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Salekešin M, Vorobjov S, Des Jarlais D, Uusküla A. Mortality among people who inject drugs - the interwoven roles of fentanyl and HIV: a community-based cohort study. Eur J Public Health 2024; 34:329-334. [PMID: 38041408 PMCID: PMC10990538 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckad204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Excess all-cause mortality is a key indicator for assessing direct and indirect consequences of injection drug use and data are warranted to delineate sub-populations within people who inject drugs at higher risk of death. Our aim was to examine mortality and factors associated with mortality among people who inject drugs in Estonia. METHODS Retrospective cohort study using data from people who inject drugs recruited in the community with linkage to death records. Standardized mortality ratios were used to compare the cohort mortality to the general population and potential predictors of death were examined through survival analysis (Cox regression). The cohort include a total of 1399 people who inject drugs recruited for cross-sectional surveys using respondent driven sampling between 2013 and 2018 in Estonia. A cohort with follow-up through 2019 was formed with linkage to national causes of death registry. RESULTS Among 1399 participants with 4684 person-years of follow-up, 10% were deceased by 2019. The all-cause mortality rate in the cohort was 28.9 per 1000 person-years (95% confidence interval 25.3-35.3). Being HIV positive, injecting mainly opioids (fentanyl), living in the capital region and the main source of income other than work were associated with greater mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS While low-threshold services have been available for a long time for people who inject drugs, there is still a need to widen the availability and integration of services, particularly the integration of HIV and opioid treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maris Salekešin
- Department of Risk Behavior Studies, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Sigrid Vorobjov
- Department of Risk Behavior Studies, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Don Des Jarlais
- School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, USA
| | - Anneli Uusküla
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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Christiansen SN, Horskjær Rasmussen S, Pons M, Michelsen B, Glintborg B, Gudbjornsson B, Grondal G, Vencovsky J, Loft AG, Rotar Z, Pirkmajer KP, Nissen MJ, Baranová J, Macfarlane GJ, Jones GT, Iannone F, Caporali R, Laas K, Vorobjov S, Giuseppe DD, Olofsson T, Provan SA, Fagerli KM, Castrejon I, Otero-Varela L, van de Sande M, van der Horst-Bruinsma I, Nordström D, Kuusalo L, Bernardes M, Hetland ML, Østergaard M, Midtbøll Ørnbjerg L. Patient-reported outcomes in axial spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis patients treated with secukinumab for 24 months in daily clinical practice. Semin Arthritis Rheum 2024; 65:152388. [PMID: 38301349 DOI: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2024.152388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) initiating secukinumab, we aimed to assess and compare the proportion of patients achieving 6-, 12- and 24-month patient-reported outcomes (PRO) remission and the 24-month retention rates. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with axSpA or PsA from 16 European registries, who initiated secukinumab in routine care were included. PRO remission rates were defined as pain, fatigue, Patient Global Assessment (PGA) ≤2 (Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) 0-10) and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) ≤0.5, for both axSpA and PsA, and were calculated as crude values and adjusted for drug adherence (LUNDEX). Comparisons of axSpA and PsA remission rates were performed using logistic regression analyses (unadjusted and adjusted for multiple confounders). Kaplan-Meier plots with log-rank test and Cox regression analyses were conducted to assess and compare secukinumab retention rates. RESULTS We included 3087 axSpA and 3246 PsA patients initiating secukinumab. Crude pain, fatigue, PGA and HAQ remission rates were higher in axSpA than in PsA patients, whereas LUNDEX-adjusted remission rates were similar. No differences were found between the patient groups after adjustment for confounders. The 24-month retention rates were similar in axSpA vs. PsA in fully adjusted analyses (HR [95 %CI] = 0.92 [0.84-1.02]). CONCLUSION In this large European real-world study of axSpA and PsA patients treated with secukinumab, we demonstrate for the first time a comparable effectiveness in PRO remission and treatment retention rates between these two conditions when adjusted for confounders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Nysom Christiansen
- Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre for Head and Orthopedics, Rigshospitalet, Valdemar Hansens Vej 17, Glostrup 2600, Denmark
| | - Simon Horskjær Rasmussen
- Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre for Head and Orthopedics, Rigshospitalet, Valdemar Hansens Vej 17, Glostrup 2600, Denmark
| | - Marion Pons
- Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre for Head and Orthopedics, Rigshospitalet, Valdemar Hansens Vej 17, Glostrup 2600, Denmark.
| | - Brigitte Michelsen
- Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre for Head and Orthopedics, Rigshospitalet, Valdemar Hansens Vej 17, Glostrup 2600, Denmark; Research Unit, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway; Center for treatment of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (REMEDY), Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bente Glintborg
- Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre for Head and Orthopedics, Rigshospitalet, Valdemar Hansens Vej 17, Glostrup 2600, Denmark; DANBIO registry, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bjorn Gudbjornsson
- Centre for Rheumatology Research, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Gerdur Grondal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland; Department for Rheumatology, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Jiri Vencovsky
- Institute of Rheumatology, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Rheumatology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Anne Gitte Loft
- Department of Rheumatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ziga Rotar
- Department of Rheumatology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katja Perdan Pirkmajer
- Department of Rheumatology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Michael J Nissen
- Department of Rheumatology, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jana Baranová
- Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses, Ltd, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Gary J Macfarlane
- Aberdeen Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health (Epidemiology Group), University of Aberdeen, UK
| | - Gareth T Jones
- Aberdeen Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health (Epidemiology Group), University of Aberdeen, UK
| | | | - Roberto Caporali
- Department of Rheumatology and medical sciences, ASST G. Pini-CTO, Milan and University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Karin Laas
- Department of Rheumatology, East-Tallinn Central Hospital, Tallinn, Estonia
| | | | - Daniela Di Giuseppe
- Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tor Olofsson
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Rheumatology, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sella Aarrestad Provan
- Center for treatment of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (REMEDY), Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Public Health Section, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway
| | - Karen Minde Fagerli
- Center for treatment of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (REMEDY), Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Isabel Castrejon
- Department of Rheumatology, Hospital General, Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain; Faculty of Medicine, Complutense, University of Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Marleen van de Sande
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology and Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam Institute for Infection & Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Amsterdam Rheumatology immunology Center, Reade and Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Dan Nordström
- Departments of Medicine and Rheumatology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Laura Kuusalo
- Division of Internal Medicine, Centre for Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland
| | - Miguel Bernardes
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Rheumatology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal
| | - Merete Lund Hetland
- Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre for Head and Orthopedics, Rigshospitalet, Valdemar Hansens Vej 17, Glostrup 2600, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel Østergaard
- Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre for Head and Orthopedics, Rigshospitalet, Valdemar Hansens Vej 17, Glostrup 2600, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lykke Midtbøll Ørnbjerg
- Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre for Head and Orthopedics, Rigshospitalet, Valdemar Hansens Vej 17, Glostrup 2600, Denmark
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Uusküla A, Rannap J, Weijler L, Abagiu A, Arendt V, Barrio G, Barros H, Brummer-Korvenkontio H, Casabona J, Croes E, Jarlais DD, Seguin-Devaux C, Dudás M, Eritsyan K, Folch C, Hatzakis A, Heimer R, Heinsbroek E, Hope V, Jipa R, Ķīvīte-Urtāne A, Levina O, Lyubimova A, Malczewski A, Matser A, McAuley A, Meireles P, Mravčík V, Op de Coul E, Ojavee SE, Parés-Badell O, Prins M, Pulido J, Romanyak E, Rosinska M, Seyler T, Stone J, Sypsa V, Talu A, Tarján A, Taylor A, Vickerman P, Vorobjov S, Dolan K, Wiessing L. Incarceration history is associated with HIV infection among community-recruited people who inject drugs in Europe: A propensity-score matched analysis of cross-sectional studies. Addiction 2023; 118:2177-2192. [PMID: 37991429 DOI: 10.1111/add.16283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
AIMS We measured the association between a history of incarceration and HIV positivity among people who inject drugs (PWID) across Europe. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS This was a cross-sectional, multi-site, multi-year propensity-score matched analysis conducted in Europe. Participants comprised community-recruited PWID who reported a recent injection (within the last 12 months). MEASUREMENTS Data on incarceration history, demographics, substance use, sexual behavior and harm reduction service use originated from cross-sectional studies among PWID in Europe. Our primary outcome was HIV status. Generalized linear mixed models and propensity-score matching were used to compare HIV status between ever- and never-incarcerated PWID. FINDINGS Among 43 807 PWID from 82 studies surveyed (in 22 sites and 13 countries), 58.7% reported having ever been in prison and 7.16% (n = 3099) tested HIV-positive. Incarceration was associated with 30% higher odds of HIV infection [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.09-1.59]; the association between a history of incarceration and HIV infection was strongest among PWID, with the lowest estimated propensity-score for having a history of incarceration (aOR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.47-2.16). Additionally, mainly injecting cocaine and/or opioids (aOR = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.33-3.53), increased duration of injecting drugs (per 8 years aOR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.16-1.48), ever sharing needles/syringes (aOR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.59-2.28) and increased income inequality among the general population (measured by the Gini index, aOR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.18-1.51) were associated with a higher odds of HIV infection. Older age (per 8 years aOR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.76-0.94), male sex (aOR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.65-0.91) and reporting pharmacies as the main source of clean syringes (aOR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.59-0.88) were associated with lower odds of HIV positivity. CONCLUSIONS A history of incarceration appears to be independently associated with HIV infection among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Europe, with a stronger effect among PWID with lower probability of incarceration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anneli Uusküla
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jürgen Rannap
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Lisa Weijler
- European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Adrian Abagiu
- National Institute for Infectious diseases 'Professor Dr Matei Bals', Bucharest, Romania
| | - Vic Arendt
- Service National des Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Gregorio Barrio
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Henrique Barros
- EPIUnit-Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Jordi Casabona
- Centre for Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV/AIDS of Catalonia (CEEISCAT), Catalonia Public Health Agency (ASPCAT), Badalona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Don Des Jarlais
- School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, 10012, USA
| | - Carole Seguin-Devaux
- Department of Infection and Immunity, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Luxembourg
| | - Mária Dudás
- National Public Health Center, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ksenia Eritsyan
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, St Petersburg, Russia
| | - Cinta Folch
- Centre for Epidemiological Studies on Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV/AIDS of Catalonia (CEEISCAT), Catalonia Public Health Agency (ASPCAT), Badalona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Angelos Hatzakis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Robert Heimer
- Department of the Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ellen Heinsbroek
- Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
| | - Vivian Hope
- Blood Safety, Hepatitis, STI & HIV Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, UK
- Public Health Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK
| | - Raluca Jipa
- National Institute for Infectious diseases 'Professor Dr Matei Bals', Bucharest, Romania
| | | | - Olga Levina
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, St Petersburg, Russia
- Acuity Systems, Herndon, VA, USA
| | - Alexandra Lyubimova
- National Research University Higher School of Economics, St Petersburg, Russia
| | - Artur Malczewski
- EMCDDA Polish National Focal Point, National Bureau for Drug Prevention, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Amy Matser
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam Infection andd Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Andrew McAuley
- Public Health Scotland, Meridian Court, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Paula Meireles
- EPIUnit-Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Viktor Mravčík
- Department of Addictology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
- Společnost Podané ruce, Brno, Czech Republic
- Klinika Podané ruce, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eline Op de Coul
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Sven E Ojavee
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Maria Prins
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam Infection andd Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - José Pulido
- National School of Public Health, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Public Health and Maternal and Child Health, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Magdalena Rosinska
- Department of Infectious Diseases Epidemiology and Surveillance, National Institute of Public Health NIH, National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Thomas Seyler
- European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Jack Stone
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Vana Sypsa
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Ave Talu
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Anna Tarján
- Hungarian Reitox National Focal Point, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Avril Taylor
- Emeritus Professor of Public Health, School of Education and Social Sciences, University of West Scotland, Paisley, Scotland, UK
| | - Peter Vickerman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Sigrid Vorobjov
- Department of Drug and Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Kate Dolan
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, the University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Lucas Wiessing
- European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), Lisbon, Portugal
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Michelsen B, Østergaard M, Nissen MJ, Ciurea A, Möller B, Ørnbjerg LM, Zavada J, Glintborg B, MacDonald A, Laas K, Nordström D, Gudbjornsson B, Iannone F, Hellmand P, Kvien TK, Rodrigues AM, Codreanu C, Rotar Z, Castrejón Fernández I, Wallman JK, Vencovsky J, Loft AG, Heddle M, Vorobjov S, Hokkanen AM, Gröndal G, Sebastiani M, van de Sande M, Kristianslund EK, Santos MJ, Mogosan C, Tomsic M, Díaz-González F, Di Giuseppe D, Hetland ML. Differences and similarities between the EULAR/ASAS-EULAR and national recommendations for treatment of patients with psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis across Europe. Lancet Reg Health Eur 2023; 33:100706. [PMID: 37601339 PMCID: PMC10432193 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
This is the first report comparing EULAR and national treatment recommendations for PsA patients across Europe, and the first this decade to compare ASAS-EULAR and national treatment recommendations in axSpA patients. An electronic survey was completed from October 2021-April 2022 by rheumatologists in 15 European countries. One and four countries followed all EULAR and ASAS-EULAR recommendations, respectively. Five countries had no national treatment recommendations for PsA and/or axSpA, but followed other regulations. In several countries, national treatment recommendations predated the most recent EULAR/ASAS-EULAR recommendations. Entry criteria for starting biologic/targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs varied considerably. In several countries, for PsA patients with significant skin involvement, interleukin-17 inhibitors were not given preference. The positioning of Janus Kinase inhibitors differed and Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors were not in use/reimbursed in most countries. This study may motivate European countries to update their national treatment recommendations, to align them better with the latest international recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigitte Michelsen
- Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre for Head and Orthopaedics, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
- Center for Treatment of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (REMEDY), Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Research Unit, Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand, Norway
| | - Mikkel Østergaard
- Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre for Head and Orthopaedics, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Adrian Ciurea
- Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Burkhard Möller
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Inselspital - University Hospital Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lykke Midtbøll Ørnbjerg
- Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre for Head and Orthopaedics, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Jakub Zavada
- Institute of Rheumatology, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Rheumatology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Bente Glintborg
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- DANBIO and Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre for Head and Orthopaedics, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
| | | | - Karin Laas
- Department of Rheumatology, East-Tallinn Central Hospital, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Dan Nordström
- Departments of Medicine and Rheumatology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Bjorn Gudbjornsson
- Centre for Rheumatology Research, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | | | - Pasoon Hellmand
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tore Kristian Kvien
- Center for Treatment of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (REMEDY), Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ana Maria Rodrigues
- Reuma.pt, Sociedade Portuguesa de Reumatologia, Lisbon, Portugal
- EpiDoC Unit, Nova Medical School, Lisbon, Portugal
- Rheumatology Unit, Hospital dos Lusíadas, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Catalin Codreanu
- Center for Rheumatic Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ziga Rotar
- Department of Rheumatology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, Universitiy of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Isabel Castrejón Fernández
- Department of Rheumatology, Hospital General, Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
- Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
| | - Johan Karlsson Wallman
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Rheumatology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jiri Vencovsky
- Institute of Rheumatology, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Rheumatology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Anne Gitte Loft
- Department of Rheumatology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Maureen Heddle
- Aberdeen Centre for Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Health (Epidemiology Group), University of Aberdeen, UK
| | | | - Anna-Mari Hokkanen
- Department of Medicine, Helsinki University and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Gerdur Gröndal
- Centre for Rheumatology Research, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Marco Sebastiani
- Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Marleen van de Sande
- Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology and Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Infection & Immunity, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center (ARC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eirik Klami Kristianslund
- Center for Treatment of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases (REMEDY), Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Maria José Santos
- Department of Rheumatology, Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal
- Instituto Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Corina Mogosan
- Center for Rheumatic Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Matija Tomsic
- Department of Rheumatology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, Universitiy of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Federico Díaz-González
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dermatology and Psychiatry, Universidad de la Laguna, La Laguna, Spain
- Rheumatology Service, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, La Laguna, Spain
| | - Daniela Di Giuseppe
- Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Merete Lund Hetland
- Copenhagen Center for Arthritis Research (COPECARE), Center for Rheumatology and Spine Diseases, Centre for Head and Orthopaedics, Rigshospitalet, Glostrup, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Soomägi A, Meister T, Vorobjov S, Suija K, Kalda R, Uusküla A. Fear of COVID-19 among patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection: A cross-sectional study in Estonian family practices. Eur J Gen Pract 2023:2195163. [PMID: 37259825 DOI: 10.1080/13814788.2023.2195163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fear of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been associated with significant health effects. OBJECTIVES To assess COVID-19 fear and investigate factors associated with higher fear among COVID-19 survivors over 6 months after infection. METHODS Cross-sectional study using multistage sampling (family practices within the highest 5th percentile of numbers of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients and random sample of patients within these practices) performed from March 15 to 17 July 2021. Adult patients with a laboratory-confirmed history of COVID-19 were recruited for a self-administered 79-item questionnaire including demographics, self-rated health, physical activity, COVID-19 characteristics, severity and the fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Comorbidity data were extracted from Estonian Health Insurance Fund. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate factors associated with COVID-19 fear. RESULTS Of 341 participants included, 60% were women, 24.2% were hospitalised due to COVID-19 and 22.2% had long COVID, 143 (42%) participants reported high levels of fear (cut-off FCV-19S >17.8). Higher fear was associated with being female (aOR 2.12, 95% CI 1.14-3.95), age ≥61 years (aOR 3.23, 95% CI 1.28-8.16), two-member-households (aOR 3.70, 95% CI 1.40-9.77) physical inactivity 6 months prior to COVID-19 (aOR 3.53, 95% CI 1.26-9.95), and symptom severity during acute COVID-19. Long COVID was not associated with higher COVID-19 fear (aOR 1.82 95% CI 0.91-3.63). CONCLUSION Almost half of participants reported COVID-19 fear more than 6 months after infection. Greater fear was associated with sociodemographic factors, physical activity prior to COVID-19 and COVID-19 symptom severity. There is a need to target this population to develop appropriate interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Soomägi
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Tatjana Meister
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Sigrid Vorobjov
- The National Institute of Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Kadri Suija
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Center of Continuing Education, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ruth Kalda
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Anneli Uusküla
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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Parm Ü, Tiit-Vesingi A, Soeorg H, Štšepetova J, Truusalu K, Vorobjov S, Lutsar I, Metsvaht T. Effect of early directed implementation of family-integrated care measures on colonisation with Enterobacteriaceae in preterm neonates in NICU. BMJ Paediatr Open 2023; 7:10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001712. [PMID: 37192777 DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hospital-acquired strains (HASs) and multiresistant strains in neonatal intensive care unit often harbour virulence and resistance mechanisms, carrying the risk of invasive infections. We describe colonisation with Enterobacteriaceae in neonates receiving early directed versus routine family-integrated care (FIC) within the first month of life. METHODS A prospective cohort study included neonates with a gestational age below 34 weeks. During the first period, neonates were admitted to an open bay unit with transfer to the single-family room if available; feeding with the mother's own breast milk (MOBM) was introduced within 24 hours, and skin-to-skin contact (SSC) within 5 days of life (the routine care group). During the second period, following a wash-in of 2 months, care in a single-family room within 48 hours, the introduction of MOBM within two and SSC in 48 hours were applied (the intervention group). Enterobacteriaceae isolated from neonatal stool, breast milk and parental skin swabs were genotyped, Simpson's Index of Diversity (SID) calculated, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) detected. RESULTS In 64 neonate-parents' groups, 176 Enterobacteriaceae, 87 in routine care and 89 in the intervention group were isolated; 26 vs 18 were HAS and one vs three ESBL positive, respectively. In the intervention group compared with the routine care group, SSC and MOBM feeding was started significantly earlier (p<0.001); during the first week of life, time spent in SSC was longer (median hours per day 4.8 (4-5.1) vs 1.9 (1.4-2.6), p<0.001) and the proportion of MOBM in enteral feeds was higher (median (IQR) 97.8% (95.1-100) vs 95.1% (87.2-97.4), p=0.011). Compared with the routine care group, the intervention group had higher SID and a reduction of HAS by 33.1% (95% CI 24.4% to 42.4%) in time series analysis. CONCLUSIONS Early implementation of FIC measures may hold the potential to increase diversity and reduce colonisation with HAS Enterobacteriaceae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ülle Parm
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Annika Tiit-Vesingi
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, East Tallinn Central Hospital, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Hiie Soeorg
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jelena Štšepetova
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kai Truusalu
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Sigrid Vorobjov
- Department of Risk Behaviour Studies, National Institute of Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Irja Lutsar
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Tuuli Metsvaht
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Clinic of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia
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Kudre D, Vorobjov S, Ringmets I, Pärna K. Adolescent alcohol use in Estonia compared with Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden: results from cross-sectional surveys, 2003-2015. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e044889. [PMID: 34526330 PMCID: PMC8444245 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-044889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aims of the study were (1) to describe trends in the prevalence of monthly alcohol use from 2003 to 2015 and (2) to analyse the associations between alcohol use and family-related and school-related factors, risk behaviours and perceived alcohol availability in Estonia compared with Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden. METHODS The study used nationally representative data of 15-16-year-old adolescents from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs. Data from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden collected in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 were utilised (n=57 779). The prevalence of monthly alcohol use including light and strong alcohol use was calculated for each study year. A χ2 test for trend was used to evaluate statistically significant changes in alcohol use over the study period. A multilevel logistic regression analysis was used for assessing the association between alcohol use and explanatory factors. Marginal ORs with 95% CIs for each country were calculated. RESULTS Monthly alcohol use decreased significantly among boys and girls in all countries from 2003 to 2015. In 2015, the prevalence of monthly alcohol use among boys was 36.1% in Estonia, 44.3% in Latvia, 32.4% in Lithuania, 32.3% in Finland and 22.4% in Sweden. Among girls, it was 39.1%, 45.9%, 35.6%, 31.8% and 29.1%, respectively. In all countries, higher odds of monthly alcohol use were observed among adolescents who skipped school, smoked cigarettes, used cannabis, perceived alcohol to be easy to access and had parents who did not know always/often about their child's whereabouts on Saturday nights. Compared with Estonia, associations between alcohol use and explanatory factors were similar in Latvia and Lithuania but different in Finland and Sweden. CONCLUSION Results of cross-national comparison of alcohol use and explanatory factors could be effectively used to further decrease alcohol use among adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisy Kudre
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Sigrid Vorobjov
- The Department of Drug and Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Inge Ringmets
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kersti Pärna
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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Reile R, Kullamaa L, Hallik R, Innos K, Kukk M, Laidra K, Nurk E, Tamson M, Vorobjov S. Perceived Stress During the First Wave of COVID-19 Outbreak: Results From Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in Estonia. Front Public Health 2021; 9:564706. [PMID: 34222158 PMCID: PMC8249769 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.564706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: To study the population-level mental health responses during the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Estonia and analyze its socio-demographic, behavioral, and health-related variations among general population. Methods: This study used nationally representative data on 4,606 individuals, aged 18-79 years from a rapid-response cross-sectional survey conducted in April 2020. Point prevalence and mutually adjusted prevalence rate ratios for perceived stress from log-binomial regression analysis were presented for socio-demographic, behavioral, and health-related variables. Results: This study found that 52.2% of population aged 18-79 reported elevated stress levels in relation to COVID-19 outbreak. Higher levels of perceived stress were found in women, in younger age groups, in Estonians, and in those with higher self-perceived infection risk, presence of respiratory symptoms, and less than optimal health, according to self-reports. Conclusion: Although, the potential long-term health effects of the current crisis are yet unknown, the alarmingly high stress levels among people indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic might have had a widespread effect on people's mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rainer Reile
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia.,Institute for Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Lembe Kullamaa
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Reeli Hallik
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Kaire Innos
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Maarja Kukk
- Department of Nutrition Research, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Kaia Laidra
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Eha Nurk
- Department of Nutrition Research, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Merili Tamson
- Department of Drug and Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Sigrid Vorobjov
- Department of Drug and Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
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Tamson M, Vorobjov S, Sokurova D, Pärna K. Cannabis use and associated factors among 15–16-year-old adolescents in Estonia 2003–2019: Results from cross-sectional ESPAD surveys. Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs 2021; 38:293-304. [PMID: 35310615 PMCID: PMC8899255 DOI: 10.1177/14550725211003415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims: (1) To describe the time trends of monthly cannabis use and (2) to analyse the association between the trends of monthly cannabis use and trends of different explanatory factors among adolescents in Estonia in 2003–2019. Methods: Nationally representative data from five waves of the cross-sectional European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) among 15–16-year-old adolescents (n = 11,348) in Estonia were analysed. Tests for trends were used to assess significant changes in monthly cannabis use and explanatory variables over time. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the association between monthly cannabis use and perceived easiness of getting cannabis, perceived health risk of cannabis use, parental factors, risk behaviours, and leisure time activities. The model included interaction terms between the study year and each explanatory variable. Gender-adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results: Monthly cannabis use increased from 5.3% in 2003 to 7.7% in 2015 and thereafter decreased to 6.6% in 2019 among adolescents in Estonia (P = 0.007). The association between monthly cannabis use and alcohol use was significant over the study period and the interaction of alcohol use with study year indicated significantly increased effect of alcohol use over time (P = 0.038). The association between monthly cannabis use and perceived easiness of obtaining cannabis, perceived low health risk from cannabis use and smoking was significant, but remained unchanged over the study period. The relationship between monthly cannabis use and low parental control was significant in two last study years but did not show any changes over time. Conclusions: The findings of this study demonstrate the need for the implementation of multi-component substance use prevention programmes among adolescents in Estonia that also pay attention to the factors associated with the cannabis use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merili Tamson
- National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
| | | | - Diana Sokurova
- National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
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Uusküla A, Talu A, Vorobjov S, Salekešin M, Rannap J, Lemsalu L, Jarlais DD. The fentanyl epidemic in Estonia: factors in its evolution and opportunities for a comprehensive public health response, a scoping review. Int J Drug Policy 2020; 81:102757. [PMID: 32416523 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2019] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The spread of illicitly manufactured fentanyl has the potential to greatly increase the fatal overdoses in many places in the world. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the evolution of fentanyl use epidemic in Estonia. METHODS this scoping review is based on extensive review and synthesis of broad range of literature: research reports, newspaper, magazine, coverage of illicit fentanyl use; policy documents, position papers, reports released by government agencies, and surveillance data. RESULTS For an over a decade up to 2017, Estonia has had the highest overdose death mortality in Europe. The use of (injected) fentanyl is a major contributor to the Estonian overdose death epidemic. Shutting down a major producer and distributor of illicit fentanyl has been extremely effective in curbing the number of overdose deaths. Unfortunately, this supply-side intervention came ten years into the epidemic, and might be difficult to replicate in settings with decentralized production. In areas faced by fentanyl we would recommend large-scale implementation of opiate substitution treatment and naloxone distribution, syringe service programs to provide for safer injecting and link to other services (high frequencies of fentanyl injection create high risk for HIV and HCV transmission), and programs, such as "Break the Cycle," to reduce initiation into injecting drug use. Further, the means of responding to emerging substances should match the world in which different substances can be rapidly introduced, and where people who use drugs can change preferences based on market availability. CONCLUSION Addressing illicitly manufactured fentanyl may serve as a public health learning experience for developing early detection and rapid response programs in rapidly changing drug use environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anneli Uusküla
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Ravila 19 Tartu 50411, Estonia.
| | - Ave Talu
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Ravila 19 Tartu 50411, Estonia
| | - Sigrid Vorobjov
- Drug and infectious diseases epidemiology department, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42 Tallinn 11619, Estonia
| | - Maris Salekešin
- Drug and infectious diseases epidemiology department, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42 Tallinn 11619, Estonia
| | - Jürgen Rannap
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Ravila 19 Tartu 50411, Estonia
| | - Liis Lemsalu
- Drug and infectious diseases epidemiology department, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42 Tallinn 11619, Estonia
| | - Don Des Jarlais
- College of Global Public Health, New York University, 665 Broadway New York, NY 10012, USA
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Uuskula A, Jarlais DD, Vorobjov S. The fentanyl epidemic in Estonia: opportunities for a comprehensive public health response. Lancet Psychiatry 2019; 6:985. [PMID: 31777349 DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(19)30436-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anneli Uuskula
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu 50411, Estonia.
| | - Don Des Jarlais
- College of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sigrid Vorobjov
- Infectious Diseases and Drug Monitoring Department, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
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Pärna K, Kudre D, Vorobjov S. Alcohol use among 15–16-year-old adolescents in Estonia, 2003–2015. Eur J Public Health 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckz186.614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Alcohol is one of the most common psychoactive substances used by adolescents. The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence of alcohol use in 2003-2015 and to analyse association of alcohol use with family- and school-related factors, other risk behaviors, and perceived alcohol availability.
Methods
This study was based on data of 15-16-year-old adolescents (n = 9559) from the cross-sectional studies of European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs conducted in Estonia in 2003-2015. Prevalence of past 30-day alcohol use was calculated for each study year. Chi-square test for trend was used to assess statistically significant changes of alcohol use over the study period. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse association between alcohol use and study year, family- and school-related factors, risk behaviors, and perceived alcohol availability. Fully adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated.
Results
In 2003-2015, alcohol use decreased significantly among adolescents in Estonia (p < 0.001). In 2015, the prevalence of alcohol use was 36.1% (95% CI 33.4 − 38.8) among boys and 39.1% (95% CI 36.3 − 41.8) among girls. Fully adjusted logistic regression models showed that alcohol use among boys and girls was statistically significantly associated with study year, lower parental awareness where the child spends Saturday evenings, skipping the lessons, smoking, cannabis use and easy access to alcohol. Alcohol use was associated with lower socioeconomic status of the family and with unusual family structure among girls only. Compared to the first study year, alcohol use was lower in the last study year (OR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.43 − 0.64 among boys, OR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.38 − 0.56 among girls).
Conclusions
In order to continue reduction of alcohol use among adolescents, the health promotion interventions should take into account the factors related to alcohol use in Estonia.
Key messages
Alcohol use decreased among adolescents in Estonia in 2003–2015. Alcohol use was associated with study year, family- and school-related factors, other risk behaviors and perceived alcohol availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Pärna
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - D Kudre
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - S Vorobjov
- Department of Drug and Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
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Uusküla A, Raag M, Vorobjov S, Jarlais DD. Another frontier for harm reduction: contraceptive needs of females who inject drugs in Estonia, a cross-sectional study. Harm Reduct J 2018; 15:10. [PMID: 29506538 PMCID: PMC5838942 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-018-0215-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Despite increasing contraceptive availability, unintended pregnancy remains a global problem. Developing strategies to reverse this trend and increasing occurrence of withdrawal syndrome among newborn children of females currently injecting drugs warrants special attention. The knowledge base on the uptake of effective contraception among females who inject drugs (FWID) is scant. We aimed to examine the prevalence of and factors associated with the use of non-condom contraceptives among sexually active FWID with the focus on effective contraception. Methods In a series of cross-sectional studies (2007–2013), 265 current FWID were recruited through respondent-driven sampling (RDS), interviewed, and tested for HIV. RDS weights were used to estimate the prevalence of effective contraception (hormonal contraception, intrauterine device, sterilization) use in the last 6 months. Results Of the sexually active women with main partners (n = 196) 4.8% (95% CI 2.3–9.7) were using effective contraception, 52.7% (95% CI 42.5–62.7) less-effective or no contraception. 42.5% (95% CI 32.7–52.9) relied on condoms for contraception. The odds for using effective contraception were higher among women with > 10 years of education (OR 7.29, 95% CI 1.4–38.8). None of the women lacking health insurance (n = 84) were using effective contraception. Conclusions The very low coverage with effective contraception highlights the need to improve contraceptive services for FWID. Reproductive health service including contraception should be considered essential components of harm reduction and of comprehensive prevention and care for HIV among persons who use drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anneli Uusküla
- Department of Family medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411, Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Mait Raag
- Department of Family medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Sigrid Vorobjov
- Infectious Diseases and Drug Monitoring Department, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Don Des Jarlais
- Department of Psychiatry, The Baron Edmond de Rothschild Chemical Dependency Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
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Uusküla A, Raag M, Marsh K, Talu A, Vorobjov S, Des Jarlais D. HIV prevalence and gender differences among new injection-drug-users in Tallinn, Estonia: A persisting problem in a stable high prevalence epidemic. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0170956. [PMID: 28152026 PMCID: PMC5289488 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION New injectors / younger drug users are an important population to target for intervention because they are often at especially high risk of HIV and HCV infection. We examined HIV prevalence and gender differences in HIV prevalence and risk behavior among new injection-drug-users in Tallinn, Estonia. METHODS Respondent driven sampling (RDS) interview surveys and HIV testing were conducted in Tallinn in 2009, 2011 and 2013. We classified "new injectors" as persons who reported their first injection as occurring within three years of the study interview. Recruiting trees of the three individual RDS studies were joined to form one RDS dataset and RDS estimates for prevalence and means were derived. Bootstrap tests were used to compare data from men and women, HIV infected and uninfected. RESULTS Among 110 new injectors (34 women and 76 men) the mean age was 24.5 (SD 7.5) years; 63% reported injecting mainly fentanyl, 34% injecting mainly amphetamine, 36% sharing syringes, 89% were sexually active, and, of these, 88% did not always use condoms in the last 6 months. HIV prevalence was 18% (95%CI 8-28%) (41% (95%CI 19-63%) among female and 7% (95%CI 2-12%) among male new injectors). Based on self-reports, 8.1% of all new injectors (and 22% of female new injectors) were HIV positive before starting to inject drugs. 40% of HIV infected reported receiving antiretroviral therapy. In multivariable analysis, gender (male: OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.03-0.45), main drug injected (fentanyl: OR 6.7, 95% CI 1.3-35.7) and syringe sharing (distributive: OR 0.11, 95% CI 0.02-0.55; and receptive: OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.0-13.5) were associated with the HIV seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS New injectors exhibit high-risk behavior and correspondingly high HIV prevalence. Sexual transmission of HIV infection, including before injection initiation, is likely to be a significant contributor to HIV risk among female new injectors. This highlights the need to identify and target new injectors and their partners with gender specific interventions in addition to interventions to reduce initiation into injecting and ensuring provision of ART to HIV positive new injectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anneli Uusküla
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mait Raag
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kristina Marsh
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ave Talu
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | | | - Don Des Jarlais
- The Baron Edmond de Rothschild Chemical Dependency Institute, Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
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Uusküla A, Raag M, Vorobjov S, Rüütel K, Lyubimova A, Levina OS, Heimer R. Non-fatal overdoses and related risk factors among people who inject drugs in St. Petersburg, Russia and Kohtla-Järve, Estonia. BMC Public Health 2015; 15:1255. [PMID: 26684815 PMCID: PMC4683801 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-2604-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background This study seeks to identify the prevalence of, and risk factors associated with, non-fatal overdose among people currently injecting drugs (PWID) in St. Petersburg (Russia) and in Kohtla-Järve (Estonia). Methods Five hundred eighty-eight study participants in Kohtla-Järve (in 2012) and 811 in St. Petersburg (in 2012–2013) were recruited using respondent driven sampling for interviewing and HIV testing. Results Three-quarters (76 %) of the current PWID were male. Participants from St. Petersburg were older (mean age 32.1 vs. 29.6 years, p < 0.0001) and reported a longer average duration of injecting drugs (mean duration: 13.3 vs. 10.9 years, p < 0.0001). Main drugs injected were opioids (fentanyl in Kohtla-Järve, heroin in St Petersburg). HIV prevalence was 63 % (95 % CI 59–67 %) in Kohtla-Järve and 56 % (95 % CI 52–59 %) in St. Petersburg. Two thirds of the PWID in Kohtla-Järve and St. Petersburg reported ever having experienced a drug overdose involving loss of consciousness or stopping breathing. In Kohtla-Järve, 28 % (95 % CI 24–31 %) of participants and, in St Petersburg, 16 % (95 % CI 14–19 %) of participants reported an overdose within the previous 12 months. Characteristics of injection drug use practice (longer duration of injection drug use, main drug injected), correlates of high-risk injection behaviour (higher injecting frequency, sharing), and problem alcohol use were associated with the risk of overdose within the previous 12 months. The significant factors effects did not differ between the sites. Conclusions PWID are at high risk for overdose. Effective overdose prevention efforts at the public health scale are therefore warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anneli Uusküla
- Department of Public Health, University of Tartu, Ravila st 19, 50409, Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Mait Raag
- Department of Public Health, University of Tartu, Ravila st 19, 50409, Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Sigrid Vorobjov
- Infectious Diseases and Drug Monitoring Department, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42, 11619, Tallinn, Estonia.
| | - Kristi Rüütel
- Infectious Diseases and Drug Monitoring Department, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42, 11619, Tallinn, Estonia.
| | | | | | - Robert Heimer
- Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases and the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale University School of Public Health, 60 College St, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
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Abstract
UNLABELLED The incidence of hip fractures among individuals aged over 50 in Estonia and trends over time were assessed for 2005-2012. The incidence among women is relatively low, with the declining trend, but the rate among men is among the highest in Eastern and Central Europe. INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and trends of hip fractures among individuals over 50 years in Estonia in 2005-2012 and to increase understanding of the incidence of hip fractures in Eastern Europe. METHODS We identified all patients aged 50 years or older with hip fracture (ICD-10 codes S72.0, S72.1 and S72.2) in 2005-2012 using medical claims data from the Estonian Health Insurance Fund. Crude and age-specific incidence rates were calculated for men and women using the population of Estonia in 2005-2012. To adjust for age differences in the population, standardized incidence rates (SIR) were estimated. RESULTS The SIR per 100,000 for the entire observation period was 209.2 (95% CI 204.2 to 214.2) in women and 215.6 (95%CI 208.2 to 223.1) in men, resulting in a female to male rate ratio of 0.97 (95% CI 0.84 to 1.11). Over the period of 2005-2012 the estimated SIR/100,000 ranged from 211.5 (95% CI 196.8-226.3) in 2005 to 183.7 (95% CI 170.8-196.7) in 2012 in women, and from 238.5 (95% CI 215.4-261.7) in 2005 to 187.9 (95% CI 169.0-206.8) in 2012, in men. For women, the decrease in SIR for the study period approached statistical significance (p = 0.058), and for the period of 2009-2012, we observed an accelerated 16% decrease (p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS The incidence of hip fractures among Estonian women is relatively low, whereas the rate among men is among the highest in Eastern and Central Europe. In line with many countries, we found a recent decline in incidence among women.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Jürisson
- Department of Public Health, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411, Tartu, Estonia,
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Attempts to relate patellar cartilage involvement to anterior knee pain (AKP) have yielded conflicting results. We determined whether the condition of the cartilage of the patella at the time of knee replacement, as assessed by the OARSI score, correlates with postsurgical AKP. PATIENTS AND METHODS We prospectively studied 100 patients undergoing knee arthroplasty. At surgery, we photographed and biopsied the articular surface of the patella, leaving the patella unresurfaced. Following determination of the microscopic grade of the patellar cartilage lesion and the stage by analyzing the intraoperative photographs, we calculated the OARSI score. We interviewed the patients 1 year after knee arthroplasty using the HSS patella score for diagnosis of AKP. RESULTS 57 of 95 patients examined had AKP. The average OARSI score of painless patients was 13 (6-20) and that of patients with AKP was 15 (6-20) (p = 0.04). Patients with OARSI scores of 13-24 had 50% higher risk of AKP (prevalence ratio = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0-2.3) than patients with OARSI scores of 0-12. INTERPRETATION The depth and extent of the cartilage lesion of the knee-cap should be considered when deciding between the various options for treatment of the patella during knee replacement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahur Metsna
- University of Tartu, Tartu,Department of Orthopedics, East-Tallinn Central Hospital, Tallin
| | | | - Katrin Lepik
- Department of Pathology, East-Tallinn Central Hospital, Tallinn
| | - Aare Märtson
- University of Tartu, Tartu,Department of Orthopedics, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia
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Vorobjov S, Des Jarlais DC, Abel-Ollo K, Talu A, Rüütel K, Uusküla A. Socio-demographic factors, health risks and harms associated with early initiation of injection among people who inject drugs in Tallinn, Estonia: evidence from cross-sectional surveys. Int J Drug Policy 2013; 24:150-5. [PMID: 23036651 PMCID: PMC3566328 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2012.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2012] [Revised: 08/19/2012] [Accepted: 08/27/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
AIM To explore socio-demographic factors, health risks and harms associated with early initiation of injecting (before age 16) among injecting drug users (IDUs) in Tallinn, Estonia. METHODS IDUs were recruited using respondent driven sampling methods for two cross-sectional interviewer-administered surveys (in 2007 and 2009). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with early initiation versus later initiation. RESULTS A total of 672 current IDUs reported the age when they started to inject drugs; the mean was 18 years, and about a quarter of the sample (n = 156) reported early initiation into injecting drugs. Factors significantly associated in multivariate analysis with early initiation were being female, having a lower educational level, being unemployed, shorter time between first drug use and injecting, high-risk injecting (sharing syringes and paraphernalia, injecting more than once a day), involvement in syringe exchange attendance and getting syringes from outreach workers, and two-fold higher risk of HIV seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS Our results document significant adverse health consequences (including higher risk behaviour and HIV seropositivity) associated with early initiation into drug injecting and emphasize the need for comprehensive prevention programs and early intervention efforts targeting youth at risk. Our findings suggest that interventions designed to delay the age of starting drug use, including injecting drug use, can contribute to reducing risk behaviour and HIV prevalence among IDUs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigrid Vorobjov
- Estonian Drug Monitoring Centre, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia.
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Vorobjov S, Uusküla A, Des Jarlais DC, Abel-Ollo K, Talu A, Rüütel K. Multiple routes of drug administration and HIV risk among injecting drug users. J Subst Abuse Treat 2011; 42:413-20. [PMID: 22116012 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2011.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2011] [Revised: 09/17/2011] [Accepted: 09/21/2011] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
This study assesses relationships between drug administration routes and HIV serostatus, drug use, and sexual behaviors among current injecting drug users (IDUs) in Tallinn, Estonia. We recruited 350 IDUs for a cross-sectional risk behavior survey. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) were calculated to explore injection risk behavior, sexual behavior, and HIV serostatus associated with multiple route use. Focus groups explored reasons why injectors might use non-injecting routes of administration. Those reporting multiple drug administration routes were less likely to be HIV seropositive (AOR = 0.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.25-0.97) and had almost twice the odds of having more than one sexual partner (AOR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.01-3.60) and of reporting having sexually transmitted diseases (AOR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.02-5.59). IDUs who engage in noninjecting drug use may be reducing their risk of acquiring HIV though sharing injection equipment, but if infected may be a critical group for sexual transmission of HIV to people who do not inject drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigrid Vorobjov
- Estonian Drug Monitoring Centre, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia.
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Vorobjov S, Uusküla A, Abel-Ollo K, Talu A, Jarlais DD. Should pharmacists have a role in harm reduction services for IDUs? A qualitative study in Tallinn, Estonia. J Urban Health 2009; 86:918-28. [PMID: 19921542 PMCID: PMC2791822 DOI: 10.1007/s11524-009-9400-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2009] [Accepted: 08/28/2009] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Despite the high number of injecting drug users (IDUs) in Estonia, little is known about involving pharmacies into human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention activities and potential barriers. Similarly, in other Eastern European countries, there is a need for additional sources for clean syringes besides syringe exchange programmes (SEPs), but data on current practices relating to pharmacists' role in harm reduction strategies is scant. Involving pharmacies is especially important for several reasons: they have extended hours of operation and convenient locations compared to SEPs, may provide access for IDUs who have avoided SEPs, and are a trusted health resource in the community. We conducted a series of focus groups with pharmacists and IDUs in Tallinn, Estonia, to explore their attitudes toward the role of pharmacists in HIV prevention activities for IDUs. Many, but not all, pharmacists reported a readiness to sell syringes to IDUs to help prevent HIV transmission. However, negative attitudes toward IDUs in general and syringe sales to them specifically were identified as important factors restricting such sales. The idea of free distribution of clean syringes or other injecting equipment and disposal of used syringes in pharmacies elicited strong resistance. IDUs stated that pharmacies were convenient for acquiring syringes due to their extended opening hours and local distribution. IDUs were positive toward pharmacies, although they were aware of stigma from pharmacists and other customers. They also emphasized the need for distilled water and other injection paraphernalia. In conclusion, there are no formal or legislative obstacles for providing HIV prevention services for IDUs at pharmacies. Addressing negative attitudes through educational courses and involving pharmacists willing to be public health educators in high drug use areas would improve access for HIV prevention services for IDUs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigrid Vorobjov
- Estonian Drug Monitoring Centre, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia.
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Vorobjov S, Uusküla A, Abel-Ollo K, Talu A, Rüütel K, Des Jarlais DC. Comparison of injecting drug users who obtain syringes from pharmacies and syringe exchange programs in Tallinn, Estonia. Harm Reduct J 2009; 6:3. [PMID: 19232088 PMCID: PMC2653475 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7517-6-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2008] [Accepted: 02/20/2009] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both syringe exchange programs (SEPs) and pharmacy sales of syringes are available in Estonia, though the current high incidence and high prevalence of HIV among injection drug users (IDUs) in Tallinn, Estonia requires large-scale implementation of additional harm reduction programs as a matter of great urgency. The aims of this report were to compare risk behavior and HIV infection and to assess the prevention needs among IDUs who primarily use pharmacies as their source of sterile syringes with IDUs who primarily use SEPs in Tallinn. METHODS A cross-sectional study using respondent-driven sampling was used to recruit 350 IDUs for an interviewer-administered survey and HIV testing. IDUs were categorized into two groups based on their self-reported main source for syringes within the last six months. Odds ratios with 95% CI were used to compare characteristics and risk factors between the groups. RESULTS The main sources of sterile needles for injection drug users were SEP/SEP outreach (59%) and pharmacies (41%). There were no differences in age, age at injection drug use initiation, the main drug used or experiencing overdoses. Those IDUs using pharmacies as a main source of sterile needles had lower odds for being infected with either HIV (AOR 0.54 95% CI 0.33-0.87) or HCV (AOR 0.10 95% CI 0.02-0.50), had close to twice the odds of reporting more than one sexual partner within the previous 12 months (AOR 1.88 95% CI 1.17-3.04) and engaging in casual sexual relationships (AOR 2.09 95% CI 1.24-3.53) in the last six months. CONCLUSION The data suggest that the pharmacy users were at a less "advanced" stage of their injection career and had lower HIV prevalence than SEP users. This suggests that pharmacies could be utilized as a site for providing additional HIV prevention messages, services for IDUs and in linking IDUs with existing harm reduction services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigrid Vorobjov
- Estonian Drug Monitoring Centre, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia
- Estonian Centre of Excellence in Behavioural and Health Sciences, Tiigi 78, 50410 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Anneli Uusküla
- Estonian Centre of Excellence in Behavioural and Health Sciences, Tiigi 78, 50410 Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Public Health, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Katri Abel-Ollo
- Estonian Drug Monitoring Centre, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Ave Talu
- Estonian Drug Monitoring Centre, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Kristi Rüütel
- Department of Public Health, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Drug Prevention, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Don C Des Jarlais
- Chemical Dependency Institute, Beth Israel Medical Center, 160 Water St, New York, NY, 10038 USA
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Vorobjov S, Hovi SL, Veerus P, Pisarev H, Rahu M, Hemminki E. Treatment adherence in the Estonian postmenopausal hormone therapy (EPHT) trial [ISRCTN35338757]. Maturitas 2005; 52:286-95. [PMID: 16055284 DOI: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2005.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2005] [Revised: 05/03/2005] [Accepted: 05/04/2005] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate treatment adherence and factors related to non-adherence in the Estonian postmenopausal hormone therapy (EPHT) trial. METHODS A total of 1823 postmenopausal women aged 50-64 years were recruited into the EPHT trial from 1999 to 2001. They were randomised into the blind group receiving continuous orally administered postmenopausal hormone therapy (PHT) or a placebo and to a non-blind group receiving open-label PHT or no drugs. A woman was classified as non-adherent, if she had stopped treatment for at least 6-month period in treatment arms or used PHT for at least 6-month period in the control group. Adherence was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and factors affecting adherence were studied with Cox proportional hazard modelling. RESULTS The rate of adherent women declined approximately 50% during the first year in all treatment arms. Less than 10% of the control group women started taking prescribed PHT. Older women, with lower education, with only one birth, never used oral contraceptives (OC), with lower physical activity or who were dissatisfied with the information received from the trial staff, were more likely to discontinue. In treatment arms, the two most often cited reasons for non-adherence were side-effects and woman's loss of interest in participation. Control group women started PHT due to the menopausal symptoms or on doctor's recommendation. CONCLUSIONS The adherence was similar to that found for PHT use in everyday life. Higher adherence was related to younger age, higher education, previous OC use, physical activity and satisfaction with received information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sigrid Vorobjov
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, National Institute for Health Development, Hiiu 42, 11619 Tallinn, Estonia.
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