Political stringency, infection rates, and higher education students' adherence to government measures in the Nordic countries and the UK during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Understanding predictors of adherence to governmental measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 is fundamental to guide health communication. This study examined whether political stringency and infection rates during the first wave of the pandemic were associated with higher education students' adherence to COVID-19 government measures in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Sweden) and the United Kingdom. Both individual- and country-level data were used in present study. An international cross-sectional subsample (n = 10,345) of higher-education students was conducted in May-June 2020 to collect individual-level information on socio-demographics, study information, living arrangements, health behaviors, stress, and COVID-19-related concerns, including adherence to government measures. Country-level data on political stringency from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker and national infection rates were added to individual-level data. Multiple linear regression analyses stratified by country were conducted. Around 66% of students reported adhering to government measures, with the highest adherence in the UK (73%) followed by Iceland (72%), Denmark (69%), Norway (67%), Finland (64%) and Sweden (49%). Main predictors for higher adherence were older age, being female and being worried about getting infected with COVID-19 (individual-level), an increase in number of days since lockdown, political stringency, and information about COVID-19 mortality rates (country-level). However, incidence rate was an inconsistent predictor, which may be explained by imperfect data quality during the onset of the pandemic. We conclude that shorter lockdown periods and political stringency are associated with adherence to government measures among higher education students at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arachidonic acid level of non-esterified fatty acids and phospholipids in serum and heart muscle of patients with fatal myocardial infarction.

The relationship between non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in serum and heart muscle was examined in 15 patients who died of myocardial infarction (MI) and seven people who died suddenly in accidents. There was no correlation between NEFA levels of serum and non-infarcted cardiac muscle in patients with fatal MI. No significant difference was encountered in cardiac NEFA content between patients with fatal MI and people who died in accidents. The phospholipid (PL) content was significantly lower in patients with fatal MI than observed in people who died in accidents. The arachidonic acid (20:4 (n-6)) concentration of serum NEFA was significantly lower in patients with fatal MI compared to normal subjects. The cardiac NEFA and PL in patients with fatal MI contained significantly lower percentage levels of arachidonic acid compared to people who died in accidents. The results indicate that the death of the MI patients was not accompanied by elevated cardiac NEFA levels.

Arachidonic acid levels in serum phospholipids of patients with angina pectoris or fatal myocardial infarction.

The fatty acid composition and concentrations of serum phospholipids (PL) were examined in 14 normal subjects (NS), 10 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and stable angina pectoris, and in 12 patients with acute, fatal myocardial infarction (MI). The NS and patients with CHD and stable angina pectoris were matched with respect to age, height, body weight, blood pressure and serum cholesterol. Serum PL of patients with CHD and of patients with acute, fatal MI contained significantly more arachidonic acid (20:4n6, AA) than serum PL of the NS. Docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n3, DHA) was also increased in serum PL of patients with acute, fatal MI. AA and DHA levels in serum PL reflect changes in lipid metabolism that may relate to the cause and/or consequences of CHD.

Results of attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation of patients dying suddenly outside the hospital in Reykjavik and the surrounding area, 1976-1979.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was attempted in 222 cases of sudden death at the City Hospital, Reykjavik, during 1976-79. Of the 68 patients (31%) successfully resuscitated, 47 died in the hospital and 21 (9%) were discharged, 17 in good mental and physical condition. The mean combined response and transport time was 12.1 min and the ambulance mean time of response 7.3 min. The first ECG revealed considerable prognostic indications. Of the 90 patients who had ventricular fibrillation on admission, 42 (47%) were successfully resuscitated and 18 (20%) were subsequently discharged. Among 114 patients with asystole, resuscitation was successful in 23 (20%) and two (2%) were discharged. Immediate first aid in situ had a definite prognostic influence. These results compare favourably with those obtained elsewhere where the organization of first aid and emergency transport is similar. They do not, however, match the results achieved by fully specialized resuscitation teams trained to operate outside the hospital. Results of CPR of patients with cardiac arrest out of hospital in Reykjavik show increasing improvement over the years. This may be partly explained by a considerable public debate on this issue in 1978 and subsequent streamlining of activities.