Truls Østbye

Primary care: is there enough time for prevention?

OBJECTIVES We sought to determine the amount of time required for a primary care physician to provide recommended preventive services to an average patient panel. METHODS We used published and estimated times per service to determine the physician time required to provide all services recommended by the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), at the recommended frequency, to a patient panel of 2500 with an age and sex distribution similar to that of the US population. RESULTS To fully satisfy the USPSTF recommendations, 1773 hours of a physicians annual time, or 7.4 hours per working day, is needed for the provision of preventive services. CONCLUSIONS Time constraints limit the ability of physicians to comply with preventive services recommendations.

A reevaluation of the duration of survival after the onset of dementia.

BACKGROUND Dementia shortens life expectancy; estimates of median survival after the onset of dementia have ranged from 5 to 9.3 years. Previous studies of people with existing dementia, however, may have underestimated the deleterious effects of dementia on survival by failing to consider persons with rapidly progressive illness who died before they could be included in a study (referred to as length bias). METHODS We used data from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging to estimate survival from the onset of symptoms of dementia; the estimate was adjusted for length bias. A random sample of 10,263 subjects 65 years old or older from throughout Canada was screened for cognitive impairment. For those with dementia, we ascertained the date of onset and conducted follow-up for five years. RESULTS We analyzed data on 821 subjects, of whom 396 had probable Alzheimers disease, 252 had possible Alzheimers disease, and 173 had vascular dementia. For the group as a whole, the unadjusted median survival was 6.6 years (95 percent confidence interval, 6.2 to 7.1). After adjustment for length bias, the estimated median survival was 3.3 years (95 percent confidence interval, 2.7 to 4.0). The median survival was 3.1 years for subjects with probable Alzheimers disease, 3.5 years for subjects with possible Alzheimers disease, and 3.3 years for subjects with vascular dementia. CONCLUSIONS Median survival after the onset of dementia is much shorter than has previously been estimated.

Association of preterm birth with long-term survival, reproduction, and next-generation preterm birth.

CONTEXT Preterm birth is a major cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Less is known about long-term health among persons born preterm. OBJECTIVE To determine the long-term effects of preterm birth on survival, reproduction, and next-generation preterm birth. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Population-based, observational, longitudinal study using registry data from 1,167,506 singleton births in the Medical Birth Registry of Norway in 1967-1988. The cohort was followed up through 2002 for survival. The cohort was truncated to births from 1967-1976 for assessment of educational achievement and reproductive outcomes through 2004. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES In relation to sex and gestational age at birth, absolute mortality, risk of fetal, infant, child, and adolescent mortality, and incidence and risk of reproduction and next-generation preterm birth. Singleton term (37-42 weeks) fetal deaths and live births, stratified by sex, served as the reference group for all analyses. RESULTS The percentage who were born preterm was higher among boys (5.6%) than among girls (4.7%). Preterm participants had an increased risk of mortality throughout childhood. For boys born at 22 to 27 weeks, mortality rates were 1.33% and 1.01% for early and late childhood death, with relative risks (RRs) of 5.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0-14.2) and 7.0 (95% CI, 2.3-22.0), respectively. The mortality rate for girls born at 22 to 27 weeks was 1.71% for early childhood death, with an RR of 9.7 (95% CI, 4.0-23.7); there were no late childhood deaths. For 28 to 32 weeks, the early and late childhood mortality rates among boys were 0.73% and 0.37%, with RRs of 2.5 (95% CI, 1.6-3.7) and 2.3 (95% CI, 1.3-4.1), respectively. Girls born at 28 to 32 weeks did not have a significantly increased risk of childhood mortality. Reproduction was diminished for index participants born preterm. For men and women born at 22 to 27 weeks, absolute reproduction was 29.3[corrected]% and 51.9[corrected]%, with RRs of 0.59 [corrected] (95% CI, 0.45[corrected]-0.79[corrected]) and 0.78 [corrected] (95% CI, 0.65[corrected]-0.93[corrected]), respectively. For 28 to 32 weeks, absolute reproduction was 43.1[corrected]% and 63.6[corrected]% for men and women, with RRs of 0.81[corrected] (95% CI, 0.77[corrected]-0.86[corrected]) and 0.89 [corrected] (95% CI, 0.86 [corrected]-0.93 [corrected]), respectively. Preterm women but not men were at increased risk of having preterm offspring. CONCLUSION In persons born in Norway in 1967-1988, preterm birth was associated with diminished long-term survival and reproduction.

Progression of impairment in patients with vascular cognitive impairment without dementia

Little is known about progression, short of dementia, in vascular cognitive impairment. In the Canadian Study of Health and Aging, 149 participants (79.3 ± 6.7 years; 61% women) were found to have vascular cognitive impairment, no dementia (CIND). After 5 years, 77 participants (52%) had died and 58 (46%) had developed dementia. Women were at greater risk of dementia (OR 2.1, 1.0 to 4.5). Of 32 participants alive without dementia, cognition had deteriorated in seven and improved in four. Half of those with vascular CIND developed dementia within 5 years, suggesting a target for preventive interventions.

Comparing self-reported function and work disability in 100 community cases of fibromyalgia syndrome versus controls in London, Ontario : The London fibromyalgia epidemiology study

OBJECTIVE To compare function and disability in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) cases in the community versus controls, and to identify variables predicting poor function and disability. METHODS We identified 100 FMS cases, 76 pain controls, and 135 general controls in a random survey of 3,395 noninstitutionalized adults. RESULTS FMS cases reported worse function (P < 0.00001), more days in bed (P < 0.001), and more healthy years of life lost (P < 0.0001). More FMS cases were disabled (P < 0.00001) and receiving pensions (P < 0.00001). Risk factors for disability included middle age and previous heavy manual labor. Pain, fatigue, and weakness were most often claimed to affect the ability to work Variables predicting work disability were the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) score, a prior diagnosis of FMS, nonrestorative sleep, and past heavy physical labor. Variables influencing the FIQ score were the number of major symptoms, self-reported health satisfaction, tender point count, and education level. CONCLUSION FMS commonly results in loss of function and work disability.

An evaluation of several biochemical markers for bone formation and resorption in a protocol utilizing cyclical parathyroid hormone and calcitonin therapy for osteoporosis.

Female patients (n = 20) with osteoporosis, aged 66 +/- 5 yr were studied during a 24-h infusion of parathyroid hormone (PTH [1-34]) at a rate of 0.5 IU equivalents/kg.h, and then during a 28-d period of subcutaneous injections, at a dose of 800 IU equivalents per day. Thereafter half the patients received subcutaneous injections of calcitonin, 75 U/d for 42 d, and all patients were followed to the end of a 90-d cycle. Biochemical markers of bone formation (serum alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, and the carboxy-terminal extension peptide of pro-collagen 1) and bone resorption (fasting urine calcium, hydroxyproline, and deoxypyridinoline) were compared during treatment by the intravenous and subcutaneous route of PTH administration, and subsequently during calcitonin therapy. During intravenous PTH infusion there were significant reductions in all three bone formation markers, despite expected rises in urinary calcium and hydroxyproline. By contrast, the circulating markers of bone formation increased rapidly by > 100% of baseline values during daily PTH injections (P < 0.001). Significant increases in bone resorption markers were only seen at the end of the 28 d of injections, but were < 100% over baseline values, (P < 0.05). Quantitative bone histomorphometry from biopsies obtained after 28 d of PTH treatment confirmed that bone formation at both the cellular and tissue levels were two to five times higher than similar indices measured in a control group of biopsies from untreated osteoporotic women. Subsequent treatment of these patients with calcitonin showed no significant changes in the biochemical markers of bone formation and only a modest attenuation of bone resorption. Thus, PTH infusion may inhibit bone formation, as judged by circulating biochemical markers, whereas daily injections confirm the potent anabolic actions of the hormone. Sequential calcitonin therapy does not appear to act synergistically with PTH in cyclical therapeutic protocols.

Occupational exposure to pesticides increases the risk of incident AD The Cache County Study

Background: Commonly used organophosphate and organochlorine pesticides inhibit acetylcholinesterase at synapses in the somatic, autonomic, and central nervous systems and may therefore have lasting effects on the nervous system. Few studies have examined the relationship of pesticide exposure and risk of dementia or Alzheimer disease (AD). We sought to examine the association of occupational pesticide exposure and the risk of incident dementia and AD in later life. Methods: Residents of the agricultural community of Cache County, UT, who were aged 65 years and older as of January 1995, were invited to participate in the study. At baseline, participants completed detailed occupational history questionnaires that included information about exposures to various types of pesticides. Cognitive status was assessed at baseline and after 3, 7, and 10 years. Standardized methods were used for detection and diagnosis of dementia and AD. Cox proportional hazards survival analyses were used to evaluate the risk of incident dementia and AD associated with pesticide exposure. Results: Among 3,084 enrollees without dementia, more men than women reported pesticide exposure (p < 0.0001). Exposed individuals (n = 572) had more years of education (p < 0.01) but did not differ from others in age. Some 500 individuals developed incident dementia, 344 with AD. After adjustment for baseline age, sex, education, APOE ε4 status, and baseline Modified Mini-Mental State Examination scores, Cox proportional hazards models showed increased risks among pesticide-exposed individuals for all-cause dementia, with hazard ratio (HR) 1.38 and 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09–1.76, and for AD (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.06–1.91). The risk of AD associated with organophosphate exposure (HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.05–2.23) was slightly higher than the risk associated with organochlorines (HR 1.49, 95% CI 0.99–2.24), which was nearly significant. Conclusions: Pesticide exposure may increase the risk of dementia and Alzheimer disease in late life.

Prescription of QT-prolonging drugs in a cohort of about 5 million outpatients

Many drugs prolong the QT interval and increase the risk of torsade de pointes. Concurrent use of two or more of these drugs can further increase the risk, but the prevalence of concurrent prescription of QT-prolonging drugs is not known. Using the administrative claims database of a national pharmaceutical benefit manager, we conducted a retrospective cohort study in 4,825,345 subjects aged 18 years or older. After identifying 50 drugs with QT-prolonging potential, and an additional 26 drugs that inhibit the metabolic clearance of QT-prolonging drugs, we measured the frequency of overlapping prescriptions for two or more of these drugs in the outpatient setting in 1999. Nearly 1.1 million subjects (22.8%) filled 4.4 million prescriptions for QT-prolonging drugs. Of these, 103,119 subjects (9.4%) filled overlapping prescriptions for two or more of the drugs or for a QT-prolonging drug and another drug that inhibits its clearance; 7249 subjects (0.7%) filled overlapping prescriptions for three or more of these drugs. Twenty-two percent of subjects who filled overlapping prescriptions were aged 65 or older; 74% were women. Antidepressants were involved in nearly 50% of the cases. Concurrent prescription of QT-prolonging drugs is common in the outpatient setting, and antidepressants are involved in half of these cases. Large pharmaceutical claims databases are useful for detecting potentially harmful prescribing behaviors, but better clinical evidence on medication safety is needed before such a system can be implemented fully.

Obesity and Sexual Quality of Life

Objectives: Reduced sexual quality of life is a frequently reported yet rarely studied consequence of obesity. The objectives of this study were to 1) examine the prevalence of sexual quality‐of‐life difficulties in obese individuals and 2) investigate the association between sexual quality of life and BMI class, sex, and obesity treatment—seeking status.

Active Mothers Postpartum A Randomized Controlled Weight-Loss Intervention Trial

BACKGROUND Pregnancy may contribute to overweight and obesity. PURPOSE The primary objective of Active Mothers Postpartum was to promote a reduction in BMI through 24-months postpartum via sustainable lifestyle changes. DESIGN Behavioral intervention RCT to enhance postpartum weight loss. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS A total of 450 overweight or obese women, enrolled 6-weeks postpartum, were recruited through obstetrics clinics and community posters in the Durham NC area. INTERVENTION Intervention participants were offered eight healthy-eating classes, ten physical-activity classes, and six telephone-counseling sessions over 9 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Changes from baseline (6-weeks postpartum) to 1-month post-intervention (12-months postpartum) in: (1) diet (caloric intake, calories from fat, intake of certain foods); (2) physical activity (self-reported physical activity, television time); and (3) weight (collected 2004-2007, analyzed 2007-2008). RESULTS Mean weight loss was 0.90 kg (+/-5.1 kg) in the intervention group and 0.36 kg (+/-4.9 kg) in the control group; this difference was not significant. There were also no significant group differences in improvement of diet or increased physical activity. In secondary analyses, there was a positive bivariate relationship between classes attended and weight loss (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS There were no significant differences among the arms in diet, physical activity, or weight change. Home-based interventions via mail, telephone, or Internet/e-mail may be more feasible and successful in this population. The postpartum period is an important phase in womens lives with regard to weight retention, but engaging them during this busy period remains a challenge. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT00212251.