[Lower Limb Amputations in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease and/or Diabetes in Iceland 2010-2019; revascularisation, comorbidities and risk factors].

Introduction: No recent studies exist on lower extremity amputations (LLAs) in Iceland. The aim of this study was to investigate LLA incidence in Iceland 2010-2019 and preceding procedures in amputations induced by peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Material And Methods: Retrospective study on clinical records of all patients (>18 years) who underwent LLA in Iceland's two main hospitals during 2010-2019.

Ethical Dilemmas in Physicians' Consultations with COPD Patients.

Aim: This phenomenological study was aimed at exploring principal physicians' (participants') experience of attending to COPD patients and motivating their self-management, in light of the GOLD clinical guidelines of COPD therapy.

Methods: Interviews were conducted with nine physicians, who had referred patients to PR, five general practitioners (GPs) and four lung specialists (LSs). The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through a process of deconstruction and reconstruction.

Frustrated Caring: Family Members' Experience of Motivating COPD Patients Towards Self-Management.

Aim: The aim of this phenomenological study was to explore principal family members' experience of motivating patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) towards self-management.

Methods: Interviews were conducted with 10 family members (spouses and adult children) of COPD patients. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analyzed thematically.

A Digital Lifestyle Program in Outpatient Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Background: Lifestyle is important in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study's aim was to investigate whether a healthy-lifestyle-supporting smartphone application could affect treatment outcomes at an endocrinology outpatient clinic.

Methods: Consecutively invited patients were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group after age and gender stratification.

Recovery of patients with severe depression in inpatient rural psychiatry: a descriptive clinical study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the level of and the relationship between symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at admittance and recovery at discharge in patients with severe depression, in a rural inpatient psychiatric setting. Furthermore, whether the anxiety level at admission and/or, if the extent of patients' perception of family support from professionals were related to recovery. Patients admitted with depression were consecutively invited to participate during a 12-month period.

[Health and survival in Icelandic nursing homes 2003 - 2014, before and after the setting of stricter criteria for nursing home admission in December 2007].

Introduction: Many factors influence the nursing needs and survival of nursing home residents, including the admission criteria. The aim of the study was to compare health, survival and predictors for one- and two-year survival of people entering Icelandic nursing homes between 2003-2007 and 2008-2014.

Material And Methods: Retrospective, descriptive, comparative study.

COPD patients' experiences, self-reported needs, and needs-driven strategies to cope with self-management.

COPD is a common cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to explore patients' experiences, self-reported needs, and needs-driven strategies to cope with self-management of COPD. In this phenomenological study, 10 participants with mild to severe COPD were interviewed 1-2 times, until data saturation was reached.

[MRI for diagnosis of low back pain: Usability, association with symptoms and influence on treatment].

Background: Non-specific low-back pain is a worldwide problem. More specific diagnosis could improve prognosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) became available in Akureyri Hospital in 2004 but its utilisation in diagnosing low-back pain has not been investigated.

Effect of physical training on fat-free mass in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Background: Weight loss and depletion of fat-free mass are common problems in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and are related to muscular weakness and exercise intolerance. Physical training of COPD patients has good effect on exercise tolerance and quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine factors that affect change in fat-free mass after physical training, in patients with COPD.

Impaired Carbon Monoxide Diffusing Capacity is the strongest lung function predictor of decline in 12 minute-walking distance in COPD; a 5-year follow-up study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the longitudinal relationship between functional exercise capacity, assessed through standardized 12-minute walk test (12MWT), and various lung function parameters obtained using spirometry, body plethysmography and diffusing capacity (DLco) measurements in patients with COPD.

Methods: Spirometry, body plethysmography and DLco-measurements were performed at baseline in 84 subjects with moderate to very severe COPD and at follow-up visit (n = 34) after 5 years. Functional exercise capacity was determined using standardized 12MWT.

Impaired carbon monoxide diffusing capacity is the strongest predictor of exercise intolerance in COPD.

Background: Exercise intolerance is a hallmark of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) is the traditional metric used to define the severity of COPD. However, there is dissociation between FEV1 and exercise capacity in a large proportion of subjects with COPD. The aim of this study was to investigate whether other lung function parameters have an additive, predictive value for exercise capacity and whether this differs according to the COPD stage.

Relation between physical capacity, nutritional status and systemic inflammation in COPD.

Background: Decreased physical capacity, weight loss, fat-free mass depletion and systemic inflammation are frequently observed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Objective: Our aim was to examine relations between physical capacity, nutritional status, systemic inflammation and disease severity in COPD.

Method: Forty nine patients with moderate to severe COPD were included in the study.

Interval training compared with continuous training in patients with COPD.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of interval training (3-min intervals) with continuous training on peak exercise capacity (W peak), physiological response, functional capacity, dyspnoea, mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with moderate or severe COPD. Sixty patients exercised twice weekly for 16 weeks after randomisation to interval- or continuous training. Target intensity was 80% of baseline W peak in the interval group (I-group) and 65% in the continuous group (C-group).

Peak exercise capacity estimated from incremental shuttle walking test in patients with COPD: a methodological study.

Background: In patients with COPD, both laboratory exercise tests and field walking tests are used to assess physical performance. In laboratory tests, peak exercise capacity in watts (W peak) and/or peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) are assessed, whereas the performance on walking tests usually is expressed as distance walked. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between an incremental shuttle walking test (ISWT) and two laboratory cycle tests in order to assess whether W peak could be estimated from an ISWT.

Two different training programmes for patients with COPD: a randomised study with 1-year follow-up.

Purpose: To compare the effects on exercise capacity and health related quality of life (HRQoL) of two exercise programmes; one programme including endurance training and one including only resistance training and callisthenics. A second purpose was to find out whether the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) affected the training response and whether the interventions had a long-term effect.

Methods: Sixty-three patients were stratified according to severity of COPD and randomised to two training groups.