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Biomedical subjects

C Bengtsson

Publications and source records attributed to C Bengtsson.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Methylmercury and inorganic mercury in serum--correlation to fish consumption and dental amalgam in a cohort of women born in 1922.

Methylmercury in serum (S-MeHg) was assessed from serum concentrations of total (S-TotHg) and inorganic mercury (S-InoHg), determined by cold vapor-atomic absorption spectrometry. The samples were collected from 135 women on two occasions, in 1968-1969 and 1980-1981. In a subgroup of 29 women, an association was found between S-MeHg and the amount of fish consumed in 1968-1969 (r = 0.38, P = 0.04). The association was stronger (r = 0.50; P = 0.006) when the individuals' mean S-MeHg from 1968-1969 and 1980-1981 were plotted vs fish consumption 1968-1969. In the group, as a whole, there was an association between S-InoHg and number of dental amalgam surfaces, in both 1968-1969 (r = 0.48, P = 0.0001) and 1980-1981 (r = 0.57, P < 0.0001). The S-InoHg increased by approximately 0.1 nmol/L per amalgam tooth surface, corresponding to an uptake of approximately 0.2 microgram/day per amalgam surface, but with considerable interindividual differences. The levels were lower in 1980-1981 than in 1968-1969 for both MeHg and InoHg. The medians and ranges (nmol/L) were for MeHg 1968-1969: 3.6 (0.3-11.9); MeHg 1980-1981, 2.0 (-0.4-8.7); InoHg 1968-1969, 3.3 (0.7-11.8); InoHg 1980-1981, 1.7 (0.1-11.8); TotHg 1968-1969, 7.2 (1.9-18.8); and TotHg 1980-1981, 3.9 (1.0-14.2). The decrease in S-MeHg is probably due to a decreased consumption of MeHg via contaminated fish. The decrease in S-InoHg 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.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

The Swedish SF-36 Health Survey II. Evaluation of clinical validity: results from population studies of elderly and women in Gothenborg.

The validity of the Swedish SF-36 Health Survey was examined, replicating techniques used in the U.S. validation. Principal components analysis was used to test the internal structure of the eight SF-36 scales in relation to hypothesized associations with the two major dimensions of health--physical and mental. Hypothesized relationships between scales and external criteria were also examined by means of clinical group contrasts. Both the principal components analysis and clinical group contrasts largely replicated U.S. findings, which supported the cross-cultural stability of the SF-36 in Sweden. As expected, the Physical Functioning and Mental Health scales were most sensitive to clinical manifestations of medical and mental health, respectively. The General Health scale was associated more with physical than mental health. However, the Social Functioning scale and particularly the Vitality scale were more related to mental health in Sweden than in the corresponding U.S. study. Cultural differences and variation in study samples and selection criteria were suggested as possible explanatory factors for these differences.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Secular increases in waist-hip ratio among Swedish women.

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.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Bacteriuria in a population sample of women: 24-year follow-up study. Results from the prospective population-based study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden.

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.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Focusing on the pregnancy test.

BACKGROUND: Due to high abortion rates in a low status area in Göteborg, Sweden, a study was performed focused on the pregnancy test. METHOD AND MATERIAL: The aim of the study was to facilitate the accessibility of contraceptive counseling offering immediate and extended family planning advice to women with negative pregnancy tests not wishing to become pregnant. There was also an ambition to better understand the lack or inconsistent use of contraceptives and decrease the rate of unwanted pregnancies, which could have an impact on the abortion rates. RESULTS: In an area with 5,200 women of fertile age immediate and extended family planning advice was offered by midwives to all women with no desire for pregnancy and negative pregnancy test results. During the six month data collection period in 1988-1989, 463 women received such a consultation, of whom 310 did not use any contraceptives at the time of the study. Several reasons, on different explanatory levels, for not using contraception were recognized. CONCLUSION: The abortion rate declined in the area, and this decline was observed two years earlier than for the rest of Göteborg. This decline, together with the information on contraception behavior received, may indicate that this kind of approach could be successful.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1998

Life events, mood, mental strain and cardiovascular risk factors in Swedish middle-aged men. Data from the Swedish part of the Renault/Volvo Coeur Study.

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.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Cardiovascular risk during early adult life. Risk markers among participants in "Live for Life" health promotion programme in Sweden.

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.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[New height and weight standards for the middle aged and aged. Weight increases more than height].

This article presents new weight and height data collected during three large surveys of representative middle-aged and elderly men and women from Gothenburg in 1990-93. Based on these data, weight and height tables are provided as an aid in clinical evaluation. Additionally, weights and heights collected during previous examinations in the 1970s (Läkartidningen 1981; 78: 3152-4) make it possible to describe secular changes nearly two decades later. These comparative data suggest that height and weight have increased in both men and women. However, body weight has increased more than height, resulting in an increase in mean body mass index (RMI) in most groups, with the exception of 75-year old women.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Low-fat diets may prevent weight gain in sedentary women: prospective observations from the population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The Population Study of Women in Gothenburg, Sweden is an ongoing prospective study of female residents who were recruited from the local registry in 1968-1969 when they were 38-60 years old. The data presented here were collected from 361 healthy women who underwent a baseline physical examination including a supplementary dietary history interview and returned for a second general health examination 6 years later. This report identifies a subgroup of 57 women who were sedentary during their leisure time and appear to have been particularly susceptible to gaining weight as a function of the fat content of their diets. Specifically, longitudinal analysis of body weights in the whole sample revealed a statistical interaction between leisure-time physical activity and habitual dietary fat intake (energy%), as reported at the baseline examination, in the prediction of subsequent weight change. Further stratified analysis suggested that weight changes were significantly dependent on dietary fat intake among the sedentary women only. High energy intake also predicted weight gain in the sedentary group, although the predictive value for a high-fat diet was of marginal significance after adjusting for total energy consumption. These results suggest that sedentary recreational activity plus a low-fat diet may have a combined contribution to weight change that is not equivalent to the sum of the separate effects. Such a synergy between two modifiable lifestyle factors seems highly relevant for prevention of obesity.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Dietary intake in relation to restrained eating, disinhibition, and hunger in obese and nonobese Swedish women.

The aims of this study were to: describe dietary intakes of obese and nonobese middle-aged women using a validated food frequency questionnaire; to assess dietary restraint, disinhibition, and hunger by the three factor eating questionnaire (TFEQ) in obese and nonobese samples and determine which of the factors are independently associated with obesity; and to examine correlations between selected nutritional variables and the TFEQ factors. Subjects studied included 179 obese Swedish women (BMI > 32) and 147 nonobese population-based controls (BMI < 28). Age-adjusted mean energy intake was significantly higher in obese women (2730 +/- 78 vs. 2025 +/- 85 kcal, p < 0.0001). In absolute and relative terms, fat intake was higher and alcohol intake was lower in the obese subjects. Disinhibition was the strongest TFEQ factor independently differentiating the obese and nonobese states, i.e., after adjustment for restraint and hunger. Within the obese sample, strong associations were seen between energy intake and disinhibition (p = 0.0005) and hunger (p = 0.0004). The association between energy intake and restrained eating was negative and weaker (p = 0.04). No such associations were seen in nonobese women. Thus, using a dietary instrument that is valid and unbiased with respect to obesity, strong psychological correlates, possibly causal, of variability in energy intake were detected in middle-aged women with obesity. Disinhibition is associated with both obesity and high-energy intakes and is therefore an important factor to consider in the treatment of women with obesity.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Enalapril versus metoprolol in primary hypertension--effects on the glomerular filtration rate.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a significant cause of end-stage renal failure and effective treatment of hypertensive will reduce the progression rate of chronic renal failure in various kidney disorders. Different classes of drugs may be more effective than others in this respect. In this study we compared the effects on the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of the ACE-inhibitor enalapril and the betablocker metoprolol in patients with mild and moderate primary hypertension during 6 years. METHODS: Patients with GFR in the normal range (> or = 80 ml/min/1.73 m2 BSA) were included after a placebo treatment period of 4-8 weeks if diastolic blood pressure was 100-120 mm Hg. Target blood pressure was set to < 90 mm Hg diastolic. One hundred and thirty patients were randomized in an open parallel study to receive either enalapril or metoprolol. No placebo group was included. GFR was measured using the 51CR-EDTA clearance method and 81 patients completed the study. RESULTS: At inclusion, there were no significant differences regarding GFR or blood pressure between the groups. The blood pressure treatment goal was reached in all patients and was maintained during the whole observation period. A small but significant fall in GFR by 4 ml/min/1.73 m2 BSA was noted in both groups after the first year of treatment but thereafter GFR decreased by only 1 ml/min/year/1.73 m2 BSA, in both groups. Body weight, serum uric acid and triglycerides increased slightly with metoprolol treatment but no other differences between the two treatments were noted. CONCLUSIONS: With the blood pressure maintained at the same level using either enalapril or metoprolol during a 6-year study period, GFR decreased to the same extent in the two groups both during the first year and thereafter. The overall magnitude of the GFR decline approached that of the normal age-related decrease of kidney function, i.e. GFR decreased only about 1 ml/min/year. Thus, treatment with an ACE-inhibitor, enalapril, and a beta-blocker, metoprolol, protected the kidney function to the same extent in this 6 year long study in mild and moderate primary hypertension.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1997

A comparison of zopiclone and propiomazine as hypnotics in outpatients: a multicentre, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group comparison of zopiclone and propiomazine in insomniacs.

In a double-blind, parallel-group study of 135 patients with a mean age of 60 years, zopiclone 5 mg was compared with propiomazine 25 mg. The patients rated their sleep in a diary. There were statistically significant differences in favour of zopiclone for nine out of 13 variables measuring subjective sleep quality and quantity. Concerning side-effects, bad taste was reported more frequently in the zopiclone group and restless legs in the propiomazine group.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

A model for quality assessment in primary health care using the tracer condition technique with insulin treated diabetes as one of the tracers.

OBJECTIVE: To find a method for quality assessment in primary health care and to apply this method on a defined disease. DESIGN: General practitioners and hospital doctors worked out a programme for evaluating the quality of outpatient care of patients with insulin treated diabetes as one of five tracers. An expert committee comprising experienced general practitioners and hospital doctors compared two health centres with one outpatient medical department. Data were collected during a defined period combined with a one-year retrospective view, official statistics on medical care, and a questionnaire completed by the patients. SETTING: Two primary health care centres and one outpatient medical department in southwestern Sweden. PATIENTS: 243 insulin treated diabetic patients attending the hospital and 87 insulin treated patients attending the health centres. MAIN RESULTS: There were no difficulties for the expert panel to agree on which indicators were to be studied. The expert panel concluded that there was no difference between the quality of the two levels of care studied. CONCLUSIONS: Medical audit was a useful method for evaluating medical quality. Co-operation between hospital doctors and general practitioners was of great value for evaluation of the quality of primary health care.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The Prospective Population Study of Women in Gothenburg, Sweden, 1968-69 to 1992-93. A 24-year follow-up study with special reference to participation, representativeness, and mortality.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the fourth phase of the Prospective Population Study of Women in Gothenburg, Sweden, with special reference to participation and survival. DESIGN: Prospective population study. SETTING: City of Gothenburg with about 430,000 inhabitants. PARTICIPANTS: 1462 participants and 128 refusers aged 38-60 years at the time of the initial study in 1968-69, 282 women who were sampled but not invited to the study in 1968-69, and 266 women participating since 1980-81 and 32 women for the first time in 1992-93. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participation rate, survival, anthropometric and metabolic characteristics. RESULTS: The participation rate throughout the study period was high. The participants were mainly characteristic of women of the same ages in the general population even after 24 years. The mortality after 24 years was higher in non-participants than in participants, while there was no difference in survival between women who were invited and women who were not invited to the study. CONCLUSIONS: The initial participants were mainly characteristic of the general population, also after a long follow-up period. The long-term survival was lower in initial refusers than in initial participants.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Physical activity levels and changes in relation to longevity. A prospective study of Swedish women.

In 1968-1969, a population-based sample of Swedish women aged 38-60 years was recruited for a health survey, and 20-year survival was later ascertained from national registries. Occupational and leisure-time physical activity data from the baseline and 6-year follow-up examinations were evaluated in relation to all-cause mortality among 1,405 women who were initially free of major diseases. In comparison with being inactive, the mortality relative risk associated with being somewhat active was 0.28 (95% confidence interval 0.17-0.46) for occupational activity and 0.56 (95% confidence interval 0.39-0.82) for leisure-time activity. Being in the most active occupational or leisure activity category further decreased mortality risk to a minor extent. A within-subject decrease in leisure activity over 6 years was also a significant risk factor for all-cause mortality (relative risk = 2.07, relative to no change), although there was no evidence of a benefit from increasing physical activity levels. Since exclusion of early endpoints did not affect the associations in any significant way, underlying illness is unlikely to have played a major role in these analyses. It is concluded that decreases in physical activity as well as low initial levels are strong risk factors for mortality in women, and that their predictive value persists for many years.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Subjectively experienced symptoms in relation to socio-economic factors in women.

As observed in a cross-sectional population study of 1,302 women, aged 44-66 years and representative of middle-aged women living in a Swedish city, symptoms and complaints were found to be unevenly distributed in the female population. Factors such as foreign origin, low education, different kinds of isolation such as not working outside of the home, being divorced or widowed seemed to be factors which increased the risk of experiencing different symptoms and complaints. When meeting a patient with a complaint it is important to take all possible causes into consideration including socio-economic factors.

Adult↗