Social inequality in prevalence of NCD risk factors: a cross-sectional analysis from the population-based Tromsø Study 2015-2016.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine associations between educational level, serving as an indicator of socioeconomic position, and prevalence of WHO-established leading behavioural and biological risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), in middle-aged to older women and men. DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study. SETTING: All inhabitants of the municipality of Tromsø, Norway, aged ≥40 years, were invited to the seventh survey (2015-2016) of the Tromsø Study; an ongoing population-based cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Of the 32 591 invited; 65% attended, and a total of 21 069 women (53%) and men aged 40-99 years were included in our study. OUTCOME MEASURES: We assessed associations between educational level and NCD behavioural and biological risk factors: daily smoking, physical inactivity (sedentary in leisure time), insufficient fruit/vegetable intake (<5 units/day), harmful alcohol use (>10 g/day in women, >20 g/day in men), hypertension, obesity, intermediate hyperglycaemia and hypercholesterolaemia. These were expressed as odds ratios (OR) per unit decrease in educational level, with 95% CIs, in women and men. RESULTS: In women (results were not significantly different in men), we observed statistically significant associations between lower educational levels and higher odds of daily smoking (OR 1.69; 95% CI 1.60 to 1.78), physical inactivity (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.31 to 1.46), insufficient fruit/vegetable intake (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.43 to 1.66), hypertension (OR 1.25; 95% CI 1.20 to 1.30), obesity (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.18 to 1.29), intermediate hyperglycaemia (OR 1.12; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.19), and hypercholesterolaemia (OR 1.07; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.12), and lower odds of harmful alcohol use (OR 0.75; 95% CI 0.72 to 0.78). CONCLUSION: We found statistically significant educational gradients in women and men for all WHO-established leading NCD risk factors within a Nordic middle-aged to older general population. The prevalence of all risk factors increased at lower educational levels, except for harmful alcohol use, which increased at higher educational levels.

Lifestyle factors as mediators of area-level socioeconomic differentials in mental health and cognitive function: the Tromsø Study.

INTRODUCTION: Low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with poor mental health and cognitive function. Individual-level SES and area-level SES (ASES) may affect mental health and cognitive function through lifestyle. We aimed to quantify the associations of ASES with mental health and cognitive function and examine the mediating role of lifestyle behaviours independent of individual-level SES in a Norwegian population. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we included 7211 participants (54% women) from the seventh survey of the Tromsø Study (2015-2016) (Tromsø7). The exposure variable ASES was created by aggregating individual-level SES variables (education, income, housing ownership) from Statistics Norway at the geographical subdivision level. Tromsø7 data were used as mediators (smoking, snuff, alcohol, physical activity, diet) and outcomes (cognitive function, anxiety, depression, insomnia). Mediation and mediated moderation analysis were performed with age as a moderator, stratified by sex. RESULTS: Higher ASES was associated with better cognitive function and fewer depression and insomnia symptoms, independent of individual-level SES. These associations were mediated by smoking and physical activity. Alcohol was a mediator for depression and cognitive function in women. Age was a significant moderator of the association between ASES and global cognitive function in women. The largest total indirect effect of ASES was found for depression, with the joint effect of the mediators accounting for 36% of the total effect. CONCLUSIONS: People living in areas with lower ASES are at higher risk of poor mental health, such as depression and insomnia, and have lower cognitive function possibly due to unhealthy lifestyle (smoking, alcohol and physical inactivity).

Device-measured physical activity, sedentary time, and risk of all-cause mortality: an individual participant data analysis of four prospective cohort studies.

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) modifies the association between sedentary time and mortality and vice versa, and estimate the joint associations of MVPA and sedentary time on mortality risk. METHODS: This study involved individual participant data analysis of four prospective cohort studies (Norway, Sweden, USA, baseline: 2003-2016, 11 989 participants ≥50 years, 50.5% women) with hip-accelerometry-measured physical activity and sedentary time. Associations were examined using restricted cubic splines and fractional polynomials in Cox regressions adjusted for sex, education, body mass index, smoking, alcohol, study cohort, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and/or diabetes, accelerometry wear time and age. RESULTS: 6.7% (n=805) died during follow-up (median 5.2 years, IQR 4.2 years). More than 12 daily sedentary hours (reference 8 hours) was associated with mortality risk only among those accumulating <22 min of MVPA per day (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.74). Higher MVPA levels were associated with lower mortality risk irrespective of sedentary time, for example, HR for 10 versus 0 daily min of MVPA was 0.85 (95% CI 0.74 to 0.96) in those accumulating <10.5 daily sedentary hours and 0.65 (95% CI 0.53 to 0.79) in those accumulating ≥10.5 daily sedentary hours. Joint association analyses confirmed that higher MVPA was superior to lower sedentary time in lowering mortality risk, for example, 10 versus 0 daily min of MVPA was associated with 28-55% lower mortality risk across the sedentary time spectrum (lowest risk, 10 daily sedentary hours: HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.65). CONCLUSIONS: Sedentary time was associated with higher mortality risk but only in individuals accumulating less than 22 min of MVPA per day. Higher MVPA levels were associated with lower mortality risk irrespective of the amount of sedentary time.

Trends in gastro-oesophageal reflux in a Norwegian general population: the Tromsø Study 1979-2016.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of overweight and smoking has changed over time. However, whether the changes in the risk factors are reflected in the prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is unknown. The aims of this study were to assess the changes in prevalence of GORD and the associated risk factors over time in a general population. METHODS: This was a population-based study using repeated surveys of the Tromsø Study: Tromsø2 (1979-1980, n = 14,279), Tromsø6 (2007-2008, n = 11,460) and Tromsø7 (2015-2016, n = 20,664). Complaints of heartburn and acid regurgitation and common risk factors were reported, and height and weight were measured. The prevalence of GORD was calculated and the association with risk factors was assessed at each time point by odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of GORD was 13% in 1979-1980, 6% in 2007-2008 and 11% in 2015-2016. In all three surveys, the risk of GORD was consistently increased with overweight and smoking. However, overweight was a weaker risk factor in the first (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.42-1.76) compared to the last (OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.94-2.41) survey. Smoking was a stronger risk factor in the first (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.31-1.60) than at the last (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.01-2.29) survey. CONCLUSION: During four decades of follow-up of the same population, no clear change in prevalence of GORD was found. GORD was clearly and consistently associated with overweight and smoking. However, overweight has become a more important risk factor than smoking over time.

Consistent pattern between physical activity measures and chronic pain levels: the Tromsø Study 2015 to 2016.

ABSTRACT: Epidemiological literature on the relationship between physical activity and chronic pain is scarce and inconsistent. Hence, our aim was to assess the relationship applying comprehensive methodology, including self-reported and accelerometer measures of physical activity and different severity levels of chronic pain. We used data from the Tromsø Study (2015-2016). All residents in the municipality, aged 40 years and older were invited to participate (n = 32,591, 51% women). A total of 21,083 (53%) women reported on questionnaires. Additionally, 6778 participants (54% women) were invited to wear accelerometers (6125 with complete measurements). Our exposure measures were self-reported leisure time physical activity, exercise frequency, duration, and intensity and 2 accelerometer measures (steps per day and minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day). Outcome measurements were chronic pain and moderate-to-severe chronic pain. We used Poisson regression to estimate chronic pain prevalence and prevalence ratios for each physical activity measure, with adjustments for sex, age, education level, smoking history, and occupational physical activity. Our main analyses showed an inverse dose-response relationship between all physical activity measures and both severity measures of chronic pain, except that the dose-response relationship with exercise duration was only found for moderate-to-severe pain. All findings were stronger for the moderate-to-severe pain outcomes than for chronic pain. Robustness analyses gave similar results as the main analyses. We conclude that an inverse dose-response association between physical activity and chronic pain is consistent across measures. To summarize, higher levels of physical activity is associated with less chronic pain and moderate-to-severe chronic pain.

Achievements of primary prevention targets in individuals with high risk of cardiovascular disease: an 8-year follow-up of the Tromsø study.

Aims: To study change over 8 years in cardiovascular risk, achievement of national guideline-based treatment targets of lipids, blood pressure (BP) and smoking in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), medication use, and characteristics associated with target achievement among individuals with high CVD risk in a general population. Methods and results: We followed 2524 women and men aged 40-79 years with high risk of CVD attending the population-based Tromsø study in 2007-08 (Tromsø6) to their participation in the next survey in 2015-16 (Tromsø7). We used descriptive statistics and regression models to study change in CVD risk and medication use, and characteristics associated with treatment target achievement. In total, 71.4% reported use of BP- and/or lipid-lowering medication at second screening. Overall, CVD risk decreased during follow-up, with a larger decrease among medication users compared with non-users. Treatment target achievement was 31.0% for total cholesterol <5 mmol/L, 27.3% for LDL cholesterol <3 mmol/L, 43.4% for BP <140/90 (<135/85 if diabetes) mmHg, and 85.4% for non-smoking. A total of 9.8% reached all treatment targets combined. Baseline risk factor levels and current medication use had the strongest associations with treatment target achievement. Conclusion: We found an overall improvement in CVD risk factors among high-risk individuals over 8 years. However, guideline-based treatment target achievement was relatively low for all risk factors except smoking. Medication use was the strongest characteristic associated with achieving treatment targets. This study has demonstrated that primary prevention of CVD continues to remain a major challenge.

Relationship between periodontitis and risk of cardiovascular disease: Insights from the Tromsø Study.

BACKGROUND: Few large-scale studies have investigated the association between periodontitis and cardiovascular risk estimated by risk assessment models; moreover, this association remains unexplored in never-smokers. We aimed to examine the relationship between periodontitis and cardiovascular risk in a Norwegian general population, with a focus on never-smokers and the impact of sex and age. METHODS: The present study included 2623 participants from the seventh survey of the Tromsø Study (Tromsø7, 2015-2016), aged 45-74 years, and without previous myocardial infarction or stroke. Periodontitis was defined according to the 2017 American Academy of Periodontology and the European Federation of Periodontology classification system. Participants were categorized by grade based on percentage bone loss/age as no periodontitis/Grade A (low progression rate) and Grade B/C (moderate-rapid progression rate). Low, medium, and high cardiovascular risk was defined based on the Norwegian risk model NORRISK 2. We used ordered logistic regression analysis to examine the association between periodontitis and cardiovascular risk, adjusting for education, toothbrushing frequency, body mass index, and diabetes. Subanalyses included stratification by sex and age (45-54, 55-64, 65-74 years) and a separate analysis of never-smokers. RESULTS: Periodontitis Grade B/C was associated with higher cardiovascular risk than no periodontitis/Grade A (odds ratio [OR], 2.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.75-2.61). This association was significant in both men and women, all age groups, and never-smokers. However, when never-smokers were stratified by age, the association remained significant only in those aged 65-74 years (OR, 3.00; 95% CI, 1.50-5.99). CONCLUSION: Periodontitis Grade B/C was associated with higher cardiovascular risk overall, and in never-smokers aged 65-74 years.

A Smartphone-Based Information Communication Technology Solution for Primary Modifiable Risk Factors for Noncommunicable Diseases: Pilot and Feasibility Study in Norway.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes are the 4 main noncommunicable diseases. These noncommunicable diseases share 4 modifiable risk factors (tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet). Short smartphone surveys have the potential to identify modifiable risk factors for individuals to monitor trends. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to pilot a smartphone-based information communication technology solution to collect nationally representative data, annually, on 4 modifiable risk factors. METHODS: We developed an information communication technology solution with functionalities for capturing sensitive data from smartphones, receiving, and handling data in accordance with general data protection regulations. The main survey comprised 26 questions: 8 on socioeconomic factors, 17 on the 4 risk factors, and 1 about current or previous noncommunicable diseases. For answers to the continuous questions, a keyboard was displayed for entering numbers; there were preset upper and lower limits for acceptable response values. For categorical questions, pull-down menus with response options were displayed. The second survey comprised 9 yes-or-no questions. For both surveys, we used SMS text messaging. For the main survey, we invited 11,000 individuals, aged 16 to 69 years, selected randomly from the Norwegian National Population Registry (1000 from each of the 11 counties). For the second survey, we invited a random sample of 100 individuals from each county who had not responded to the main survey. All data, except county of residence, were self-reported. We calculated the distribution for socioeconomic background, tobacco use, diet, physical activity, and health condition factors overall and by sex. RESULTS: The response rate was 21.9% (2303/11,000; women: 1397/2263; 61.7%, men: 866/2263, 38.3%; missing: 40/2303, 1.7%). The median age for men was 52 years (IQR 40-61); the median age for women was 48 years (IQR 35-58). The main reported reason for nonparticipation in the main survey was that the sender of the initial SMS was unknown. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully developed and piloted a smartphone-based information communication technology solution for collecting data on the 4 modifiable risk factors for the 4 main noncommunicable diseases. Approximately 1 in 5 invitees responded; thus, these data may not be nationally representative. The smartphone-based information communication technology solution should be further developed with the long-term goal to reduce premature mortality from the 4 main noncommunicable diseases.

Trends in Disability-Free Life Expectancy (DFLE) from 1995 to 2017 in the older Norwegian population by sex and education: The HUNT Study.

AIM: Understanding whether increasing Life Expectancy (LE) translates to improved health and function among older adults is essential, but results are inconclusive. We aimed to estimate trends in Disability-Free Life Expectancy (DFLE) in the older Norwegian population by sex and education from 1995 to 2017. METHOD: National life table data were combined with cross-sectional data on functional ability for 70+ year-olds from the population-based Trøndelag Health Surveys 2-4 (1995-1997, 2006-2008 and 2017-2019) (n=24,733). Self-reported functional ability was assessed on a graded scale by a combination of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) such as paying bills, going out or shopping (mild disability) and Personal Activities of Daily Living (PADL) such as washing, dressing or eating (severe disability). LE, DFLE, Mild-Disability LE and Severe-Disability LE at age 70 were estimated by the Sullivan method. RESULTS: From 1995 to 2017 DFLE at age 70 increased from 8.4 to 13.0 years in women, and from 8.0 to 12.1 years in men. DFLE increased in the basic and high educational groups, but more so in the high educational group among men. Educational inequalities in years spent with disability however, remained low. CONCLUSIONS: From the mid-1990s and over the past three decades both LE and DFLE at 70 years increased in the older Norwegian population, for both men and women, and across basic and high educational levels. Educational inequalities in DFLE increased, especially in men, but years spent with disability were similar across the three decades.

What factors explain the much higher diabetes prevalence in Russia compared with Norway? Major sex differences in the contribution of adiposity.

INTRODUCTION: Compared with many other countries Russia has a high prevalence of diabetes in men and women. However, contrary to what is found in most other populations, the risk is greater among women than men. The reasons for this are unclear. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Prevalence and risk factors for diabetes at ages 40-69 years were compared in two population-based studies: Know Your Heart (KYH) (Russia, 2015-2018, n=4121) and the seventh wave of the Tromsø Study (Tromsø 7) (Norway, 2015-2016, n=17 649). Diabetes was defined by the level of glycated hemoglobin and/or self-reported diabetes and/or diabetes medication use. Marginal structural models were used to estimate the role of key risk factors for diabetes in differences between the studies. RESULTS: Age-standardized prevalence of diabetes was higher in KYH compared with Tromsø 7 in men (11.6% vs 6.2%) and in women (13.2% vs 4.3%). Age-adjusted ORs for diabetes in KYH compared with Tromsø 7 were 2.01 (95% CI 1.68 to 2.40) for men and 3.66 (95% CI 3.13 to 4.26) for women. Adiposity (body mass index and waist circumference) explained none of this effect for men but explained 46.0% (39.6, 53.8) for women. Addition of smoking and C reactive protein, as further mediators, slightly increased the percentage explained of the difference between studies to 55.5% (46.5, 66.0) for women but only to 9.9% (-0.6, 20.8) for men. CONCLUSIONS: Adiposity is a key modifiable risk factor that appears to explain half of the almost threefold higher female prevalence of diabetes in Russia compared with Norway, but none of the twofold male difference.

Trends in Modifiable Risk Factors Are Associated With Declining Incidence of Hospitalized and Nonhospitalized Acute Coronary Heart Disease in a Population.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have used individual person data to study whether contemporary trends in the incidence of coronary heart disease are associated with changes in modifiable coronary risk factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: We identified 29 582 healthy men and women ≥25 years of age who participated in 3 population surveys conducted between 1994 and 2008 in Tromsø, Norway. Age- and sex-adjusted incidence rates were calculated for coronary heart disease overall, out-of-hospital sudden death, and hospitalized ST-segment-elevation and non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. We measured coronary risk factors at each survey and estimated the relationship between changes in risk factors and changes in incidence trends. A total of 1845 participants had an incident acute coronary heart disease event during 375 064 person-years of follow-up from 1994 to 2010. The age- and sex-adjusted incidence of total coronary heart disease decreased by 3% (95% confidence interval, 2.0-4.0; P<0.001) each year. This decline was driven by decreases in out-of-hospital sudden death and hospitalized ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. Changes in coronary risk factors accounted for 66% (95% confidence interval, 48-97; P<0.001) of the decline in total coronary heart disease. Favorable changes in cholesterol contributed 32% to the decline, whereas blood pressure, smoking, and physical activity each contributed 14%, 13%, and 9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a substantial decline in the incidence of coronary heart disease that was driven by reductions in out-of-hospital sudden death and hospitalized ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. Changes in modifiable coronary risk factors accounted for 66% of the decline in coronary heart disease events.

Seasonal variation in incidence of acute myocardial infarction in a sub-Arctic population: the Tromsø Study 1974-2004.

BACKGROUND: A seasonal pattern with higher winter morbidity and mortality has been reported for acute myocardial infarction (MI). The magnitude of the difference between peak and nadir season has been associated with latitude, but results are inconsistent. Studies of seasonal variation of MI in population-based cohorts, based on adjudicated MI cases,are few.We investigated the monthly and seasonal variation in first-ever nonfatal and fatal MI in the population of Tromsø in northern Norway, a region with a harsh climate and extreme seasonal variation in daylight exposure. DESIGN: Prospective population-based cohort study. METHODS: A total of 37 392 participants from the Tromsø Study enrolled between 1974 and 2001 were followed throughout 2004. Each incident case of MI was validated by the review of medical records and death certificates. MI incidence rates for months and seasons were analyzed for seasonal patterns with Poisson regression and the Cosinor procedure. All analyses were stratified by sex, age and smoking status. RESULTS: A total of 1893 first-ever MIs were registered, of which 592 were fatal. There was an 11 % (95% confidence interval: 1.00-1.23, P=0.04) increased risk of incident MI during winter (November-January) compared with non-winter seasons, with no statistically significant interaction with sex, age, smoking or calendar year. Other seasonal modelling gave similar but not statistically significant results. CONCLUSION: We found a small increase in risk of incident MI during the darkest winter months. Populations living in sub-Arctic areas may be adapted to face climate exposure during winter through behavioural protection.

Effect of smoking on the serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D depends on the assay employed.

OBJECTIVE: Because we found higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels among smokers than among non-smokers with analyses using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) from Roche, the purpose of the present study was to examine whether this difference between smokers and non-smokers was maintained using other serum 25(OH)D assays. DESIGN: A cross-sectional population-based study on 6932 participants from the Tromsø study, 1994-1995, and one validation study comparing six different serum 25(OH)D assays in 53 non-smokers and 54 smokers were performed. METHODS: The association between smoking, season and serum 25(OH)D as measured by ECLIA (Roche) was assessed in the population-based study using general linear models with multivariate adjustments. In the validation study, serum levels of 25(OH)D were analysed with liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry assay from two different laboratories, RIA (DiaSorin), HPLC, RIA (IDS) and ECLIA (Roche). T-tests and linear mixed model analyses were performed to compare the serum 25(OH)D levels in smokers and non-smokers within and between the methods. RESULTS: In the population-based study, the serum levels of 25(OH)D using the ECLIA method were 51.9, 53.2 and 72.0 nmol/l in never, former and current smokers (P<0.01). In the validation study, the serum concentration of 25(OH)D was 10.3 nmol/l higher in smokers than in non-smokers (P<0.01) using the ECLIA (Roche), while non-significantly lower serum levels of 25(OH)D were found in smokers using the other five methods. CONCLUSIONS: These two studies indicate that the ECLIA (Roche) overestimates serum 25(OH)D levels in smokers by unknown mechanisms. If confirmed, this might have clinical consequences, and the issue needs further exploration.