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Biomedical subjects

B Brorsson

Publications and source records attributed to B Brorsson.

52 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

The AIDS epidemic in Sweden: estimates of costs, 1986, 1987 and 1990.

This study calculates the cost of medical care during the different stages of HIV infection, from the asymptomatic period to a confirmed AIDS diagnosis. Also, we have estimated the total cost of taking specimens and performing tests related to HIV infection, and the cost of information, research, etc. Medical costs were based on estimates of the average cost per day and the total number of days at the various stages of HIV infection. The cost estimates for testing include costs related to taking specimens, analysing samples, managing test results, etc. The cost outlook until 1990 is discussed using different assumptions concerning incidence, survival and the level of preventive efforts. The total estimated costs for medical care, HIV tests, information, etc. doubled between 1986 and 1987. During 1987, costs totaled 313 million Swedish kronor (SEK). The costs for specimens and tests totaled SEK 124 million, medical costs for HIV positives who had not developed AIDS totaled SEK 31 million, and medical costs for AIDS patients totaled SEK 26 million. The costs discussed in this study will probably increase by at least 50% by 1990.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1989

The risk of accidents among older drivers.

The number of older persons holding a driver's license is rapidly increasing, as is the number of older persons driving a car. This paper examines driver accident risk by age group, focusing on the older driver. Two different measures of accident risk are used; involvement in personal injury traffic accidents per million kilometers driven, and involvement in traffic accidents where one or more pedestrians were injured per million kilometers driven. The latter measure is used to refute the assumption that the elderly's risk of being involved in personal injury accidents might, to some extent, be explained by the fact that older drivers generally tend to run a higher risk than younger drivers of being injured in the event of a traffic accident. Another motive is that it provides a measure of the extent to which drivers of different ages present a risk to their fellow road users. This study shows that drivers in the 75-84 age group are at four to six times greater risk than are middle-aged drivers of being involved in personal injury traffic accidents.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1989

Age and injury severity.

This study aims at showing if and to what extent injury severity in frontal car crashes increases with the age of front seat occupants. Data on 2658 belted drivers and front seat passengers in Volvo private car series 140, 240 and 740/760, involved in frontal crashes were extracted from the Volvo Car Crash Register. The results show that the risk of injury resulting in "medical observation" does not increase systematically with age. However, the risk of fracture with any localization is more than three times higher among those aged 65-74 than in those aged 18-24, and the risk of fracture in the rib cage is nearly eleven times higher among the older than in the younger age group. It can be concluded that the incidence of specific types of injuries - as exemplified with fractures of any localization and fractures in the rib cage - increases with advancing age.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1988

Injuries from single-vehicle crashes and snow depth.

Swedish official statistics on road traffic accidents shows a remarkable variability among different winter seasons in single-vehicle crashes resulting in personal injuries--one of the major causes of personal injury in road traffic. This study presents results from analyses investigating the role played by snow as an injury-reducing factor. The regression model specified implies, when applied to Swedish data, that an increase in snow depth by 1 cm--for snow depths less than 40 centimetres--reduces the number of crashes with occupant injury by 3%. This finding has implications for assessing trends in traffic safety through the use of routine statistics on motor vehicle occupant injuries and also shows that roadside design is a decisive factor in the generation of injury to the individual in single-vehicle crashes.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1988

The AIDS epidemic in Sweden: changes in awareness, attitudes and behavior.

Questionnaire surveys concerning awareness, attitudes and beliefs about HIV virus and AIDS in Sweden were conducted in March/April of 1986, February/March of 1987, and May 1987. The number of individuals compared in the three surveys were 2,622, 1,805 and 707 respectively. The surveys indicate that the general public views the AIDS epidemic with growing concern. They feel that researchers and public officials cannot effectively combat the problem. To a growing extent they feel that it is up to individuals to appropriately adapt their behavior if we are to slow the spread of the disease, and to a certain extent changes in sexual practices also seem to have happened. Changes in awareness, attitudes and beliefs have accelerated since the start in March, 1987 of the Swedish AIDS information campaign.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1985

Motorcycle fatalities in Sweden.

An analysis has been made of 129 motorcycle fatalities, 119 men and 10 women, who were killed in 125 accidents during 1979-1981. Sixty-seven of the 125 drivers were teenagers. Twenty-seven drivers had no licence. Ninety-nine riders were killed on sections of roads with a speed limit of 70 km/h or less. More than half of the decreased died in collisions with other vehicles. Eight lost their lives in accidents where an animal, in seven cases a moose, was involved, and six people died in wobbling accidents. The injuries were often multiple and serious, most of the riders died of head or cervical spine injuries (73) or of chest injuries (44). Altogether, 30 riders died in accidents in which people who were under the influence of alcohol were involved. Raising the minimum driving age, minimizing the possibility of illicit driving and elimination of such roadside hazards as poles and trees would reduce the fatality rate.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1984

Katz index of independence in ADL. Reliability and validity in short-term care.

This article deals with the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living and presents a study of its reliability and validity carried out at a Department of Internal Medicine in Sweden. Enrolled nurses assessed independently 100 aged patients. Scalability and interobserver variability were tested with Guttman scale-analysis. The results indicated that the activities are ranked according to a cumulative scale and that the index is reliable. Patients independent in ADL had shorter hospitalization and were discharged home more often than were the dependent patients. This indicates that the scale is valid. One year later most dependent patients were either dead or living in institutions: thus the index has a predictive potential. The systematic errors of scale were used to refine the index for use in short-term care. It is recommended as a basic measure of functional ability among aged abled or disabled patients also in short-term care.

Activities of Daily Living↗