Expert opinion on the use of contraception in people with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Current guidance on the selection of appropriate contraception for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To address this gap, an expert-led consensus program developed recommendations to support clinicians in discussing family planning and contraception with women and men with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: A multidisciplinary steering committee (SC) of 13 international clinical experts led the program, supported by an extended faculty of 32 experts representing 18 countries. A modified Delphi methodology was used for decision-making and consensus-building. The SC drafted 15 clinical questions focused on patient-centered care, selection of contraception, and timing of stopping/starting contraception and disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). Statements addressing each question were drafted based on evaluation of published evidence and the experts' clinical experience. Consensus was reached if ⩾75% of respondents agreed (scoring 7-9 on a 9-point scale) with each recommendation. RESULTS: Consensus was reached on 24 of 25 proposed recommendations, including how and when to discuss contraception, types and safety of contraceptives, and how to evaluate the most appropriate contraceptive options for specific patient groups, including those with significant disability or being treated with DMTs. CONCLUSION: These expert recommendations provide the first practical, relevant, and comprehensive guidance for clinicians on the selection of contraception in PwMS.

Pharmacological treatment of asthma in Sweden from 2005 to 2015.

OBJECTIVE: Despite access to effective therapies many asthma patients still do not have well-controlled disease. This is possibly related to underuse of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and overuse of short-acting ß2-agonists (SABA). Our aim was to investigate longitudinal trends and associated factors in asthma treatment. METHODS: Two separate cohorts of adults with physician-diagnosed asthma were randomly selected from 14 hospitals and 56 primary health centers in Sweden in 2005 (n = 1182) and 2015 (n = 1225). Information about symptoms, maintenance treatment, and use of rescue medication was collected by questionnaires. Associations between treatment and sex, age, smoking, education, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, allergic asthma, and symptom control were analyzed using Pearson's chi2-test. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using logistic regression. RESULTS: Maintenance treatment with ICS together with long-acting ß2-agonists (LABA) and/or montelukast increased from 39.2% to 44.2% (p = 0.012). The use of ICS + LABA as-needed increased (11.1-18.9%, p < 0.001), while SABA use decreased (46.4- 41.8%, p = 0.023). Regular treatment with ICS did not change notably (54.2-57.2%, p = 0.14). Older age, former smoking, and poor symptom control were related to treatment with ICS + LABA/montelukast. In 2015, 22.7% reported daily use of SABA. A higher step of maintenance treatment, older age, obesity, shorter education, current smoking, allergic asthma, low or very high physical activity, and a history of exacerbations were associated with daily SABA use. CONCLUSIONS: The use of ICS + LABA both for maintenance treatment and symptom relief has increased over time. Despite this, the problem of low use of ICS and high use of SABA remains.

Viable cartilage allograft outperforms existing treatments for focal knee cartilage defects.

PURPOSE: Viable cartilage allograft (VCA) is a cartilage tissue matrix that contains cryopreserved viable allogeneic cartilage fibres. This study aimed to assess safety and benefits in treating focal knee cartilage defects with VCA. We hypothesized that VCA is a safe single-stage procedure in isolated chondral defects. METHOD: In vitro analysis, in vivo studies and a prospective case series were performed. VCA was evaluated in a goat cartilage repair model. Symptomatic International Cartilage Repair Society grade 3/4A lesions of the femoral condyle or patella were implanted with VCA. International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC), Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome (KOOS) subscales, Lysholm, Short Form-12, Visual Analog Scale and pain frequency levels were assessed. Radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at regular intervals postoperatively. Data were analysed by statisticians to determine the power and significance of the results. RESULTS: The goat study confirmed that VCA is effective for cartilage repair. Twenty patients were implanted; the mean age was 28.1 (16-56), the mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.9 ± 5.6 and the mean follow-up was 24.1 months (range = 12.0-36.0 months). Lesions were in either the femoral condyle (7) or patella (13). Lesion sizes ranged from 1.5 to 6.0 cm2 (mean = 4.58 cm2 ). Outcome scores improved from preoperative baseline (POB): IKDC (78.2), Lysholm (89.0), KOOS: Pain (95.8), Symptoms (86.3), ADL (87.8), Sports (85.0) and QOL (75.0). MRI imaging demonstrated excellent osteochondral allograft assimilation. Second-look arthroscopy (two patients) demonstrated complete fill and incorporation (Brittberg scores 11/12). Functional scores were maintained at 24 (M): IKDC (86.24 ± 17.2), Lysholm (87.23 ± 15.0), KOOS: Pain (91.72 ± 17.3), Symptoms (84.92 ± 16.1), ADLs (93.80 ± 16.1), Sports (84.45 ± 27.7), QOL (81.30 ± 20.8). CONCLUSION: VCA is an off-the-shelf, single-stage, conformable allogeneic graft that treats chondral defects with no additional fixation. Preclinical and short-term prospective clinical studies show that VCA can safely treat chondral defects with potential advantages to existing options. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV study.

Spasticity treatment patterns among people with multiple sclerosis: a Swedish cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Spasticity is common among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but there are few studies of spasticity treatment patterns. We aim to describe associations with spasticity treatment measured primarily by oral baclofen use. METHODS: This cohort study using Swedish registers included 1826 and 3519 people with incident and prevalent MS (pwIMS, pwPMS) respectively, followed from 2005 to 2014. Cox regression assessed factors associated with new baclofen prescriptions and its discontinuation. RESULTS: A total of 10% of pwIMS and 19% of pwPMS received baclofen, a drug prescribed specifically for spasticity in Sweden, of which many patients had relapsing-remitting course. Prescriptions occurred soon after MS diagnosis: pwIMS received baclofen typically within 6 months of diagnosis, and pwPMS within 3 years. Younger patients compared with older patients were three times more likely to receive baclofen with similar disability level measured using Expanded Disability Severity Scores (EDSS). Patients aged 18-44 years with EDSS 3.0-5.0 have an HR for baclofen use of 5.62 (95% CI 2.91 to 10.85) and EDSS 6+ have an HR of 15.41 (95% CI 7.07 to 33.58) compared with individuals with EDSS 0-2.5. In comparison, patients aged 45+ years with EDSS 3.0-5.0 have an HR of 2.05 (95% CI 1.10 to 3.82) and EDSS 6+ an HR of 4.26 (95% CI 1.96 to 9.17). Baclofen discontinuation was high: 49% (95% CI 0.42 to 0.57) of pwIMS discontinued within 150 days of dispensation, 90% discontinued within 2 years including patients with progressive course or higher EDSS. Associations among pwPMS and sensitivity analyses including additional treatments were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Younger patients with MS are more likely to receive baclofen compared with older patients with MS. High rates of baclofen discontinuation highlight the need for more tolerable and efficacious spasticity treatments and monitoring of spasticity among people with MS.

Previous pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus and the risk of cardiovascular disease: A nested case-control study in Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: Pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are two common pregnancy complications that affect birth outcomes and are associated with a long-term risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aims of this study were to investigate if the pre-eclampsia association with CVD is independent of GDM and modified by body mass index (BMI) or GDM. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Sweden. POPULATION: Cases were women with a first CVD event between 1991 and 2008 and a previous pregnancy who were matched with controls without CVD (1:5) by year of birth, age and region of birth. METHODS: Conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations of GDM, pre-eclampsia and maternal BMI with CVD adjusted for potential confounders and effect modifications with interaction tests. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: CVD. RESULTS: There were 2639 cases and 13 310 controls with complete data. Pre-eclampsia and GDM were independent risk factors for CVD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.59, 95% CI 2.12-3.17 and aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.04-2.09, respectively). After stratifying by maternal BMI, the adjusted association of pre-eclampsia with CVD did not differ notably between BMI groups: normal weight (aOR 2.65, 95% CI 1.90-3.69), overweight (aOR 2.67, 95% CI 1.52-4.68) and obesity (aOR 3.03, 95% CI 0.74-12.4). Similar findings were seen when stratifying on GDM/non-GDM. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-eclampsia and GDM are independent risk factors for later CVD and having both during pregnancy is a major risk factor for later CVD. The association between pre-eclampsia and CVD is not modified by BMI. Effective CVD preventive programs for high-risk women are urgently needed in order to improve women's long-term health.

Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial with rituximab for psychotic disorder in adults (RCT-Rits).

BACKGROUND: The role of inflammation in the aetiology of schizophrenia has gained wide attention and research on the association shows an exponential growth in the last 15 years. Autoimmune diseases and severe infections are risk factors for the later development of schizophrenia, elevated inflammatory markers in childhood or adolescence are associated with a greater risk of schizophrenia in adulthood, individuals with schizophrenia have increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to healthy controls, and autoimmune diseases are overrepresented in schizophrenia. However, treatments with anti-inflammatory agents are so far of doubtful clinical relevance. The primary objective of this study is to test whether the monoclonal antibody rituximab, directed against the B-cell antigen CD20 ameliorates psychotic symptoms in adults with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and to examine potential mechanisms. A secondary objective is to examine characteristics of inflammation-associated psychosis and to identify pre-treatment biochemical characteristics of rituximab responders. A third objective is to interview a subset of patients and informants on their experiences of the trial to obtain insights that rating scales may not capture. METHODS: A proof-of-concept study employing a randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled design testing the effect of B-cell depletion in patients with psychosis. 120 participants with a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) (ICD-10 codes F20, F25) will receive either one intravenous infusion of rituximab (1000 mg) or saline. Psychiatric measures and blood samples will be collected at baseline, week 12, and week 24 post-infusion. Brief assessments will also be made in weeks 2 and 7. Neuroimaging and lumbar puncture, both optional, will be performed at baseline and endpoints. Approximately 40 of the patients and their informants will be interviewed for qualitative analyses on the perceived changes in well-being and emotional qualities, in addition to their views on the research. DISCUSSION: This is the first RCT investigating add-on treatment with rituximab in unselected SSD patients. If the treatment is helpful, it may transform the treatment of patients with psychotic disorders. It may also heighten the awareness of immune-psychiatric disorders and reduce stigma. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05622201, EudraCT-nr 2022-000220-37 version 2.1. registered 14th of October 2022.

Visual Acuity and the Risk of Cycling Injuries: Register-Based Cohort Study From Adolescence to Middle-age.

BACKGROUND: Cycling is increasingly encouraged in many countries as an inexpensive and healthy choice of transportation. Operating any vehicle on the road requires high visual acuity, but few studies to our knowledge have examined the association between vision and cycling injuries. METHODS: We examined whether poorer visual acuity is associated with increased risk of fatal and nonfatal cycling injuries. We used prospectively recorded register data for 691,402 men born between 1970 and 1992 in Sweden. We followed these men from an average age of 18 years, when visual acuity was assessed during the conscription assessment, to age 45 at the latest. We identified fatal and nonfatal cycling and car injuries using Patient and Cause of Death registers. Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Based on visual acuity for the eye with the best vision, moderately impaired acuity 0.9 to 0.6 when wearing refractive correction was associated with increased risk for cycling injuries (hazard ratio = 1.44 [95% confidence interval = 1.16, 1.79]) compared with unimpaired vision (uncorrected visual acuity 1.0) and after adjustment for a wide range of potential confounders. This association remained consistent across various sensitivity analyses. Visual acuity was not associated with car injury risk. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort study, poorer vision was specifically associated with a higher rate of cycling injuries.

Beta-blocker use and urothelial bladder cancer survival: a Swedish register-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Recent observational studies linked ß-adrenergic receptor blocker use with improved survival in patients with several cancer types, but there is no information on the potential effects of ß-blockers in patients with bladder cancer. Literature from pre-clinical studies is also limited, but urothelial cancer can exhibit significant overexpression of ß-adrenergic receptors relative to normal urothelial tissue, suggesting that urothelial cancer may benefit from ß-blockade therapy. We thus aimed to explore the possible association between ß-blocker use and bladder cancer-specific mortality (BCSM) among patients with urothelial bladder cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients diagnosed during 2006-2014 and identified from the Swedish Cancer Register (n = 16,669) were followed until 31 December 2015. Cox regression was used to evaluate the association of ß-blockers dispensed within 90 days prior to cancer diagnosis with BCSM (primary outcome) and all-cause mortality, while controlling for socio-demographic factors, tumor characteristics, comorbidity, other medications and surgical procedures. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. RESULTS: Overall, ß-blocker use was associated with lower BCSM [HR 0.88 (95%CI 0.81-0.96)]. Especially use of nonselective ß-blockers showed a clear inverse association in comparison with both nonuse [0.66 (0.50-0.86)] and use of other antihypertensive medications [0.72 (0.54-0.95)]. The inverse association was most pronounced among patients with locally advanced/metastatic disease: [0.35 (0.18-0.68)]. A lower-magnitude inverse association was observed for selective ß-blocker use [0.91 (0.83-0.99)]. Largely similar inverse associations were observed for hydrophilic [0.82 (0.70-0.95)] and lipophilic [0.91 (0.83-1.00)] ß-blocker use. CONCLUSION: ß-blocker use, particularly of the nonselective type, was associated with lower BCSM, especially in patients with locally advanced/metastatic urothelial bladder cancer.

Hospital-diagnosed infections before age 20 and risk of a subsequent multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

The involvement of specific viral and bacterial infections as risk factors for multiple sclerosis has been studied extensively. However, whether this extends to infections in a broader sense is less clear and little is known about whether risk of a multiple sclerosis diagnosis is associated with other types and sites of infections such as the CNS. This study aims to assess if hospital-diagnosed infections by type and site before age 20 years are associated with risk of a subsequent multiple sclerosis diagnosis and whether this association is explained entirely by infectious mononucleosis, pneumonia, and CNS infections. Individuals born in Sweden between 1970 and 1994 were identified using the Swedish Total Population Register (n = 2 422 969). Multiple sclerosis diagnoses from age 20 years and hospital-diagnosed infections before age 20 years were identified using the Swedish National Patient Register. Risk of a multiple sclerosis diagnosis associated with various infections in adolescence (11-19 years) and earlier childhood (birth-10 years) was estimated using Cox regression, with adjustment for sex, parental socio-economic position, and infection type. None of the infections by age 10 years were associated with risk of a multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Any infection in adolescence increased the risk of a multiple sclerosis diagnosis (hazard ratio 1.33, 95% confidence interval 1.21-1.46) and remained statistically significant after exclusion of infectious mononucleosis, pneumonia, and CNS infection (hazard ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval 1.06-1.30). CNS infection in adolescence (excluding encephalomyelitis to avoid including acute disseminated encephalitis) increased the risk of a multiple sclerosis diagnosis (hazard ratio 1.85, 95% confidence interval 1.11-3.07). The increased risk of a multiple sclerosis diagnosis associated with viral infection in adolescence was largely explained by infectious mononucleosis. Bacterial infections in adolescence increased risk of a multiple sclerosis diagnosis, but the magnitude of risk reduced after excluding infectious mononucleosis, pneumonia and CNS infection (hazard ratio 1.31, 95% confidence interval 1.13-1.51). Respiratory infection in adolescence also increased risk of a multiple sclerosis diagnosis (hazard ratio 1.51, 95% confidence interval 1.30-1.75), but was not statistically significant after excluding infectious mononucleosis and pneumonia. These findings suggest that a variety of serious infections in adolescence, including novel evidence for CNS infections, are risk factors for a subsequent multiple sclerosis diagnosis, further demonstrating adolescence is a critical period of susceptibility to environmental exposures that raise the risk of a multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Importantly, this increased risk cannot be entirely explained by infectious mononucleosis, pneumonia, or CNS infections.

Factors associated with self-assessed asthma severity.

BACKGROUND: Asthma severity can be estimated as the level of medication needed to achieve asthma control or by the patient's subjective assessment. Factors associated with self-assessed asthma severity are still incompletely explored. AIM: The aim was to study factors associated with self-assessed moderate or severe asthma. METHOD: In total, 1828 randomly selected asthma patients from primary (69%) and secondary (31%) care, completed a questionnaire including items about patient characteristics, comorbidity, the Asthma Control Test (ACT), emergency care visits and a scale for self-assessed asthma severity. Logistic regression was used to analyze associations with the dependent variable, self-assessed moderate or severe asthma in the entire study population and stratified by sex. RESULTS: Of the patients, 883 (45%) reported having moderate or severe asthma. Factors independently associated with self-assessed moderate or severe asthma were age >60 years (OR [95% CI] 1.98 [1.37-2.85]), allergic rhino-conjunctivitis (1.43 [1.05-1.95]), sinusitis (1.45 [1.09-1.93]), poor asthma control as measured by ACT <20 (5.64 [4.45-7.16]) and emergency care visits the previous year (2.52 [1.90-3.34]). Lower level of education was associated with self-assessed moderate/severe asthma in women (1.16 [1.05-2.43]) but not in men (0.90 [0.65-1.25]), p for interaction = .012. CONCLUSION: Poor asthma control, allergic rhino-conjunctivitis, recent sinusitis and older age were independently associated with self-assessed moderate or severe asthma. Important implications are that comorbid conditions of the upper airways should always be considered as part of asthma management, and that elderly patients may need extra attention.

Quality of life and asthma control related to hormonal transitions in women's lives.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to investigate if menstruation and use of exogenous sex hormones influence self-reported asthma related quality of life (QoL) and asthma control. METHODS: The study is based on two asthma cohorts randomly selected in primary and secondary care. A total of 622 female patients 18-65 years were included and classified as premenopausal ≤ 46 years (n = 338) and peri/postmenopausal 47-65 years (n = 284). Questionnaire data from 2012 and 2014 with demographics, asthma related issues and sex hormone status. Outcome measures were Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (Mini-AQLQ) and asthma control including Asthma Control Test (ACT) and exacerbations last six months. RESULTS: Premenopausal women with menstruation related asthma worsening, perimenstrual asthma (PMA) (9%), had a clinically relevant lower Mini-AQLQ mean score 4.9 vs. 5.8 (p < 0.001), lower asthma control with ACT score < 20, 72% vs. 28% (p < 0.001) and higher exacerbation frequency 44% vs. 20% (p = 0.004) compared with women without PMA. Women with irregular menstruation had higher exacerbation frequency than women with regular menstruation (p = 0.023). Hormonal contraceptives had no impact on QoL and asthma control. Peri/postmenopausal women with menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) had a clinically relevant lower Mini-AQLQ mean score compared to those without MHT, 4.9 vs 5.4 (p < 0.001), but no differences in asthma control. CONCLUSION: Women with PMA had lower QoL and more uncontrolled asthma than women without PMA. Peri/postmenopausal women with MHT had lower QoL than women without MHT. Individual clinical management of women with asthma may benefit from information about their sex hormone status.

Neuroticism and Sexual Orientation-Based Victimization as Mediators of Sexual Orientation Disparities in Mental Health.

This study tested whether elevated risk of poorer mental health outcomes among nonheterosexual adolescents compared with heterosexual adolescents is plausibly explained by neuroticism and sexual orientation-based victimization. The Millennium Cohort Study, a large British prospective birth cohort, was used (4566 heterosexual boys, 77 bisexual boys, 129 homosexual boys, 96 asexual boys, 4444 heterosexual girls, 280 bisexual girls, 158 homosexual girls, and 182 asexual girls). We analyzed the following measures assessed at age 17 years: sexual orientation based on sexual attraction, neuroticism, sexual orientation-based victimization, self-harm attempts, and psychological well-being. Mediation analysis was undertaken separately by sex and yielded the following statistically significant findings: for both sexes, we found that bisexual and homosexual adolescents scored higher than heterosexual adolescents on neuroticism; for both sexes, bisexual and homosexual adolescents reported more negative psychological well-being scores and self-harm attempts compared with heterosexual adolescents, with total effects (standardized regression coefficients) ranging from .58 to .91; those associations were mediated through sexual orientation-based victimization and neuroticism scores, with the indirect effects (standardized regression coefficients) through sexual orientation-based victimization and neuroticism scores ranging from .09 to .26 and .16 to .55, respectively. Asexual adolescents did not differ significantly from their heterosexual counterparts in psychological well-being and self-harm attempts, with the total effects ranging from - .02 to .21. Sexual orientation-based victimization and neuroticism may both contribute to the sexual orientation-related disparities in psychological well-being and self-harm attempts. However, neuroticism appears to the more powerful factor.

Maternal perception of child weight and concern about child overweight mediates the relationship between child weight and feeding practices.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the mediating effects of maternal perception of child weight (weight perception) and concern about overweight (weight concern) on the paths between child weight and maternal feeding practices. SETTING: Pudong District, Shanghai, China. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 1164 mothers who were primary caregivers of preschool children. RESULTS: Sixty per cent of the mothers perceived their overweight/obese children as normal weight or even underweight. The disagreement between actual child weight and maternal weight perception was statistically significant (Kappa = 0·212, P < 0·001). Structural equation modelling indicated that weight perception fully mediated the relationship between child BMI Z-scores and pressure to eat. Weight concern fully mediated the relationships between child BMI Z-scores and the other three feeding practices. The serial mediating effects of weight perception and concern were statistically significant for the paths between child BMI Z-score and monitoring (ß = 0·035, P < 0·001), restriction (ß = 0·022, P < 0·001), and food as a reward (ß = -0·017, P < 0·05). CONCLUSION: Child weight may influence maternal feeding practices through weight perception and concern. Thus, interventions are needed to increase the accuracy of weight perception, which may influence several maternal feeding practices and thereby contribute to child health.

Skeletal adverse events in childhood cancer survivors: An Adult Life after Childhood Cancer in Scandinavia cohort study.

The dynamic growth of the skeleton during childhood and adolescence renders it vulnerable to adverse effects of cancer treatment. The lifetime risk and patterns of skeletal morbidity have not been described in a population-based cohort of childhood cancer survivors. A cohort of 26 334 1-year cancer survivors diagnosed before 20 years of age was identified from the national cancer registries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden as well as a cohort of 127 531 age- and sex-matched comparison subjects randomly selected from the national population registries in each country. The two cohorts were linked with data from the national hospital registries and the observed numbers of first-time hospital admissions for adverse skeletal outcomes among childhood cancer survivors were compared to the expected numbers derived from the comparison cohort. In total, 1987 childhood cancer survivors had at least one hospital admission with a skeletal adverse event as discharge diagnosis, yielding a rate ratio (RR) of 1.35 (95% confidence interval, 1.29-1.42). Among the survivors, we observed an increased risk for osteonecrosis with a RR of 25.9 (15.0-44.5), osteoporosis, RR 4.53 (3.28-6.27), fractures, RR 1.27 (1.20-1.34), osteochondropathies, RR 1.57 (1.28-1.92) and osteoarthrosis, RR 1.48 (1.28-1.72). The hospitalization risk for any skeletal adverse event was higher among survivors up to the age of 60 years, but the lifetime pattern was different for each type of skeletal adverse event. Understanding the different lifetime patterns and identification of high-risk groups is crucial for developing strategies to optimize skeletal health in childhood cancer survivors.

Higher body mass index at ages 16 to 20 years is associated with increased risk of a multiple sclerosis diagnosis in subsequent adulthood among men.

BACKGROUND: Evidence for the association between body mass index (BMI) and multiple sclerosis (MS) among men remains mixed. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: Swedish military conscription and other registers identified MS after age of 20 years and BMI at ages 16-20 years (N = 744,548). RESULTS: Each unit (kg/m2) BMI increase was associated with greater MS risk (hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval = 1.034, 1.016-1.053), independent of physical fitness (1.021, 1.001-1.042). Categorised, overweight and obesity were associated with statistically significant raised MS risk compared to normal weight, but not after adjustment for physical fitness. CONCLUSION: MS risk rises with increasing BMI, across the entire BMI range.

Comorbid disease burden among MS patients 1968-2012: A Swedish register-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: People with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) have increased comorbid disease (CMD) risk. Most previous studies have not considered overall CMD burden. OBJECTIVE: To describe lifetime CMD burden among pwMS. METHODS: PwMS identified using Swedish registers between 1968 and 2012 (n = 25,476) were matched by sex, age, and county of residence with general-population comparators (n = 251,170). Prevalence, prevalence ratios (PRs), survival functions, and hazard ratios by MS status, age, and time period compared seven CMD: autoimmune, cardiovascular, depression, diabetes, respiratory, renal, and seizures. RESULTS: The magnitude of the PRs for each CMD and age group decreased across time, with higher PRs in earlier time periods. Before 1990, younger age groups had higher PRs, and after 1990, older age groups had higher PRs. Male pwMS had higher burden compared with females. Overall, renal, respiratory, and seizures had the highest PRs. Before 2001, 50% of pwMS received a first/additional CMD diagnosis 20 years prior to people without MS, which reduced to 4 years after 2001. PwMS had four times higher rates of first/additional diagnoses in earlier time periods, which reduced to less than two times higher in recent time periods compared to people without MS. CONCLUSION: Swedish pwMS have increased CMD burden compared with the general population, but this has reduced over time.

Facilitators and barriers to return to work and meet financial needs in parents of children with cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to explore what facilitators and barriers parents of children with cancer identify for their ability to return to work and meet financial needs. PROCEDURE: Nine focus groups (21 mothers; 11 fathers) were performed across Sweden in 2015 and 2019. A deductive content analysis approach was used. A preconstructed matrix consisting of 12 codes based on previous literature was used to organize the data. The codes were grouped into subcategories, which were abstracted to four generic categories. RESULTS: Facilitators for a return to work were covered in the category "Flexibility and understanding from employers and social services," and barriers in the category "Pressure to return without consideration of the consequences." Facilitators to meeting financial needs were covered in the category "Available public, private, and employer support," and barriers in the category "Lack of organized and efficient support from employers and social services." CONCLUSIONS: The identified barriers suggest that there is room for improvement in the provision of psychosocial support, which relates to a perceived lack of organized support regarding practical, financial, and occupational matters. The results show a need for a coordinated support system that includes major stakeholders, such as the health care, welfare agencies, and employers. Moreover, employers should consider how to implement more workplace flexibility and involvement of occupational health services. Importantly, to be able to return to work and achieve a sustainable financial situation, it is necessary for all stakeholders to recognize the long-term impact of parenting a child with cancer.

Factors associated with knowledge of self-management of worsening asthma in primary care patients: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Self-management is important for asthma control. We examined associations of patient- and healthcare-related factors with self-reported knowledge of self-management of worsening asthma. METHODS: Two asthma patient cohorts from 2012 (n = 527) and 2015 (n = 915) were randomly selected from 54 primary health care centers (PHCC) in central Sweden. Data were collected using patient questionnaires and questionnaires to the PHCCs. Logistic regression analyzed associations of relevant variables with knowledge of self-management of worsening asthma. RESULTS: In total, 63% of patients reported moderate to complete knowledge of self-management procedures. The adjusted OR for moderate to complete knowledge relative to high education level was 1.38 [95% CI 1.03-1.85)]; for physician continuity 2.19 (95% CI 1.62-2.96); for a written action plan 11.9 (95% CI 6.16-22.9); for Step 2 maintenance treatment 1.53 (95% CI 0.04-2.24); and 2.07 (95% CI 1.44-2.99) for Step 3. An asthma/COPD nurse visit within the previous 12 months was associated with greater knowledge in women but not in men (p for interaction = 0.042). Smoking [OR 0.56 (95% CI 0.34-0.95)], co-morbidities ≥1 [OR 0.68 (95% CI 0.49-0.93)], and self-rated moderate/severe disease [OR 0.68 (95% CI 0.51-0.90)] were associated with low self-management knowledge. CONCLUSION: Self-reported knowledge of self-management procedures was associated with a higher educational level, physician continuity, a written action plan, advanced treatment and, in women, visiting an asthma/COPD nurse. The results reinforce the importance of implementing guidelines of patient access to a specific physician, a written action plan, and structured education by an asthma/COPD nurse.

Validity of Routinely Collected Swedish Data in the International Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Database.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess patient coverage, validity and data quality in the Swedish part of the International Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Interactive Audit System (EIAS). METHOD: All Swedish ERAS centers that recorded colorectal surgery data in EIAS between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, were included (N = 12). Information registered in EIAS was compared with data from electronic medical records at each hospital to assess the overall coverage of EIAS. Twenty random-selected patients from each of the contributing centers were assessed for accuracy for a set of clinically relevant variables. All patients admitted to the contributing centers were included for the assessment of rate of missing on a selection of key clinical variables. RESULTS: Eight hospitals provided complete information for the evaluation, while four hospitals only allowed assessment of coverage and missing data. The eight hospitals had an overall coverage of 98.8% in EIAS (n = 1301) and the four 86.7% (n = 811). The average agreement for the assessed postoperative outcome variables was 96.5%. The accuracy was excellent for 'length of hospital stay,' 'reoperation,' and 'any complications,' but lower for other types of complications. Only a few variables had more than 5% missing data, and missingness was associated with hospital type and size. CONCLUSION: This validation of the Swedish part of the international ERAS database suggests high patient coverage in EIAS and high agreement and limited missingness in clinically relevant variables. This validation approach or a modified version can be used for continued validation of the International ERAS database.

Beta-adrenergic receptor blockers and liver cancer mortality in a national cohort of hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Background: ß-adrenergic signaling has been implicated in the pathology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the evidence from clinical studies is limited. In this national population-based cohort study, we investigated the possible association of ß-adrenergic receptor blockers and cancer-specific mortality among patients with primary HCC diagnosed in Sweden between 2006 and 2014.Methods: Patients were identified from the Swedish Cancer Register (n = 2104) and followed until 31 December 2015. We used Cox regression to evaluate the association of ß-blockers dispensed within 90 days prior to cancer diagnosis, ascertained from the national Prescribed Drug Register, with liver cancer mortality identified from the Cause of Death Register, while controlling for socio-demographic factors, tumor characteristics, comorbidity, other medications and treatment procedures.Results: Over a median follow-up of 9.9 months, 1601 patients died (of whom 1309 from liver cancer). Compared with non-use, ß-blocker use at cancer diagnosis [n = 714 (predominantly prevalent use, 93%)] was associated with lower liver cancer mortality [0.82 (0.72-0.94); p = .005]. Statistically significant associations were observed for non-selective [0.71 (0.55-0.91); p = .006], ß1-receptor selective [0.86 [0.75-1.00); p = .049] and lipophilic [0.78 (0.67-0.90); p = .001] ß-blockers. No association was observed for hydrophilic ß-blockers [1.01 (0.80-1.28); p = .906] or other antihypertensive medications. Further analysis suggested that the observed lower liver cancer mortality rate was limited to patients with localized disease at diagnosis [0.82 (0.67-1.01); p = .062].Conclusion: ß-blocker use was associated with lower liver cancer mortality rate in this national cohort of patients with HCC. A higher-magnitude inverse association was observed in relation to non-selective ß-blocker use.