regulation and Mentalization in Patients With Depression and Anxiety.

OBJECTIVE: Theoretical conceptualizations of emotion and affect regulation have a considerable common ground. However, mentalization theory considers the ability to regulate affects as being contingent on the ability to mentalize. The aim of the present study is to examine the association between emotion regulation and mentalization, operationalized as reflective functioning, in a sample of patients with depression and/or anxiety. METHODS: The study used data from the TRAns-diagnostic Cognitive behavioural Therapy versus standard cognitive behavioural therapy (TRACT-RCT) trial. Patients with depression and/or anxiety (N = 291; 64.4% female; Mage = 32.2; SD = 11.0) completed the Emotion Regulation Strategies Questionnaire (ERSQ) and the Reflective Functioning Questionnaire (RFQ-6). Correlation and regression analyses were performed to determine associations of the measures of ERSQ and RFQ-6 in relation to the outcome variables, global well-being (World Health Organization Well-being Index; WHO-5) and social functioning (Work and Social Adjustment Scale; WSAS). RESULTS: Overall, the patients had a reduced level of emotion regulation (MERSQ_Total = 1.77; SD = 0.59). However, only mildly impaired reflective functioning was found (MRFQ-6 = 3.57; SD = 1.26). ERSQ correlated significantly with RFQ-6 (r = -0.31), that is, more frequent use of emotion regulation strategies was associated with less hypomentalization. ERSQ was a stronger predictor of well-being and social function than RFQ-6. CONCLUSION: In patients with anxiety and/or depression, hypomentalization as measured by the RFQ-6 is not a major problem, but emotion regulation is. It seems that these two, theoretically related constructs, do not necessarily co-occur. Alternatively, the RFQ-6 scale might not capture the mentalization construct in a valid way. Emotion regulation strategies are highly related to symptomatology; therefore, they are likely to be an important target for psychotherapy.

Screening for treatment-required sleep apnoea in patients with spinal cord injury within one year after injury in a rehabilitation setting.

PURPOSE: The current study aims to assess the efficacy of the Stop-Bang Questionnaire (SBQ) in screening treatment-required sleep apnoea following Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Additionally, we explore the performance of combined questionnaires and pulse oximetry to determine the most cost-effective method. METHODS: The study employs a cross-sectional observational design. All patients admitted to in-hospital rehabilitation at the Spinal Cord Injury Centre of Western Denmark from September 2022 to February 2023 were continuously enrolled. Participating patients underwent SBQ screening, a standard sleep questionnaire, and cardiorespiratory monitoring, followed by an individual consultation with a physician. RESULTS: During the study period, 35 SCI patients were admitted, with 24 providing informed consent. Among the 24 included patients, there was a 75% prevalence of mild to severe sleep apnoea, and 46% had treatment-required sleep apnoea. The SBQ missed only one patient with treatment-required sleep apnoea but misclassified eight patients. Combining SBQ with the pulse oximetry demonstrated the best performance in identifying patients with sleep apnoea. CONCLUSION: The study indicates that SBQ alone is insufficient for screening treatment-required sleep apnoea. Exploratory analysis suggests that combining SBQ with a simple pulse oximetry measurement might enhance accuracy.

Liraglutide 3.0 mg once daily for the treatment of overweight and obesity in patients hospitalised at a forensic psychiatric department: A 26-week open-label feasibility study.

INTRODUCTION: Overweight and obesity constitute a major concern among patients treated at forensic psychiatric departments. The present clinical feasibility study aimed at investigating the extent to which glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) treatment with once-daily liraglutide 3.0 mg could be a feasible pharmacological treatment of these conditions in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders hospitalised in forensic psychiatry. METHODS: The 26-week, open-label feasibility study included participants aged 18-65 years diagnosed with a severe mental illness and hospitalised at a forensic psychiatric department. At the time of inclusion, all participants fulfilled the indication for using liraglutide as a treatment for overweight and obesity. Participants' baseline examinations were followed by a 26-week treatment period with liraglutide injection once daily according to a fixed uptitration schedule of liraglutide, with a target dose of 3.0 mg. Each participant attended seven visits to evaluate the efficacy and adverse events. The primary endpoint was the number of "completers", with adherence defined as >80% injections obtained in the period, weeks 12-26. Determining whether liraglutide is a feasible treatment was pre-defined to a minimum of 75% completers. RESULTS: Twenty-four participants were included in the study. Sex, male = 19 (79.2%). Mean age: 42.3 [25th and 75th percentiles: 39.1; 48.4] years; body mass index (BMI): 35.7 [31.7; 37.5] kg/m2; glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c): 37 [35; 39] mmol/mol. Eleven out of 24 participants (46%) completed the study. For the completers, the median net body weight loss after 26 weeks of participation was -11.4 kg [-15.4; -5.9]. The net difference in HbA1C and BMI was -2.0 mmol/mol [-4; -1] and -3.6 kg/m2 [-4.7; -1.8], respectively. The weight change and reduction in HbA1c and BMI were all statistically significant from baseline. CONCLUSION: The study did not confirm our hypothesis that liraglutide is a feasible treatment for a minimum of 75% of the patients initiating treatment with liraglutide while hospitalised in a forensic psychiatric department. The high dropout rate may be due to the non-naturalistic setting of the clinical trial. For the proportion of patients compliant with the medication, liraglutide 3.0 mg was an efficient treatment for overweight.

Champions in usage of medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty : The story behind the Danish success.

Historically, the use of medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (mUKA) as treatment for end-stage anteromedial osteoarthritis (AMOA) of the knee was limited by contraindications due to age, weight, and activity level; however, now evidence-based, validated, and less selective criteria are used rendering nearly 50% of end-stage OA patients eligible for mUKA. Recent studies have showcased benefits, such as shorter hospital stays, cost efficiency, and comparable functional outcomes to total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Notably, revision rates have been shown to markedly decrease with increased usage, with an ideal usage of > 30% but an acceptable usage of 20-60%. The usage of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) varies among countries, with Denmark achieving a notably higher usage compared to Sweden, the UK, the Netherlands, the USA and Germany. This article investigates potential factors contributing to Denmark having a higher national usage of mUKA, surpassing the recommended threshold of a usage > 20%. We explore the tradition for national alliances and streamlined surgical education as possible explanations of this development. These insights offer valuable perspectives for potentially optimizing surgical approaches and implant choices in the surgical treatment of end-stage AMOA of the knee across diverse healthcare settings, underscoring the impact of collective strategies in advancing knee arthroplasty practices, ultimately benefiting patients.

Let's get aligned! Developing a core outcome set for clinical trials in eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to review the outcome measures/assessment instruments used and to assess their heterogeneity/homogeneity in eating disorders (EDs) randomised controlled trials. METHODS: APA PsycInfo, PubMed, and Embase were searched in December 2022 to identify studies published between and inclusive of January 2012 and December 2022. Inclusion/exclusion criteria were: (1) complete articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, which were: (2) randomised trials, (3) in a clinical setting (4) with human subjects, (5) with an ICD or DSM diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, or Bulimia Nervosa. The selected papers also: (6) used one or more standardised instruments designed to measure one or more psychometric characteristics associated with ED as a primary or secondary outcome, as judged by the authors of this systematic review, and (7) were published in English or Danish. RESULTS: Ninety one articles were included, and a total of 196 outcome measures were collected. DISCUSSION: The diversity of outcome measures in ED trials hampers result comparability and data integration. We suggest creating a core outcome measure set using the Delphi method, including clinician and patient-reported ED assessments, along with relevant comorbidity scales.

Trends in the use of complementary and alternative medicine between 1987 and 2021 in Denmark.

BACKGROUND: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been widely and increasingly used worldwide during the past decades. Nevertheless, studies in long-term trends of CAM use are limited. The aim of this study was to assess long-term trends in the prevalence of CAM use (both overall and for specific CAMs) between 1987 and 2021 in the adult Danish population and to examine certain sociodemographic characteristics of CAM users. METHODS: Data derived from nationally representative health surveys in the general adult population (≥ 16 years) in Denmark (the Danish Health and Morbidity Surveys) conducted in 1987, 1994, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2013, 2017, and 2021. The response proportion declined from 79.9% in 1987 to 45.4% in 2021. CAM use was assessed by questions on ever use of specific types of CAMs and overall use within the past 12 months. Differences in use of CAMs across educational levels were assessed using the Slope Index of Inequality (SII). RESULTS: An overall increase in the prevalence of CAM use within the past 12 months was found between 1987 (10.0%) and 2021 (24.0%). However, a stagnation was observed between 2010 and 2017, after which the prevalence decreased in 2021. In all survey waves, the prevalence was higher among women than men. For both sexes, the prevalence tended to be highest among respondents aged 25-44 years and 45-64 years. The group with 13-14 years of education had the highest prevalence of CAM use compared to the other educational groups (< 10 years, 10-12 years, and ≥ 15 years). SII values for both men and women increased between 1987 and 2021, which indicates an increase in differences of CAM use across educational groups. In all survey waves the most frequently used CAMs included massage and other manipulative therapies, acupuncture, and reflexology. CONCLUSIONS: The use of CAM has increased markedly within the last decades and recently stagnated at high levels, which underlines the importance of securing high quality information and education for the public, health professionals, and legislators to ensure and promote safe use of CAMs.

Utility of the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) in predicting long-term sick-leave in Danish patients with emotional disorders.

BACKGROUND: The Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS) is a self-administered measure designed to assess the level of inability to function socially as a consequence of a defined problem or disorder. METHODS: A total of 230 patients with emotional disorders completed the Danish translation of the WSAS, measures of anxiety and depression, the Level of Personality Functioning Brief Form, the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 Short Form, and the World Health Organization Five-Item Well-Being Index (WHO-5). We conducted a confirmatory factor analysis of the previously suggested factor structure of the instrument. We furthermore evaluated the construct validity of the WSAS by means of its relationship with depression, anxiety, personality functioning, and overall well-being. Finally, we evaluated the utility of the WSAS to identify those on long-term sick-leave by conducting receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The instrument had a poor to average fit with the previously reported single-factor structure, but a better fit to a modified single-factor structure. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega showed good internal scale reliability (α = .79, ωtotal = .85). WSAS was positively correlated with measures of anxiety (r = .33), depression (r = .44), and personality functioning (r = .23 and r = .20), and negatively correlated with WHO-5 wellbeing (r = -.57). The optimal cut-off point in the ROC-analyses was 23, which yielded a sensitivity of 74% and a specificity of 55% in the prediction of sick-leave status. DISCUSSION: The Danish WSAS shows promising psychometric properties, but has limited external validity insofar as predicting long-term sick leave in psychiatric patients with emotional disorders.

Affectivity in danish patients with emotional disorders: assessing the validity of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS).

BACKGROUND: The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) was designed to measure trait positive affect (PA) and trait negative affect (NA). METHODS: The Danish PANAS was administered to outpatients with depression and anxiety disorders. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega and factorial structure was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Convergent validity was evaluated by means of correlations with the negative affectivity and the detachment domain of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 Short Form (PID-5-SF), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale 6 (HARS-6) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 6 (HDRS-6). RESULTS: PANAS Scores of 256 patients were analyzed. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega showed good internal consistency for both the PA score (alpha = .84 and omega = .89) and the NA score (alpha = .86 and omega = .90). CFA analysis confirmed a structure with two factors corresponding to the PA and NA factors. PA was negatively correlated with the detachment domain of PID-5 (r = -.47), HARS-6 (r = -.15) and HDRS-6 (r = -.37). NA was positively correlated with PID-5-SF negative affectivity domain (r = .43), HARS-6 (r = .51) and HDRS-6 (r = .52). DISCUSSION: The Danish PANAS has promising internal consistency and construct validity, which are comparable to other studies of the instrument.

The Impact of Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 on Health Outcomes and Hospital Visits after Omicron Infection in Children and Adolescents Aged 5-18 Years: A Danish Nation-Wide Cohort Study.

This study investigates the impact of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 on health outcomes and hospital contacts in children and adolescents aged 5-18 years infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, comparing previously vaccinated with unvaccinated. Using national register data, vaccinated and unvaccinated Danish children and adolescents with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test between 1 January and 31 March 2022 (Omicron dominance period) were included. The Prior Event Rate Ratio (PERR) was used to explore differences in hospital contacts (hospitalizations and emergency room (ER) visits), while Inverse Treatment Probability Weighted (IPW) risk ratios were used to explore the risk of severe health outcomes within six weeks following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Vaccinated 5-11-year-old girls had fewer visits to the ER compared to unvaccinated ones, PERR 0.92 (95% CI 0.84-1.00). Vaccinated 5-11-year-old boys had fewer hospitalizations (PERR 0.79 (0.64-0.99)) and more ER visits (PERR 1.13 (1.04-1.22)) compared to unvaccinated ones. An unadjusted and significant lower risk of febrile seizure among vaccinated 5-11-year-olds compared to unvaccinated ones was found (risk ratio 0.12 (0.04-0.39), p ≤ 0.01. No significant differences were found for severe conditions or for croup or pneumonia in either age group. The results indicate a modest protective effect of the vaccine in terms of hospital contacts, but no protective effect on health outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection in this population of Danish children and adolescents.

Juvenile dermatomyositis.

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare condition, which causes inflammation in children's skin and musculoskeletal systems. Symptoms include characteristic skin rashes on the face and extremities, muscle pain and weakness. This is a case report of a ten-year-old boy initially suspected of having lupus erythematosus. He was later diagnosed with JDM by dermatologists. Treatment with methotrexate and prednisolone proved to be effective.

Medical students' experiences, perceptions, and management of second victim: an interview study.

BACKGROUND: The term second victim describes a healthcare professional who has been involved in an adverse event and feels wounded by the event. The effects of this experience differ. It can present as second victim syndrome, describing a wide range and degree of emotional and behavioural responses. Studies show that medical students can also experience second victim. The aim of this study was to elucidate medical students' experiences, perceptions, and management of second victim and second victim syndrome and to describe possible learning needs around these issues. METHODS: Thirteen medical students and two recent medical graduates participated in semi-structured focus group interviews. The interviews lasted 1.5-2 h and were audiotaped, transcribed, and analysed using Braun and Clarke's six-step approach for thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four main themes were identified: contributing factors; current coping strategies; perception of own requirements and learning needs; wishes for the future healthcare system. Students' behavioural and emotional response to dilemmas were affected by stakeholders and practices embedded in the healthcare system. Students described patient-injury and unexpected events as triggers for second victim, but also harmful interactions with individuals and feelings of self-blame. Students' coping centred around their network, formal offers, and separation of personal- and work-life. Students sought a clear definition of second victim and a desire for role-models. Students' wished to learn how to handle feeling like a burden to others, managing waiting time after patient complaints, and learning how to help second victims recover. Students emphasized the importance of the healthcare organisation understanding students' needs and providing them relevant support. CONCLUSION: Students experience second victim as described in the literature. Students' emotional responses were caused by classical second victim triggers, but also other triggers in the educational environment: harmful interactions and self-blame. Although some triggers differ from the second victim definition, these different triggers should be considered equally serious and acknowledged. We must aim to prepare students for future adverse events and emotional responses. The health organisation and healthcare professionals must support students' mental well-being and contribute to ideal conditions for students' professional development and management of second victim as future physicians.

Fragrance allergens in cosmetic products marketed for children in Denmark.

BACKGROUND: Fragrances are among the most common contact allergens in children. Cosmetic products are the most frequent source of skin exposure. OBJECTIVE: To investigate exposure to fragrance allergens among Danish children, based on a sample of 1179 cosmetic products marketed for children. METHODS: Information regarding cosmetic products marketed to children was obtained using a non-profit smartphone application registry, with data from December 2015 to November 2022. RESULTS: The number of validated products was 26 537, of which 1349 marketed for children. After elimination of duplicates, 1179 (4.4%) individual products remained. The majority 53.8% (634/1179) of the products were fragranced. The highest frequency of declared fragrances was found in 'Facial care'-products: 93.0% (80/86), of which 97.7% were lip balms. The highest number of labelled fragrances in one single product (n = 16) was found in a baby perfume. Fragrance mix I (FMI) or II (FMII) allergens were found in 25.3% (298/1179) of the products. Limonene and linalool were the two most frequently labelled fragrance allergens. CONCLUSION: Children can be exposed to a vast number of fragrance allergens from scented cosmetic products. Allergens from FM I and FMII are widely used in cosmetic products marketed to children. Patch testing with FMI and FMII remains relevant in children.

Risk of New-onset Type 1 Diabetes in Danish Children and Adolescents After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Nationwide, Matched Cohort Study.

We investigated the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and new-onset type 1 diabetes (T1D) in children and adolescents in a nationwide, matched cohort study. The hazard ratio of new-onset T1D within 6 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection was 1.22 (0.58-2.58). The risk of new-onset T1D in children and adolescents was not significantly increased after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Do animation videos increase participation in national health surveys? A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Declining response proportions in surveys have been observed internationally. Improving response proportions is important for the generalizability of the outcome. The aim of this study was to examine the potential of animation videos to improve response proportions and sample composition in health surveys. METHODS: A randomized trial was embedded in the Danish National Health Survey 2021 (n = 186,113) where the use of animation videos in the digital invitation letter was tested as a mean to increase response proportion. The effect of both demographic-targeted videos and a general video was tested. The sample was stratified into four subsamples; (1) individuals with non-western background and a non-Danish citizenship (n = 9,956), (2) men aged 16-24 years (n = 12,481), (3) women aged 75 years or older (n = 7,815) and (4) the remaining individuals (n = 155,861). The fourth subsample was randomized into two equal sized groups; a group receiving the general video and a control group receiving no video. Each of the first three subsamples was subsequently randomized into three subgroups with 25% receiving the target group video, 25% receiving the general video and 50% receiving no video. A total of four reminders (one digital and three postal) were sent to the eligible population. RESULTS: The use of animation videos resulted in similar or slightly lower overall response proportion compared to the control group. The different animation videos were found to have heterogeneous effects on response proportions. A positive effect was found among men aged 16-24 years before the delivery of the postal reminder for the targeted animation video compared to no video (odds ratio: 1.13; 95% confidence interval: 1.02-1.26). Overall, the targeted animation videos tended to produce higher response proportions than the general animation video. CONCLUSIONS: The heterogeneous effects of the videos suggest that there is some potential for the use of animation videos to improve response proportions and sample composition. The content, target group and timing of evaluation seem to be important for the animation videos to be successful. This warrants further research to better identify in which contexts, in which subgroups and under which circumstances, animation videos are useful to increase response proportions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05520242, registered 08/26/2022.

Trends in social inequality in mortality in Denmark 1995-2019: the contribution of smoking- and alcohol-related deaths.

BACKGROUND: During the past decades, social inequality in mortality has increased in several countries, including Denmark. Modifiable risk factors, such as smoking and harmful alcohol consumption, have been suggested to moderate the association between socioeconomic position and health-related outcomes. The present study aims to investigate the contribution of smoking- and alcohol-related deaths to the trends in educational inequality in mortality in Denmark 1995-2019 among individuals aged 30-74 years. METHODS: Nationwide data on mortality and highest attained educational level divided into quartiles were derived from administrative registers. Alcohol-related mortality was directly estimated using information on alcohol-related deaths from death certificates. Smoking-related mortality was indirectly estimated using the Peto-Lopez method. The contribution of smoking- and alcohol-related deaths to the social inequality gap in mortality 1995-2019 was calculated. RESULTS: Alongside a decrease in all-cause mortality in Denmark 1995-2019, absolute differences in the mortality rate (per 100 000 person-year) between the lowest and the highest educational quartile increased from 494 to 607 among men and from 268 to 376 among women. Among both men and women, smoking- and alcohol-related deaths explained around 60% of the social inequality in mortality and around 50% of the increase in mortality inequality. CONCLUSION: Smoking and harmful alcohol consumption continue to be important risk factors and causes of social inequality in mortality, with around half of the increase in Denmark 1995-2019 being attributable to smoking- and alcohol-related deaths. Future healthcare planning and policy development should aim at reducing social inequality in modifiable health risk behaviours and their negative consequences.

Adverse events in cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation training for children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder: A mixed methods study and analysis plan for the TECTO trial.

Background: Knowledge on adverse events in psychotherapy for youth with OCD is sparse. No official guidelines exist for defining or monitoring adverse events in psychotherapy. Recent recommendations call for more qualitative and quantitative assessment of adverse events in psychotherapy trials. This mixed methods study aims to expand knowledge on adverse events in psychotherapy for youth with OCD. Methods: This is an analysis plan for a convergent mixed methods study within a randomized clinical trial (the TECTO trial). We include at least 128 youth aged 8-17 years with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Participants are randomized to either family-based cognitive behavioral therapy (FCBT) or family-based psychoeducation and relaxation training (FPRT). Adverse events are monitored quantitatively with the Negative Effects Questionnaire. Furthermore, we assess psychiatric symptoms, global functioning, quality of life, and family factors to investigate predictors for adverse events. We conduct semi-structured qualitative interviews with all youths and their parents on their experience of adverse events in FCBT or FPRT. For the mixed methods analysis, we will merge 1) a qualitative content analysis with descriptive statistics comparing the types, frequencies, and severity of adverse events; 2) a qualitative content analysis of the perceived causes for adverse events with prediction models for adverse events; and 3) a thematic analysis of the participants' treatment evaluation with a correlational analysis of adverse events and OCD severity. Discussion: The in-depth mixed methods analysis can inform 1) safer and more effective psychotherapy for OCD; 2) instruments and guidelines for monitoring adverse events; and 3) patient information on potential adverse events. The main limitation is risk of missing data. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03595098. Registered on July 23, 2018.