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Burström B, Hemström Ö, Doheny M, Agerholm J, Liljas A. The aftermath of COVID-19: Mortality impact of the pandemic on older persons in Sweden and other Nordic countries, 2020-2023. Scand J Public Health 2024:14034948241253339. [PMID: 38855919 DOI: 10.1177/14034948241253339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
AIMS The COVID-19 pandemic hit Sweden harder than the other Nordic countries in the early phase, especially among older persons. We compared the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mortality especially among older persons during the period 2020-2022 in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway, using four different outcome measures. METHODS We compared publicly available information on reported cases and deaths in COVID-19 from the World Health Organization COVID-19 Dashboard, age-specific mortality rates, life expectancy at age 65 years and excess mortality from Nordic Statistics database and national statistics and health agencies in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway. RESULTS The pandemic peaked earlier in Sweden than in Denmark, Finland and Norway, where cases and deaths increased more during 2021 and 2022, also reflected in age-specific death rates among persons aged 70+ years. COVID-19 mortality was highest in Sweden, followed by Finland, Denmark and Norway. Life expectancy declined during 2020 in Sweden but more during 2021 and 2022 in Denmark, Finland and Norway. Excess mortality during 2020-2022 was nearly twice as high in Finland as in the other countries. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 mortality was higher in Sweden than in Denmark, Finland and Norway. Life expectancy declined during 2020 in Sweden, was partly regained in 2021 and 2022, while it declined during 2021 and 2022 in Denmark, Norway and Finland. However, excess mortality during 2020-2022 was similar in Sweden, Denmark and Norway and twice as high in Finland. Different mortality outcomes reflect the complexity of the mortality impact of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Burström
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | | | - Megan Doheny
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
- Aging Research Centre, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Janne Agerholm
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
- Aging Research Centre, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Ann Liljas
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
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Östlund AS, Högnelid J, Olsson A. Being an older hospitalized patient during the COVID-19 pandemic - A qualitative interview study. BMC Geriatr 2023; 23:810. [PMID: 38053062 PMCID: PMC10698926 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-023-04562-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Older people hospitalized for COVID-19 are a vulnerable group due to the disease itself, aging and often loss of hearing and vision. Person-centered care, where patients have opportunities to communicate and participate in their own care, is important. However, because healthcare staff needed to wear personal protective equipment during the pandemic, to protect the patients and themselves, providing person-centered care was often difficult. This study aims to describe older hospitalized patients' experiences both of being cared for, while having COVID-19, and of the care provided by healthcare staff wearing PPE. METHODS Fourteen older patients, over 65 years of age, were interviewed, and the data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The study adhered to Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research guidelines. RESULTS Three subthemes and one overall theme, "The desire for survival overshadows difficulties", emerged in the analysis. The main findings revealed that the older hospitalized patients experienced the care they received from the healthcare staff as satisfactory. The older patients reported understanding and accepting that the pandemic situation meant that their ability to participate in their own care and communicate with healthcare staff were given lower priority. CONCLUSIONS Older hospitalized patients need to be provided person-centered care, and situations such as a pandemic are no exception. Care tasks that are not acute in nature, e.g., planning for patients' return home, could be conducted by healthcare staff not required to wear PPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Sofi Östlund
- Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, Department of Caring Sciences, University of Gävle, Gävle, S-801 76, Sweden
| | - Julia Högnelid
- Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, Department of Caring Sciences, University of Gävle, Gävle, S-801 76, Sweden
| | - Annakarin Olsson
- Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies, Department of Caring Sciences, University of Gävle, Gävle, S-801 76, Sweden.
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Sjöland H, Lindgren M, Toska T, Hansson PO, Glise Sandblad K, Alex C, Björck L, Cronie O, Björk J, Lundberg CE, Adiels M, Rosengren A. Pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis after COVID-19: long-term risk in a population-based cohort study. Res Pract Thromb Haemost 2023; 7:100284. [PMID: 37361398 PMCID: PMC10284449 DOI: 10.1016/j.rpth.2023.100284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) (pulmonary embolism (PE) or deep venous thrombosis (DVT)) is common during acute COVID-19. Long-term excess risk has not yet been established. Objective To study long-term VTE risk after COVID-19. Methods Swedish citizens aged 18-84 years, hospitalized and/or testing positive for COVID-19 between January 1, 2020, and September 11, 2021 (exposed), stratified by initial hospitalization, were compared to matched (1:5) non-exposed population-derived subjects without COVID-19. Outcomes were incident VTE, PE or DVT recorded within 60, 60-<180, and ≥180 days. Cox regression was used for evaluation and a model adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities and socioeconomic markers developed to control for confounders. Results Among exposed patients, 48,861 were hospitalized for COVID-19 (mean age 60.6 years) and 894,121 were without hospitalization (mean age 41.4 years). Among patients hospitalized for COVID-19, fully adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) during 60-<180 days were 6.05 (95% confidence interval (CI) 4.80─7.62) for PE and 3.97 (CI 2.96─5.33) for DVT, compared to non-exposed with corresponding estimates among COVID-19 without hospitalization 1.17 (CI 1.01─1.35) and 0.99 (CI 0.86─1.15), based on 475 and 2,311 VTE events, respectively. Long-term (≥180 days) HRs in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 were 2.01 (CI 1.51─2.68) for PE and 1.46 (CI 1.05─2.01) for DVT while non-hospitalized had similar risk to non-exposed, based on 467 and 2,030 VTE events, respectively. Conclusions Patients hospitalized for COVID-19 retained an elevated excess risk of VTE, mainly PE, after 180 days, while long-term risk of VTE in individuals with COVID-19 without hospitalization was similar to the non-exposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Sjöland
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Medicine Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Östra Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Martin Lindgren
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Medicine Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Östra Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Triantafyllia Toska
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Medicine Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Östra Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Per-Olof Hansson
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Medicine Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Östra Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Katarina Glise Sandblad
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Medicine Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Östra Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Christian Alex
- Department of Medicine Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Östra Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lena Björck
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Medicine Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Östra Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ottmar Cronie
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jonas Björk
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Clinical Studies Sweden, Forum South, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Christina E. Lundberg
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Food and Nutrition, and Sport Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Martin Adiels
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Annika Rosengren
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Medicine Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Östra Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Edqvist J, Lundberg C, Andreasson K, Björck L, Dikaiou P, Ludvigsson J, Lind M, Adiels M, Rosengren A. Severe COVID-19 Infection in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes During the First Three Waves in Sweden. Diabetes Care 2023; 46:570-578. [PMID: 36607219 PMCID: PMC10020018 DOI: 10.2337/dc22-1760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Type 2 diabetes is an established risk factor for hospitalization and death in COVID-19 infection, while findings with respect to type 1 diabetes have been diverging. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Using nationwide health registries, we identified all patients aged ≥18 years with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in Sweden. Odds ratios (ORs) describe the general and age-specific risk of being hospitalized, need for intensive care, or dying, adjusted for age, socioeconomic factors, and coexisting conditions, compared with individuals without diabetes. Machine learning models were used to find predictors of outcomes among individuals with diabetes positive for COVID-19. RESULTS Until 30 June 2021, we identified 365 (0.71%) and 11,684 (2.31%) hospitalizations in 51,402 and 504,337 patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes, respectively, with 67 (0.13%) and 2,848 (0.56%) requiring intensive care unit (ICU) care and 68 (0.13%) and 4,020 (0.80%) dying (vs 7,824,181 individuals without diabetes [41,810 hospitalizations (0.53%), 8,753 (0.11%) needing ICU care, and 10,160 (0.13%) deaths). Although those with type 1 diabetes had moderately raised odds of being hospitalized (multiple-adjusted OR 1.38 [95% CI 1.24-1.53]), there was no independent effect on ICU care or death (OR of 1.21 [95% CI 0.94-1.52] and 1.13 [95% CI 0.88-1.48], respectively). Age and socioeconomic factors were the dominating features for predicting hospitalization and death in both types of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS Type 2 diabetes was associated with increased odds for all outcomes, whereas patients with type 1 diabetes had moderately increased odds of hospitalization but not ICU care and death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Edqvist
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Region Västra Götaland, Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Christina Lundberg
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Karin Andreasson
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lena Björck
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Region Västra Götaland, Department of Medicine Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Östra Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Pigi Dikaiou
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Region Västra Götaland, Department of Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Johnny Ludvigsson
- Crown Princess Victoria Children’s Hospital and Division of Pediatrics, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Marcus Lind
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- NU-Hospital Group, Uddevalla, Sweden
| | - Martin Adiels
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Annika Rosengren
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Region Västra Götaland, Department of Medicine Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Östra Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Corresponding author: Annika Rosengren,
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Rosengren A, Söderberg M, Lundberg CE, Lindgren M, Santosa A, Edqvist J, Åberg M, Gisslén M, Robertson J, Cronie O, Sattar N, Lagergren J, Brandén M, Björk J, Adiels M. COVID-19 in people aged 18-64 in Sweden in the first year of the pandemic: Key factors for severe disease and death. GLOBAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2022; 4:100095. [PMID: 36447481 PMCID: PMC9683858 DOI: 10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Studies on risk factors for severe COVID-19 in people of working age have generally not included non-working persons or established population attributable fractions (PAFs) for occupational and other factors. Objectives We describe the effect of job-related, sociodemographic, and other exposures on the incidence, relative risks and PAFs of severe COVID-19 in individuals aged 18-64. Methods We conducted a registry-based study in Swedish citizens aged 18-64 from 1 January 2020 to 1 February 2021 with respect to COVID-19-related hospitalizations and death. Results Of 6,205,459 persons, 272,043 (7.5%) were registered as infected, 3399 (0.05%) needed intensive care, and 620 (0.01%) died, with an estimated case fatality rate of 0.06% over the last 4-month period when testing was adequate. Non-Nordic origin was associated with a RR for need of intensive care of 3·13, 95%CI 2·91-3·36, and a PAF of 32·2% after adjustment for age, sex, work, region and comorbidities. In a second model with occupation as main exposure, and adjusted for age, sex, region, comorbidities and origin, essential workers had an RR of 1·51, 95%CI, 1·35-1·6, blue-collar workers 1·18, 95%CI 1·06-1·31, school staff 1·21, 95%CI 1·01-1·46, and health and social care workers 1·89, 95%CI 1·67-2·135) compared with people able to work from home, with altogether about 13% of the PAF associated with these occupations. Essential workers and blue-collar workers, but no other job categories had higher risk of death, adjusted RRs of 1·79, 95%CI 1·34-2·38 and 1·37, 95%CI 1·04-1·81, with adjusted PAFs of altogether 9%. Conclusion Among people of working age in Sweden, overall mortality and case fatality were low. Occupations that require physical presence at work were associated with elevated risk of needing intensive care for COVID-19, with 14% cases attributable to this factor, and 9% of deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Rosengren
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden,Region Västra Götaland, Department of Medicine Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Östra Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden,Corresponding author at: Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mia Söderberg
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Christina E. Lundberg
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Martin Lindgren
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden,Region Västra Götaland, Department of Medicine Geriatrics and Emergency Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital Östra Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ailiana Santosa
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden,School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jon Edqvist
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Maria Åberg
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden,Region Västra Götaland, Regionhälsan, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Magnus Gisslén
- Region Västra Götaland, Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden,Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Josefina Robertson
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden,Region Västra Götaland, Department of Infectious Diseases, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden,Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ottmar Cronie
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Naveed Sattar
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden,Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Jesper Lagergren
- Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden,School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Brandén
- Stockholm University Demography Unit (SUDA), Department of Sociology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden,Institute for Analytical Sociology (IAS), Linköping University, Norrköping, Sweden
| | - Jonas Björk
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden,Clinical Studies Sweden, Forum South, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Martin Adiels
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden,School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Ayaki M, Negishi K. The ocular symptoms and signs during the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276435. [PMID: 36264910 PMCID: PMC9584361 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this cohort study was to describe the change in ocular surface signs and symptoms before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to associate changes with potential pandemic-related events. METHODS First-visit patients from 2019 to 2021 were examined for corneal staining, lacrimal function and refraction. We assessed the presence of seven common ocular symptoms. Patients with glaucoma and macular disease were excluded. Dry eye (DE) was diagnosed according to the criteria of the Asia Dry Eye Society. RESULTS The mean age of 3,907 participants was 59.6±18.6y and 63.8% were female. Mean age and the prevalence of diagnosed DE and shortened tear break-up time decreased from 2019 to 2021. The prevalence of eye fatigue, blurring and photophobia decreased in 2020. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of diagnosed DE did not increase among first-visit patients during the pandemic compared with 2019, despite many survey results suggesting that DE may have worsened due to frequent masking, increased screen time, mental stress, and depression under quarantine and social infection control. It might be considered however, that many elderly DE patients might have refrained from consulting an ophthalmologist and possibly delayed treatment of DE during the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiko Ayaki
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Otake Clinic Moon View Eye Center, Kanagawa, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Kazuno Negishi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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