Stockholm County Council

About: Stockholm County Council is a government organization based out in Stockholm, Sweden. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 1410 authors who have published 2429 publications receiving 78936 citations.

Do ‘flexicurity’ Policies Work for People With Low Education and Health Problems? A Comparison of Labour Market Policies and Employment Rates in Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom 1990–2010

Abstract: People with limiting longstanding illness and low education may experience problems in the labor market. Reduced employment protection that maintains economic security for the individual, known as "flexicurity," has been proposed as a way to increase overall employment. We compared the development of labor market policies and employment rates from 1990 to 2010 in Denmark and the Netherlands (representing flexicurity), the United Kingdom, and Sweden. Employment rates in all countries were much lower in the target group than for other groups over the study period. However, "flexicurity" as practiced in Denmark, far from being a "magic bullet," appeared to fail low-educated people with longstanding illness in particular. The Swedish policy, on the other hand, with higher employment protection and higher economic security, particularly earlier in the study period, led to higher employment rates in this group. Findings also revealed that economic security policies in all countries were eroding and shifting toward individual responsibility. Finally, results showed that active labor market policies need to be subcategorized to better understand which types are best suited for the target group. Increasing employment among the target group could reduce adverse health consequences and contribute to decreasing inequalities in health.

Circumstances of SUDEP: A nationwide population-based case series.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE Given the increasing attention being paid to potential strategies for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) prevention, we analyzed the circumstances of SUDEP and its incidence in relation to time of year, week, and day. METHODS Prospective case-series based on persons with an International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) code for epilepsy in the Swedish Patient Registry 1998-2005, who were alive on June 30, 2006 (n = 60 952). Linkage to the National Cause-of-Death Registry identified all deaths from July 2006 through December 2011, with epilepsy mentioned on death certificate, together with all deaths during 2008 (n = 3166). Death certificates, medical charts, autopsy, and police reports were reviewed to identify SUDEP cases and related circumstances. Autopsied non-SUDEP deaths (n = 60) from the study population served as a reference. RESULTS There were 329 SUDEPs (63% men) of which 167 were definite, 89 probable, and 73 possible. SUDEP cases were younger at death (50.8 years) than non-SUDEP deaths (73.3 years) (P < .001) and more likely to be male (63% vs 55%, P = .0079). Most SUDEP cases died at night (58%), at home (91%), and 65% were found dead in bed. When documented, 70% were found in prone position. In 17%, death was witnessed and in 88% of these, a seizure was observed. Of the 329 SUDEP cases, 71% were living alone and 14% shared a bedroom. Compared to an autopsied non-SUDEP reference group, definite SUDEPs were more likely to die at home, during the night, unwitnessed, in the prone position, to live alone, and more often with a preceding seizure. SIGNIFICANCE SUDEP cases live alone, die unwitnessed at home at night, with indication of a preceding seizure, supporting the critical role of lack of supervision. These facts need to be considered in the development of preventive strategies.

IgE sensitization in relation to preschool eczema and filaggrin mutation

Abstract: Background Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is associated with an increased risk of having IgE antibodies. IgE sensitization can occur through an impaired skin barrier. Filaggrin gene (FLG) mutation is associated with eczema and possibly also with IgE sensitization. Objective We sought to explore the longitudinal relation between preschool eczema (PSE), FLG mutation, or both and IgE sensitization in childhood. Methods A total of 3201 children from the BAMSE (Children Allergy Milieu Stockholm Epidemiology) birth cohort recruited from the general population were included. Regular parental questionnaires identified children with eczema. Blood samples were collected at 4, 8, and 16 years of age for analysis of specific IgE. FLG mutation analysis was performed on 1890 of the children. Results PSE was associated with IgE sensitization to both food allergens and aeroallergens up to age 16 years (overall adjusted odds ratio, 2.30; 95% CI, 2.00-2.66). This association was even stronger among children with persistent PSE. FLG mutation was associated with IgE sensitization to peanut at age 4 years (adjusted odds ratio, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.03-3.44) but not to other allergens up to age 16 years. FLG mutation and PSE were not effect modifiers for the association between IgE sensitization and PSE or FLG mutation, respectively. Sensitized children with PSE were characterized by means of polysensitization, but no other specific IgE sensitization patterns were found. Conclusions PSE is associated with IgE sensitization to both food allergens and aeroallergens up to 16 years of age. FLG mutation is associated with IgE sensitization to peanut but not to other allergens. Sensitized children with preceding PSE are more often polysensitized.

Maternal Smoking in Pregnancy and Offspring Depression:: a cross cohort and negative control study

Abstract: Previous reports suggest that offspring of mothers who smoke during pregnancy have greater risk of developing depression. However, it is unclear whether this is due to intrauterine effects. Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) from the UK (N = 2,869), the Nord-Trondelag health study (HUNT) from Norway (N = 15,493), the Pelotas 1982 Birth Cohort Study from Brazil (N = 2,626), and the Swedish Sibling Health Cohort (N = 258 sibling pairs), we compared associations of maternal smoking during pregnancy and mother’s partner’s smoking during pregnancy with offspring depression and performed a discordant sibling analysis. In meta-analysis, maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with higher odds of offspring depression (OR 1.20, 95% CI:1.08,1.34), but mother’s partner’s smoking during pregnancy was not (OR 1.05, 95% CI:0.94,1.17). However, there was only weak statistical evidence that the odds ratios for maternal and mother’s partner’s smoking differed from each other (p = 0.08). There was no clear evidence for an association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and offspring depression in the sibling analysis. Findings do not provide strong support for a causal role of maternal smoking during pregnancy in offspring depression, rather observed associations may reflect residual confounding relating to characteristics of parents who smoke.

Mechanical ventilation protects one-storey single-dwelling houses against increased air humidity, domestic mite allergens and indoor pollutants in a cold climatic region

Abstract: Background Poor ventilation in modern, highly insulated housing is an important factor in promoting indoor humidity levels to exceed 7 g/kg in cold climatic regions. Objective To investigate the ventilation rate in houses with different ventilation systems in relation to indoor air humidity, domestic mite allergen levels and volatile organic compounds (VOC). Methods Measurements were performed regarding ventilation rate, indoor temperature, air humidity, mattress mite allergen concentrations using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and total indoor VOC in 59 similarly constructed one-storey single-dwelling houses. In 22 of the houses, a mechanical supply and exhaust ventilation were installed after construction. Results In only five of the houses with mechanical supply and exhaust ventilation the air exchange rate per hour (ACH) was below 0.5 compared with 24 of the 29 houses with natural ventilation (OR = 0.06, CI 95% 0.01–0.2). None of the 23 houses with an ACH ≥ 0.5 had an absolute indoor humidity (AIH) of 7 g/kg air or more, compared with 10 of the 36 houses with an ACH < 0.5 (P = 0.01 ). In none of the 23 houses with an ACH ≥ 0.5 were concentrations of mite allergen exceeding 2 μg/g of dust found, compared with six of the 36 houses (17%) with an ACH below 0.5 (P = 0.04). Further, 10 of the 34 houses with a total VOC exceeding 200 μg/m3 had mite allergen in mattress dust exceeding 0.5 μg/g, compared with one of the 22 houses with VOC < 200 μg/m3 (P = 0.04). Conclusion The study shows that in modern, highly insulated, one-storey single-dwelling houses in cold temperate regions, mechanical ventilation increases the possibility of reaching an ACH of ≥ 5 which protects against indoor humidity levels contributing to mite survival as well as high levels of indoor air pollutants in winter.