Unrecognised obstructive sleep apnoea is common in severe peripheral arterial disease.

Patients needing surgery for peripheral arterial disease (PAD) represent a severe form of atherosclerosis with an overall 5-yr mortality of 30% after revascularisation. The aetiology for poor post-operative clinical outcome in these high-risk patients is not fully established. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is associated with atherosclerosis and is an independent risk factor for fatal and nonfatal cardiac events. Here, we determine the prevalence of undiagnosed OSA in a homogenous group of PAD patients undergoing subinguinal surgical revascularisation. 82 consecutive patients (mean age 67±9 yrs, 52 males) with sinus rhythm and without congestive heart failure or previously diagnosed OSA were enrolled for pre-operative polysomnography and echocardiography. OSA was present in 70 (85%) patients (95% CI 75-93%), of whom 24 (34%) had severe OSA. OSA was mostly asymptomatic, and age- and sex-adjusted multivariate regression analysis showed no relation to obesity, metabolic syndrome or any manifestation of atherosclerosis, other than PAD. Left ventricular ejection fraction (p = 0.002) and high-density lipoprotein/total cholesterol ratio (p = 0.03) were the only independent predictors for the severity of OSA. Thus, prevalence of OSA is unexpectedly high in patients with PAD and is not related to classical risk factors of sleep apnoea.

Smoking during pregnancy and risk of autism spectrum disorder in a Finnish National Birth Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Results of previous population-based studies examining associations between smoking during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are contradictory. Furthermore, there is a lack of population-based studies examining the relationship between smoking during pregnancy and the main diagnostic subtypes of ASD. METHODS: We conducted a population-based nested case-control study based on the Finnish Prenatal Study of Autism (FIPS-A) among liveborn infants delivered in Finland between 1987 and 2005. Data on maternal smoking during pregnancy were available from the Finnish Medical Birth Register (FMBR) since October 1990. Data on ASD in the offspring were obtained from the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register (FHDR). RESULTS: Among the three subtypes of ASD, maternal smoking during the whole pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) (odds ratio 1.2, 95% confidence interval 1.0, 1.5). The increase in odds persisted after controlling for maternal age, mother's socio-economic and psychiatric status, and infant's weight for gestational age. However, smoking exposure limited to the first trimester was not associated with PDD or any of the other ASD subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal smoking is related to a modest increase in risk of PDD, while no associations were observed for childhood autism and Asperger's syndrome.

Does informal care reduce public care expenditure on elderly care? Estimates based on Finland's Age Study.

BACKGROUND: To formulate sustainable long-term care policies, it is critical first to understand the relationship between informal care and formal care expenditure. The aim of this paper is to examine to what extent informal care reduces public expenditure on elderly care. METHODS: Data from a geriatric rehabilitation program conducted in Finland (Age Study, n = 732) were used to estimate the annual public care expenditure on elderly care. We first constructed hierarchical multilevel regression models to determine the factors associated with elderly care expenditure. Second, we calculated the adjusted mean costs of care in four care patterns: 1) informal care only for elderly living alone; 2) informal care only from a co-resident family member; 3) a combination of formal and informal care; and 4) formal care only. We included functional independence and health-related quality of life (15D score) measures into our models. This method standardizes the care needs of a heterogeneous subject group and enabled us to compare expenditure among various care categories even when differences were observed in the subjects' physical health. RESULTS: Elder care that consisted of formal care only had the highest expenditure at 25,300 Euros annually. The combination of formal and informal care had an annual expenditure of 22,300 Euros. If a person received mainly informal care from a co-resident family member, then the annual expenditure was only 4,900 Euros and just 6,000 Euros for a person living alone and receiving informal care. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis of a frail elderly Finnish population shows that the availability of informal care considerably reduces public care expenditure. Therefore, informal care should be taken into account when formulating policies for long-term care. The process whereby families choose to provide care for their elderly relatives has a significant impact on long-term care expenditure.

Do antenatal and postnatal parental psychological distress, and recognized need of help predict preadolescent's psychiatric symptoms? The Finnish Family Competence Cohort study.

In a prospective population-based study, mothers and fathers of 1,247 children reported their physical and mental health during pregnancy, after delivery, within the child's first 18 months of life, and at 12 years. Additionally, maternal health clinic nurses rated parents' well-being and perceived need for support. At age 12, child outcomes were also measured using CBCL and YSR externalizing and internalizing scales. Results indicate that both ante- and postnatal maternal distress predicted future externalizing problems in offspring. Conversely, fathers' postnatal distress predicted subsequent internalizing problems. Furthermore, mother's depressed mood in the first trimester best predicted the child's externalizing problems at age 12. Nurses's ratings of mother's antenatal and perinatal need for support, perinatal distress, and family's need for support were associated with both internalizing and externalizing problems at age 12. Maternal antenatal distress increases the risk of offspring's externalizing problems in preadolescense, and postnatal distress in either parent increases the risk of internalizing problems. Parental self-reports and indirect ratings from health care providers during pregnancy and infancy may therefore reliably recognize offspring at risk for subsequent psychiatric symptomatology.

Association of repeated exposure to antibiotics with the development of pediatric Crohn's disease--a nationwide, register-based finnish case-control study.

To determine whether childhood exposure to antibiotics is associated with the risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the authors conducted a national, register-based study comprising all children born in 1994-2008 in Finland and diagnosed with IBD by October 2010. The authors identified 595 children with IBD (233 with Crohn's disease and 362 with ulcerative colitis) and 2,380 controls matched for age, gender, and place of residence. The risk of pediatric Crohn's disease increased with the number of antibiotic purchases from birth to the index date and persisted when the 6 months preceding the case's diagnosis were excluded (for 7-10 purchases vs. none, odds ratio = 3.48, 95% confidence interval: 1.57, 7.34; conditional logistic regression). The association between Crohn's disease and antibiotic use was stronger in boys than in girls (P = 0.01). Cephalosporins showed the strongest association with Crohn's disease (for 3 purchases vs. nonuse, odds ratio = 2.82, 95% confidence interval: 1.65, 4.81). Antibiotic exposure was not associated with the development of pediatric ulcerative colitis. Repeated use of antibiotics may reflect shared susceptibility to childhood infections and pediatric Crohn's disease or alternatively may trigger disease development.

Childhood predictors of antipsychotic use among young people in Finland.

OBJECTIVE: Information on who uses antipsychotic medication is limited to cross-sectional data. The objective of this study was to study the patterns of psychopathology at age 8 years and antipsychotic use between the ages of 12 and 25 years. METHODS: A total of 5525 subjects from the Finnish Nationwide 1981 birth cohort were linked to the National Prescription Register and the Hospital Discharge Register between 1994 and 2005. Information about parent-reported and teacher-reported conduct, hyperkinetic and emotional symptoms, and self-reported depressive symptoms was gathered at age 8 years. Information about antipsychotic use and about psychiatric disorders treated in hospitals between the ages of 12 and 25 years was register based. Diagnostic classes of hospital treatment included non-affective psychoses, affective disorders, and other psychiatric disorders. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of antipsychotic use by age 25 years was 2.8% among men (n = 69) and 2.1% among women (n = 55). In both sexes, living with other than two biological parents at age 8 years was associated with antipsychotic use, and three fourths of antipsychotic users had been treated for psychiatric disorders in a hospital. Among men, the most common hospital diagnosis was non-affective psychoses (44% of all antipsychotic users), and antipsychotic use was associated with childhood conduct problems. Among women, the most common hospital diagnosis was affective disorders (38% of all antipsychotic users), and antipsychotic use was associated with emotional problems and self-reported depressive symptoms in childhood. CONCLUSIONS: Antipsychotic use in adolescence and young adulthood is different among men versus women both with regard to hospital diagnoses and childhood psychiatric problems.

Prevalence changes of pain, sleep problems and fatigue among 8-year-old children: years 1989, 1999, and 2005.

OBJECTIVES: To study prevalence changes of self-reported pain, sleep problems, and fatigue among 8-year-old children, and to examine the co-occurrence and associated psychosocial variables of these symptoms. METHODS: 3 cross-sectional representative samples were compared in 1989, 1999, and 2005. The frequency of headache, abdominal pain, other pains, sleep problems, and fatigue were studied. In addition, sociodemographic information and child's psychiatric problems were inquired. RESULTS: The prevalence of abdominal pain, sleep problems, and fatigue, in addition to headache in boys and other pains in girls increased significantly (p < .05) from 1989 to 2005, with cumulative odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) varying from 1.6 (1.2-2.1) to 2.4 (1.7-3.3). All symptoms were associated with each other and with the child's psychiatric problems. However, psychiatric problems did not explain the observed increase in the symptom frequencies. CONCLUSIONS: Finnish children's self-reported pain, sleep problems, and fatigue have increased remarkably. Studies providing information on the causes and prevention possibilities are warranted.

Childhood predictors of becoming a teenage mother among Finnish girls.

OBJECTIVE: To study predictive associations between psychosocial factors at age 8 and becoming a mother under the age of 20. DESIGN: Prospective follow-up study. SETTING: Finland. POPULATION: 2867 girls born in 1981. METHODS: Information on family background and psychiatric symptoms was collected at age 8. The associations between these factors and becoming a teenage mother were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data on births by the age of 20 collected from the hospital discharge register. RESULTS: 128 girls (4.8%) had given birth at the age of 15-19 years. Childhood conduct problems and hyperactive problems, having young mother and family structure other than two biological parents had an independent association with becoming a teenage mother. CONCLUSIONS: Girls with externalizing type of problems in childhood have an increased risk of becoming teenage mothers. These problems may also complicate their motherhood.

Psychosocial factors associated with becoming a young father in Finland: a nationwide longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the characteristics of boys who become fathers at young age. Some studies have suggested that antisocial adolescents are more likely to be young fathers. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of psychosocial factors in childhood with becoming a young father, and to assess if they are independent of criminal behavior in adolescence. METHODS: The baseline assessment in 1989 included 2,946 boys born in 1981. Information about psychiatric symptoms at age eight was collected with Rutter questionnaires from parents and teachers and with the Child Depression Inventory from the children themselves. Data on criminal offenses at age 16-20 was collected from a police register. Register-based follow-up data on becoming a father under the age of 22 was available for 2,721 boys. RESULTS: The factors measured at age eight, which were associated with becoming a young father independently of adolescent criminality, were conduct problems, being born to a young father and having a mother with a low educational level. Having repeatedly committed criminal offences in adolescence was associated with becoming a young father independently of psychosocial factors in childhood. CONCLUSIONS: Antisocial tendencies both in childhood and adolescence are associated with becoming a young father. They should be taken into consideration when designing preventive or supportive interventions.

Factors associated with the utilization and costs of health and social services in frail elderly patients.

BACKGROUND: Universal access is one of the major aims in public health and social care. Services should be provided on the basis of individual needs. However, municipal autonomy and the fragmentation of services may jeopardize universal access and lead to variation between municipalities in the delivery of services. This paper aims to identify patient-level characteristics and municipality-level service patterns that may have an influence on the use and costs of health and social services of frail elderly patients. METHODS: Hierarchical analysis was applied to estimate the effects of patient and municipality-level variables on services utilization. RESULTS: The variation in the use of health care services was entirely due to patient-related variables, whereas in the social services, 9% of the variation was explained by the municipality-level and 91% by the patient-level characteristics. Health-related quality of life explained a major part of variation in the costs of health care services. Those who had reported improvement in their health status during the preceding year were more frequent users of social care services. Low informal support, poor functional status and poor instrumental activities of daily living, living at a residential home, and living alone were associated with higher social services expenditure. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed municipality-level variation in the utilization of social services, whereas health care services provided for frail elderly people seem to be highly equitable across municipalities. Another important finding was that the utilization of social and health services were connected. Those who reported improvement in their health status during the preceding year were more frequently also using social services. This result suggests that if municipalities continue to limit the provision of support services only for those who are in the highest need, this saving in the social sector may, in the long run, result in increased costs of health care.

Psychosocial determinants of headache, abdominal pain, and sleep problems in a community sample of Finnish adolescents.

The aims of this study were to examine the prevalence, co-occurrence, and psychosocial determinants of self-perceived headache, abdominal pain, and sleep problems among adolescents. The adolescents from two cities in Finland (n = 2,215, 90.9% of the target population) attending 7th and 9th grade (age range 13-18 years) participated in the cross-sectional survey inquiring about frequency of headache, abdominal pain, sleep problems, and psychosocial difficulties. The 6-month prevalence of weekly headache was 13%, abdominal pain 6%, and sleep problems 27%. All three symptoms were strongly associated with each other. Of the adolescents suffering from one symptom, 32% reported one co-occurring symptom and 17% two co-occurring symptoms. In the multivariate analysis, female gender, experience of psychological difficulties, emotional symptoms, smoking, victimization, and feeling not cared about by teachers were independently associated with all the individual symptoms, as well as an increasing number of symptoms. Sleep problems were associated with older age and peer and alcohol problems. Abdominal pain was associated with conduct problems, and both headache and abdominal pain were linked with immigration background. An increasing number of symptoms was associated with older age, having a chronic illness, and conduct and alcohol problems. Adolescents' headache, abdominal pain and sleep problems were common and often co-occurred. An increasing frequency of each symptom and number of symptoms were associated with psychosocial factors in a similar way. Screening for psychiatric symptoms, substance use, victimization and difficulties with teachers should be included in the assessment of adolescents who suffer from recurrent headache, abdominal pain or sleep problems.

SUBSTANCE-ABUSING MOTHERS IN RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT WITH THEIR BABIES: IMPORTANCE OF PRE- AND POSTNATAL MATERNAL REFLECTIVE FUNCTIONING.

A residential treatment program has been developed specifically for substance-abusing pregnant and parenting women in Finland, focusing on simultaneously supporting maternal abstinence from substances and the mother-baby relationship. The aims of the study are to explore maternal pre- and postnatal reflective functioning and its association with background factors, maternal exposure to trauma, and psychiatric symptoms, postnatal interaction, child development, and later child foster care placement. Participants were 34 mother-baby pairs living in three residential program units during the pre- to postnatal period. We employed self-report questionnaires on background, trauma history, and psychiatric symptoms (Brief Symptom Inventory: L.R. Derogatis, 1993; Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: J.L. Cox, J.M. Holden, & R. Sagovsky, 1987; Traumatic Antecedents Questionnaire: B. Van der Kolk, 2003), videotaped mother-child interactions coded for sensitivity, control, and unresponsiveness (Care Index for Infants and Toddlers: P. Crittenden, 2003); a standardized test of child development (Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II: N. Bayley, 1993); and semistructured interviews for maternal reflective functioning (Pregnancy Interview: A. Slade, E. Bernbach, J. Grienenberger, D.W. Levy, & A. Locker, 2002; Parent Development Interview: A. Slade et al., 2005). Pre- and postnatal maternal reflective functioning (RF) was on average low, but varied considerably across participants. Average RF increased significantly during the intervention. Increase in RF level was found to be associated with type of abused substance and maternal trauma history. Mothers who showed lower postnatal RF levels relapsed to substance use more often after completing a residential treatment period, and their children were more likely to be placed in foster care. The intensive focus on maternal RF is an important direction in the development of efficacious treatment for this very high risk population.

Regional differences and secular trends in the incidence of epilepsy in Finland: a nationwide 23-year registry study.

PURPOSE: Regional variations and temporal trends in the incidence of new-onset epilepsy are clinically important and may offer clues on how to prevent epilepsy. METHODS: We examined regional differences and secular trends in the incidence of new-onset epilepsy in the Finnish population based on the nationwide full-refundable antiepileptic drug registry and the population registry in the years 1986-2008. KEY FINDINGS: The overall incidence of epilepsy was significantly higher in eastern Finland than in middle [risk ratio (RR) 1.08 (95% confidence interval, CI 1.05-1.12)), p < 0.0001] and western Finland [RR 1.32 (1.30-1.35), p < 0.0001] but it was declining from 1986 to 2008 in all regions [RR 0.83 (0.81-0.84), p < 0.0001]. The mean annual decline was 0.6%. Although the incidence of epilepsy was falling from 1986 to 2008 in childhood [annual decline 1.9%, RR 0.80 (0.75-0.86), p < 0.0001] and in middle age [annual decline 0.8%, RR 0.88 (0.84-0.93), p < 0.0001], it increased significantly in the elderly (age 65 years or older) in all of Finland [annual increase 3.5%, RR 1.25 (1.18-1.33), p < 0.0001], and particularly in east versus west Finland [RR 1.48 (1.42-1.55), p < 0.0001]. As a result, starting with the year 2000, the incidence rate of epilepsy was higher in the elderly than in children for all of Finland. SIGNIFICANCE: In view of the falling incidence of epilepsy in childhood and middle-age in all of Finland from 1986 to 2008, the significant increase in the incidence of epilepsy in the elderly is of concern. The regional increase of epilepsy may offer clues for allocating resources and, possibly, population epileptogenesis between west and east Finland and for strategies to prevent epilepsy in the elderly.

Generic and crime type specific correlates of youth crime: a Finnish population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the psychosocial correlates of various crime types among adolescent males born in Finland in 1981. METHODS: Data on crime registered in the Finnish National Police Register between 1998 and 2001 were received for 2,866 boys, of whom 81% (n = 2,330) filled in a questionnaire at obligatory military call-up at age 18 in 1999. Crime was divided into five types: drug, violent, property, traffic, and drunk driving offences. RESULTS: Of the 2,866 boys, 23% had been registered for offending; 4% for drug, 7% for violent, 11% for property, 11% for traffic, and 5% for drunk driving offences during the 4-year period in late adolescence. All the crime types correlated with each other and shared many of the psychosocial problems. Small community size, parents' divorce, aggressiveness, daily smoking, and weekly drunkenness were generic correlates of crime, being independently related to various crime types. CONCLUSIONS: The results support general rather than specific accounts of youth crime. In particular, measures moderating the adverse effects of divorce, alleviating parental adversities and supporting parenthood, and tackling substance abuse seem relevant in social and criminal policy because they address psychosocial problems characterizing youth crime in general.

Factors associated with reported childhood depressive symptoms at age 8 and later self-reported depressive symptoms among boys at age 18.

AIMS: This study aimed to study conditions associated with depressive symptoms at ages 8 and 18 in a representative birth cohort of Finnish males. METHODS: The participants in this community-based 10-year follow-up study consisted of 2,348 boys born in 1981. At age 8, three informant sources were used: parents, teachers, and the children themselves. Depressive symptoms were established using the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI). At age 18, self-report questionnaires were used to study the boys' family factors, life events, adaptive functioning, and substance use. Depressive symptoms at age 18 were established using Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS: Poor adaptive functioning at age 18 was independently associated with both child and late adolescent depressive symptoms. Use of illicit drugs and somatic health problems were independently associated with later depressive symptoms. Parental divorce in early childhood independently predicted depressive symptoms both in childhood and in late adolescence. Teacher reports of child's total problems at age 8 independently predicted depressive symptoms at age 18. CONCLUSIONS: Depression in males at ages 8 and 18 is particularly associated with stressful life events in childhood, whereas late depression is associated with somatic health problems and substance use. Further population-based studies comparing conditions associated with childhood and adolescent depression are needed.

Life-time risk factors and progression of carotid atherosclerosis in young adults: the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to evaluate whether childhood risk factors are associated with a 6-year change in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in young adulthood independent of the current risk factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns cohort consisted of 1809 subjects who were followed-up for 27 years since baseline (1980, age 3-18 years) and having carotid IMT measured both in 2001 and 2007. Cardiovascular risk factors were assessed repeatedly since childhood. A genotype risk score was calculated using 17 newly identified genetic variants associating with cardiovascular morbidity. The number of childhood risk factors (high LDL-cholesterol, low HDL-cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, smoking, low physical activity, infrequent fruit consumption) was associated with a 6-year change in adulthood IMT. In subjects with 0, 1, 2, and > or =3 childhood risk factors, IMT [mean (95% CI)) increased by 35 (28-42), 46 (40-52), 49 (41-57), and 61 (49-73) microm (P = 0.0001). This association remained significant when adjusted for adulthood risk score and genotype score (P = 0.007). Of the individual childhood variables, infrequent fruit consumption ((beta (95% CI) for 1-SD change -5(-9 to -1), P = 0.03) and low physical activity (-6(-10 to -2), P = 0.01) were associated with accelerated IMT progression after taking into account these variables assessed in adulthood. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that children with risk factors have increased atherosclerosis progression rate in adulthood, and support the idea that the prevention of atherosclerosis by means of life style could be effective when initiated in childhood.

Substance abusing mothers in residential treatment with their babies: postnatal psychiatric symptomatology and its association with mother-child relationship and later need for child protection actions.

BACKGROUND: A residential treatment model has been developed in Finland, which is specifically designed for substance abusing pregnant and parenting women, and has its focus on supporting both maternal abstinence from substances and mother-baby relationship. AIMS: Among mother-baby pairs in this residential treatment, to explore amount and type of maternal postnatal psychiatric symptoms, relationship with the baby, and their association with later need for child substitution care placements. METHODS: Participants were 34 mother-baby pairs from three units during pre- to postnatal period. Methods included self-report questionnaires for substance abuse and background data (pregnancy and perinatal period), experienced difficulties with the baby (1 month postnatally); maternal psychiatric symptoms (Brief Symptom Inventory, Edinburgh Pre-postnatal Depression Screen, Inventory of Interpersonal Problems; (pregnancy and 3 months) postnatally; videotaped mother-child interaction measure (Care Index for infants and toddlers) and standardized test of child development (Bayley Scales of Infant Development) (4 months postnatally); questionnaire for follow-up information (2 years of child's age). RESULTS: Mothers showed high levels of different types of psychiatric symptomatology. Maternal interaction with the baby was on average weak, as 53% were within the high-risk range regarding sensitivity. Experiencing more difficulties in early care-giving of the baby was associated with higher amount of postnatal psychiatric symptomatology. Specific psychiatric symptoms were associated with later need for child substitution care. CONCLUSIONS: In designing treatment and follow-up of these mother-baby pairs, careful attention should be paid to pre- and perinatal identification and type of maternal psychiatric symptoms, and mothers' expressions of subjectively experienced difficulties in early care-giving of the baby.

Conventional cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome in predicting carotid intima-media thickness progression in young adults: the cardiovascular risk in young Finns study.

BACKGROUND: Conventional risk factors and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are cross-sectionally associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in young adults. We evaluated the relations of conventional risk factors and MetS to the 6-year progression of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in a population of young adults. RESULTS AND METHODS: The study included 1809 subjects (aged 32+/-5 years) who had IMT measured in 2001 and 2007. Risk factor measurements included low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, C-reactive protein, smoking, and family history of coronary disease in addition to MetS components. We used European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance, revised National Cholesterol Education Program, and International Diabetes Federation definitions to diagnose MetS in 2001. Waist circumference (P<0.0001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P=0.01), and insulin (P=0.003) were directly associated with IMT progression in a multivariable model adjusted for age, sex, and baseline IMT (model R(2)=24%). When the MetS/European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance definition was included in the model, it was directly associated with IMT progression (P=0.03), but its inclusion did not improve the model's predictive value. IMT increased 79+/-7 mum (mean+/-SEM) in subjects with MetS according to the MetS/European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance definition and 42+/-2 mum in subjects without MetS (P<0.0001). In addition, the number of MetS components was linearly associated with IMT progression (P<0.0001). Similar results were seen with MetS/revised National Cholesterol Education Program and MetS/International Diabetes Federation definitions. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high insulin level predicted IMT progression in young adults. All MetS definitions identified young adults with accelerated IMT progression, but we found no evidence that MetS would predict IMT progression more than expected from the sum of its risk components.

Child mental health problems and obesity in early adulthood.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether mental health problems in childhood increase the likelihood of overweight or obesity during early adulthood among male subjects. STUDY DESIGN: In a national prospective population-based study conducted in Finland, child mental health, including depression, emotional problems, conduct problems, and hyperactivity (determined on the basis of child, parent, and teacher information), was assessed at age 8 years. Body mass index (BMI) was obtained from military examination records (n = 2209) conducted in early adulthood (age range, 18-23 years). RESULTS: Both moderate (50th-90th percentile) and high (>90th percentile) levels of conduct problems at age 8 years were prospectively associated with a young adult being obese (BMI > or = 30; odds ratio [OR], 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2-3.2; and OR, 2.9; 95% Confidence interval [CI], 1.5-5.9; respectively). Conduct problems were also prospectively associated with a young adult being overweight (25 < or = BMI < 30; OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9 for moderate levels of conduct problems, and OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2-2.8 for high levels), after controlling for hyperactive problems and sociodemographic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Conduct problems in childhood are prospectively associated with overweight and obese in young adulthood. Future studies should address the potential for interventions to reduce obesity risk in young adulthood for boys who manifest conduct problems early in life.

Childhood predictors of later psychiatric hospital treatment: findings from the Finnish 1981 birth cohort study.

Psychiatric hospital treatment (PHT) is expensive and indicates a severe disorder. Investigation of the early identification of this small patient group has though been hindered by small samples or unsatisfactory assessment in childhood. The present study aims to study the predictive association between psychopathology at age 8 using multi-informant assessment and later PHT. A nationwide birth cohort of Finnish children (n = 5,346) was assessed at age 8 to obtain information about psychopathology using the Rutter parent and teacher reports and self-reports of depressive symptoms. The main outcome was admission to any hospital with a primary diagnosis of any psychiatric disorder according to the Finnish National Hospital Discharge Register between age 13 and 24. Between age 13 and 24, 6.2% of the males and 4.1% of the females had been admitted for PHT. Among males, PHT was independently predicted by non-intact family and adult reports of conduct and of emotional symptoms, while among females by self-reported depressive symptoms. However, the combination of conduct and emotional problems was the strongest predictor for PHT in both sexes. Admission due to psychosis among males was associated with childhood conduct, attention, and emotional problems, but with emotional problems among females. Psychopathology at age 8 can be seen as a long-lasting increased risk of severe psychiatric disorders requiring hospital treatment in adolescence or early adulthood. Attention should be paid to self-reports among females and of comorbid conduct and emotional problems in both sexes in the early identification of this patient group.