Biomedical subjects

A Eskild

Publications and source records attributed to A Eskild.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

[Steady homosexual relationship and HIV infection].

In order to study the relative impact of a steady homosexual relationship on the presence of HIV antibodies, a cross-sectional study was undertaken of 719 homosexual men in Oslo during the period of 1983-1987. 74/719 (10%) were HIV positive. 37/74 (50%) of the HIV positives and 185/645 (29%) of the HIV negatives were having a steady homosexual relationship that had lasted six months or more (chi-square test, p < 0.05). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis the adjusted odds ratio of being HIV positive was 2.3 (1.3-4.3, 95% confidence interval (CI)) for homosexual relationship lasting 1/2-4 years and 3.1 (1.5-6.6, 95% CI) for homosexual relationship lasting 5 years or more as compared with not being in a homosexual relationship. The number of male partners and frequent anal intercourse were also significantly associated with presence of HIV antibodies. The results suggest that situational variables associated with a steady partnership may be barriers to HIV-preventive measures.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Immunity to diphtheria in northern Norway and northwestern Russia.

A case of diphtheria, which has not been seen in Norway for 30 years, was reported in 1992 in the northern part of the country bordering Russia. An increasing number of cases of diphtheria has been reported in the former USSR, including the northwestern part of Russia. In order to elucidate the potential of an epidemic spread across the Norwegian-Russian border, a seroepidemiological study was performed. A total of 470 sera, 243 from Finnmark, Norway, and 227 from Arkhangelsk, Russia, were examined for antibodies against diphtheria toxin, using an in vitro toxin neutralisation method. No statistically significant difference in the presence of diphtheria antitoxin between the Norwegian and the Russian populations was found. The presence of neutralising antibodies decreased by age, and this decrease was most pronounced among the Russians. Individuals aged 40 to 70 years, and Norwegian women in particular, seem to have an increased risk for diphtheria as judged by the diphtheria antitoxin levels.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

[The extent of HIV testing in the Norwegian population seen in relation to sex behavior].

To estimate the incidence of clinical HIV-testing and the association between testing and sexual habits, data from a 1992 population-based, anonymous survey of sexual behaviour were analysed. The sample size was 10,000 subjects between 18 and 60 years of age and the response rate was 48%. 15% of the males and 13% of the females reported having been HIV-tested at least once during the period 1985-92, and 1% of the sample four times or more. The incidence of testing has increased. However, a decrease in first time testing was observed after 1990. The best predictors of HIV-testing are the partner's test behaviour and the number of sexual partners during a lifetime.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

PubMed1994

[Risk of AIDS in the Oslo HIV-cohort study. A comparison between homosexual men, intravenous addicts and heterosexual persons].

In order to study differences in risk of the development of AIDS in different groups of HIV infected subjects, 151 homosexual men, 110 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) and 36 heterosexually infected persons without major signs of HIV infection at entry to the study were enrolled in a cohort study. The mean follow-up time was 35 months. At the end of follow-up 40 subjects (13%) were diagnosed as having AIDS. This represented 20% (31/151) of the homosexual men, 7% (8/110) of the IVDUs and 3% (1/36) of the heterosexual subjects. The probability of being AIDS-free 36 months after entering the study was 0.88 (0.84-0.92, 95% CI) for the total study population, 0.83 (0.77-0.90) for the homosexual men, 0.92 (0.86-0.99) for IVDUs and 0.93 (0.91-1.0) for heterosexual subjects (p < 0.05, log rank test). In a Cox regression analysis, adjusting for CD4+ cell count at study entry, the relative risk of AIDS progression was 2.4 (1.1-5.2) for homosexual men and 0.3 (0.04-2.4) for heterosexual subjects, compared with IVDUs. The results demonstrate a higher risk of AIDS for homosexual men during the follow-up period.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1994

[Mass vaccination against tuberculosis--is it necessary in Norway?].

The benefit of the BCG mass-vaccination program has not been widely questioned in Norway, ever though corresponding programmes have been discontinued in Sweden and Denmark. Today, the risk of becoming infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis is very low in Norway, and effective treatment is available. However, it is uncertain how Norway will be affected by the increasing incidence of tuberculosis in other countries. The efficacy of the BCG-vaccine is controversial, and widespread use of the vaccine makes it impossible to use the Pirquet-test as a tool in diagnosis. It is necessary to evaluate the BCG-program critically. Better education of physicians in diagnostic and preventive measures may be a more appropriate way of controlling tuberculosis than mass-vaccination.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Slow progression to AIDS in intravenous drug users infected with HIV in Norway.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To study the rate of progression to AIDS and to death, and the causes of death among intravenous drug users in Norway. DESIGN: This was a prospective study. The study population was followed from diagnosis of HIV seropositivity until death or the end of the study period. The mean follow up was 56 months (range 1-73 months). SETTING: Subjects were recruited from a public HIV test clinic and followed by linkage to the National AIDS Registry and the National Cause of Death Registry. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 131 HIV positive intravenous drug users were included. The study population represented 75% of all intravenous drug users who had been diagnosed as HIV positive in Norway before 1987. None were lost to follow up. MAIN RESULTS: Four years after study entry, 3% (95% confidence interval, 0, 6%) had developed AIDS, while 15% (95% CI, 9, 21%) had died. Of the 25 subjects who died during the follow up period, 21 died from unnatural causes. Drug overdose accounted for 17 of these deaths. AIDS was the cause of death of three subjects only. Age more than 30 years at entry to the study was associated with short survival. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the progression rate to AIDS in intravenous drug users is slow.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1994

Cigarette smoking and drinking of alcohol are not associated with rapid progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome among homosexual men in Norway.

In order to study the influence of cigarette smoking and drinking of alcohol on the progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), eighty HIV infected homosexual men were included in a prospective study from the date of diagnosed HIV seropositivity. Two men were lost to follow-up. The mean follow-up time was 62 months. By the end of the follow-up period 26 out of 78 subjects (33%) were diagnosed with AIDS. When controlling for age, year of HIV diagnosis, number of male lifetime partners and frequency of receptive anal intercourse, the adjusted relative risk of being diagnosed with AIDS for the group smoking 1-20 cigarettes daily was 0.4 (0.2-1.2, 95% confidence interval) and 1.1 (0.4-2.7, 95% confidence interval) for the group smoking more than 20 cigarettes daily, as opposed to the non-smoking group. The adjusted relative risk of progression to AIDS for daily alcohol drinkers as opposed to less frequent drinkers was 0.8 (0.3-2.2, 95% confidence interval). The adjusted relative risks of receptive anal intercourse often or usually and more than 500 lifetime male partners were 2.2 and 2.0, respectively. These estimates, however, were not significantly above 1.0. The lack of positive association between cigarette smoking, drinking of alcohol and progression to AIDS found in this study as well as in other studies, may have implication for the understanding of the pathogenesis of the HIV disease and for counselling HIV infected subjects.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1994

A comparison of the progression rate to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome between intravenous drug users and homosexual men.

In order to study differences in progression to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) between risk groups, 205 homosexual men and 185 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) were followed from diagnosed seropositivity for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 (HIV) for a mean period of 46 months (range 1-88 months). Seven (4%) IVDUs and 55 homosexual men (27%) were diagnosed with AIDS during the follow-up period. The probability of being AIDS-free four years after diagnosed HIV positivity was 0.96 for IVDUs (SE 0.02) and 0.73 (SE 0.04) for homosexual men (p < 0.001, log rank test). When controlling for age and gender, the relative risk of AIDS progression for homosexual men was 9.1 (3.5-24.1, 95% confidence interval) as compared with IVDUs. Even when 24 months of follow-up time without progression were added for all homosexual men, assuming that the epidemic started two years earlier in this group, the relative risk of progression was 5.4 (2.1-14.4, 95% confidence interval) for homosexual men.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1993

[Mortality and causes of death among intravenous drug addicts in Oslo].

In order to study mortality and causes of death among intravenous drug users in Oslo, 1,009 (829 HIV negative and 180 HIV positive) intravenous drug users were followed from their first HIV test for a mean period of 36 months (range 1-67 months). 87 (55 HIV negatives and 32 HIV positives) died during the follow-up period. Compared with the general population with the same age and sex distribution, the relative risk of death for the intravenous drug users was 31. 4% of the HIV negatives (38/829) and 11% of the HIV positives (20/180) died from drug overdose during the follow-up period. 2% of the HIV positives and 0.4% of the total cohort (4/1,009) died from AIDS. Drug overdose represented the major threat to life among intravenous drug users in this study. Due to the dynamic of the HIV epidemic, AIDS may gain an increasing impact on mortality. However, in order to forecast the number of AIDS cases among intravenous drug users, it is necessary to control for the high non-AIDS related mortality.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1993

Differences in mortality rates and causes of death between HIV positive and HIV negative intravenous drug users.

In order to study differences in mortality and causes of death between HIV positive and HIV negative intravenous drug users (IVDU), 1009 (180 HIV positive and 829 HIV negative) IVDU in Oslo, Norway, were followed from their first HIV test for a mean period of 36 months (range 1-67 months). Eighty-seven (55 HIV negatives and 32 HIV positives) died during the follow-up period. The risk of death for IVDU was 31 times higher than for the general population. The estimated probability of survival after 3 years of follow-up was 0.92 for the whole cohort, 0.93 for the HIV negative group and 0.87 for the HIV positive group (P < 0.001, log rank test). In a Cox regression analysis, HIV positivity, > 30 years of age and > 5 years of IV drug use prior to study entry were all significantly associated with a fatal outcome. Eleven per cent (n = 20) of the HIV positives and 4% (n = 38) of the HIV negatives died from drug overdose, which accounted for 68% of all deaths; 2.2% of the HIV positives and 0.4% (n = 4) of the total cohort died from AIDS. Drug overdose represented the major threat to life among IVDU in this study. Because of the dynamics of the HIV epidemic, AIDS may have an increasing impact on mortality. However, in order to forecast the number of AIDS cases among IVDU the high non-AIDS mortality must be controlled for.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Asymptomatic subjects at HIV diagnosis have prolonged survival as AIDS patients.

The median AIDS survival for all AIDS patients was estimated as 11 months (95% confidence interval (Cl): 8-13 months). For the group of AIDS patients who were asymptomatic when HIV seropositivity was established, the median AIDS survival was 20 months (95% Cl: 13-23 months). For the group with symptomatic HIV infection or those who already had AIDS when HIV seropositivity was established, survival was estimated to 5 months (95% Cl: 1-15 months) and 4.5 months (95% Cl: 2-8 months), respectively. By using a Cox proportional hazard model it was found that being asymptomatic when HIV seropositivity was established or having Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia as the initial AIDS-related disease were associated with long AIDS survival. Being HIV infected by transfusion was associated with short survival. Long AIDS survival in the asymptomatic group may be explained by a positive selection of slow disease progressors. Differences in diagnostic routines may also cause systematic differences in the estimated AIDS survival.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1992

Hepatitis B antibodies in HIV-infected homosexual men are associated with more rapid progression to AIDS.

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of previous or present hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection on HIV disease progression. DESIGN: A prospective study of HIV-positive individuals from HIV diagnosis to diagnosis of AIDS or to the end of the follow-up period on 1 January 1991. Mean follow-up time was 62 months. SETTING: The study population was recruited from a primary health-care clinic for homosexual men and followed by linkage to the National AIDS Registry. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Of 876 individuals who were tested for HIV, 80 were HIV-positive and included for study. Two individuals were lost to follow-up. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in progression rates to AIDS according to HBV status at study entry. RESULTS: The adjusted relative risk of progression to AIDS for the 48 subjects who were HBV-antibody-positive at study entry was 3.6 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.3-10.1]. A high frequency of receptive anal intercourse was also associated with more rapid HIV disease progression; adjusted relative risk 2.6 (95% CI, 1.1-5.9). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that presence of HBV antibodies is associated with more rapid HIV-disease progression.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1990

Survival of AIDS patients in Norway.

The survival function of the 100 first AIDS patients in Norway is presented and analyzed with respect to four factors obtained at the time of diagnosis; a) year of diagnosis b) initial AIDS related disease c) knowledge of HIV seropositivity prior to onset of AIDS and d) age at time of diagnosis. The median survival was 9.3 months. Among the known seropositive AIDS patients there were almost twice as many with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia as initial AIDS related disease, as among the not known seropositives (relative risk 1.8). With Cox regression analysis we found that known seropositivity and age are factors that appear to influence survival, whereas year of diagnosis and initial AIDS related disease apparently do not. The mechanism whereby prior knowledge of HIV seropositivity leads to apparent increase in survival may be due to better follow-up and thereby an earlier date of diagnosis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1989