The COVID-19 pandemic in Greenland, epidemic features and impact of early strict measures, March 2020 to June 2022

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic was of major concern in Greenland. There was a high possibility of rapid transmission in settlements, and an increased risk of morbidity and mortality because of comorbidities in the population and limited access to specialised healthcare in remote areas.AimTo describe the epidemiology of the COVID-19 pandemic in Greenland and evaluate the effects of a strict COVID-19 strategy until risk groups were immunised.MethodsWe studied the epidemiology during March 2020 to June 2022. We describe the non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases and vaccination coverage with data from the registries of the Greenlandic health authority.ResultsWe found 21,419 confirmed cases per 100,000 inhabitants (54% female, 46% male), 342 per 100,000 were hospitalised and 16 per 100,000 were admitted to the intensive care unit. The COVID-19 mortality rate was 39 per 100,000, all those affected were aged above 65 years. No excess overall mortality was observed. The vaccination coverage by June 2022 was 71.67 and 41% for one, two and three doses, respectively.ConclusionSARS-CoV-2 circulation in Greenland was low, given strict restrictions until all eligible inhabitants had been offered immunisation. The main impact of the pandemic was from May 2021 onwards with increasing numbers of confirmed cases. This occurred after introduction of the vaccine programme, which may have had an influence on the severity of the associated morbidity and mortality experienced. Halting community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 with NPIs until the majority of the population had been immunised was a successful strategy in Greenland.

Anthropometric measures and blood pressure of Greenlandic preschool children

The study aims to describe anthropometric data of Greenlandic preschool children, blood pressure (BP) measures and effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy in a follow-up of the ACCEPT birth cohort. The study included 102 children (55 boys and 47 girls) aged 3.5–5.5 years. Anthropometric measures included weight, height, head circumference (HC), body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, ratio for height/weight, waist/height, waist/hip and BP measurements. Overweight and obesity-prevalence was determined using the international obesity task force BMI references for children. Significant increases in anthropometrics from 3.5 to 5.5 years included weight, height, HC and hip circumference, whereas ratio for height/weight, waist/hip and waist/height decreased. Boys had significantly larger HC than girls. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was similar (35.1%) between genders. Mean systolic and diastolic BP were 104 and 68 mmHg, respectively. Children of mothers smoking during pregnancy had higher hip circumference, lower waist/hip ratio and higher diastolic BP. The study present updated anthropometric data and BP of Greenlandic preschool children and effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher than previously reported and maternal smoking during pregnancy affected the child data.

Abbreviations ACCEPT: Adaptation to Climate Change, Environmental Pollution and dietary Transition; BMI: Body Mass Index; BP: Blood Pressure; Circ: Circumference; DBP: Diastolic Blood Pressure; FFH: Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test; HC: Head Circumference; H: Height; HDL: high-density lipoprotein; HiC: Hip Circumference; IOTF International Obesity Task Force, Max: maximum, Min: minimum, P25: 25th percentile, P75: 75th percentile, SBP: Systolic Blood Pressure, SD: Standard Deviation; VDLD: very-low-density lipoprotein; WaC: Waist Circumference, W: Weight, WHO: World Health Organization.

Dietary habits among men and women in West Greenland: follow-up on the ACCEPT birth cohort

BACKGROUND

In the past decades, the diet in Greenland has been in transition resulting in a lower intake of traditional food and a higher intake of imported western food. This diet transition can affect public health negatively, and thus, continued monitoring of dietary habits is important. The present study aimed to follow up on the dietary habits of pregnant women included in the Greenlandic ACCEPT birth cohort (2013-2015) and the children's father.

METHODS

The follow-up food intake was assessed in 2019-2020 using food frequency questionnaires for 101 mothers and 76 fathers aged 24-55 years living in Nuuk, Sisimiut, and Ilulissat. Non-parametric statistical methods were used (Mann-Whitney U test/Spearman correlation) to assess the dietary pattern and influencing factors.

RESULTS

The proportion of traditional and imported food was 14 and 86%, respectively. Intake frequency differed by gender (vegetables, fruits, fast food), the living town (terrestrial animals, vegetables, fruits), and age (fish, meat products, fruits, fast food). Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors significantly correlated with the intake frequency of several traditional and imported foods. Few changes in the mother's dietary habits from inclusion (during pregnancy) to follow-up (3-5 years later) were found, showing less frequent intake of seabirds and fruits and more frequent meat intake.

CONCLUSION

We identified several factors that could affect dietary habits, and the results may be used to target future food recommendation for relevant population groups.

Effect of monitor display on detection of approximal caries lesions in digital radiographs

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to compare the accuracy of five flat panel monitors for detection of approximal caries lesions.

METHODS

Five flat panel monitors, Mermaid Ventura (15 inch, colour flat panel, 1024 x 768, 32 bit, analogue), Olórin VistaLine (19 inch, colour, 1280 x 1024, 32 bit, digital), Samsung SyncMaster 203B (20 inch, colour, 1024 x 768, 32 bit, analogue), Totoku ME251i (21 inch, greyscale, 1400 x 1024, 32 bit, digital) and Eizo FlexScan MX190 (19 inch, colour, 1280 x 1024, 32 bit, digital), were assessed. 160 approximal surfaces of human teeth were examined with a storage phosphor plate system (Digora FMX, Soredex) and assessed by seven observers for the presence of caries lesions. Microscopy of the teeth served as validation for the presence/absence of a lesion.

RESULTS

The sensitivities varied between observers (range 7-25%) but the variation between the monitors was not large. The Samsung monitor obtained a significantly higher sensitivity than the Mermaid and Olórin monitors (P<0.02) and a lower specificity than the Eizo and Totoku monitors (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between any other monitors. The percentage of correct scores was highest for the Eizo monitor and significantly higher than for the Mermaid and Olórin monitors (P<0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no clear relationship between the diagnostic accuracy and the resolution or price of the monitor. The Eizo monitor was associated with the overall highest percentage of correct scores. The standard analogue flat panel monitor, Samsung, had higher sensitivity and lower specificity than some of the other monitors, but did not differ in overall accuracy for detection of carious lesions.