Publications by authors named "Asvold B"
Rationale & Objective: Observational studies suggest that uromodulin, produced by the kidneys, is associated with a reduced the risk of upper urinary tract infections, but inferences are limited by potential confounding factors. This study sought to explore further the validity of this association using Mendelian randomization.
Study Design: Two-sample Mendelian randomization study.
Background: Obesity particularly during childhood is considered a global public health crisis and has been linked with later life health consequences including mental health. However, there is lack of causal understanding if childhood body size has a direct effect on mental health or has an indirect effect after accounting for adulthood body size.
Methods: Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was performed to estimate the total effect and direct effect (accounting for adulthood body size) of childhood body size on anxiety and depression.
Study Question: To what extent can hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) explain the higher risk of preterm birth following frozen embryo transfer (frozen-ET) and fresh embryo transfer (fresh-ET) in ART compared with naturally conceived pregnancies?
Summary Answer: HDP did not contribute to the higher risk of preterm birth in pregnancies after fresh-ET but mediated 20.7% of the association between frozen-ET and preterm birth.
What Is Known Already: Risk of preterm birth is higher after ART compared to natural conception.
Context: Subclinical thyroid dysfunction (ScTD) comprising subclinical hypothyroidism (SHypo) and subclinical hyperthyroidism (SHyper) has been associated with increased risk for cardiovascular events.
Objective: To assess associations between ScTD and cardiovascular risk factors (cvRFs) according to age and sex.
Design And Setting: Pooled individual participant data analysis of large prospective cohort studies from the Thyroid Studies Collaboration.
Introduction: Cluster analysis has previously revealed five reproducible subgroups of diabetes, differing in risks of diabetic complications. We aimed to examine the clusters' predictive ability for vascular complications as compared with established risk factors in a general adult diabetes population.
Research Design And Methods: Participants from the second (HUNT2, 1995-1997) and third (HUNT3, 2006-2008) surveys of the Norwegian population-based Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT Study) with adult-onset diabetes were included (n=1899).
Background: Insomnia symptoms that influence daytime functioning are common among adults with type 2 diabetes. However, no previous study has examined if levels of physical activity differ among adults with diabetes with and without insomnia symptoms. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the difference in total physical activity (TPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels in individuals with diabetes with and without insomnia symptoms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims/hypothesis: Some studies find an increased risk of type 1 diabetes in children exposed to antibiotics. We investigated if exposure to antibiotics increases the risk of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and type 2 diabetes.
Methods: We used data from a Swedish case-control study (Epidemiological Study of Risk Factors for LADA and Type 2 Diabetes [ESTRID]: LADA, n=597; type 2 diabetes, n=2065; control participants matched on participation time, n=2386) and a case-control study nested within the Norwegian Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) (n=82/1279/2050).
Article Synopsis
- Scientists studied how certain genes affect height and body mass index (BMI) by looking at families with siblings.
- They found that links between genes and these traits could be seen both in family studies and in studies that look at a lot of DNA variations (called SNPs).
- They discovered that there are still many genetic factors influencing height and BMI that haven't been identified yet, showing that genetics is really complex and involves many genes working together.
Objective: To investigate the gender differences and the disparities between infected and noninfected patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) regarding patient-reported experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway.
Method: Register study using questionnaires sent electronically to patients with T2D, June 2022. The questionnaire included 82 questions covering COVID-19 disease, symptoms, medications, comorbidities, hospital care, possibility of working from home and information received from health authorities.
Previous Mendelian randomization (MR) studies showed an association between hypothyroidism and cataract and between high-normal free thyroxine (FT4) and late age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but not between FT4, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), or hyperthyroidism and diabetic retinopathy or cataract. These studies included a limited number of genetic variants for thyroid function and did not investigate autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) or glaucoma, include bidirectional and multivariable MR (MVMR), and examine sex differences or potential mediation effects of diabetes. We aimed to address this knowledge gap.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Effective control of hypertension remains challenging in low and middle-income countries. We tested the effectiveness of comprehensive approaches to hypertension management including six home visits by community health workers with regular follow up by a trained healthcare provider on blood pressure levels in Nepal.
Methods: We implemented a non-blinded, open-label, parallel-group, two-arm cluster randomised controlled trial, with 1:1 allocation ratio in Budhanilakantha municipality, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Article Synopsis
- Respiratory infections are a major global health issue, but the genetic factors influencing them are not well understood, leading to this study that aimed to investigate genetic determinants through genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
- The research analyzed data from 19,459 patients with respiratory infections and 101,438 controls in Stage 1, discovering 56 significant genetic signals, including one strong signal related to a gene important for immune response, but the follow-up Stage 2 study did not replicate these findings.
- Possible reasons for the lack of replication include variations in how the studies were conducted and differences in patient populations, but the research suggests a novel gene may be linked to susceptibility to respiratory infections, warranting further investigation.
Myocardial infarction is a leading cause of death globally but is notoriously difficult to predict. We aimed to identify biomarkers of an imminent first myocardial infarction and design relevant prediction models. Here, we constructed a new case-cohort consortium of 2,018 persons without prior cardiovascular disease from six European cohorts, among whom 420 developed a first myocardial infarction within 6 months after the baseline blood draw.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: The objectives of this study are to examine the association of physical activity in parents with physical activity in their adult offspring and explore if the offspring's genetic liability (ie, polygenic risk score) to physical activity influences this association.
Methods: The Trøndelag Health Study cohort is a population-based longitudinal study with data collected in 1984-1986, 1995-1997, 2006-2008 and 2017-2019. We calculated the odds ratio for being physically active and mean difference in physical activity levels according to parental physical activity (device-measured and self-reported) and own polygenic risk score.
Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) measurement is the diagnostic cornerstone for primary thyroid dysfunction. There is high inter-individual but limited intra-individual variation in TSH concentrations, largely due to genetic factors. The currently used wide population-based reference intervals may lead to inappropriate management decisions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and thyroid disorders have both been linked to adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Even small variations in thyroid function within the normal range may influence fetal growth. Our aim was to investigate whether maternal thyroid function is associated with newborn anthropometrics in PCOS and explore the potential modifying effect of metformin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Researchers developed a protein-based risk score for predicting hip fractures using an aptamer-based proteomic platform that showed promise in initial studies.
- The risk score demonstrated strong predictive capabilities and improved fracture discrimination when validated in additional health study cohorts and in a UK Biobank cohort.
- While the proteomic risk score outperformed existing tools, including the FRAX assessment, its clinical usefulness beyond current methods and the modest improvement in prediction need further evaluation.
Objective: To validate self-reported hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy.
Design: Validation study.
Setting: Large population-based cohort study in Norway: The Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT).
Background: Our goal was to identify genetic and modifiable risk factors for upper urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Methods: We used data from UK Biobank, the Trøndelag Health Study, and the Michigan Genomics Initiative to conduct genome-wide association studies and sex-stratified analyses on upper UTI. Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were conducted to examine potential causal relationships between cardiometabolic risk factors and upper UTIs.
Background And Aims: Diabetes-related foot ulcers (DFU) are a persistent healthcare challenge, impacting both patients and healthcare systems, with adverse effects on quality of life and productivity. Our primary aim was to examine the trends in lifetime prevalence of DFU, as well as other micro- and macrovascular complications in the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) in Norway.
Methods: This study consists of individuals ≥20 years with diabetes participating in the population-based cross-sectional HUNT surveys (1995-2019).
Purpose: Bloodstream infections (BSI) and sepsis are important causes of hospitalization, loss of health, and death globally. Targetable risk factors need to be identified to improve prevention and treatment. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and risk of and mortality from BSI and sepsis in the general population during a 22-year period.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Cardiovascular discharge diagnoses may serve as endpoints in epidemiological studies if they have a high validity. Aim was to study if diagnoses-specific characteristics like type, sub-categories, and position of cardiovascular diagnoses affected diagnostic accuracy.
Methods: Patients (n = 7,164) with a discharge diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, heart failure or cerebrovascular disease were included.
Article Synopsis
- Trace elements play a crucial role in human health but can also be toxic; their absorption and effects are influenced by genetics, but this area is still under-researched.
- This study conducted genome-wide analysis on 57 trace elements using blood samples from Scandinavian individuals, identifying 11 new genetic locations linked to the levels of specific elements such as arsenic, zinc, and selenium.
- The findings suggest some trace elements may have weak to moderate health impacts, with notable indications of increased zinc potentially being harmful and linked to prostate cancer, though more validation is required.