A Validated Algorithm for Register-Based Identification of Patients with Relapse of Clinical Stage I Testicular Cancer.

Purpose: The Danish Testicular Cancer (DaTeCa) database aims to monitor and improve quality of care for testicular cancer patients. Relapse data registered in the DaTeCa database rely on manual registration. Currently, some safeguarding against missing registrations is attempted by a non-validated register-based algorithm. However, this algorithm is inaccurate and entails time-consuming medical record reviews. We aimed (1) to validate relapse data as registered in the DaTeCa database, and (2) to develop and validate an improved register-based algorithm identifying patients diagnosed with relapse of clinical stage I testicular cancer. Patients and Methods: Patients registered in the DaTeCa database with clinical stage I testicular cancer from 2013 to 2018 were included. Medical record information on relapse data served as a gold standard. A pre-specified algorithm to identify relapse was tested and optimized on a random sample of 250 patients. Indicators of relapse were obtained from pathology codes in the Danish National Pathology Register and from diagnosis and procedure codes in the Danish National Patient Register. We applied the final algorithm to the remaining study population to validate its performance. Results: Of the 1377 included patients, 284 patients relapsed according to the gold standard during a median follow-up time of 5.9 years. The completeness of relapse data registered in the DaTeCa database was 97.2% (95% confidence interval (CI): 95.2-99.1). The algorithm achieved a sensitivity of 99.6% (95% CI: 98.7-100), a specificity of 98.9% (95% CI: 98.2-99.6), and a positive predictive value of 95.9% (95% CI: 93.4-98.4) in the validation cohort (n = 1127, 233 relapses). Conclusion: The registration of relapse data in the DaTeCa database is accurate, confirming the database as a reliable source for ongoing clinical quality assessments. Applying the provided algorithm to the DaTeCa database will optimize the accuracy of relapse data further, decrease time-consuming medical record review and contribute to important future clinical research.

Preadmission antidepressant use and bladder cancer: a population-based cohort study of stage at diagnosis, time to surgery, and surgical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Among cancer patients, prior antidepressant use has been associated with impaired survival. This could be due to differences in stage at diagnosis, in receipt of treatment, or in treatment complications. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to examine if preadmission antidepressant use in patients with bladder cancer is associated with tumor stage at diagnosis, rate of cystectomy, and surgical outcomes, including survival. METHODS: We performed a registry-based cohort study including all patients with incident invasive bladder cancer in Denmark 2005-2015. Exposure was defined as redemption of two or more antidepressant prescriptions one year before cancer diagnosis. We compared tumor stage using logistic regression, postsurgical inpatient length of stay using linear regression, and other outcomes using Cox regression. All results were adjusted for age, sex, comorbidity, and marital status. RESULTS: Among 10,427 bladder cancer patients, 10% were antidepressant users. At diagnosis, 51% of users and 52% of non-users had muscle-invasive disease. However, upon adjustment for age, sex, comorbidity, and marital status, users had lower odds of muscle-invasive disease (adjusted odds ratio 0.86 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.74-0.99)). Among patients with muscle-invasive disease, fewer users than non-users had surgery within three months (15% vs. 24%, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.75 (95% CI 0.59-0.95)). Of 2532 patients undergoing surgery, 6% were antidepressant users. Postsurgical inpatient length of stay did not differ between users and non-users. The 30-day cumulative incidence of readmission was higher for users (41% vs. 33%, aHR 1.33 (95% CI 1.05-1.67)), while the 90-day incidence of postoperative procedures was 44% for users and 38% for non-users (aHR 1.18 (95% CI 0.93-1.51)). One-year mortality was comparable in users (15%) and non-users (14%). CONCLUSIONS: Antidepressant use in bladder cancer patients was associated with less advanced stage at diagnosis and lower rate of cystectomy. After cystectomy, users had higher rate of readmission and postoperative procedures than non-users, but we found no difference in length of stay or one-year mortality. The results point to the importance of differentiated clinical care according to individual patient characteristics.

The Danish Prostate Cancer Database.

AIM OF DATABASE: The Danish Prostate Cancer Database (DAPROCAdata) is a nationwide clinical cancer database that has prospectively collected data on patients with incident prostate cancer in Denmark since February 2010. The overall aim of the DAPROCAdata is to improve the quality of prostate cancer care in Denmark by systematically collecting key clinical variables for the purposes of health care monitoring, quality improvement, and research. STUDY POPULATION: All Danish patients with histologically verified prostate cancer are included in the DAPROCAdata. MAIN VARIABLES: The DAPROCAdata registers clinical data and selected characteristics for patients with prostate cancer at diagnosis. Data are collected from the linkage of nationwide health registries and supplemented with online registration of key clinical variables by treating physicians at urological and oncological departments. Main variables include Gleason scores, cancer staging, prostate-specific antigen values, and therapeutic measures (active surveillance, surgery, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, and chemotherapy). DESCRIPTIVE DATA: In total, 22,332 patients with prostate cancer were registered in DAPROCAdata as of April 2015. A key feature of DAPROCAdata is the routine collection of patient-reported outcome measures (PROM), including data on quality-of-life (pain levels, physical activity, sexual function, depression, urine and fecal incontinence) and lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, and body mass index). PROM data are derived from questionnaires distributed at diagnosis and at 1-year and 3-year follow-up. Hitherto, the PROM data have been limited by low completeness (26% among newly diagnosed patients in 2014). CONCLUSION: DAPROCAdata is a comprehensive, yet still young clinical database. Efforts to improve data collection, data validity, and completeness are ongoing and of high priority.

The Danish Bladder Cancer Database.

AIM OF DATABASE: The aim of the Danish Bladder Cancer Database (DaBlaCa-data) is to monitor the treatment of all patients diagnosed with invasive bladder cancer (BC) in Denmark. STUDY POPULATION: All patients diagnosed with BC in Denmark from 2012 onward were included in the study. Results presented in this paper are predominantly from the 2013 population. MAIN VARIABLES: In 2013, 970 patients were diagnosed with BC in Denmark and were included in a preliminary report from the database. A total of 458 (47%) patients were diagnosed with non-muscle-invasive BC (non-MIBC) and 512 (53%) were diagnosed with muscle-invasive BC (MIBC). A total of 300 (31%) patients underwent cystectomy. Among the 135 patients diagnosed with MIBC, who were 75 years of age or younger, 67 (50%) received neoadjuvent chemotherapy prior to cystectomy. In 2013, a total of 147 patients were treated with curative-intended radiation therapy. DESCRIPTIVE DATA: One-year mortality was 28% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 15-21). One-year cancer-specific mortality was 25% (95% CI: 22-27%). One-year mortality after cystectomy was 14% (95% CI: 10-18). Ninety-day mortality after cystectomy was 3% (95% CI: 1-5) in 2013. One-year mortality following curative-intended radiation therapy was 32% (95% CI: 24-39) and 1-year cancer-specific mortality was 23% (95% CI: 16-31) in 2013. CONCLUSION: This preliminary DaBlaCa-data report showed that the treatment of MIBC in Denmark overall meet high international academic standards. The database is able to identify Danish BC patients and monitor treatment and mortality. In the future, DaBlaCa-data will be a valuable data source and expansive observational studies on BC will be available.

The Danish Testicular Cancer database.

AIM: The nationwide Danish Testicular Cancer database consists of a retrospective research database (DaTeCa database) and a prospective clinical database (Danish Multidisciplinary Cancer Group [DMCG] DaTeCa database). The aim is to improve the quality of care for patients with testicular cancer (TC) in Denmark, that is, by identifying risk factors for relapse, toxicity related to treatment, and focusing on late effects. STUDY POPULATION: All Danish male patients with a histologically verified germ cell cancer diagnosis in the Danish Pathology Registry are included in the DaTeCa databases. Data collection has been performed from 1984 to 2007 and from 2013 onward, respectively. MAIN VARIABLES AND DESCRIPTIVE DATA: The retrospective DaTeCa database contains detailed information with more than 300 variables related to histology, stage, treatment, relapses, pathology, tumor markers, kidney function, lung function, etc. A questionnaire related to late effects has been conducted, which includes questions regarding social relationships, life situation, general health status, family background, diseases, symptoms, use of medication, marital status, psychosocial issues, fertility, and sexuality. TC survivors alive on October 2014 were invited to fill in this questionnaire including 160 validated questions. Collection of questionnaires is still ongoing. A biobank including blood/sputum samples for future genetic analyses has been established. Both samples related to DaTeCa and DMCG DaTeCa database are included. The prospective DMCG DaTeCa database includes variables regarding histology, stage, prognostic group, and treatment. CONCLUSION: The DMCG DaTeCa database has existed since 2013 and is a young clinical database. It is necessary to extend the data collection in the prospective database in order to answer quality-related questions. Data from the retrospective database will be added to the prospective data. This will result in a large and very comprehensive database for future studies on TC patients.

Is compliance with hospital accreditation associated with length of stay and acute readmission? A Danish nationwide population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between compliance with hospital accreditation and length of stay (LOS) and acute readmission (AR). DESIGN: A nationwide population-based follow-up study from November 2009 to December 2012. SETTING: Public, non-psychiatric Danish hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: In-patients admitted with one of 80 diagnoses. INTERVENTION: Accreditation by the first version of The Danish Healthcare Quality Programme. Using an on-site survey, surveyors assessed the level of compliance with the standards. The hospital was awarded either fully (n = 11) or partially accredited (n = 20). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: LOS including transfers between hospitals and all-cause AR within 30 days after discharge. The Cox Proportional Hazard regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) adjusted for potential confounding factors and cluster effect at hospital level. RESULTS: For analyses of LOS, 275 589 in-patients were included of whom 266 532 were discharged alive and included in the AR analyses. The mean LOS was 4.51 days (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.46-4.57) at fully and 4.54 days (95% CI: 4.50-4.57) at partially accredited hospitals, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, the adjusted HR for time to discharge was 1.07 (95% CI: 1.01-1.14). AR within 30 days after discharge was 13.70% (95% CI: 13.45-13.95) at fully and 12.72% (95% CI: 12.57-12.86) at partially accredited hospitals, respectively, corresponding to an adjusted HR of 1.01 (95% CI: 0.92-1.10). CONCLUSION: Admissions at fully accredited hospitals were associated with a shorter LOS compared with admissions at partially accredited hospitals, although the difference was modest. No difference was observed in AR within 30 days after discharge.

Early Antidepressant Treatment and All-Cause 30-Day Mortality in Patients with Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Antidepressants, in particular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, have been associated with antithrombotic and neuroprotective properties and their more widespread use has been suggested in stroke recovery. However, data are sparse on their effects on the clinical outcome, including mortality, associated with early antidepressant treatment after stroke. We aimed to study all-cause 30-day mortality related to early antidepressant treatment in patients with ischemic stroke. METHODS: We did a population-based follow-up study identifying patients from the Danish Stroke Registry admitted in the former Aarhus County from 2003 to 2010. During this time, initiation of antidepressant treatment during admission was registered in the Danish Stoke Registry. The registry also holds clinical information including stroke type, stroke severity and quality of in-hospital stroke care. Information on vital status and covariates including comorbidities and co-medication was obtained from the following population-based medical registries: the Danish Civil Registration System, Danish Medicines Agency's Medical Register and The Danish National Patients Registry. Information was linked using the unique civil registration number assigned to all Danish residents. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compute the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 30-day mortality in patients treated with antidepressants during admission as compared to patients not treated. In addition, we did stratified analyses on sex, age, stroke severity and propensity score-matched analyses as well as multiple imputation. RESULTS: Among 5,070 consecutive first-ever stroke patients without prior antidepressant treatment, 955 (18.8%) started antidepressant treatment during admission with a median time from admission until treatment of 5 days (interquartile range 2-11). The proportion of patients with severe stroke was higher among treated patients as compared to that among non-treated patients. The adjusted OR of 30-day mortality was 0.28 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.18-0.43) for patients treated during admission as compared to patients not treated during admission. Stratification by stroke severity showed signs of effect modification, stratification by sex and age did not. Included in the propensity score-matched analyses were 1,908 patients matched 1:1. The propensity score-matched adjusted OR of death within 30 days was 0.31 (95% CI 0.19-0.49). CONCLUSION: Although early antidepressant treatment was more often started in patients with severe stroke, treatment was associated with significantly lower mortality. This result requires replication in randomized trials; however, it indicates that early start of antidepressant treatment after stroke may be safe and a more routine use may be feasible.

Compliance with hospital accreditation and patient mortality: a Danish nationwide population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between compliance with hospital accreditation and 30-day mortality. DESIGN: A nationwide population-based, follow-up study with data from national, public registries. SETTING: Public, non-psychiatric Danish hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: In-patients diagnosed with one of the 80 primary diagnoses. INTERVENTION: Accreditation by the first version of The Danish Healthcare Quality Programme for hospitals from 2010 to 2012. Compliance were assessed by surveyors on an on-site survey and awarded the hospital as a whole; fully (n = 11) or partially accredited (n = 20). A follow-up activity was requested for partially accredited hospitals; submitting additional documentation (n = 11) or by having a return-visit (n = 9). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All-cause mortality within 30-days after admission. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compute odds ratios (ORs) for 30-day mortality adjusted for six confounding factors and for cluster effect at hospital level. RESULTS: A total of 276 980 in-patients were identified. Thirty-day mortality risk for in-patients at fully (n = 76 518) and partially accredited hospitals (n = 200 462) was 4.14% (95% confidence interval (CI):4.00-4.28) and 4.28% (95% CI: 4.20-4.37), respectively. In-patients at fully accredited hospitals had a lower risk of dying within 30-days after admission than in-patients at partially accredited hospitals (adjusted OR of 0.83; 95% CI: 0.72-0.96). A lower risk of 30-day mortality was observed among in-patients at partially accredited hospitals required to submit additional documentation compared with in-patients at partially accredited hospitals requiring a return-visit (adjusted OR 0.83; 95% CI: 0.67-1.02). CONCLUSION: Admissions at fully accredited hospitals were associated with a lower 30-day mortality risk than admissions at partially accredited hospitals.

[Screening mammography may be a rapid and effective investigation of mamma cancer in asymptomatic women].

The purpose of this article was to describe the incidence of mamma cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) two years after a screening mammography in women offered a screening mammography instead of a clinical mammography. The mammography was abnormal for 6.3% of the women, 0.1% had DCIS and 1.0% was diagnosed with mamma cancer. 1.0% of women with a normal mammography were diagnosed with cancer within two years of the mammography. More widespread use of screening mammography may contribute to a rapid and effective investigation of mamma cancer in asymptomatic women.

Impact of prestroke selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment on stroke severity and mortality.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been associated with an increased risk of bleeding but also a possible neuroprotective effect in stroke. We aimed to examine the implications of prestroke SSRI use in hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. METHODS: We conducted a registry-based propensity score-matched follow-up study among first-ever patients with hemorrhage and ischemic stroke in Denmark (2003-2012). Multiple conditional logistic regression was used to compute adjusted odds ratios of severe stroke and death within 30 days. RESULTS: Among 1252 hemorrhagic strokes (626 prestroke SSRI users and 626 propensity score-matched nonusers), prestroke SSRI use was associated with an increased risk of the strokes being severe (adjusted propensity score-matched odds ratios, 1.41; confidence interval, 1.08-1.84) and an increased risk of death within 30 days (adjusted propensity score-matched odds ratios, 1.60; confidence interval, 1.17-2.18). Among 8956 patients with ischemic stroke (4478 prestroke SSRI users and 4478 propensity score-matched nonusers), prestroke SSRI use was not associated with the risk of severe stroke or death within 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: Prestroke SSRI use is associated with increased stroke severity and mortality in patients with hemorrhagic stroke. Although prestroke depression in itself may increase stroke severity and mortality, this was not found in SSRI users with ischemic stroke.

Improving quality of care in peptic ulcer bleeding: nationwide cohort study of 13,498 consecutive patients in the Danish Clinical Register of Emergency Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The treatment of peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB) is complex, and mortality remains high. We present results from a nationwide initiative to monitor and improve the quality of care (QOC) in PUB. METHODS: All Danish hospitals treating PUB patients between 2004 and 2011 prospectively registered demographic, clinical, and prognostic data. QOC was evaluated using eight process and outcome indicators, including time to initial endoscopy, hemostasis obtainment, proportion undergoing surgery, rebleeding risks, and 30-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 13,498 PUB patients (median age 74 years) were included, of which one-quarter were in-hospital bleeders. Preadmission use of anticoagulants, multiple coexisting diseases, and the American Society of Anesthesiologists scores increased between 2004 and 2011. Considerable improvements were observed for most QOC indicators over time. Endoscopic treatment was successful with primary hemostasis achieved in more patients (94% in 2010-2011 vs. 89% in 2004-2006, relative risk (RR) 1.06 (95% confidence intervals 1.04-1.08)), endoscopy delay for hemodynamically unstable patients decreased during this period (43% vs. 34% had endoscopy within 6 h, RR 1.33 (1.10-1.61)), and fewer patients underwent open surgery (4% vs. 6%, RR 0.72 (0.59-0.87)). After controlling for time changes in prognostic factors, rebleeding rates improved (13% vs. 18%, adjusted RR 0.77 (0.66-0.91)). Crude 30-day mortality was unchanged (11% vs. 11%), whereas adjusted mortality decreased nonsignificantly over time (adjusted RR 0.89 (0.78-1.00)). CONCLUSIONS: QOC in PUB has improved substantially in Denmark, but the 30-day mortality remains high. Future initiatives to improve outcomes may include earlier endoscopy, having fully trained endoscopists on call, and increased focus on managing coexisting disease.

Existing data sources for clinical epidemiology: the Danish Quality Database of Mammography Screening.

The Danish Quality Database of Mammography Screening (DKMS) was established in 2007, when screening was implemented on a nationwide basis and offered biennially to all Danish women aged 50-69 years. The primary aims of the database are to monitor and evaluate the quality of the screening program and - after years of follow-up - to evaluate the effect of nationwide screening on breast cancer-specific mortality. Here, we describe the database and present results for quality assurance from the first round of national screening. The steering committee for the DKMS defined eleven organizational and clinical quality indicators and standards to monitor the Danish breast cancer screening program. We calculated the relevant proportions and ratios with 95% confidence intervals for each quality indicator. All indicators were assessed on a national and regional level. Of 670,039 women invited for mammography, 518,823 (77.4%) participated. Seventy-one percent of the women received the result of their mammography examination within 10 days of screening, and 3% of the participants were recalled for further investigation. Among all detected cancers, 86% were invasive cancers, and the proportion of women with node negative cancer was 67%. There were 36% women with small cancers, and the ratio of surgery for benign lesions to malignant lesions was 1:6.3. A total of 80% of women with invasive cancers were treated with breast conserving therapy. Screening interval and interval cancers were not relevant in the first round, and data regarding radiation dose were not available at the time of evaluation. Overall, the quality indicators showed satisfactory quality in the first round of national breast cancer screening in Denmark. The DKMS is a potentially valuable tool for improving quality and conducting research in the field of breast cancer screening.

Post stroke use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and clinical outcome among patients with ischemic stroke: a nationwide propensity score-matched follow-up study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are widely prescribed after stroke. We aimed to investigate whether potential antiplatelet or vasospastic effects have important clinical implications. METHODS: Using data from Danish medical registries, we did a nationwide follow-up study among ischemic stroke patients between 2003 and 2009. We identified 5833 SSRI users, and propensity score matched these patients with nonusers in a 1:1 ratio, followed by Cox regression analysis to compute hazard ratios (HRs) of acute myocardial infarction, recurrent stroke, major bleeding, and death. RESULTS: Median follow-up time (from 30 days after discharge to death/end of follow-up) was 1159 days. In total, 2.9% had myocardial infarction, 8.1% recurrent ischemic stroke, 20.2% major bleeding, 1.4% intracranial bleeding, and 34.4% died during follow-up. SSRI users had a lower risk of the combined outcome of myocardial infarction or recurrent ischemic stroke (adjusted HR, 0.77; confidence interval [CI], 0.62-0.96). However, the SSRI users also experienced a higher risk of overall major bleeding (adjusted HR, 1.33; CI, 1.14-1.55) and a nonsignificantly higher risk of intracranial bleedings (adjusted HR, 1.14; CI, 0.62-2.12). Mortality increased in SSRI users (adjusted HR, 1.13; CI, 1.00-1.28) and death caused by bleeding increased (adjusted HR, 1.89; CI, 0.97-3.66) as compared with death by other causes (adjusted HR, 1.11; CI; 0.98-1.26). CONCLUSIONS: SSRI use after ischemic stroke was associated with a lower risk of new cardiovascular events and also with an increased bleeding risk. There was an increased mortality among SSRI users, which may be related to the increased bleeding risk.

Perioperative aminoglycoside treatment is associated with a higher incidence of postoperative dialysis in adult cardiac surgery patients.

BACKGROUND: Aminoglycoside treatment has been associated with nephrotoxic effects. However, the effect of perioperative aminoglycoside treatment on the risk of acute kidney injury requiring dialysis among patients undergoing cardiac surgery remains uncertain. METHODS: We performed a register study based on prospectively collected data from population-based health care databases of 3625 consecutive patients undergoing cardiac surgery at the Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Denmark. Patients requiring preoperative dialysis were excluded, leaving a total of 3587 patients (99% of original patient cohort), of whom 89 received perioperative aminoglycosides. RESULTS: The cumulative risk of in-hospital dialysis-dependent acute kidney injury was 3.2% (n = 115). Perioperative use of aminoglycosides was associated with an increased risk of postoperative dialysis (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 4.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.83-10.59). Other predictors included reoperation because of bleeding (adjusted OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.63-4.80), use of inotropic support during anesthesia (adjusted OR, 2.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-2.95), and cardiopulmonary bypass lasting longer than 120 minutes (adjusted OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.19-3.20) along with EuroSCORE variables. Postoperative dialysis was associated with higher 30-day mortality (10.9% vs 2.5%, P < .0001, χ(2) test), but use of aminoglycosides was not independently associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Perioperative use of aminoglycosides in adults undergoing cardiac surgery was associated with increased risk of postoperative dialysis.

Congenital abnormalities and other birth outcomes in children born to women with ulcerative colitis in Denmark and Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Studies of women with ulcerative colitis (UC) during pregnancy have reported increased risks of preterm delivery, growth restriction, and congenital malformation. However, the results are inconsistent due to inadequate study design and limitations in sample size. METHODS: We performed a population-based prevalence study on 2637 primiparous women with a UC hospital diagnosis prior to delivery and 868,942 primiparous women with no UC diagnosis in Denmark and Sweden, 1994-2006. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate relative risks for moderately (32-36 weeks) and very (before 32 weeks) preterm birth, 5-minute Apgar score <7, small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth, stillbirth, neonatal death, and congenital abnormalities. RESULTS: Maternal UC was associated with increased risk of moderately preterm birth (prevalence odds ratio [POR] 1.77, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.54-2.05), very preterm birth (POR 1.41, 95% CI: 1.02-1.96), cesarean section (POR 2.01, 95% CI: 1.84-2.19), and neonatal death (POR 1.93, 95% CI: 1.04-3.60). The strongest associations were observed for prelabor cesarean section (POR = 2.78, 95% CI: 2.38-3.25) and induced preterm delivery (POR 2.55, 95% CI: 1.95-3.33). There was a slightly increased risk of SGA birth (POR 1.27, 95% CI: 1.05-1.54). We found no association between UC and overall risk of congenital abnormalities (POR 1.05, 95% CI: 0.84-1.31) or specific congenital abnormalities. Risks for adverse birth outcomes were higher in women with previous UC-related surgery and hospital admissions. CONCLUSIONS: Women with UC have increased risks of preterm delivery, SGA-birth, neonatal death, and cesarean section but not congenital abnormalities. Adverse birth outcomes appeared correlated with UC disease severity.

[Improved survival in children with neuroblastoma]. / Forbedret overlevelse hos børn med neuroblastom.

INTRODUCTION: The aims of the present study were to analyze whether changes in incidence and mortality rates have taken place in Denmark during the period 1981-2005, and whether the distribution of known prognostic factors has changed during this period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 206 children below 15 years of age with neuroblastoma or ganglioneuroblastoma who were diagnosed in Denmark between 1981 and 2005. RESULTS: The incidence was 8.68 per million children below 15 years of age (world standard 9.6) and 43.5 per million children below 12 months of age and these incidences have remained unchanged since 1970. The mortality rate has decreased steadily during the study period. The prognostic factors age, stage and site of primary tumour did not change during the study period and were not different from those reported by others. 32% of the children were below 12 months of age at diagnosis. 53% of the children had metastatic disease. The overall 5-year survival increased over the study period from 38% in 1981-1985 to 69% in 2001-2005. A significant increase in the survival of children > 12 months of age with stage 4 disease was also observed. Relapse/disease progression more than three years from diagnosis occurred in only 2% of patients. The median time from relapse to death was three months. CONCLUSION: The survival of children with neuroblastoma in Denmark has increased significantly over the last 25 years.

Crohn's disease is a risk factor for preterm birth.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Women with Crohn's disease (CD) are considered to be at increased risk for adverse outcomes of pregnancy. However, the few studies assessing this risk have had small sample sizes and limitations. We examined outcomes of pregnancy among a large cohort of primiparous women with CD. METHODS: Our population-based prevalence study utilized data from medical birth registries in Sweden and Denmark between 1994 and 2006. Linking birth registry data with national patient registries, we identified 2377 women with a hospital diagnosis of CD prior to delivery and 869,202 women with no diagnosis of CD. Using logistic regression analysis, we estimated relative risks with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, 5-minute Apgar scores below 7, cesarean section, small for gestational age (SGA), stillbirth, and congenital malformations. RESULTS: Maternal CD was associated with increased risk of moderately and very preterm birth (prevalence odds ratio [POR], 1.76; 95% CI, 1.51-2.05; and POR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.38-2.52, respectively). Maternal CD was also associated with increased risk for cesarean section (POR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.76-2.12). The strongest associations with CD were observed for prelabor cesarean section and induced preterm delivery. Risk of small size for gestational age birth was slightly increased among women with CD, especially during the time period of 2002-2006 (POR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.09-1.89). We found no increased risks for pre-eclampsia, low 5-minute Apgar score, stillbirth, or congenital malformations. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal CD is a risk factor for preterm birth, but not birth defects.

Hospitalizations for opioid poisoning: a nation-wide population-based study in Denmark, 1998-2004.

AIMS: To assess hospitalization rates (HR) for poisoning with heroin, methadone or strong analgesics and relate them to quantities of prescribed methadone and strong analgesics in Denmark between 1998 and 2004. DESIGN: Population-based ecological study. SETTINGS: We extracted data on all emergency department visits and hospital admissions registered in the Danish National Patient Registry with a diagnosis of poisoning with heroin (n = 1688), methadone (n = 173) or strong analgesics (n = 384). To ascertain sale of prescribed medications we used data from the Danish Medicines Agency. MEASUREMENTS: Age- and gender-standardized HR and defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 people per day. FINDINGS: HR for heroin poisoning was 4.4 [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.8-4.9] per 100,000 person-years (p-y) in 1998 and 4.6 (CI: 4.0-5.2) per 100,000 p-y in 2004. HR for methadone poisoning increased from 0.1 (CI: 0.0-0.2) per 100,000 p-y in 1998 to 1.1 (CI: 0.8-1.4) per 100,000 p-y in 2004. HR for poisoning with strong analgesics increased from 0.6 (CI: 0.4-0.9) per 100,000 p-y in 1998 to 2.1 (CI: 1.8-2.6) per 100,000 p-y in 2004. The sale of prescribed strong analgesics (5.0 DDD per 1000 people per day in 1998 to 5.9 DDD in 2004) and methadone (3.0 DDD per 1000 people per day in 1998 to 3.4 DDD in 2004) increased slightly between 1998 and 2004. CONCLUSION: Increasing sale of prescribed methadone and strong analgesics coincided with increasing HRs of poisoning with these drugs, whereas HR of heroin poisoning varied. Further longitudinal studies are important for the guidance of future policy making.

Trends in breast-conserving surgery in Denmark, 1982-2002.

Using hospital discharge data from the counties in Northern Denmark and the Danish Cancer Registry, we examined the trend in the prevalence of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) to treat primary breast cancer from 1982 through 2002, with an emphasis on publications that may have influenced surgical practice in Denmark. Overall, the prevalence of BCS increased from less than 1% of breast cancer operations in 1982 to approximately 25% by 2002. The rise in prevalence was most pronounced for the treatment of young women and women with early-stage breast cancer. Of three pivotal clinical trials, the most significant trigger of the upward trend appeared to be a study conducted by the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group, published in 1988. After 1988, there was a steep rise in the prevalence of BCS. By 2002, BCS prevalence appeared to reach a threshold at 25% of breast cancer operations, seemingly defined by the proportion of new breast cancer cases who are good candidates for BCS.