Mortality and cardiovascular morbidity among long-term endurance male cross country skiers followed for 28-30 years.

Longevity and reduced mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and morbidity compared with the general population are described among former athletes in a few studies only. The aim of the study was to assess the outcomes of mortality and CVD morbidity after 30 years follow-up in long-term cross country skiers. The study was based on three different age groups of 122 long-term long-endurance cross country skiers participating in studies in 1976 and 1981. A total of 78/85 skiers completed the 28-30 year follow-up, while 37 were dead. Causes of deaths through 2006 were ascertained using the National Death Register. Morbidity or mortality data were available in 115 subjects. Total deaths were 31% compared with 40% in the general male population (P=0.04). Exercise electrocardiographic ST-depression in 1981 was associated with the later appearance of coronary heart disease (HR 2.90; P=0.033). Body mass index and average systolic blood pressure from 1976 to 1981 were predictors of later appearance of CVD (HR 1.23; P=0.034 and HR 1.03; P=0.048, respectively). Long-term aerobic exercise appears to be associated with reduced all-cause mortality.

Echocardiographic evaluation of aged male cross country skiers.

The aim of this echocardiographic study was to evaluate the effects of long-term endurance training on cardiac structure and function in three different age groups of 48 healthy middle-aged and old former or still active male cross country skiers (23 in age group I: age 58.6 ± 2.2 years; 21 in age group II: age 74.9 ± 2.2 years; four in age group III: age 89.5 ± 1.9 years). The two oldest age groups were combined and compared with age group I. No significant differences in left atrial or ventricular dimensions between these two age groups were found. A high proportion of enlarged left atrial dimensions were found among all subjects with 80% exceeding the upper reference limit of 40 mm in diameter (LADs) and 94% exceeding the upper reference limit of 20 cm(2) in area (LAAs). Mean values for LADs (mm) and LAAs (cm(2) ) were: group I: 41.9 ± 4.7 and 24.7 ± 3.3; group II: 43.5 ± 4.8 and 25.2 ± 3.7; group III: 44.5 ± 4.7 and 25.8 ± 3.7. Left ventricular diastolic diameter exceeded the upper reference limits of >54 mm in 20 subjects among all. The groups had preserved systolic and age-related diastolic function.

Changes in cardiorespiratory function in different groups of former and still active male cross-country skiers: a 28-30-year follow-up study.

The aim of the study was to assess longitudinal changes in cardiorespiratory function in different groups of current or former endurance trained male cross-country skiers. Three different age groups (n=122) took part in a similar study in 1976. Of 86 men still alive 78 responded (90.7%). Thirty-two from group I (age 58.7+/-2.3) and 36 from group II (age 74.5+/-2.5) participated in a maximum exercise test. We found significant difference in decline in VO2max between age groups (%/decade: 6.7+/-3.6 vs 13.9+/-3.2; P=0.0001 and in L/min/decade: 0.32+/-0.18 vs 0.53+/-0.14; P=0.0001). Men in group I (but only a tendency in group II) who were still competing and reported unchanged training patterns had a significant attenuated decline in VO2max (%/decade: 4.1+/-3.7 vs 8.1+/-2.8; P=0.003 and L/min: 0.19+/-0.0.17 vs 0.39+/-0.15; P=0.004). This study shows that lifelong endurance training does not stop the decline in VO2max with ageing, but vigorous training is important to attenuate the decline.

[Multiple sclerosis and prerequisites for driver's licence. A retrospective study of 33 patients with multiple sclerosis assessed at Sunnaas hospital]. / Multippel sklerose og egnethet for bilkjøring. Retrospektiv undersøkelse av 33 multippel sklerose-pasienter sertifikatvurdert ved Sunnaas sykehus.

There is increasing interest in assessing the prerequisites for a driver's licence among patients with traumatic brain injury, cerebrovascular accidents and other diseases of the central nervous system which cause cognitive impairments. In the present study, 33 patients with multiple sclerosis, 20 females and 13 males of mean age 43 years, were medically and neuropsychologically examined, and some were assessed in a practical driving test. In total, 19 patients were allowed to drive and 14 were refused. Regression analysis showed that, when deciding for or against driving, cognitive and emotional deficits were given more weight than duration of illness and degree of neurologic deficit. The authors discuss guidelines for assessing the prerequisites for a driver's licence among patients with multiple sclerosis, and indicators for when assessment is warranted.

[Amantadine in cognitive failure in patients with traumatic head injuries]. / Amantadin ved kognitiv svikt hos pasienter med traumatisk hodeskade.

In patients with severe cerebral injuries, attentional dysfunction may cause greater difficulties for rehabilitation than neurological deficits. These functions seem to be controlled by catecholaminergic neural systems in the central nervous system. Dopamine agonists have therefore been recently introduced in the treatment of these patients. We describe two patients treated with amantadine in daily doses of 200-400 mg. We observed improvement of cognitive functions such as visual attention, speed of information processing, attentional span, learning capacity and alertness. We stress the value of amantadine as a treatment adjuvant in patients with severe attentional deficits following injury of the brain.

[Urinary problems among patients with stroke. Are these problems underestimated?]. / Vannlatingsproblemer hos hjerneslagpasienter. Blir problemene viet nok oppmerksomhet?

The article, based on a survey and a study of the literature, focuses on the problems of urinary disorders in patients who have suffered a stroke. The incidence of incontinence and other urination disorders was studied upon admission and six weeks later in ten stroke patients admitted consecutively to a hospital for rehabilitation. The results of the present study agreed with those of other studies, indicating that urination disorders, especially motoric urge incontinence, are common among stroke patients. The literature indicates that urinary incontinence has a negative influence on the rehabilitation process. Therefore the rehabilitation team should be particularly aware of such problems, and carry out both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.