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A H Andreasen

Publications and source records attributed to A H Andreasen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Changes in patient weight and the impact of antidiabetic therapy during the first 5 years after diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: It is generally thought difficult for type 2 diabetic patients to lose weight. We monitored changes in patients' weight during the first 5 years after diabetes diagnosis in relation to initiation of antidiabetic treatment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data from 711 newly diagnosed diabetic patients aged 40 or over were analysed with a random-effect linear-regression model. Patients were included consecutively from a well-defined patient list in general practice. RESULTS: In 245 patients whose only treatment was advice on diet, an initial weight loss of 6 to 7 kg was largely maintained over 5 years. Patients receiving metformin (n=86) or sulfonylureas (n=330) maintained an average weight loss of 2 to 4 kg that was dependent on age and sex. Patients' weight did not change on initiation of treatment with sulfonylureas or metformin. Over 5 years, median HbA(1c) increased from 7.0 to 7.8% (reference range 5.4-7.4%) in the diet-alone group. HbA(1c) was approximately 1 percentage point higher for most of the other treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: In newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients, long-term weight loss was common and weight loss was not affected by sulfonylurea treatment. The measurements in the study are taken from treatment results achieved in the general population of diabetic patients, who are rarely treated in secondary care and seldom the subject of research; the results thus indicate that weight reduction is a practicable treatment in diabetic patients.

Age Factors↗

Factors associated with glycaemic outcome of childhood diabetes care in Denmark.

AIMS: To study how structure and process of care is associated with outcome assessed by HbA(1c). METHODS: Data for this cross-sectional study originated from the nationwide Danish Registry for Childhood Diabetes and two questionnaires. One questionnaire was sent to all children under 16 years of age with Type 1 diabetes in the year 2000 (N = 1087, response rate 80%). Another questionnaire was sent to the 19 centres in Denmark treating these children (response rate 100%). Simultaneously the children were asked to take a blood sample for central HbA(1c) analysis. Linear mixed models were used for analysis of associations between structure and process indicators and HbA(1c). Age, diabetes duration, sex, ethnicity, family structure and parents' occupational status were included as patient factors possibly affecting HbA(1c). RESULTS: More visits to the outpatient clinic and higher insulin dosage were significantly associated with higher HbA(1c) (P = 0.002 and P = 0.0001, respectively). Increased frequency of blood glucose monitoring (BGM/week) and completed nephropathy screening were significantly associated with lower HbA(1c) value (estimates -0.008 and -0.49, P = 0.02, respectively). The structure indicators were not associated with HbA(1c), but telephone hot-line was positively associated with the process indicator BGM (estimate 4.02, P = 0.04). Children without Danish parents performed BGM significantly less frequently (-7.11, P = 0.0005) and had higher HbA(1c) (0.41, P = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Most process indicators were significantly associated with HbA(1c), indicating relevant action of staff on glucose regulation. The structure indicators were not associated with outcome, necessitating more detailed studies on the influence of staffing resources, treatment strategies and targets in childhood diabetes management.

Adolescent↗

Peripheral vascular disease is associated with reduced glycosuria in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVES: We examined whether the finding of glycosuria and its level in themselves give information of clinical relevance, apart from being an unreliable indicator of glycemic control. METHODS: Subjects were a population-based sample of 1,284 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetic patients. Median age was 65.2 years. Urinary glucose concentration (UGC) was determined quantitatively in a freshly voided morning urine specimen. RESULTS: The over-all prevalence of peripheral vascular disease (PVD) was 16.5%. Bivariately, high values of UGC were associated with low prevalence of PVD (p<0.001, chi2-test). The predictive value of PVD--together with HbA1c, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and 10 other possible predictors--was confirmed in a logistic regression analysis with glycosuria (Y/N) as outcome variable (p=0.0004). CONCLUSION: Surprisingly, type 2 diabetic patients with PVD tend not to have glycosuria as compared to patients without PVD. PVD may be indicative of generalized atherosclerotic lesions in the major vessels, including the renal arteries. This could lead to a lowering of GFR and thereby of the amount of glucose filtered. Assuming no, or only a minor direct effect of PVD on tubular function, this would lead to an increased renal threshold for glucose in patients with PVD.

Aged↗

Taking cognizance of mental illness in schizophrenics and its association with crime and substance-related diagnoses.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse how committed crimes and substance-related diagnoses are associated with the age on the first contact with the psychiatric hospital system and the age at diagnosing of schizophrenia among schizophrenics. METHOD: In a register-based study including all Danes diagnosed with schizophrenia born after November 1, 1963, data on criminality, substance-related diagnoses and contacts with the psychiatric hospital system were analysed. RESULTS: Compared with the non-convicted schizophrenics the convicted were older on first contact with the psychiatric hospital system and older when the diagnosis of schizophrenia was first given. In contrast, having a substance-related diagnosis was associated with a younger age on first contact but did not influence the age at which the diagnosis of schizophrenia was given. CONCLUSION: It is important that both psychiatrists and the judicial system are aware of possible psychotic symptoms in criminal and abusing individuals to enable earlier detection and treatment.

Adult↗

Quality of diabetes management in children and adolescents in Denmark.

AIM: To describe the management of children and adolescents with Type 1 diabetes mellitus in Denmark. METHODS: Quality indicators with standards of childhood diabetes management were chosen based on international and national guidelines. Data originated from the nation-wide Danish Registry for Childhood Diabetes and two questionnaires: one questionnaire was sent to all children with diabetes (response rate 78%, n=1335) and the other was sent to the 19 centres in Denmark treating these children (response rate 100%). Simultaneously, the children were asked to take a blood sample for central HbA1c-analysis (normal range 4.3-5.8, mean 5.1%). RESULTS: Most children were managed at centres which complied with the standards for the process indicators for good diabetes management, but not with the standards for most structure and outcome indicators. Only one third of the children reached the treatment target for HbA1c. Their mean HbA1c-level increased gradually from ages 4-14 without significant difference between genders. The youngest children had the lowest HbA1c (mean 8.2%) and the lowest rate of severe hypoglycaemic events (4.6 events per 100 patient years). The subgroup of children without any hypoglycaemic events had the significantly lowest mean HbA1c-level (8.6%, P=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: The Danish Registry for Childhood Diabetes provided useful data for quality improvement, but had to be supplemented with data from questionnaires on the structure and process indicators. Outcome of paediatric diabetes management in Denmark was unsatisfactory. Centres need feedback on ways to improve care to lower the children's risk of developing severe diabetes complications.

Adolescent↗

Assessment of habitual energy and macronutrient intake in adults: comparison of a seven day food record with a dietary history interview.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the quantitative agreement between a 7 day food record and a diet history interview when these are conducted under the same conditions and to evaluate whether the two methods assess habitual diet intake differently among subgroups of age and body mass index (BMI). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Population study, Denmark. SUBJECTS: A total of 175 men and 173 women aged 30-60 y, selected randomly from a larger population sample of Danish adults. INTERVENTIONS: All subjects had habitual diet intake assessed by a diet history interview and completed a 7 day food record within 3 weeks following the interview. The diet history interview and coding of records were performed by the same trained dietician. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Median between-method difference in assessment of total energy intake, absolute intake of macronutrients, and nutrient energy percentages. Difference between reported energy intake from both methods and estimated energy expenditure in different subgroups. RESULTS: Energy and macronutrient intake was assessed slightly higher by the 7 day food record than by the diet history interview, but in absolute terms the differences were negligible. The between-method difference in assessment of total energy intake appeared to be stable over the range of age and BMI in both sexes. As compared to estimated total energy expenditure, both diet assessment methods underestimated energy intake by approximately 20%. For both methods the under-reporting increased by BMI in both sexes and by age in men. CONCLUSIONS: Energy and macronutrient intake data collected under even conditions by either a 7 day food record or a diet history interview may be collapsed and analysed independent of the underlying diet method. Both diet methods, however, appear to underestimate energy intake dependent on age and BMI. SPONSORSHIP: Danish Medical Research Council, the FREJA programme.

Adult↗

[Randomized controlled trial of structured, individualized treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The project of Diabetes Care in General Practice].

INTRODUCTION: We assessed the effect of a multifaceted intervention directed at general practitioners to improve type 2 diabetes care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred and eleven Danish practices with 474 general practitioners were randomised to structured personal care (intervention group) or routine care (comparison group). Of 970 surviving patients (aged 40+ years) diagnosed with diabetes in 1989-1991, 874 (90.1%) were assessed after 6 years. Intervention comprised regular follow-up and individualized goal-setting, supported by reminders to doctors, clinical guidelines, feed-back, and continuing medical education. RESULTS: Predefined non-fatal outcomes and mortality were the same in both groups. The following risk factor levels were lower in the intervention patients than in the comparison patients: fasting plasma glucose (7.9 vs 8.7 mmol/l, medians, P = 0.0007), haemoglobin A1c (8.5 vs 9.0%, P < 0.0001, normal range 5.4-7.4%), systolic blood pressure (145 vs 150 mmHg, P = 0.0004), and cholesterols (6.0 vs 6.1 mmol/l, P = 0.029, baseline-adjusted). Both groups had sustained a weight loss since diagnosis (2.6 vs 2.0 kg). Metformin was the only drug used more frequently in the intervention group (24 vs 15%). Intervention doctors arranged more follow-up consultations, referred fewer patients to diabetes clinics, and were more optimistic in their goal-setting. DISCUSSION: In primary care, individualized goal-setting with educational and surveillance support may for at least six years bring risk factors of patients with type 2 diabetes to a level that in other trials has been shown to reduce diabetic complications, but without adverse weight gain.

Denmark↗

Randomised controlled trial of structured personal care of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of a multifaceted intervention directed at general practitioners on six year mortality, morbidity, and risk factors of patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: Pragmatic, open, controlled trial with randomisation of practices to structured personal care or routine care; analysis after 6 years. SETTING: 311 Danish practices with 474 general practitioners (243 in intervention group and 231 in comparison group). PARTICIPANTS: 874 (90.1%) of 970 patients aged >/=40 years who had diabetes diagnosed in 1989-91 and survived until six year follow up. INTERVENTION: Regular follow up and individualised goal setting supported by prompting of doctors, clinical guidelines, feedback, and continuing medical education. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Predefined clinical non-fatal outcomes, overall mortality, risk factors, and weight. RESULTS: Predefined non-fatal outcomes and mortality were the same in both groups. The following risk factor levels were lower for intervention patients than for comparison patients (median values): fasting plasma glucose concentration (7.9 v 8.7 mmol/l, P=0.0007), glycated haemoglobin (8.5% v 9.0%, P<0.0001; reference range 5.4-7.4%), systolic blood pressure (145 v 150 mm Hg, P=0.0004), and cholesterol concentration (6.0 v 6.1 mmol/l, P=0.029, adjusted for baseline concentration). Both groups had lost weight since diagnosis (2.6 v 2.0 kg). Metformin was the only drug used more frequently in the intervention group (24% (110/459) v 15% (61/415)). Intervention doctors arranged more follow up consultations, referred fewer patients to diabetes clinics, and set more optimistic goals. CONCLUSIONS: In primary care, individualised goals with educational and surveillance support may for at least six years bring risk factors of patients with type 2 diabetes to a level that has been shown to reduce diabetic complications but without weight gain.

Age Factors↗

Diabetic retinopathy in newly diagnosed middle-aged and elderly diabetic patients. Prevalence and interrelationship with microalbuminuria and triglycerides.

BACKGROUND: The exact role of factors such as serum lipids, body mass index and (micro-)albuminuria as possible determinants of diabetic retinopathy remains to be determined. We have scrutinized the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and its concomitants in terms of risk factors and other diabetic complications in newly diagnosed diabetic patients. METHODS: A population-based sample of 1,251 newly diagnosed diabetic patients aged 40 years or over was established in general practice. Median age was 65.3 years. Funduscopy was performed by practising ophthalmologists. Blood and urine analyses were centralised. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was 5.0%. Only three patients had proliferative diabetic retinopathy. As expected, diabetic retinopathy and renal involvement, as expressed by the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio. were strongly positively associated. An intriguing finding was that of an inverse relationship between fasting triglycerides and diabetic retinopathy, an association that proved to be confined to microalbuminuric patients. An inverse association between body mass index and diabetic retinopathy was found only univariately. CONCLUSION: The low prevalence of diabetic retinopathy cannot be explained by the screening method alone, but rather by early detection of diabetes in a non-selective patient sample. It seems that renal involvement modifies the expected relationship between diabetic retinopathy and triglycerides, but a pathophysiological mechanism is not available.

Aged↗

Renal involvement is related to body height in newly diagnosed diabetic women aged 40 years or over.

We scrutinized the relation between body height and renal involvement in a large population-based sample of newly diagnosed diabetic patients aged 40 years or over. The urinary albumin concentration (UAC) was measured in freshly voided morning urine in 1,284 newly diagnosed diabetic patients. The course of insulin treatment showed that at least 97.6% of the patients could be regarded as Type 2 diabetic. Linear regression analyses were done with log UAC as dependent variable, and height, age, HbA1c, smoking habits, education, occupation, body weight and systolic blood pressure as independent variables. Median age was 65.3 years. In bivariate analyses UAC increased with decreasing height for women (R (S) =- 0.090, p =0.028), but not for men (R (S) =- 0.049, p =0.20). After backwards elimination in the regression models, height remained in the model for women only (p =0.041). Our finding of a relationship between short stature and renal involvement in Type 2 diabetic female patients adds to existing evidence from studies with non-diabetic and Type 1 diabetic subjects.

Adult↗

[Five-year survival in persons aged 40 years or over with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus].

The five- to six-year all-cause mortality is analysed in 1323 newly diagnosed diabetic patients aged 40 years or over. The median age at diagnosis is lower for males (63.6 years) than for females (67.5 years), but more males (24.7%) than females (20.0%) have died (p = 0.04). This male excess mortality can mainly be attributed to the 60-79-year old males. With increasing diabetes duration both male and female diabetic patients exhibit an increasing excess mortality in comparison with the Danish population. For males this excess mortality becomes statistically significant four years after diagnosis for the 40-59 year-olds and after six years for the 60-79 year-olds. For females and very old males no statistically significant excess mortality is observed, but after two to four years there is a tendency for the survival curve of 40-79-year old females to separate from that of the Danish female population to show an excess mortality. In this population-based study the disadvantageous mortality experience of even newly-diagnosed diabetic patients is clearly demonstrated.

Aged↗

Accuracy of 1-, 5- and 10-year body weight recall given in a standard questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: Estimation of the accuracy of 1, 5 and 10 y body weight recall. DESIGN: Comparison of information on body weight history from a patient questionnaire with measured body weights retrieved in general practitioners' records. SUBJECTS: Among 729 newly diagnosed diabetic patients record information on measured body weight was found for 86, 141 and 122 patients recalling their body weight 1,5 and 10 y ago, respectively. Median age was 63.6 y. Median body mass index was 31.1 kg/m2. RESULTS: No average deviation between 1 y body weight recall and the corresponding measured weights is observed, but 5 and 10 y recall underestimates the measured weights by 1.89 kg and 1.98 kg on an average, respectively. On the individual level the agreement is less satisfactory with increasing variability the further back in time you go. The recall does not vary with age and sex and it is independent of weight status, marital status, smoking habits and self-reported health status in this obese group of individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that data from three standard questions may contribute with useful information on near weight history, independent of age, sex and current body weight.

Adult↗

Day-of-the-week effect on doctors' response to a postal questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: To test a possible day-of-the-week effect on doctors' response rate to a postal questionnaire. DESIGN: Dispatch of postal questionnaire randomized to Thursday or Saturday. SETTING: A nationwide survey on doctors' attitudes. SUBJECTS: 200 general practitioners and 260 practising specialists/consultants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Response rate and Kaplan-Meier survival curve for no-response. RESULTS: The probability of response was not influenced by receiving the questionnaire just before or just after a week-end. CONCLUSION: Response rates in postal surveys sent to doctors cannot be improved by their receiving the questionnaire just before a week-end.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

[Improved prognosis of breast cancer].

The trend in the prognosis of female patients with breast cancer has been investigated by comparing Kaplan-Meier survival curves of different patient cohorts diagnosed during the period 1948-87. The study is based on 71,448 patients from the Danish Cancer Registry. The cohorts were defined by age at diagnosis, year of diagnosis and residential area. The survival time from diagnosis to death nearly doubled from 1948-57 to 1978-87 with the most important improvement taking place after 1978. Patients diagnosed in 1948-77 in the Copenhagen area had a far better prognosis than patients during this period in the rest of the country. For patients diagnosed in 1978-87 the prognosis, however, reached an equal level in all parts of the country. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that the national programme introduced in 1977 by the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group (DBCG) has played an important role in these improvements.

Adult↗

[Mammographic examinations in Denmark, 1990-1991].

Diagnostic mammographic activity was studied in five regions in Denmark in 1990-1991. During this period there was only one organized mammography screening programme which started in the Copenhagen municipality on 1 April 1991. It is estimated that 49,000 diagnostic mammographic examinations were made in Denmark per year in the period 1990-1991. Almost two-thirds of these mammograms were taken in women below 50 years of age. It is important to monitor the diagnostic mammographic activity to ensure that this does not gradually develop into a screening activity. This is in particular important for women below 50 years for whom screening is not recommended.

Adult↗

Regional trends in breast cancer incidence and mortality in Denmark prior to mammographic screening.

To provide a basis for the evaluation of mammographic screening programmes in Denmark, a study was undertaken of the regional differences in breast cancer incidence and mortality. All 16 regions were followed for the 20 year period, 1970-89, before the start of the first population-based mammographic screening programme in the Copenhagen municipality in 1991. Multiplicative Poisson models were used for the analysis. In general, the incidence increased during this period from 55 to 70 [per 100,000 standardised world standard population (WSP)], and the analysis shows this to be most pronounced among women below age 60. The mortality was more stable, changing only from 24 to 28 (per 100,000 standardised WSP), but a significant increase occurred in the late 1980s. The study showed regional differences in both incidence and mortality of breast cancer in Denmark. Both the incidence and the mortality varied between the regions, with maximum differences of 22%. The analysis showed no variation in the time trends in the different regions, and thus indicates that the use of a regional comparison group would be a valid basis for evaluation of the Copenhagen programme. Our study, however, underlies the difficulties inherent in the evaluation of screening programmes without internal control groups.

Adolescent↗

Equity and improvement in outcome of breast cancer in Denmark.

The trend in the prognosis for female breast cancer patients was investigated by comparing Kaplan-Meier survival curves of different patient cohorts diagnosed during the period 1948-87. The study is based on 71,448 patients from the Danish Cancer Registry. The cohorts were defined by age at diagnosis, year of diagnosis, and residential area. The survival time from diagnosis nearly doubled from 1948-57 to 1978-87, the most important improvement taking place after 1978. Patients diagnosed in 1948-77 in the Copenhagen area had a far better prognosis than patients diagnosed during this period in other parts of Denmark. For patients diagnosed in 1978-87 the prognosis, however, reached an equal level in all parts of the country. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that the national programme introduced in 1977 by the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group (DBCG) has played an important role and not only brought about therapeutic improvements in breast cancer treatment in Denmark, but also ensured equity in the outcome on a national scale.

Adult↗