Postterm delivery and risk for epilepsy in childhood

OBJECTIVE

Postterm delivery is a risk factor for perinatal complications, some of which increase risk for neurologic morbidity. We aimed to examine the association between postterm delivery and risk for epilepsy in childhood.

METHODS

We conducted a cohort study of singleton children who were born in 3 Danish counties from 1980 to 2001. Birth registry data were linked with hospital records to identify cases of epilepsy in the first 12 years of life. We included children who were born at > or = 39 gestational weeks and computed crude, age-specific, and birth weight standardized incidence rates of epilepsy. We estimated adjusted incidence rate ratios according to mode of delivery by Poisson regression.

RESULTS

Among the 277,435 nonpreterm births, 32,557 were at > or = 42 weeks, including 3396 at > or = 43 weeks. Nearly one fourth of the 2805 epilepsy cases occurred in the first year of life. In that period, birth weight standardized incidence rate ratios for epilepsy were 1.3 for birth at 42 weeks and 2.0 for birth at > or = 43 weeks, compared with birth at 39 to 41 weeks. Among children who were delivered by cesarean section, incidence rate ratios adjusted for birth weight, presentation, malformations, and county were 1.4 for birth at 42 completed weeks and 4.9 for birth at > or = 43 weeks, compared with term vaginal births. There was a similar tendency among children who were delivered with the assistance of instruments. We found no evidence for the association between postterm delivery and risk for epilepsy beyond the first year of life.

CONCLUSIONS

Prolonged gestation is a risk factor for early epilepsy; the added increase in risk for instrument-assisted and cesarean deliveries could be attributable to factors that are related to both birth complications and epilepsy.

Trends in colorectal cancer survival in northern Denmark: 1985-2004

OBJECTIVE

The prognosis for colorectal cancer (CRC) is less favourable in Denmark than in neighbouring countries. To improve cancer treatment in Denmark, a National Cancer Plan was proposed in 2000. We conducted this population-based study to monitor recent trends in CRC survival and mortality in four Danish counties.

METHOD

We used hospital discharge registry data for the period January 1985-March 2004 in the counties of north Jutland, Ringkjøbing, Viborg and Aarhus. We computed crude survival and used Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to compare mortality over time, adjusted for age and gender. A total of 19,515 CRC patients were identified and linked with the Central Office of Civil Registration to ascertain survival through January 2005.

RESULTS

From 1985 to 2004, 1-year and 5-year survival improved both for patients with colon and rectal cancer. From 1995-1999 to 2000-2004, overall 1-year survival of 65% for colon cancer did not improve, and some age groups experienced a decreasing 1-year survival probability. For rectal cancer, overall 1-year survival increased from 71% in 1995-1999 to 74% in 2000-2004. Using 1985-1989 as reference period, 30-day mortality did not decrease after implementation of the National Cancer Plan in 2000, neither for patients with colon nor rectal cancer. However, 1-year mortality for patients with rectal cancer did decline after its implementation.

CONCLUSION

Survival and mortality from colon and rectal cancer improved before the National Cancer Plan was proposed; after its implementation, however, improvement has been observed for rectal cancer only.

Birth outcome in Danish women with cutaneous malignant melanoma

Several factors may affect birth outcome in women with cutaneous malignant melanoma. We examined whether maternal cutaneous malignant melanoma affects birth outcome (preterm birth, low birth weight at term, stillbirth, congenital abnormalities, mean birth weight, and male proportion of newborns) in a nationwide cohort study of 1059 births from 1973 to 2002 to women with cutaneous melanoma, compared with 50,794 births from a cohort of mothers without cancer. We found no increased risk of adverse birth outcome for the 620 newborns born to women with a diagnosis of melanoma before pregnancy or the 88 newborns born to women diagnosed during pregnancy. Among 351 births of women diagnosed with melanoma within 2 years from the time of delivery, the prevalence odds ratio of stillbirth was 4.6 (95% confidence interval: 1.7; 12). This estimate was, however, based on only five stillbirths in the exposed group and was an unexpected finding. With this exception, our data suggest no substantially increased risk of adverse birth outcome for women with melanoma.

Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy and risk of acute pancreatitis: a population-based case-control study

OBJECTIVES

To examine whether acute pancreatitis is associated with the use of postmenopausal hormonal replacement therapy in Danish women over 45 yr of age.

METHODS

We based this population-based case-control study on data from three Danish counties for the years 1991-2003. We identified all women (>45 yr of age) with a first hospital discharge diagnosis of acute pancreatitis in the county hospital discharge registries (N = 1,054). Using the Danish Civil Registration System, we selected 10 age-matched population controls for each case, using risk set sampling (N = 10,540). Data on all prescriptions for estrogens or combined estrogen/progestins redeemed within 90 days before the hospitalization (current users) and 91-365 days before (former users) were collected from the prescription databases. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the relative risk of acute pancreatitis after exposure to estrogen or combined estrogen/progestin, adjusted for other risk factors for acute pancreatitis.

RESULTS

The adjusted relative risk for acute pancreatitis in current users of menopausal estrogens was 1.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8-1.4), and 1.1 (95% CI 0.8-1.5) in former users. For current users of combined estrogen/progestins, the adjusted relative risk was 1.2 (95% CI 0.9-1.6), and for former users, 1.6 (95% CI 1.0-2.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data did not support a substantial association between acute pancreatitis and the use of postmenopausal hormone therapy.

Birth outcome in women treated with azathioprine or mercaptopurine during pregnancy: A Danish nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

Data on birth outcome after exposure to azathioprine or mercaptopurine during pregnancy is sparse.

AIM

To examine the risk of adverse birth outcome among newborns of women exposed to azathioprine or mercaptopurine during pregnancy.

METHODS

Data on drug use and births were obtained from Danish population registries. We included 76 exposed pregnancies in 69 women. Of these, we used 64 pregnancies exposed 30 days before conception or during the first trimester to examine the risk of congenital abnormalities, and 65 pregnancies exposed during the entire pregnancy to examine preterm birth and low birth weight at term. Their birth outcomes were compared with outcomes among women who did not fill prescriptions for azathioprine or mercaptopurine during pregnancy.

RESULTS

Azathioprine- or mercaptopurine-exposed women had a higher risk of adverse birth outcomes than unexposed controls. However, when the comparison was limited to newborns of women with the same types of underlying disease, relative risks for spontaneous and induced preterm birth, low birth weight at term, and congenital abnormalities were 1.1 (95% CI: 0.5-2.4), 4.0 (95% CI: 1.5-10.8), 1.7 (95% CI: 0.3-8.7) and 1.1 (95% CI: 0.5-2.9), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that adverse birth outcomes were caused by the underlying disease rather than by use of azathioprine or mercaptopurine.

Genotypic drug resistance and long-term mortality in patients with triple-class antiretroviral drug failure

OBJECTIVE

To examine the prevalence of drug-resistance-associated mutations in HIV patients with triple-drug class virological failure (TCF) and their association with long-term mortality.

DESIGN

Population-based study from the Danish HIV Cohort Study (DHCS).

METHODS

We included all patients in the DHCS who experienced TCF between January 1995 and November 2004, and we performed genotypic resistance tests for International AIDS Society (IAS)-USA primary mutations on virus from plasma samples taken around the date of TCF. We computed time to all-cause death from date of TCF. The relative risk of death according to the number of mutations and individual mutations was estimated by Cox regression analysis and adjusted for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Resistance tests were done for 133 of the 179 patients who experienced TCF. The median number of resistance mutations was eight (interquartile range 2-10), and 81 (61%) patients had mutations conferring resistance towards all three major drug classes. In a regression model adjusted for CD4+ T-cell count, HIV RNA, year of TCF, age, gender and previous inferior antiretroviral therapy, harbouring > or =9 versus < or =8 mutations was associated with increased mortality (mortality rate ratio [MRR] 2.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-4.8]), as were the individual mutations T215Y (MRR 3.4 [95% CI 1.6-7.0]), G190A/S (MRR 3.2 [95% CI 1.6-6.6]) and V82F/A/T/S (MRR 2.5 [95% CI 1.2-5.3]).

CONCLUSIONS

In HIV patients with TCF, the total number of genotypic resistance mutations and specific single mutations predicted mortality.

Survival after colorectal cancer in patients with Crohn's disease: A nationwide population-based Danish follow-up study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) are at increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), but little is known about the impact of CD on CRC prognosis. Based on nationwide population-based registries, we compared survival among CRC patients with CD and CRC patients without CD.

METHODS

We used the Danish Cancer Registry and the Danish Hospital Discharge Registry to identify all patients diagnosed with CRC, with and without CD, in Denmark between 1977 and 1999. We ascertained the stage distribution at the time of CRC diagnosis and 1- and 5-yr survival both for patients with Crohn-associated CRC and patients with non-Crohn CRC. Cox regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HRs), adjusting for gender, age, calendar year, and stage.

RESULTS

We identified 100 CRC patients with CD and 71,438 CRC patients without CD. At the time of diagnosis, patients with CD were younger, but stage distributions were similar in the two groups. The overall HR for CRC with CD compared to CRC without CD was 1.82 (95% CI 1.36-2.43) after 1 yr of follow-up, and 1.57 (95% CI 1.24-1.99) after 5 yr of follow-up. Subanalyses showed that the effect of CD on CRC survival was more pronounced in the youngest patients (0-59 yr), in men, and in patients whose tumors had regional spread.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that CD worsens the prognosis of CRC, particularly CRC with regional spread.

30-day mortality after peptic ulcer perforation among users of newer selective COX-2 inhibitors and traditional NSAIDs: a population-based study

OBJECTIVES

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use is a strong risk factor for peptic ulcer perforation, yet little is known about the outcome of this condition among NSAID users. We examined 30-day mortality after peptic ulcer perforation associated with the use of traditional NSAIDs and newer selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors.

METHODS

We conducted a cohort study of patients with the first hospitalization for peptic ulcer perforation, identified in discharge registries of three Danish counties between 1991 and 2003. Data on preadmission NSAID use, other ulcer-related drugs, and comorbidity were likewise from population-based registries. Mortality was ascertained from the Civil Registration System. We compared 30-day mortality in NSAID users and nonusers while adjusting for age, gender, comorbidity, previous uncomplicated peptic ulcer, and ulcer medication use.

RESULTS

Of the 2,061 patients hospitalized with peptic ulcer perforation, 38% were current NSAID users. The 30-day mortality was 25% overall, and 35% among current NSAID users. Compared with never-use, the adjusted 30-day mortality rate ratios (MRRs) were 1.8 (95% CI 1.4-2.3) for current use of NSAIDs alone and 1.6 (95% CI 1.2-2.2) for current use combined with other ulcer-associated drugs. The mortality increase associated with the use of COX-2 inhibitors was similar to that of traditional NSAIDs: adjusted MRR for users of COX-2 inhibitors alone and in combination, 2.0 (1.3-3.1) and 1.4 (0.8-2.5), and for users of traditional NSAIDs alone or in combination, 1.7 (1.3-2.3) and 1.6 (1.2-2.3).

CONCLUSION

Current use of NSAIDs, including COX-2 inhibitors, is associated with a poor prognosis for patients hospitalized with peptic ulcer perforation.

HbA1c in early diabetic pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes: a Danish population-based cohort study of 573 pregnancies in women with type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between first-trimester HbA(1c) (A1C) and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in type 1 diabetic pregnancies.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We identified all pregnant diabetic women in a Danish county from 1985 to 2003. A1C values from first trimester were collected, and pregnancy outcome was dichotomized as good (i.e., babies surviving the 1st month of life without major congenital abnormalities) and adverse (i.e., spontaneous and therapeutic abortion, stillbirth, neonatal death, or major congenital abnormalities detected within the 1st month). The prevalence of adverse outcomes was calculated according to quintiles of A1C. We computed receiver operating characteristic and lowess curve estimates and fitted logistic regression models to calculate prevalence odds ratio while adjusting for confounding by White class and smoking status.

RESULTS

Of 573 pregnancies, 165 (29%) terminated with adverse outcomes. The prevalence of adverse outcomes varied sixfold from 12% (95% CI 7.2-17) in the lowest to 79% (60-91) in the highest quintile of A1C exposure. From A1C levels >7%, we found an almost linear association between A1C and risk of adverse outcome, whereby a 1% increase in A1C corresponded to 5.5% (3.8-7.3) increased risk of adverse outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Starting from a first-trimester A1C level slightly <7%, there is a dose-dependent association between A1C and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome without indication of a plateau, below which the association no longer exits. A1C, however, seems to be of limited value in predicting outcome in the individual pregnancy.

Patient-related predictors of implant failure after primary total hip replacement in the initial, short- and long-terms. A nationwide Danish follow-up study including 36,984 patients

We examined the association between patient-related factors and the risk of initial, short- and long-term implant failure after primary total hip replacement. We used data from the Danish Hip Arthroplasty Registry between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2002, which gave us a total of 36 984 patients. Separate analyses were carried out for three follow-up periods: 0 to 30 days, 31 days to six months (short term), and six months to 8.6 years after primary total hip replacement (long term). The outcome measure was defined as time to failure, which included re-operation with open surgery for any reason. Male gender and a high Charlson co-morbidity index score were strongly predictive for failure, irrespective of the period of follow-up. Age and diagnosis at primary total hip replacement were identified as time-dependent predictive factors of failure. During the first 30 days after primary total hip replacement, an age of 80 years or more and hip replacement undertaken as a sequela of trauma, for avascular necrosis or paediatric conditions, were associated with an increased risk of failure. However, during six months to 8.6 years after surgery, being less than 60 years old was associated with an increased risk of failure, whereas none of the diagnoses for primary total hip replacement appeared to be independent predictors.

Outcome of peptic ulcer bleeding among users of traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Few data exist on the impact of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use on peptic ulcer outcome.

AIM

To examine the 30-day mortality from peptic ulcer bleeding associated with the use of traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and newer selective cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors.

METHODS

Cohort study of patients with a first hospitalization for peptic ulcer bleeding in three Danish counties between 1991 and 2003. Data on pre-admission non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, use of other ulcer-related drugs and comorbidities were obtained from population-based registries. Follow-up data on mortality were obtained from the Danish Civil Registry System.

RESULTS

Of 7,232 patients hospitalized for peptic ulcer bleeding, 28% were current non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug users. Thirty-day mortality was 11% overall, and 13% among current non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug users. Compared with never-use, the adjusted 30-day mortality rate ratios were 1.4 (95% CI: 1.1-1.9) for current use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs alone and 1.3 (95% CI: 1.0-1.7) for current use combined with other ulcer-related drugs. For users of celecoxib, alone and in combination, adjusted mortality rate ratios were 1.4 (95% CI: 0.5-3.9) and 2.0 (95% CI: 1.2-3.5), and for users of rofecoxib, 1.2 (95% CI: 0.4-3.9) and 0.9 (95% CI: 0.5-1.6).

CONCLUSION

Among patients hospitalized with peptic ulcer bleeding, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including some newer cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors, is associated with increased short-term mortality.

Antipsychotics and risk of first-time hospitalization for myocardial infarction: a population-based case-control study

BACKGROUND

Use of antipsychotics has been linked with an adverse cardiovascular risk factor profile and an increased risk of dysrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. However, detailed data on the association between use of antipsychotics and development of atherosclerotic disease are limited.

OBJECTIVE

To examine risk of hospitalization for myocardial infarction (MI) amongst users of antipsychotics compared with non-users.

DESIGN AND SUBJECTS

A population-based case-control study using data from hospital discharge registries in the counties of North Jutland, Viborg and Aarhus, Denmark, and the Danish Civil Registration System. We identified 21,377 cases of first-time hospitalization for MI and 106,885 sex- and age-matched non-MI population controls in the period 1992-2004. All prescriptions for antipsychotics filled prior to the date of admission for MI were retrieved from population-based prescription databases. We used conditional logistic regression to adjust for a wide range of covariates.

RESULTS

Current users of atypical [adjusted relative risk: 0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.88-1.09] and typical antipsychotics (adjusted relative risk: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.96-1.03) had no increased overall risk of being admitted to hospital for MI when compared with non-users of antipsychotics. These findings were consistent in all examined subgroups. Further, we found no association between the cumulative dose of antipsychotics and the risk of hospitalization for MI.

CONCLUSION

These findings do not support the hypothesis that use of antipsychotics and in particular atypical antipsychotics is associated with increased risk of MI.

Reported symptoms, diagnostic delay and stage of colorectal cancer: a population-based study in Denmark

OBJECTIVE

The primary prognostic factor for colorectal cancer (CRC) is stage. Any association between symptoms, diagnostic delay and stage may have implications for the clinical course of the disease. We examined the association between symptoms and diagnostic delay and between symptoms and stage, and assessed whether the associations differed for colon cancer (CC) and rectal cancer (RC).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Population-based prospective observational study based on 733 Danish CRC patients. Diagnostic delay and patients' reported symptoms were determined through questionnaire-interviews. Dukes' stage was obtained from medical records and pathology forms. Diagnostic delay was categorized into three delay groups: < or = 60, 61-150 and > 150 days. Stage was classified into nonadvanced (Dukes' A and B) or advanced (Dukes' C and D) cancers. We calculated the frequency of the most frequently reported initial symptom or symptom complex for CC and RC patients, and evaluated the frequency of patients with different initial symptoms/symptom complexes in the three delay groups. For the most frequent initial symptoms/symptom complexes, we calculated the frequencies according to stage, and estimated the relative risk of having an advanced stage, with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

The most frequent initial symptoms/symptom complexes were very vague symptoms for CC and rectal bleeding for RC. For both CC and RC, rectal bleeding was significantly associated with nonadvanced stage. The relative risk of having an advanced cancer was 0.6 for monosymptomatic rectal bleeding and 0.7 for rectal bleeding combined with other symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Initial symptoms of CC were often very vague, making it difficult to identify a precise start date. The most frequent initial symptom/symptom complex for RC - rectal bleeding - was better defined. Rectal bleeding was significantly associated with nonadvanced CC and RC and a significantly decreased relative risk of having an advanced cancer.

Cancer risk among users of neuroleptic medication: a population-based cohort study

It has been suggested that neuroleptic medication may decrease cancer risk. We compared cancer risks in a population-based cohort study of 25 264 users (⩾2 prescriptions) of neuroleptic medications in the county of North Jutland, Denmark, during 1989–2002, with that of county residents who did not receive such prescriptions. Statistical analyses were based on age-standardisation and Poisson regression analysis, adjusting for age, calendar period, COPD, liver cirrhosis or alcoholism, use of NSAID, and, for breast cancer, additionally for use of hormone therapy, age at first birth, and number of children. Use of neuroleptic medications was associated with a decreased risk for rectal cancer in both women and men (adjusted IRRs of 0.61 (95% confidence interval, 0.41–0.91) and 0.82 (0.56–1.19), respectively) and for colon cancer in female users (0.78; 0.62–0.98). Some risk reduction was seen for prostate cancer (0.87; 0.69–1.08), but breast cancer risk was close to unity (0.93; 0.74–1.17). Overall, treatment with neuroleptic medications was not related to a reduced risk of cancer, but for cancers of the rectum, colon and prostate there were suggestive decreases in risk.

Maternal herpes labialis in pregnancy and neural tube defects

According to previous case reports, some congenital abnormalities (CAs) of the brain, such as microcephaly, are a result of intrauterine herpes simplex virus infection. A population-based case-control study was conducted to determine the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) after maternal herpes labialis infection during pregnancy. Data were taken from the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities from 1980 to 1996, which included 1202 children with NTDs and 21641 comparison children with CAs other than NTDs. The adjusted relative risks (odds ratio [OR]) for NTDs associated with maternal herpes labialis in the first trimester of pregnancy was OR 1.19 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.68-2.06), and in the entire pregnancy was OR 0.94 (95% CI 0.61-1.44). Self-reported maternal herpes labialis during pregnancy was not associated with a substantially increased risk of NTDs in infants.

Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of oral cancer: a cohort study

Epidemiologic data regarding the chemopreventive potential of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) against oral cancer are sparse. We found a relative risk for oral cancer of 1.2 (95% CI, 1.0–1.6) among 169 589 Danish NSAID users (≥2 prescriptions), with no apparent trends in subgroups. Our study provided no clear evidence that NSAIDs may protect against oral cancer.

Prognosis of ovarian cancer subsequent to venous thromboembolism: a nationwide Danish cohort study

Background

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with ovarian cancer and may impact the prognosis of ovarian cancer. Our aims were to examine the extent of disease at the time of the diagnosis of ovarian cancer and to estimate the impact of VTE on survival of ovarian cancer.

Methods

We identified 12,835 ovarian cancer patients diagnosed from 1980 to 2003 in the Danish Cancer Registry and obtained information on previous primary VTE diagnosis from the Danish National Hospital Discharge Registry. Ovarian cancer patients with previous VTE related to other cancers, surgery, or pregnancy were excluded. The vital status was determined by linking data to the Civil Registration System.

Results

We identified 50 ovarian cancer patients diagnosed less than 4 months after the VTE and 78 ovarian cancer patients diagnosed more than 4 months after the VTE diagnosis. Advanced stages tended to be more common among patients with VTE. One-year survivals were 44% and 54% among the two VTE groups, compared with 63% among patients without VTE. Adjusted (for age, calendar time, comorbidity, and FIGO-stage) mortality ratios were 1.7 (95% CI = 1.2–2.5) and 1.2 (95% CI = 0.8–1.7), respectively.

Conclusion

Ovarian cancer diagnosed less than four months before VTE is associated with an advanced stage and a poorer prognosis.

Newer cyclo-oxygenase-2 selective inhibitors, other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the risk of acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Case reports have suggested that the use of newer cyclo-oxygenase-2 selective inhibitors may cause acute pancreatitis, but there has been no formal study of the association.

AIM

To assess the relationship between the use of cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and risk of acute pancreatitis.

METHODS

A population-based case-control study was conducted using hospital discharge and prescription data from Denmark. Using conditional logistic regression with adjustment for multiple covariates, we estimated the relative risk of acute pancreatitis for use of the cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors celecoxib and rofecoxib and for other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

RESULTS

A total of 3083 cases of acute pancreatitis and 30 830 population controls were identified. For current use the relative risk estimate for celecoxib was 1.4 (95% CI: 0.8-2.3) and for rofecoxib was 1.3 (95% CI: 0.7-2.3). The overall relative risk for other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was 2.7 (95% CI: 2.4-3.0) with a substantial variation in risk between the individual drugs. The highest relative risk was for diclofenac (odds ratio 5.0, 95% CI: 4.2-5.9) and the lowest for naproxen (odds ratio 1.1, 95% CI: 0.7-1.7).

CONCLUSION

Cyclo-oxygenase-2 selective inhibitors are associated with a lower risk of acute pancreatitis than most other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Self-management versus conventional management of oral anticoagulant therapy: A randomized, controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The efficacy of self-managed oral anticoagulant therapy has been addressed in few randomized, controlled trials, which have provided inconsistent results. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of self-managed oral anticoagulant therapy with conventional management.

METHODS

This was a pragmatic, open-label, randomized, controlled trial where 100 patients receiving long-term oral anticoagulant therapy referred to a Danish clinic for self-management was randomized to either self-management of oral anticoagulant therapy (including a teaching program of self-management followed by 6 months of self-management) or 6 months of conventional management. The primary endpoint was an intention-to-treat analysis of a composite score combining the variance (median square of the standard deviation) of the International Normalized Ratio (INR) value (using a blinded control sample analyzed monthly by a reference laboratory), death, major complications, or discontinuation from the study. Secondary endpoints - assessed in per-protocol analyses - were the variance of the INR value (using the blinded control sample) and time within therapeutic INR target range using the standard INR values from the coagulometer and laboratory measurement.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the primary endpoint between the self-management and conventional management groups (composite score 0.16 vs. 0.24, respectively, p=0.09). Self-management was significantly better (0.16 vs. 0.24, p=0.003) with regard to the variance in a per-protocol analysis. The difference in time within therapeutic INR target range was not significantly better (78.7% vs. 68.9%, p=0.14) using self-management.

CONCLUSION

The quality of self-management of oral anticoagulant therapy is at least as good as that provided by conventional management.

'Simply forgot' is the most frequently stated reason for missed doses of HAART irrespective of degree of adherence

OBJECTIVES

Previous studies have reported that forgetfulness is the most frequently mentioned reason for missed doses among patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, no previous study has compared the reasons given by highly nonadherent patients with the reasons given by patients with better adherence. The objective of this study was to examine further patients' self-reported reasons for missing doses of HAART and to compare the reasons given by patients with lower adherence with those given by patients with higher adherence.

METHODS

All patients visiting the clinics participating in the Danish HIV cohort study during a 1-year period (July 2002 to June 2003) were eligible if they had started HAART at least 6 months previously. Consenting patients completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire based upon the adult AIDS Clinical Trial Group adherence questionnaires. Lower adherence was defined as reporting a missed dose within the preceding 4 days.

RESULTS

We received usable questionnaires from 840 (75%) of the 1126 eligible patients. Patients with lower adherence reported the same reasons for missed doses as patients with higher adherence (Spearman's rho=0.952, P<0.0001). In both groups of patients the three most frequently reported reasons for missed doses were 'simply forgot', 'were away from home', and 'had a change in daily routines'.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with poorer adherence to HAART state the same reasons for missing doses as patients with better adherence, and 'simply forgot' is the most frequently stated reason.

SSRIs and upper gastrointestinal bleeding: what is known and how should it influence prescribing?

SSRIs have achieved a high usage rate in the treatment of depression because of a similar efficacy to TCAs and a favourable safety and tolerability profile. However, SSRI use has been associated with bleeding. We reviewed the epidemiological evidence on the association between SSRI use alone and the risk of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and on synergistic effects reported with other commonly used drugs that can also cause bleeding.A literature search identified four studies of SSRI use and risk for upper gastrointestinal bleeding and a further two studies of SSRI use and bleeding in general, including upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The available evidence indicates quite convincingly that SSRI use may play a causal role in upper gastrointestinal bleeding and that these drugs may act synergistically with other bleeding risk-increasing medications such as NSAIDs or low-dose aspirin. Assuming a causal role of SSRIs, reported excess gastrointestinal bleedings attributable to SSRI use was reported to be 3.1 per 1000 treatment years, 4.1 per 1000 treatment years among octogenarians and 11.7 per 1000 treatment years among persons with prior upper gastrointestinal bleeding. These non-negligible risks warrant that prescribing doctors consider strategies on the individual level to reduce the likelihood of an upper gastrointestinal adverse event. Patients at particular risk include those with previous ulcers or gastrointestinal bleeding, the elderly and those with certain concurrent illnesses and/or high-risk comedications. Suggested strategies include alternatives to SSRI use, prescribing of less gastrotoxic NSAIDs or co-prescribing of gastroprotective drugs. Patients should be informed about the likelihood of possible upper gastrointestinal bleeding and high-risk patients should be followed closely.

Severity of infection and seasonal variation of non-typhoid Salmonella occurrence in humans

Non-typhoid Salmonella infections may present as severe gastroenteritis necessitating hospitalization and some patients become septic with bacteraemia. We hypothesized that the seasonal variation of non-typhoid Salmonella occurrence in humans diminishes with increased severity of infection. We examined the seasonal variation of non-typhoid Salmonella infections in three patient groups with differing severity of infection: outpatients treated for gastroenteritis (n=1490); in-patients treated for gastroenteritis (n=492); and in-patients treated for bacteraemia (n=113). The study was population-based and included all non-typhoid Salmonella patients in a Danish county from 1994 to 2003. A periodic regression model was used to compute the peak-to-trough ratio for the three patient groups. The peak-to-trough ratios were 4.3 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.6-5.0] for outpatients with gastroenteritis, 3.2 (95% CI 2.4-4.2) for in-patients with gastroenteritis, and 1.6 (95% CI 1.0-2.8) for in-patients with bacteraemia. We conclude that the role of seasonal variation diminishes with increased severity of non-typhoid Salmonella infection.

Use of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy and risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a Danish population-based cohort study

Use of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been hypothesised to be associated with a reduced risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), but the epidemiologic evidence is conflicting. To examine the risk of NHL in HRT users aged 40 and older, we conducted a cohort study in the County of North Jutland, Denmark (population 0.5 million) using data from population-based health registries for the period 1989–2002. We computed age-standardised NHL incidence rates and used Cox regression analysis to compute the relative risk (RR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) of NHL among HRT users compared with non-users, adjusting for age and calendar period. The number of prescriptions redeemed (1, 2–4, 5–9, 10–19, or 20 or more prescriptions) was used as a proxy for duration of HRT. We identified 40 NHL cases among HRT users during 179 838 person-years of follow-up and 310 NHL cases among non-users during 1 247 302 person-years of follow-up. The age-standardised incidence rates of NHL were 25.7 per 100 000 among HRT users and 24.2 per 100 000 among non-users, yielding an adjusted RR of 0.99 (95% CI: 0.71–1.39). Our data did not support an association between HRT use and risk of NHL.

Increase in incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in northern Denmark: a population-based study, 1978-2002

OBJECTIVES

Although incidence rates of inflammatory bowel disease have been reported worldwide, few long-term population-based studies with current time-trend analyses exist. We therefore examined time trends in the incidence rate of inflammatory bowel disease in a 25-year study period, and estimated the prevalence in 2002. All patients diagnosed between 1978 and 2002 were included as incident cases (n=2,326) and all patients living in North Jutland County on 31 December 2002 were used to estimate prevalent cases (n=2,205).

METHODS

Medical records of all patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in the North Jutland County Hospital Discharge Registry were reviewed to examine if the diagnostic criteria were fulfilled. Age-specific and gender-specific standardized incidence rates were calculated.

RESULTS

For ulcerative colitis, incidence rates in women increased from 8.3 (95% confidence interval (CI): 6.7-9.9) in 1978-1982 to 17.0 (95% CI: 14.7-19.3) per 100,000 person-years in 1998-2002. The corresponding figures for men were 7.7 (95% CI: 6.1-9.3) and 16.7 (95% CI: 14.4-18.8) per 100,000 person-years. For Crohn's disease, the incidence rates in women increased from 4.1 (95% CI: 3.0-5.2) in 1978-1982 to 10.7 (95% CI: 8.8-12.5) per 100,000 person-years in 1998-2002. The corresponding figures for men were 3.2 (95% CI: 2.1-4.2) and 8.5 (95% CI: 6.9-10.2) per 100,000 person-years. The prevalence of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease was 294 and 151 per 100,000 inhabitants, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

A marked and parallel increase was seen in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in both genders during the last 25 years, with a corresponding high prevalence of both diseases.