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1.
Women Birth ; 37(1): 51-62, 2024 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37658018

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Understanding a woman's traumatic birth experience benefits from an approach that considers perspectives from various fields of healthcare and social sciences. AIM: To evaluate and explore the multidisciplinary perspectives surrounding a traumatic birth experience to form a theory and to capture its structure. METHODS: A multidisciplinary advanced principle-based concept analysis was conducted, including the following systematic steps: literature review, assessment of concept maturity, principle-based evaluation, concept exploration and advancement, and formulating a multidisciplinary concept theory. We drew on knowledge from midwifery, psychology, childbirth education, bioethics, obstetric & gender violence, sociology, perinatal psychiatry, and anthropology. RESULTS: Our evaluation included 60 records which were considered as 'mature'. Maturity was determined by the reported concept definition, attributes, antecedents, outcomes, and boundaries. The four broad principles of the philosophy of science epistemology, pragmatics, linguistics, and logic illustrated that women live in a political, and cultural world that includes social, perceptual, and practical features. The conceptual components antecedents, attributes, outcomes, and boundaries demonstrated that a traumatic birth experience is not an isolated event, but its existence is enabled by social structures that perpetuate the diminished and disempowered position of women in medical and institutionalised healthcare regulation and management. CONCLUSION: The traumatic childbirth experience is a distinctive experience that can only occur within a socioecological system of micro-, meso-, and macro-level aspects that accepts and allows its existence and therefore its sustainability - with the traumatic experience of the birthing woman as the central construct.


Subject(s)
Midwifery , Parturition , Pregnancy , Humans , Female , Parturition/psychology
2.
Ann Rheum Dis ; 83(4): 446-456, 2024 Mar 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38049985

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To compare all-cause mortality and causes of death between patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and the general population in Sweden. METHODS: Adults with at least one main PsA diagnosis (International Classification of Diseases-10: L40.5/M07.0-M07.3) from outpatient rheumatology/internal medicine departments 2001-2017 were identified from the National Patient Register. Each case was matched to five population comparator-subjects on sex/county/age at the case's first arthritis diagnosis. Follow-up ran from 1 January 2007, or from first PsA diagnosis thereafter, until death, emigration or 31 December 2018. Mortality was assessed overall, and stratified by sex and duration since diagnosis (diagnosis before/after 1 January 2007), using matched Cox proportional hazard regression (excluding/including adjustments for comorbidity) or Breslow test, as appropriate. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) of death, overall and stratified by sex/duration since diagnosis/age, as well as causes of death in PsA cases and comparator-subjects were also described. RESULTS: All-cause mortality was elevated in PsA (HR: 1.11 (95% CI: 1.07 to 1.16); IRR: 1.18 (95% CI: 1.13 to 1.22)), mainly driven by increased risks in women (HR: 1.23 (95% CI: 1.16 to 1.30)) and cases with longer time since diagnosis (HR: 1.18 (95% CI: 1.12 to 1.25)). IRR of death were significantly increased for all ages except below 40 years, with the numerically highest point-estimates for ages 40-59 years. When adjusted for comorbidity, however, the elevated mortality risk in PsA disappeared. Causes of death were similar among PsA cases/comparator-subjects, with cardiovascular disease and malignancy as the leading causes. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality risk in PsA in Sweden was about 10% higher than in the general population, driven by excess comorbidity and with increased risks mainly in women and patients with longer disease duration.


Subject(s)
Arthritis, Psoriatic , Cardiovascular Diseases , Adult , Humans , Female , Arthritis, Psoriatic/epidemiology , Cohort Studies , Sweden/epidemiology , Comorbidity , Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Incidence
3.
J Med Econ ; 26(1): 1190-1200, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37712618

ABSTRACT

AIMS: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of bimekizumab, an inhibitor of IL-17F and IL-17A, against biologic and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) from the Swedish healthcare system perspective. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Markov model was developed to simulate the clinical pathway of biologic [b] DMARD-naïve or tumor necrosis factor inhibitor experienced [TNFi-exp] PsA patients over a lifetime horizon. Treatment response was incorporated as achievement of the American College of Rheumatology 50% (ACR50) and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 75% (PASI75) response, and changes in the Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) score. The efficacy of bimekizumab was obtained from the BE OPTIMAL (bDMARD-naïve) and BE COMPLETE (TNFi-experienced) trials while a network meta-analysis (NMA) informed the efficacy of the comparators. Resource use and drug costs were obtained from published studies and databases of drug retail prices in Sweden. A willingness-to-pay threshold of €50,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) was applied. RESULTS: In bDMARD-naïve patients, bimekizumab achieved greater QALYs (14.08) than with all comparators except infliximab (14.22), dominated guselkumab every 4 and 8 weeks, ixekizumab, secukinumab 300 mg, ustekinumab 45 mg and 90 mg, and was cost-effective against risankizumab, tofacitinib, upadacitinib and TNFis, except adalimumab biosimilar. In TNFi-experienced patients, bimekizumab led to greater QALYs (13.56) than all comparators except certolizumab pegol (13.84), and dominated ixekizumab and secukinumab 300 mg while being cost-effective against all other IL-17A-, IL-23- and JAK inhibitors. LIMITATIONS: An NMA informed the comparative effectiveness estimates. Given gaps in evidence of disease management and indirect costs specific to HAQ-DI scores, and sequential clinical trial evidence in PsA, non-PsA cost data from similar joint conditions were used, and one line of active treatment followed by best supportive care was assumed. CONCLUSIONS: Bimekizumab was cost-effective against most available treatments for PsA in Sweden, irrespective of prior TNFi exposure.


Subject(s)
Antirheumatic Agents , Arthritis, Psoriatic , Biological Products , Humans , Arthritis, Psoriatic/drug therapy , Interleukin-17 , Sweden , Cost-Effectiveness Analysis , Antirheumatic Agents/therapeutic use , Cost-Benefit Analysis , Biological Products/therapeutic use , Treatment Outcome
4.
Sex Reprod Healthc ; 37: 100882, 2023 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37399759

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to translate the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ2) to Icelandic and assess its psychometric characteristics. METHODS: The CEQ2 was translated to Icelandic using forward-to-back translation and tested for face-validity (n = 10). Then data was collected in an online survey to test validation in terms of reliability and construct validity (n = 1125). Reliability was assessed by calculating Cronbach's alpha for the total scale and subscales. Cronbach's alpha > 0.7 was regarded as satisfactory. Construct validity was measured using known-groups validation with data collected on women's birth outcomes known to be associated with more positive birth experiences. A comparison was made of CEQ2 subscale scores and total CEQ2 score for country of origin, social complications, parity, pregnancy complications, birthplace, mode of birth, maternal autonomy and decision making (MADM), and mothers on respect index (MORi). Mann WhitneyUand Kruskal Wallis H tests were used to compare scale scores between the groups. Principal components analysis with varimax rotation was chosen to determine whether the Icelandic version of the CEQ had similar psychometric properties as the original version. RESULTS: The face validity and internal consistency reliability (Cronbach's alpha > 0.85 for the total scale and all subscales) of the Icelandic version of CEQ2 was good. Our findings indicate that two of the items in the 'own capacity' domain were not sufficiently related to other items of the scale to warrant inclusion. CONCLUSIONS: The Icelandic CEQ2 is a valid and reliable measure of childbirth experience but further work is needed to determine the optimal number of items and domains of the Icelandic CEQ2.


Subject(s)
Delivery, Obstetric , Parturition , Pregnancy , Female , Humans , Reproducibility of Results , Iceland , Surveys and Questionnaires , Psychometrics
5.
Nurs Open ; 10(8): 5500-5508, 2023 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37141442

ABSTRACT

AIM: Develop and test a data collection tool-Neurological End-Of-Life Care Assessment Tool (NEOLCAT)-for extracting data from patient health records (PHRs) on end-of-life care of neurological patients in an acute hospital ward. DESIGN: Instrument development and inter-rater reliability (IRR) assessment. METHOD: NEOLCAT was constructed from patient care items obtained from clinical guidelines and literature on end-of-life care. Expert clinicians reviewed the items. Using percentage agreement and Fleiss' kappa we calculated IRR on 32 nominal items, out of 76 items. RESULTS: IRR of NEOLCAT showed 89% (range 83%-95%) overall categorical percentage agreement. The Fleiss' kappa categorical coefficient was 0.84 (range 0.71-0.91). There was fair or moderate agreement on six items, and moderate or almost perfect agreement on 26 items. CONCLUSION: The NEOLCAT shows promising psychometric properties for studying clinical components of care of neurological patients at the end-of-life on an acute hospital ward but could be further developed in future studies.


Subject(s)
Terminal Care , Humans , Reproducibility of Results , Observer Variation , Data Collection , Hospitals
6.
J Rheumatol ; 50(6): 781-788, 2023 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36858434

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) prevalence estimates vary across studies; studies based on national data are few. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of clinically diagnosed PsA in Sweden in 2017, overall and stratified by sex, age, education, and geography, and to quantify disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) use among those in contact with specialized rheumatology care between 2015 and 2017. METHODS: Individuals who were 18 to 79 years of age, alive and residing in Sweden on December 31, 2017, and had a prior PsA diagnosis were identified from the National Patient Register (NPR) and/or the Swedish Rheumatology Quality Register (SRQ). PsA prevalence was estimated according to a base case (BC) definition (ie, ≥ 1 main PsA International Classification of Diseases code from rheumatology or internal medicine departments in the NPR or a PsA diagnosis in the SRQ), according to 4 sensitivity analysis definitions, and for those seen in specialized rheumatology care between 2015 and 2017. In the latter group, DMARD use during 2017 was also assessed. Data for stratifications were retrieved from national registers. RESULTS: The crude national prevalence of PsA for adults, aged 18 to 79 years, was estimated at 0.39%, according to the BC definition; 0.34% after accounting for diagnostic misclassification; and 0.32% to 0.50% across all sensitivity analyses. The prevalence was lower in males and in those with a higher level of education. The prevalence for those seen in specialized rheumatology care between 2015 and 2017 was estimated at 0.24%. During 2017, 32% of patients in this population received biologic or targeted synthetic DMARDs, and 41% received conventional synthetic DMARDs only. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of clinically diagnosed PsA in adults, aged 18 to 79 years, in Sweden in 2017 was around 0.35%. Among PsA cases in recent contact with specialized rheumatology care, almost three-fourths received DMARD therapy in 2017.


Subject(s)
Antirheumatic Agents , Arthritis, Psoriatic , Rheumatology , Adult , Male , Humans , Arthritis, Psoriatic/diagnosis , Arthritis, Psoriatic/drug therapy , Arthritis, Psoriatic/epidemiology , Sweden/epidemiology , Prevalence , Antirheumatic Agents/therapeutic use
7.
Midwifery ; 116: 103508, 2023 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36223663

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Complications during pregnancy and birth are known risk factors for negative birth experience. Women value the opportunity to review their birth experiences, but limited knowledge exists about appropriate interventions and the feasibility of providing this care for women following high-risk pregnancies. OBJECTIVE: To describe the construction and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a postpartum midwifery counselling intervention for women following high-risk pregnancies. DESIGN: A mixed-method study. SETTING: A high-risk antenatal outpatient clinic at Landspítali University Hospital in Reykjavík, Iceland. SAMPLE, RECRUITMENT AND DATA COLLECTION: Thirty women who experienced high-risk pregnancies were invited to write about and review their birth experience with a known midwife 4-6 weeks postpartum. Eight midwives working in a high-risk antenatal clinic provided the intervention after a special training. Data including birth outcomes, birth experience and experience of the intervention were collected by questionnaires from women at two time points before and after the counselling intervention. Midwives providing the intervention completed diaries and participated in focus group interview to explore their experiences of the process. DATA ANALYSIS: Descriptive and content analysis. FINDINGS: Women and midwives perceived the intervention positively and feasible in this context. Midwives evaluated the pre-training program as helpful. Most women would like to review their birth experience with a midwife they know, 4-6 weeks postpartum. Almost half of the women wrote about their birth experiences. KEY CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that women experiencing high-risk pregnancies might benefit from a follow up by a midwife they know. Women and midwives perceived the counselling intervention as an acceptable and feasible option in maternity care. The training program sufficiently prepared the midwives to provide the counselling intervention. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The findings provide an opportunity to offer the intervention on a larger scale to explore the effects further and subsequently implement into routine care after birth for high-risk women.


Subject(s)
Maternal Health Services , Midwifery , Female , Pregnancy , Humans , Pregnancy, High-Risk , Feasibility Studies , Parturition , Midwifery/methods
8.
ACR Open Rheumatol ; 4(11): 948-953, 2022 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36000538

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To describe people with gout who were diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and hospitalized and to characterize their outcomes. METHODS: Data on patients with gout hospitalized for COVID-19 between March 12, 2020, and October 25, 2021, were extracted from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance registry. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the demographics, comorbidities, medication exposures, and COVID-19 outcomes including oxygenation or ventilation support and death. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-three patients with gout who developed COVID-19 and were hospitalized were included. The mean age was 63 years, and 85% were male. The majority of the group lived in the Western Pacific Region (35%) and North America (18%). Nearly half (46%) had two or more comorbidities, with hypertension (56%), cardiovascular disease (28%), diabetes mellitus (26%), chronic kidney disease (25%), and obesity (23%) being the most common. Glucocorticoids and colchicine were used pre-COVID-19 in 11% and 12% of the cohort, respectively. Over two thirds (68%) of the cohort required supplemental oxygen or ventilatory support during hospitalization. COVID-19-related death was reported in 16% of the overall cohort, with 73% of deaths documented in people with two or more comorbidities. CONCLUSION: This cohort of people with gout and COVID-19 who were hospitalized had high frequencies of ventilatory support and death. This suggests that patients with gout who were hospitalized for COVID-19 may be at risk of poor outcomes, perhaps related to known risk factors for poor outcomes, such as age and presence of comorbidity.

9.
J Palliat Med ; 24(12): 1858-1862, 2021 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34415780

ABSTRACT

Background: The five Nordic Associations for palliative medicine (PM) have since 2003 organized a common specialist course for six weeks in two years. Aim: To describe the course: participants, evaluations, impact on participants' careers, and on the development of PM in the Nordic countries. Methods: Information on participants taken from the course archive and national registries. A web survey sent to graduates from the courses 2003-2013 (n = 150) and 2013-2017 (n = 72). Results: Mean age at course start was 46.9 years; 66% were women. Mean overall evaluation score 5.7 (range 5.4-6.0, max 7.0). Survey response rate 84% (n = 186); 80% of respondents were working in PM, the majority as leaders, >90% engaged in teaching PM. About 40% were active in PM associations, lobbying, and guideline development. Conclusion: The Nordic Specialist Course in PM has had a profound impact on the participants' postcourse careers, influencing the development of PM in the Nordic countries.


Subject(s)
Palliative Medicine , Female , Humans , Scandinavian and Nordic Countries , Specialization , Surveys and Questionnaires
10.
J Fam Nurs ; 27(2): 114-123, 2021 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33787415

ABSTRACT

The aim of this longitudinal study was to evaluate the long-term effects of providing a therapeutic conversation intervention, based on Family Systems Nursing, to family caregivers of a close relative with advanced cancer over the period before and during bereavement. To prevent adverse outcomes, caregivers need ongoing support that begins pre-loss and extends into the post-loss period. This study employed a one-group pre-test, post-test quasi-experimental design. Twenty-four caregivers participated in two intervention trials conducted over a 42-month period, receiving two intervention sessions pre-loss (Trial 1) and one intervention session post-loss (Trial 2). Significant decreases in anxiety and stress were noted over the three post-loss assessments. The final post-loss stress outcome was significantly lower than the first pre-loss score. For the depression score, there was not a significant change over time within the pre- or post-loss period. The findings provide evidence of decreasing anxiety and stress following the implementation of an extended family nursing intervention for bereaved family caregivers.


Subject(s)
Caregivers , Neoplasms , Anxiety/prevention & control , Depression , Family , Humans , Longitudinal Studies
11.
BMC Palliat Care ; 19(1): 184, 2020 Nov 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33256786

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In contrast to typical measures employed to assess outcomes in healthcare such as mortality or recovery rates, it is difficult to define which specific outcomes of care are the most important in caring for dying individuals. Despite a variety of tools employed to assess different dimensions of palliative care, there is no consensus on a set of core outcomes to be measured in the last days of life. In order to optimise decision making in clinical practice and comparability of interventional studies, we aim to identify and propose a set of core outcomes for the care of the dying person. METHODS: Following the COMET initiative approach, the proposed study will proceed through four stages to develop a set of core outcomes: In stage 1, a systematic review of the literature will identify outcomes measured in existing peer reviewed literature, as well as outcomes derived through qualitative studies. Grey literature, will also be included. Stage 2 will allow for the identification and determination of patient and proxy defined outcomes of care at the end of life via quantitative and qualitative methods at an international level. In stage 3, from a list of salient outcomes identified through stages 1 and 2, international experts, family members, patients, and patient advocates will be asked to score the importance of the preselected outcomes through a Delphi process. Stage 4 consists of a face-to-face consensus meeting of international experts and patient/family representatives in order to define, endorse, and propose the final Core Outcomes Set. DISCUSSION: Core Outcome Sets aim at promoting uniform assessment of care outcomes in clinical practice as well as research. If consistently employed, a robust set of core outcomes for the end of life, and specifically for the dying phase, defined by relevant stakeholders, can ultimately be translated into best care for the dying person. Patient care will be improved by allowing clinicians to choose effective and meaningful treatments, and research impact will be improved by employing internationally agreed clinically relevant endpoints and enabling accurate comparison between studies in systematic reviews and/or in meta-analyses.


Subject(s)
Clinical Protocols , Outcome Assessment, Health Care/methods , Palliative Care/standards , Delphi Technique , Humans , Palliative Care/methods , Qualitative Research , Systematic Reviews as Topic , Treatment Outcome
12.
J Hosp Palliat Nurs ; 22(5): 383-391, 2020 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32826543

ABSTRACT

Effective communication is the foundation of quality care in palliative nursing. As frontline palliative home care providers, nurses could foster more effective bereavement coping skills through therapeutic conversations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a nursing intervention offered to bereaved family cancer caregivers. This was a quasi-experimental design, with a posttest-only comparison of the intervention and control groups receiving usual care. Bereaved caregivers (n = 51) receiving services from a specialized palliative home care unit participated and completed measures of depression, anxiety, stress, and grief reactions 3, 5, and 6 months after their close relative had died.There was a significant decrease in anxiety symptoms in the intervention group compared with the control group across all 3 time points. Anxiety and stress symptoms also decreased over time in the 2 groups combined, but this decrease was not observed for depression. When evaluating grief reactions, the intervention group had a lower mean of controlled grief responses, across the posttest period, than the control group.Results demonstrate that providing bereaved family caregivers the opportunity to participate in a therapeutic conversation intervention might reduce distressing symptoms in early bereavement.


Subject(s)
Caregivers/psychology , Hospice Care/standards , Professional-Family Relations , Adult , Aged , Caregivers/statistics & numerical data , Depression/etiology , Depression/psychology , Depression/therapy , Female , Hospice Care/methods , Hospice Care/psychology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/complications , Neoplasms/psychology , Neoplasms/therapy , Psychometrics/instrumentation , Psychometrics/methods
13.
Lakartidningen ; 1172020 08 25.
Article in Swedish | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32852770

ABSTRACT

Hyperuricemia (HU) and gout are strongly associated with CVD, associations that are most likely due to shared etiologies rather than causality. HU is for example causally related to the metabolic syndrome and in particular to obesity. Gout and HU can both be caused by and lead to decreased kidney function. On the other hand, there are observational data suggesting that HU may protect against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinson's disease. Ongoing RCTs with urate and urate lowering therapy (ULT) will help to resolve some of these controversies. Nevertheless, gout is a "curable disease" by ULT, a treatment which in adequate doses may also have positive effect on several associated co-morbidities.


Subject(s)
Cardiovascular Diseases , Gout , Hyperuricemia , Cardiovascular Diseases/complications , Gout/complications , Gout Suppressants , Humans , Hyperuricemia/complications , Uric Acid
14.
Lakartidningen ; 1172020 08 25.
Article in Swedish | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32852772

ABSTRACT

Urate lowering therapy (ULT) should, according to recent guidelines, be initiated in the majority of cases already after the first attack of gout. Allopurinol is the first line choice of ULT and should be started with low dose, which is increased until the treatment target is reached. The treatment target should be a blood urate of < 360 µmol/l or < 300 µmol/l (in the presence of topfi), which should be maintained until topfi have resolved. NSAID/cox-inhibitors, colchicine and glucocorticoids are all valid short-term treatments of gout attacks. ULT should not be paused/terminated during attacks and can be initiated during an attack that is adequately treated. Recent RCTs of ULT treatment have demonstrated the importance of thorough and adequate information to the patient and regular follow-up until treatment targets are reached. Such a strategy improve both compliance and outcomes of ULT treatment.


Subject(s)
Gout Suppressants , Gout , Allopurinol , Colchicine , Gout/drug therapy , Humans , Treatment Outcome , Uric Acid
15.
Lakartidningen ; 1172020 08 25.
Article in Swedish | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32852773

ABSTRACT

Hyperuricemia is defined by a blood urate level > 405 µmol/L, the cut-off value at which urate forms crystals in vivo. In 15-20% these individuals develop gout, clinically characterized by attacks of acute arthritis, initially and most commonly affecting MTP 1 or other joints, tendons and soft tissues of the foot. These attacks usually subside within 1 to 2 weeks. Over time attacks occur more frequently and can transform into chronic arthritis characterized by tophi. The gold standard for diagnosis relies on identification of urate crystals by polarization microscopy in aspirated joint fluid. This procedure is rarely performed in primary care where the majority of patients are seen, and gout is usually diagnosed by clinical criteria. New imaging technologies (ultrasound, dual-energy CT) can be helpful when aspiration is not available and when the diagnosis is unclear. Gout has a prevalence of 1.7% and incidence rate of approximately 200 per 100000 person-years in Sweden, figures that increase over time.


Subject(s)
Gout , Hyperuricemia , Gout/diagnostic imaging , Gout/drug therapy , Humans , Sweden , Ultrasonography , Uric Acid
16.
RMD Open ; 6(2)2020 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32683325

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Risk factors operating independently of hyperuricemia could be of importance in determining why only a minority of people with hyperuricemia develop gout. Exposure to inorganic dust has been linked to other inflammatory diseases and could influence the development of gout. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate if occupational exposure to inorganic dust increases the risk of gout. METHODS: Individuals aged 30-65 years with a first gout diagnosis in 2006-2012 in the population-based healthcare database of the Western Swedish Healthcare Region (VEGA) and population controls matched by age and sex were included. Data on occupation was collected from the Swedish occupational register. Exposure status was assigned by means of a job exposure matrix. Data on gout-related comorbidities was collected from VEGA. Alcohol use disorder and obesity were related both to gout and exposure to inorganic dust and were adjusted for in multivariate analyses. ORs were calculated using conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: 5042 gout cases and 20 682 controls were included. Exposure to inorganic dust was associated with gout in both unadjusted (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.20) and multivariate (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.16) analyses of the whole population. In sex-stratified multivariate analyses, dust exposure was significantly associated with gout in women (adjusted OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.51), but not in men (adjusted OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.13). CONCLUSIONS: We describe for the first time an association between exposure to inorganic dust and gout. After adjusting for confounders, the findings were statistically significant for women but not for men.


Subject(s)
Dust , Gout/epidemiology , Gout/etiology , Inorganic Chemicals/adverse effects , Occupational Diseases/epidemiology , Occupational Diseases/etiology , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Comorbidity , Disease Susceptibility , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Occupations , Population Surveillance , Registries , Sweden/epidemiology
17.
BMC Rheumatol ; 4: 7, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31989100

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A definite diagnosis of gout requires demonstration of monosodium urate crystals in synovial fluid or in tophi, which in clinical practice today seldom is done. Dual energy CT (DECT) has repeatedly been shown to be able to detect monosodium urate crystals in tissues, hence being an alternative method to synovial fluid microscopy. The vast majority of these studies were performed with CT scanners with two X-ray tubes. In the present study we aim to investigate if and at what locations DECT with rapid kilovoltage-switching source with gemstone scintillator detector (GSI) can identify MSU crystals in patients with clinically diagnosed gout. We also performed a reliability study between two independent readings. METHODS: Patients with new or established gout who had been examined with DECT GSI scanning of the feet at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal between 2015 and 2018 were identified. Their medical records were sought for gout disease characteristics using a structured protocol. Urate deposits in MTP1, MTP 2-5, ankle/midfoot joints and tendons were scored semiquantatively in both feet and presence of artifacts in nail and skin as well as beam hardening and noise were recorded. Two radiologists performed two combined readings and scoring of the images, thus consensus was reached over the scoring at each occasion (Espeland et al., BMC Med Imaging. 2013;13:4). The two readings were compared with kappa statistics. RESULTS: DECT GSI could identify urate deposits in the feet of all 55 participants with gout. Deposits were identified in the MTP-joints of all subjects but were also present in ankle/midfoot joints and tendons in 96 and 75% respectively. Deposition of urate was predicted by longer disease duration (Spearman's Rho 0.64, p < .0001) and presence of tophi (p = 0.0005). Artifacts were common and mostly found in the nails (73%), a minority displayed skin artifacts (31%) while beam hardening and noise was rare. The agreement between the two readings was good (Κ = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.61-0.71). CONCLUSION: The validity of DECT GSI in gout is supported by the identification of urate in all patients with clinical gout and the good correlations with clinical characteristics. The occurrence of artifacts was relatively low with expected locations.

18.
Midwifery ; 69: 29-38, 2019 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30396158

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Negative birth experiences may have adverse effects on the wellbeing of women and babies. Knowledge about useful interventions to assist women in processing and resolving negative birth experiences is limited. OBJECTIVE: To explore women's experience and preferences of reviewing their birth experience at a special midwifery clinic. DESIGN: The study is a qualitative content analysis of women's written text responses to semi-structured questions, included in a retrospective study. SETTING: A special counselling clinic, 'Ljáðu mér eyra', at Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavik, provides women with an opportunity to review their birth experience and discuss their fears about an upcoming birth with a midwife. SAMPLE, RECRUITMENT AND DATA COLLECTION: A questionnaire was sent to all women attending the clinic from 2006-2011 (n = 301). Of the 131 women completing and returning the questionnaire, 125 provided written responses to the open-ended questions. The questionnaire consisted of demographic and reproductive characteristics of women, questions about why they attended the clinic, whether their expectations were fulfilled, helpful components of the interview and open-ended questions about women's views of the process. DATA ANALYSIS: Data on participant characteristics, the reason for attending the clinic, whether the interview fulfilled their expectations and helpful components were analysed using quantitative descriptive data, while written responses to semi-structured questions were analysed using content analysis. FINDINGS: The main reasons for attending the clinic were a previous negative birth experience, anxiety about the upcoming birth, and/or loss of control during a prior birth. Two themes and three subthemes were identified. The overarching theme was 'on my terms' with the subthemes of 'being recognised', 'listening is paramount' and 'mapping the unknown'. The final theme was 'moving on'. KEY CONCLUSIONS: Women want to be recognised and invited to review their birth experience in a tailored conversation on their terms. By fulfilling their expectations of reviewing the birth experience, they regained control and strength to move on. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Findings support the importance of recognising women's need to review their birth experiences and offer an intervention to reflect on their perceptions. A discussion of the birth experience should be a routine part of maternity services.


Subject(s)
Labor, Obstetric/psychology , Midwifery/standards , Mothers/psychology , Perception , Adult , Choice Behavior , Female , Humans , Iceland , Middle Aged , Midwifery/methods , Patient Satisfaction , Pregnancy , Qualitative Research , Retrospective Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires
20.
Arthritis Res Ther ; 20(1): 206, 2018 09 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30201030

ABSTRACT

Unfortunately, after publication of this article [1], it was noticed that Fig. 2 is incorrect.

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