Showing papers by "Calle Bengtsson published in 1998"
TL;DR: The validity of the Swedish SF-36 Health Survey was examined, replicating techniques used in the U.S. study, and cultural differences and variation in study samples and selection criteria were suggested as possible explanatory factors for differences.
217 citations
TL;DR: There were no differences in mortality or incidence of severe kidney disease during a 24-year follow-up between those with and those without bacteriuria in the baseline study.
Abstract: The aims of the study were to estimate the prevalence of bacteriuria in a female urban population, to follow up the same population over the years, and to relate bacteriuria to long-term prognosis with respect to mortality and kidney disease. The study was based on a randomly selected population sample comprising 1462 women aged 38-60 years at entrance to the study in 1968-69 with an initial participation rate of 90.1%. Bacteriuria was observed in 3-5%, increasing with age, and most often asymptomatic. Bacteriuria on one occasion meant increased risk of having bacteriuria 6 and 12 years later. The percentages of different types of bacteria and the resistance pattern were similar initially and at follow-up studies after 6 and 12 years. There were no differences in mortality or incidence of severe kidney disease during a 24-year follow-up between those with and those without bacteriuria in the baseline study.
56 citations
TL;DR: The decrease in S-MeHg is probably due to a decreased consumption of MeHg via contaminated fish, and may reflect a decrease in environmental exposure, but the possibility of contamination of the 1968-1969 samples at sampling and/or storage cannot be excluded.
49 citations
TL;DR: This female population appears to have experienced some changes in body shape and composition, but this paper cannot explain the increasingly centralized fat patterning by changes in BMI, subcutaneous skinfold thickness or those obesity-related aspects of the modern lifestyle that the authors were able to measure.
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Secular increases in obesity have been documented in numerous populations. However, little is known about trends in fat distribution. Because men and women with elevated waist-hip ratios (WHR) constitute a high cardiovascular risk group, it is relevant to document secular changes in WHR. This paper compares WHR in three cohorts of women, one cohort recruited in the late 1960s and the others after 12 y and 24 y intervals. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In 1968-1969, a randomly selected sample of women aged of 38 y and 50 y, was given anthropometric examinations (n = 761, total). The same measurements were taken on representative cohorts aged 38 y and 50 y in 1980-1981 (n = 677) and 1992-1993 (n = 167). All analyses of trends in WHR as a function of time are age-specific and body mass index (BMI)-adjusted. RESULTS: An interesting feature of this population is that BMI was stable from 1968-1969 to 1992-1993. However, WHR increased significantly in those aged 38 y and 50 y, independent of BMI (P = 0.001, both ages). The source of these changes in WHR was a combination of increasing waist circumferences and decreasing hip circumferences. Skinfold measurements, taken only at the first two examinations, also increased significantly. CONCLUSIONS: This female population appears to have experienced some changes in body shape and composition. However, we cannot explain the increasingly centralized fat patterning by changes in BMI, subcutaneous skinfold thickness or those obesity-related aspects of the modern lifestyle that we were able to measure.
45 citations
TL;DR: The results indicate that the risk of cardiovascular disease, as assessed from studying lifestyle and biological risk markers, increases early in life, suggesting that preventive measures should start early.
Abstract: STUDY OBJECTIVE: To study differences in cardiovascular lifestyle risk factors and biological risk markers in early adult life, with special attention to age and sex differences Lifestyle cardiovascular risk factors included dietary habits, physical inactivity, smoking, alcohol habits, psychosocial strain, and mental stress Biological risk markers included anthropometric variables, arterial blood pressure, and serum cholesterol concentration DESIGN: A combined individual and community based preventive programme, including health examinations SETTING: All communities in the County of Skaraborg in south western Sweden PARTICIPANTS: Altogether 12,982 men and women aged 30 or 35 years who underwent health examinations over seven years MAIN RESULTS: In both sexes, biological risk markers studied were worse in 35 year old subjects than in 30 year olds Furthermore, a larger proportion of men aged 35 years were smokers and were physically inactive compared with 30 year old men However, dietary habits were better in both sexes in the upper age group At both ages there were also significant differences between men and women Women, compared with men, had better dietary habits and lower alcohol consumption but smoked more and experienced greater mental stress and psychosocial strain All biological risk markers were worse in men than in women at both ages studied During the observation period, some improvement of the health profile of the participants was observed, indicating a beneficial effect of the intervention programme CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the risk of cardiovascular disease, as assessed from studying lifestyle and biological risk markers, increases early in life, suggesting that preventive measures should start early
38 citations
TL;DR: Different methods for quality development, such as peer review, medical audit, practice-visiting and tracer-condition technique, were used in order to evaluate the quality of care at the primary health care centres and to identify the role ofPrimary health care in the total health care system.
Abstract: The overall aim of this thesis was to describe and analyse methods for quality development of the Swedish primary health care structure. Specific aims were as follows. To describe and test a medical-audit method of determining the optimum level of outpatient medical care. To describe and test the tracer-condition methodology for quality assessment of the medical care delivered by the primary health care. To describe and test a practice-visiting method to compare the total qualities of primary health care centres in order to facilitate quality improvement. To describe and test Donabedian's method (structure, process, outcome) of evaluating a health-promotion programme giving special attention to outcome. To use register data as a method to analyse important determinants of hospitalisation rates and whether the primary health care has any influence.Different methods for quality development, such as peer review, medical audit, practice-visiting and tracer-condition technique, were used in order to evaluate the quality of care at the primary health care centres and to identify the role of primary health care in the total health care system. Papers I-V were based on studies of everyday activities in ordinary health care centres and hospitals in three counties in southern Sweden during 1987-2000.The methods used were chosen and adapted for the purpose of the studies.It was agreed upon that about 75% of the outpatient visits to a doctor could be managed by a general practitioner (GP) (Paper I). There was no difference in quality when patients with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus visiting a GP were compared with those visiting a doctor at a hospital (Paper II). Practice-visiting proved to be a suitable method of comparing different primary health care centres with respect to medical quality (Paper III). A health promotion progrannne could be integrated into the everyday work at the health centres and was found to improve lifestyle habits and influence cardiovascular risk factors (Paper IV). The most important determinants of hospitalisation rates were age, the proportion of the population born abroad, the structure of the health care organisation, and the number of outpatient visits to hospital (Paper V).The different methods which have been described need to be adapted to Swedish primary health care. The methods described in this thesis (medical audit, the tracer-condition method, practice-visiting and Donabedian's method) were usable for the purposes described. Register studies yielded valuable information in analysing important factors for explaining hospitalisations.
27 citations
TL;DR: In a prospective population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden, three examinations were conducted with 12-year intervals between 1968-1969 and 1992-1993, with a participation rate of 90.1%.
Abstract: In a prospective population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden, three examinations were conducted with 12-year intervals between 1968-1969 and 1992-1993. There were 1462 participants aged 38-60 years in the baseline study in 1968—1969, with a participation rate of 90.1%. This paper describes longitudinal changes and secular trends with respect to women's alcohol habits. An alcohol frequency questionnaire was validated at baseline and was re-administered at all examinations. Between 1968-1969 and 1980-1981, the proportion of alcohol abstainers decreased significantly both in 38-year-old and 50-year-old women. Women reporting alcohol intake at least once per week had higher socio-economic status and higher education than other women. Serum y-glutamyl transpepsidase concentration was higher in women with the heavier alcohol intake, while a number of potential cardiovascular risk indicators were higher in women with the lower intake. Daily intake of wine and spirits was about as common at all three examinations, whereas moderate intake of wine and spirits was more common in 1980-1981 and 1992-1993 than in 1968—1969. There seemed to be an increase in overall consumption of alcohol, mainly due to the increase in moderate drinking, but there was no indication of a large increase in heavy consumption of alcohol.
22 citations
TL;DR: Investigation in the Renault/Volvo Coeur Study found that negative life events, especially work-related, were associated with depressed mood and mental strain but not with elevation of biological risk factors such as elevated blood pressure and serum lipids.
Abstract: The associations between life events, mood, mental strain and cardiovascular risk factors were investigated in the Renault/Volvo Coeur Study. About 1,000 men, blue-collar and white-collar workers, were asked by means of interview-administered questionnaires about life events experienced during the year preceding the screening, about mood and mental strain and about smoking, alcohol consumption and exercise habits. Blood pressure, concentration of serum lipids and blood glucose, and anthropometric measures were determined in a screening procedure. Negative life events, especially work-related, were associated with depressed mood and mental strain but not with elevation of biological risk factors such as elevated blood pressure and serum lipids. Depressed mood and mental strain were related to increased tobacco consumption in blue-collar workers and increased alcohol consumption in white-collar workers.
15 citations
1 citations