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At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Maternal deaths in Iceland 1911-1975.

Death certificates for all deaths in Iceland are available since 1911. In this report on maternal deaths, all women who died after the 28th week of pregnancy, during delivery and during the first eight weeks after delivery are included, irrespective of the cause of death. Out of 225 891 women who delivered during the 65-year period, 321 women died. Maternal deaths per thousand deliveries have declined from 3.89 to 0.09 from the first 5-year period (1911-1915) to the last 5 years of the observation time (1970-1975). The three main causes of maternal deaths, puerperal fever, haemorrhage and toxaemia, are discussed. Since the new Maternity Clinic at Landspitalinn opened in 1949 it has been the main department for obstetrics and gynecology in Iceland, to which a great majority of complicated cases in pregnancy and delivery are referred. Since 1949, 39411 women have delivered at this department. There have been 15 maternal deaths at the clinic or 0.4 per thousand. A separate table (Table III) shows the age, parity and causes of death in the 15 cases. Maternal deaths in Iceland during the last decade occur in one per 11 000 deliveries. This is a problem of communication as well as a medical problem.

Female↗
PubMed1979

Skeletal maturation of the hand in Iceland.

The mean time at onset of the stages of skeletal maturation of the hand, PP2=, MP3=, S, MP3cap, DP3u, PP3u, and MP3u, in a cross-sectional sample of Icelandic school chidren in Reykjavík, a total of 1426 (690 boys and 736 girls), was assessed on radiographs of the hand and compared with results published from Denmark and Greenland. On the whole, the Icelandic children were most ahead, while S appeared at about the same time in all three nations. Otherwise, the mutual relationship between the skeletal stages was very similar. Girls reached all stages significantly sooner than boys, and this agrees with the findings in Denmark and in Greenland. The sex difference was most marked in the Icelandic material. The accidental error due to method in assessing the differences in skeletal maturation proved to be less than 5%, similar to that reported by others.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Crown size of permanent teeth in Icelanders.

Mesiodistal and buccolingual crown diameters were measured from casts of 1010 dentitions of schoolchildren from Northeast Iceland. Their teeth proved to be larger than in Europeans generally, being exceeded only by Australian Aborigines, some American Indian populations, and American Negroes. In comparison with Ohio Caucasians of Northwest European origin Icelanders showed clearly larger dimensions, less sexual dimorphism, and a different pattern of dimorphism. Crown indices were also distinctly different in Icelanders and Ohio Caucasians.

Child↗
PubMed1992

Reasons for contact in family practice. An Icelandic multicentre study on content of practice.

To establish data on the patient's reasons for a contact, as a part of data on content of Icelandic family practice, a prospective practice audit was made of 16 Icelandic health centres with computerized contact data from 1 January to 31 December 1988. The study comprised 16 community health centres in Iceland and their target population, 12 rural and four urban. The reasons for contact in the study group are analysed. A total of 284348 reasons for contact were analysed; 36-39% were for symptoms and 44-50% were initiated by health professionals. The latter included renewal of prescriptions, which comprised 17-18% of all reasons for contact. Musculoskeletal symptoms were the most common symptomatic complaint, 6.6-7.3% of all reasons for contact. The five most often stated symptoms were: rash, cough, cold, lower limb symptoms, and fever. A "reason for contact" record increases the understanding of the patient's presenting complaint, as well as the patient's agenda in each contact. This record gives an opportunity to follow the presenting complaint in the continuous process of care i. e. reason for contact diagnosis, management, and follow-up. We are reminded that common things are common in family practice; nevertheless more research is needed to understand the process of care.

Community Health Centers↗
PubMed1991

Resources and productivity in radiation oncology in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden during 1987.

Data concerning megavoltage equipment and use of megavoltage external beams in cancer management during 1987 in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden were collected from all 37 centres serving a population of 23 million in these countries. Population per Linear Accelerator Equivalent (LAE) unit ranged from 0.30 million/LAE unit (Denmark) to 0.19 million/LAE unit (Sweden). The number of field treatments were 227,548 (Denmark), 259,917 (Finland), 10,426 (Iceland), 147,960 (Norway) and 490,126 (Sweden). The number of field treatments per million population per year ranged from 35,229 (Norway) to 58,438 (Sweden). The number of field treatments per LAE unit/year ranged from 13,192 (Denmark) to 9,546 (Norway). The fraction of cancer patients receiving megavoltage radiotherapy in 1987 out of all newly diagnosed cancer patients during 1987 was 24% in Denmark, 37% in Iceland, 25% in Norway, and 34% in Finland and Sweden. We conclude that Denmark and Norway probably did not provide adequate levels of radiotherapy for their cancer patients during 1987.

Denmark↗
PubMed2004

Daylight availability: a poor predictor of depression in Iceland.

OBJECTIVES: To test the hypothesis that the unexpectedly low prevalence of winter depression in Iceland is explained by Icelanders enjoying more daylight, during the winter months, than allocated to them by latitude. METHODS: A conventional photometer was applied to measure illuminance on a horizontal surface at 64 degrees 8.8' N and 21 degrees 55.8' W every minute throughout the year. The illuminance thus measured was compared with computed illuminance, based on theoretical upper bounds. RESULTS: Daylight availability proved to be, on average, 60% of the theoretical upper bounds derived using clear sky conditions. Snow cover did not, on average, cause a significant increase in daylight availability. Great variability was observed in illuminance from day to day, as well as within days. CONCLUSIONS: Average daylight availability does not explain the lower than expected prevalence of winter depression in Iceland. The great variability in illuminance might, however, affect the expression of winter depression, as could daylight quality and genetic factors.

Arctic Regions↗
PubMed1991

Prevalence and geographical distribution of the ear canker mite (Otodectes cynotis) among arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) in Iceland.

Three hundred forty five adult arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) from all counties in Iceland were examined for excess cerumen and ear canker mites (Otodectes cynotis). Only 13 foxes (4%) from a single county in northwestern Iceland were infested, where the prevalence of otodectiasis was 38%. Whether or not this parasite is new to the arctic fox in Iceland is unknown. If it is recently introduced, possible sources of infestation are farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes), domestic dogs, domestic or feral cats, and arctic foxes from Greenland. It appears that the rate of transmission between adult foxes is low; a more common route of transmission is probably from the mother to her offspring or between vixens breeding in the same dens in subsequent years by contamination of the dens. No correlation was found between the prevalence of mites in foxes and Samson character.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Parasites of the arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) in Iceland.

Forty-four of 50 arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) in Iceland harbored 15 species of intestinal parasites, including Protozoa: Eimeria sp. or Isospora sp. (in 4%); Trematoda: Cryptocotyle lingua (24%), Plagiorchis elegans (4%), Brachylaemus sp. (12%), Tristriata sp. (10%), and Spelotrema sp. (8%); Cestoda: Mesocestoides canislagopodis (72%), Schistocephalus solidus (2%), and Diphyllobothrium dendriticum (4%); Nematoda: Toxascaris leonina (50%), Toxocara canis (2%), Uncinaria stenocephala (4%), and eggs of the lung worm Capillaria aerophila (6%); and Acanthocephala: Polymorphus meyeri (8%) and Corynosoma hadweni (2%). Only four of the species previously had been recorded in Iceland. Eleven species are new records in Iceland and six appear to be new host records. Two additional nematodes, Stegophorus stercorarii and Syphacia sp., probably were ingested accidentally with the prey. Foxes from coastal habitats harbored 14 parasitic species while only five species were found in foxes from inland habitats. Arctic foxes from coastal habitats generally had higher helminth burdens and harbored more parasitic species per fox than foxes from inland habitats.

Acanthocephala↗
PubMed2000

Mutations in corneal carbohydrate sulfotransferase 6 gene (CHST6) cause macular corneal dystrophy in Iceland.

PURPOSE: Macular corneal dystrophy (MCD) is subdivided into three immunophenotypes (MCD types I, IA and II). Recently, mutations in the carbohydrate sulfotransferase 6 gene (CHST6) were identified to cause MCD. The purpose of this study was to examine CHST6 for mutations in Icelandic patients with MCD type I. METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from leukocytes in the peripheral blood and the coding region of CHST6 was examined for mutations by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. RESULTS: Mutation analysis of the CHST6 coding region identified three different mutations in sixteen Icelandic patients with MCD type I. Eleven patients with MCD type I were homozygous for a C1075T mutation. One patient with MCD type I was found to be a compound heterozygous for C1075T and G1189C mutations. One family with MCD type I contained a 10 base pair insertion (ATGCTGTGCG) between nucleotides 707 and 708. In this family, two affected siblings had a homozygous insertion while both their affected mother and their affected maternal aunt had a heterozygous insertion and a heterozygous C1075T mutation. CONCLUSIONS: Three different nucleotide changes were identified in the coding region of CHST6 in sixteen Icelandic patients with MCD type I. All three of these alterations are predicted to affect the translated protein and each of them corresponded to a particular disease haplotype that we had previously reported in this population.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2002

[Some knowledge to the art of medicine: a short view over two alternative methods in Iceland].

Homeopathy was taken up by a vicar in Northern Iceland around 1850 and was very well received right from the beginning. Soon other lay-men and folk-healers took up homeopathy, either partly or entirely, and their practice expanded quickly. Hydropathy was brought to the country at about the same time as homeopathy, but it was brought by a physician, Jón Hjatalín, who became Director General of Public Health in Iceland in 1855. He introduced the method to other physicians by his teachings and to the public in his writings. By his untiring preachings about the benefits of water he most likely got the public to think and act about hygiene sooner than they would have done otherwise. Regarding homeopathy, Dr. Hjaltalín, tried repeatedly to point out that those who wanted to practice it, had to have some qualifications but both the population and the authorities saw that as unnecessary and the Icelandic parliament (Altinget) sided strongly with the homeopaths, even to the point of taking a stand against the physicians. The parliament tried to legalise homeopathy and in 1911 it passed a law that made it legal for anybody to practice homeopathy. No licence or proof of qualification was demanded. The result was that almost every folk-healer took up homeopathy, to a lesser or greater degree, with or without much knowledge of the method. A comparison of the number of patients who visited a homeopath and a local doctor in the same area show that as soon as a doctor became easily accessible, and medicine became better and safer, patients preferred the doctor to the homeopath. The numbers also show that the homeopath always kept a number of patients, indicating that there may always be a market for some alternative to doctors.

History, 19th Century↗
PubMed2005

[Prevalence of myotonic dystrophy in Iceland].

OBJECTIVE: Epidemiologic studies of Myotonic Dystrophy (Dystrophic Myotony, DM) have shown variable regional prevalence from 0,46 to 189/105. We carried out a total population survey of DM in Iceland in 2004 having Oct. 31 as the day of prevalence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients were collected from multiple sources, including Landspitali University Hospital registry and through contact with neurologists, neuropaediatricians, paediatricians and rehabilitation specialists. All EMGs of DM patients were reviewed. Information was gathered about age, age of onset, family history of DM and clinical symptoms. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients were ascertained giving a crude prevalence of 28.2/105. The prevalence of the congenital form of DM was 7.9/105 (23 patients, 26%). Affected females outnumbered males with a gender ratio of 1.2:1 (NS). Mean age of onset of symptoms for those, who didn't have the congenital form was 27.5 years (range 5-70 years). Ten families with DM were identified and all prevalent patients belonged to those families. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of DM is high in Iceland and higher than generally reported. This study showed a three times higher total prevalence and a seven times higher prevalence of congenital DM than found in a previous study in Iceland. We believe that this increase in prevalence probably reflects increased awareness of inherited diseases in neonates and better detection of patients who have mild symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Iceland's plan for genomics research: facts and implications.

The government of Iceland has authorized a private, for-profit firm, deCODE Genetics, to construct a database of the population's medical records as part of a larger plan by deCODE for human genetics research. This article presents the background for genetics research in Iceland, the history of deCODE, and the terms of the law authorizing the database. It then examines five objections to the law, based on commercialization, lack of informed consent, risks to privacy, the effects of other research, and financial unfairness. It concludes that the Icelandic model is not a good precedent for similar research elsewhere.

Confidentiality↗
PubMed2005

Enamel opacities in 8-year-old Icelandic children in relation to their medical history as infants.

OBJECTIVES: Opacities in tooth enamel were found in 34% of 8-year-old Icelandic children in 1970. This study aimed to measure the current prevalence of non-fluorotic enamel opacities in the maxillary incisors and to determine if their occurrence was related to significant events in the medical history. DESIGN: The prevalence of demarcated enamel opacities was recorded photographically by calibrated examiners. SETTING: Subjects lived in Reykjavík, Iceland. SAMPLE AND METHODS: A random sample of 290 children aged eight years was examined in 1997-8. Parents were asked if the child had a history of (i) colic as an infant and/or (ii) repeated middle-ear infection. RESULTS: Demarcated white enamel lesions, not resembling fluorosis, were seen in 41% of children (teeth photographed wet) rising to 51% (teeth photographed dry). Enamel hypoplasia was seen in 11% of wet teeth and 15% of dry teeth. Parents of 94/288 children (32.6%) reported that their child had infant colic and 52/94 (55.3%) had received medication. Three episodes or more of middle-ear infections per year were reported for 123/290 (42.4%) children. Significant association was seen between the presence of demarcated enamel opacities and a history of otitis media. Diffuse enamel opacities, assumed to be fluorosis, were not associated with events reported from the medical history. CONCLUSIONS: Non-fluoride opacities of teeth are still prevalent in Icelandic children especially those with a history of infections in infancy. Without a careful diagnosis these opacities might be confused with fluorosis.

Cariostatic Agents↗
PubMed2006

[No correlation between rates of caesarean section and perinatal mortality in Iceland].

INTRODUCTION: Caesarean section rates have increased over the past decades without a concomitant decrease in perinatal mortality. In Iceland the same trend has been seen while at the same time perinatal mortality rate has remained low. Most caesarean sections are done at term. Crude perinatal mortality rates give limited information about whether the increase in section rates leads to a lower perinatal death rate among term non-malformed singleton infants. The relation between caesarean section and perinatal mortality rates in singleton, non-malformed infants of birthweight > or =2500 g in Iceland during 1989-2003 was studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Information about gestational length, birthweight, parity, onset of labour and previous caesarean section was collected on all singleton births > or =2500 g from the Icelandic Birth Registration and from maternity case records. The same data were obtained for all perinatal deaths > or =2500 g excluding malformed infants irrespective of mode of delivery. The caesarean section and perinatal mortality rates were calculated and the relation between these evaluated by Pearson s correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The total number of deliveries in the study period was 64514 and the mean perinatal mortality rate 6.4/1000 (range: 3.6-9.2/1000). A significant increase was found in the overall caesarean section rate, from 11.6% to 18.2% (p<0.001). There were 61633 singleton infants > or =2500 g and 8332 were born by caesarean section. There were 111 perinatal deaths among this cohort giving a mean perinatal mortality rate (PNMR) of 1.8/1000 (range 0.8-4.1/1000). While for singleton non-malformed infants the caesarean section rate increased from 10.4% to 16.7% (p<0.001), the PMNR did not decrease significantly. For primiparous women the caesarean section rate increased from 12% to 18% with no correlation with the PNMR (0.6/1000). CONCLUSION: Despite a 60% rise in the caesarean section rate during the study period, no reduction of the perinatal mortality rate among infants > or =2500 g was found in this population with a prior low perinatal mortality, neither among primi- nor multiparous women.

Cesarean Section↗
PubMed2006

[The incidence and mortality of ARDS in Icelandic intensive care units 1988-1997].

OBJECTIVE: A retrospective analysis of the epidemiology and intensive care treatment of ARDS in Iceland during the 10 year period, 1988-1997 with observation of trends within the period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All ICU admissions in Iceland 1988-1997 were reviewed according to the American-European consensus conference criteria on ARDS to select patients with the diagnosis of ARDS i.e. bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, PaO(2)/FiO(2) <200 and excluding patients with signs of heart failure or a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) >18 mmHg. Data were collected on age, gender, length of stay, ventilator treatment and ventilatory modes, causes of ARDS and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 220 patients with severe respiratory failure were found and 155 of them were diagnosed as having ARDS or an annual incidence of 15.5 cases/year or 5.9 cases/100.000/year. If reference population >15 years of age is used for calculation the incidence is 7.8 cases/100.000/year. Hospital mortality was 40%, mean length of ICU stay was 21 days, mean hospital length of stay 39 days. The incidence of ARDS increased during the period with a tendency to lower mortality rates. Mortality was significantly lower when pressure controlled ventilation was used, compared to volume controlled ventilation. CONCLUSION: The incidence of ARDS in a well defined population of Iceland is lower than recent studies in USA and Europe have shown or 5.9 cases/100.00/year but is increasing. The mortality is 40% and shows a slight downward trend, which may be due to the use of lung protective ventilation.

Female↗
PubMed2006

[Reporting of adverse drug reactions in Iceland in 1999 to 2004].

OBJECTIVES: The reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) has been in effect for more than 30 years in Iceland. Very few reports were received until a special effort was launched in 1999. METHODS: During the period 1999-2004 only 86 ADRs were reported to The Icelandic Medicines Control Agency (IMCA). During this period the special effort included the publishing of papers and memos and of numerous meetings with health care professionals in order to encourage the reporting of ADRs. The effort was initiated with a paper in The Icelandic Medical Journal in 1999 where the importance of the reporting of ADRs was explained. RESULTS: The reporting of ADRs started slowly with 2 reports in year 1999 and 5 reports in 2000. The number of reports was then close to 20 per year until 2004 when it rose to 26. Of the 86 reports received the majority (63%) of cases was women and only 38% of the total number of reports was serious ADRs. One patient died, eight patients had a live threatening reaction and seven had not recovered at the time of reporting. About 60% of the reports came from hospitals and health-care centers. The most commonly reported class of drugs was those acting on the central nervous system with 21 reports. CONCLUSIONS: The number of ADR reports has been increasing during the past years and this is probably the result of a special effort that has been ongoing since year 1999. The number of reports is increasing but is still far behind that of the neighboring countries.

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Risk factors and prevalence of erectile dysfunction amongst Icelandic men aged 45-75].

OBJECTIVE: Many population studies worldwide have shown high prevalence of erect ile dysfunction, a condition that increases dramatically with age. Other risk factors are also well known such as diabetes and arteriosclerosis. The aim was to study the prevalence and risk factors of erectile dysfunction among Icelandic men. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The participants were 4000 men age 45-75 year old randomly chosen from the Icelandic National Registry. They received a 27 item questionnaire to access the degree of erectile dysfunction using the 5 question International Index of Erectile Function (IEEF), and also other aspects of sexual health, medication and concomitant diseases. RESULTS: The response rate was 40.8%. The overall prevalence of erectile dysfunction was 35.5%. The condition was significantly more prevalent in the older age group (65-75) compared to the younger group (45-55), 21.6% vs 62.3% respectively. Other significant risk factors were smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, depression and anxiety disorder. Sexual activity and interest is high in all age groups. Physicians rarely take the initiative of asking men about sexual dysfunction. Only about 24% of males with erectile dysfunction have received some treatment. CONCLUSION: This first population based study among Icelandic men shows a high prevalence of erectile dysfunction and is in accordance with similar studies in other counties. Significant risk factors are the same as are well known for cardiovascular diseases. Thus preventive measures should be the same for both conditions.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2006

[Viral hepatitis B and C among immigrants in Iceland].

BACKGROUND: Viral hepatitis B and C are a major health problem worldwide. The prevalence of these diseases varies throughout the world. In Iceland, the incidence of hepatitis B and C has increased in recent years. At the same time, the number of immigrants from countries where viral hepatitis is endemic, has also increased. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of hepatitis B and C among immigrants in Iceland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Immigrants from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) were screened for hepatitis B and C. Medical records for the years 2000-2002 were reviewed for country of origin, viral serology and liver transaminases. Information was gathered from the State Epidemiologist's central registry of notifiable diseases and from the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration on the number of residence permits issued. RESULTS: 70% of all immigrants from countries outside the EEA during the study period were included in the study. Blood samples were obtained from 2946 immigrants. 83 (2.8%) had hepatitis B and 24 (0.8%) had hepatitis C. Prevalence of hepatitis B was highest among immigrants from Africa,11/171 (6.4%; 95% CI: 3.3-11.2%) and hepatitis C among immigrants from Eastern Europe, 16/1502 (1.1%; 95% CI: 0.6-1.7%). 482 (16%) had serological markers of previous hepatitis B infection. Of all registered cases of hepatitis B, immigrants were 56% and of hepatitis C 10%. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Majority of those diagnosed with hepatitis B during the study period were immigrants. 2. Among immigrants, hepatitis B was more prevalent than hepatitis C. 3) The high prevalence of hepatitis B justifies screening for the disease in this population.

Adolescent↗