The association between self-rated health, health-related quality of life, and risk of venous thromboembolism.

Poor self-rated health (SRH) is associated with various adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease. Little is known about SRH and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as predictors of first-time venous thromboembolism (VTE). Our aim was to investigate the association between SRH, HRQoL, and risk of VTE in a whole cohort, as well as in women and men separately. A total of 108,025 middle-aged inhabitants (51 % women) of Västerbotten, Sweden, participated in a health examination between 1985 and 2014. Data on SRH, HRQoL, and potential confounders were collected by questionnaire. Participants were followed as a cohort and validated first-time VTE events were registered. The mean follow-up time was 13.9 years, during which 2054 participants experienced a first-time VTE. Overall, 27 % of participants reported their health as very good, 46 % as good, 20 % as average, 5 % as somewhat bad, and 1 % as bad. In a multivariable analysis, compared with participants who self-rated as having very good SRH, hazard ratios (95 % confidence intervals) for VTE were 1.17 (1.02-1.33) with good SRH, 1.27 (1.09-1.47) with average SRH, and 1.48 (1.00-2.18) with bad SRH. The risk of VTE increased with lower SRH for both men (p for trend 0.02) and women (p for trend 0.04). In a fully adjusted model, we also found significant associations between four aspects of HRQoL (general health, bodily pain, vitality, emotional well-being) and VTE risk. In conclusion, lower perceived health is associated with an increased risk of VTE in both men and women.

Incidence and risk factors of venous thromboembolism in men and women.

INTRODUCTION: Studies have indicated that men have a higher overall risk of VTE than women. In previous studies, we have noted that risk factors for VTE, such as alcohol consumption and physical activity, can differ between sexes. The aim of the present study was to estimate the incidence of first-ever VTE and the association of traditional cardiovascular risk factors with VTE risk in men and women separately. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inhabitants of Västerbotten County in northern Sweden, who had participated in a health examination between 1985 and 2014 were included. The mean age at inclusion was 46.3 years (range 26-65 years). All first-ever VTE events experienced by the participants from the health examination to September 5, 2014 were identified and validated. RESULTS: A total of 1110 men and 944 women had an objectively verified first-ever VTE event. The incidence of VTE was 1.54 (95% CI 1.45-1.63) per 1000 years of follow-up for men and 1.22 (95% CI 1.14-1.30) for women. Higher age, weight and body mass index were associated with increased risk of VTE in both sexes. Men with hypertension had a lower risk of VTE, HR 0.75 (95% CI 0.65-0.87) and men with more than secondary school education had a higher risk of VTE. Taller women had an increased risk of VTE. CONCLUSIONS: In the studied age group, we found that men had a higher incidence of first-ever VTE than women. Notably, we also found that hypertension was associated with lower risk of VTE in men but not in women.

Alcohol Consumption and Risk of First-Time Venous Thromboembolism in Men and Women.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between alcohol intake and risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is unclear. Men and women differ in their drinking habits, which may affect a possible association. OBJECTIVE: This article investigates the association between alcohol consumption, alcohol dependence and VTE in the total population as well as in men and women separately. METHODS: We performed a prospective, population-based cohort study in northern Sweden. Study participants were 108,025 (51% women) persons aged 30 to 60 years who underwent a health examination between 1985 and 2014. We assessed alcohol consumption and defined alcohol dependence using a questionnaire. The outcome was a validated first-time VTE. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 13.9 years, and 2,054 participants had a first-time VTE. The mean alcohol consumption was 3.5 standard drinks weekly in men and 1.5 in women. Alcohol dependence was found in 10% of men and 3% of women. There was an association between alcohol consumption (hazard ratio [HR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-1.03 per standard drink weekly) as well as alcohol dependence (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.06-1.52) and VTE after adjustments. In men, the risk of VTE increased over quartiles of weekly alcohol consumption (p for trend 0.02), with a HR of 1.22 (95% CI, 1.01-1.47) for the highest quartile. Alcohol dependence was associated with VTE in men (HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.07-1.59). In women, there were no significant associations. CONCLUSION: High alcohol consumption and alcohol dependence were associated with increased risk of first-time VTE in men, but not in women.

Physical activity and risk of first-time venous thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity may have a protective effect against venous thromboembolism (VTE). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between leisure time physical activity, occupational physical activity, and the risk of VTE in men and women separately. METHODS: The population-based, prospective Venous thromboEmbolism In Northern Sweden (VEINS) cohort study included 108,025 participants of health examinations between 1985 and 2014. Physical activity data were collected by questionnaire. Participants were followed from health examination to first-time VTE event, death, emigration or the end of the study. All VTE events were validated by reviewing medical records and radiology reports. RESULTS: During 1,496,669 person-years, 2054 participants experienced VTE. Women who performed leisure time physical activity at least once a week had a lower risk of first-time VTE (hazard ratio (HR) 0.83; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71-0.98 after adjustments) compared with women with less or no physical activity. Furthermore, women with high occupational physical activity also had a lower risk of VTE (HR 0.85; 95% CI 0.74-0.98). In men, there was no consistent association between either measure of physical activity and the risk of VTE. CONCLUSION: We found an association between increased physical activity and a lower risk of first-time VTE in women.

Positive predictive value and misclassification of diagnosis of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis in Swedish patient registries.

PURPOSE: To validate diagnoses of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in administrative registries. We also estimated the frequency of misclassified PE and DVT events. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A registry search for ICD codes representing PE and DVT was performed between 1985 and 2014 in a large population-based cohort in northern Sweden. An additional search using an extended set of ICD codes was performed to identify misclassified events. Diagnoses were validated manually by reviewing medical records and radiology reports. RESULTS: Searching ICD codes in the National Patient Registry and Cause of Death Registry identified 2,450 participants with a first-time diagnosis of PE or DVT. The positive predictive value (PPV) for a diagnosis of PE or DVT was 80.7% and 59.2%, respectively. For the period of 2009 to 2014, the PPV was higher for PE (85.8%) but lower for DVT (54.1%). Misclassification occurred in 16.4% of DVT events and 1.1% of PE events. CONCLUSION: Registry-based data on PE, especially in recent years, are of acceptable quality and can be considered for use in registry-based studies. For DVT, we found that data were of low quality in regards to both PPV and misclassification and should not be used without validation.

Fasting plasma glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, and the risk of first-time venous thromboembolism. A report from the VEINS cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: It remains unclear whether high plasma glucose levels are associated with venous thromboembolism (VTE). This study investigated the association between fasting plasma glucose (FPG), oral glucose tolerance test (two-hour post-load plasma glucose (2HPG)), diabetes, and VTE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The population-based, prospective Venous thromboEmbolism In Northern Sweden (VEINS) cohort study included 108,025 residents of Västerbotten County in northern Sweden. The participants were aged 30 to 60 years and had no previous VTE events. They were included from 1985 onwards and were followed until a VTE event, death, emigration, or the study end on September 5, 2014. All underwent a health examination that measured weight, height, FPG, and 2HPG and included a questionnaire regarding smoking, education level, and history of diabetes. Potential VTE events were identified by an extensive diagnosis registry search and were validated by reviewing medical records and radiology reports. RESULTS: An objectively verified first-time VTE event was experienced by 2054 participants during 1,496,669 person-years of follow-up. In univariable analysis, there were associations between FPG, 2HPG, diabetes, and the risk of VTE. These associations disappeared after adjustment for potential confounders (age, sex, body mass index, cancer at inclusion, education level, smoking, and hypertension). The adjusted hazard ratios were 1.01 (95% confidence interval 0.83-1.23) for diabetes, 1.01 for each standard deviation of FPG (95% confidence interval 0.97-1.05), and 0.96 for each standard deviation of 2HPG (95% confidence interval 0.91-1.00). CONCLUSIONS: There were no independent associations between FPG, 2HPG, diabetes, and future risk of VTE.

Incidence of venous thromboembolism in northern Sweden (VEINS): a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The reported incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) varies considerably among studies. The primary aim of this study was to describe the incidence of VTE in relation to age and sex. The secondary aim was to describe the risk factor pattern at the time of diagnosis. METHODS: This retrospective, population-based cohort study included all adult residents in the County of Västerbotten in northern Sweden during the year 2006 (n = 204,836). All potential VTE events were manually validated and classified according to location. The presence of risk factors for VTE at the time of diagnosis was recorded. RESULTS: We identified 517 adult individuals with potential VTE. Among these, 343 individuals (158 men and 185 women) had a verified VTE event in 2006. The mean incidence was 167 individuals per 100,000 person years; 155 for men and 180 for women. The mean age at diagnosis was 67.6 years in men and 72.5 years in women. The incidence of VTE increased with age. The incidence was highest in women aged 85 years or more. Pulmonary embolism with or without concurrent deep vein thrombosis was diagnosed in 161 individuals (46.9%); lower extremity deep vein thrombosis without concurrent pulmonary embolism was diagnosed in 157 individuals (45.8%); and VTE in another location was diagnosed in 25 individuals (7.3%). The most common risk factors for VTE were recent hospitalization and concurrent malignancy. CONCLUSION: The incidence of VTE was 167 per 100,000 person years and increased with age. The incidence was highest among older women. Pulmonary embolism was the most common form of VTE; it affected 47% of individuals with VTE. Malignancy and hospitalization were the most prevalent risk factors for VTE.

Perceptions of Malawian nurses about nursing interventions for malnourished children and their parents.

In developing countries, malnutrition among children is a major public-health issue. The aim of the study was to describe perceptions of Malawian nurses about nursing interventions for malnourished children and their parents. A qualitative method was used. Data were collected and analyzed according to the phenomenographic research approach. Twelve interviews were performed with 12 nurses at a rural hospital in northern Malawi, Southeast Africa. Through the analysis, two major concepts, comprising four categories of description, emerged: managing malnutrition today and promotion of a favourable nutritional status. The categories of description involved identification and treatment of malnutrition, education during treatment, education during prevention, and assurance of food security. The participating nurses perceived education to be the most important intervention, incorporated in all areas of prevention and treatment of malnutrition. Identification and treatment of malnutrition, education during treatment, education to prevent malnutrition, and assurance of food security were regarded as the most important areas of intervention.

Mydriasis with different preparations of topically administered lidocaine hydrochloride.

PURPOSE: To quantify the mydriatic effect and side effects of topical lidocaine hydrochloride with different pH values and concentrations in healthy volunteers. SETTING: Umeå University Hospital Eye Clinic, Umeå, Sweden. METHODS: In this intraindividual comparison double-masked randomized study, healthy volunteers were given topical lidocaine 8%, lidocaine 8% pH 6.0, or a placebo 3 times at 90-second intervals. Thereafter, a drop of tropicamide 0.5% or placebo was given (tropicamide setting). Another group of healthy volunteers was given topical lidocaine 4%, 8%, or 16% 3 or 6 times at 90-second intervals (dose-response setting). Before and 15, 30, 60, and 180 minutes after eyedrop instillation, the near point was determined and Scheimpflug photography was performed. RESULTS: The tropicamide setting comprised 26 volunteers (mean age 23.5 years) and the dose-response setting, 10 volunteers (mean age 24.5 years). The direct mydriatic effect of lidocaine was larger at pH 6.0 (mean peak effect 0.61+/-0.06 [SEM] versus 0.42+/-0.04 mm) (P< .05), and the augmentation of tropicamide mydriasis was larger at pH 6.0. Lidocaine 8% had a better direct mydriatic effect than lidocaine 4% and lidocaine 16% (mean peak effect 0.60+/-0.09 mm versus 0.19+/-0.08 mm and 0.28+/-0.10 mm, respectively) (P< .01). Lidocaine 16% given 6 times caused corneal side effects. CONCLUSIONS: Lidocaine 8% with pH 6.0 had a maximum direct mydriatic effect and gave maximum augmentation of tropicamide mydriasis without causing unwanted corneal side effects and thus should be preferable for topical anesthesia in cataract surgery.

Optical coherence tomography evaluation of macular edema after phacoemulsification surgery with intracameral mydriatics.

PURPOSE: To quantify the macular edema induced by intracameral mydriatics in phacoemulsification surgery. SETTING: University hospital eye clinic, Umeå, Sweden. METHODS: In a randomized study of 22 patients, 11 patients were given 150 muL of a mixture of phenylephrine 1.5% and lidocaine 1% intracamerally for mydriasis and anesthesia. In a control group (n = 11), conventional topical mydriatics and intracameral lidocaine were given. Multiple preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were recorded. RESULTS: There were no differences in macular edema between the 2 treatments. A correlation was seen between macular edema and impaired visual acuity 1 week postoperatively. On the first postoperative day, a similar correlation was seen between corneal edema and the degree of visual improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Intracameral lidocaine and phenylephrine for mydriasis and anesthesia did not induce more significant macular edema than the standard regimen of topical mydriatics plus intracameral lidocaine. Macular edema limited visual improvement 1 week after phacoemulsification, while corneal edema appeared to have a larger effect immediately after surgery.