Accidental cold-related injury leading to hospitalization in northern Sweden: an eight-year retrospective analysis.

Background: Cold injuries are rare but important causes of hospitalization. We aimed to identify the magnitude of cold injury hospitalization, and assess causes, associated factors and treatment routines in a subarctic region.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis of hospital records from the 4 northernmost counties in Sweden, cases from 2000-2007 were identified from the hospital registry by diagnosis codes for accidental hypothermia, frostbite, and cold-water drowning.

Fatal hypothermia: an analysis from a sub-arctic region.

Objectives: To determine the incidence as well as contributing factors to fatal hypothermia.

Study Design: Retrospective, registry-based analysis.

Methods: Cases of fatal hypothermia were identified in the database of the National Board of Forensic Medicine for the 4 northernmost counties of Sweden and for the study period 1992-2008.

Autonomic nerve system responses for normal and slow rewarmers after hand cold provocation: effects of long-term cold climate training.

Purpose: Differences among individuals concerning susceptibility to local cold injury following acute cold exposure may be related to function of the autonomic nervous system. We hypothesized that there are differences in heart rate variability (HRV) between individuals with normal or more pronounced vasoconstriction following cold exposure and that there is an adaptation related to prolonged cold exposure in autonomic nervous system response to cold stimuli.

Methods: Seventy-seven young men performed a cold provocation test, where HRV was recorded during cold hand immersion and recovery.

Hand cold recovery responses before and after 15 months of military training in a cold climate.

Introduction: The ability of fingers to rapidly rewarm following cold exposure is a possible indicator of cold injury protection. We categorized the post-cooling hand-rewarming responses of men before and after participation in 15 mo of military training in a cold environment in northern Sweden to determine: 1) if the initial rewarming category was related to the occurrence of local cold injury during training; and 2) if cold training affected subsequent hand-rewarming responses.

Methods: Immersion of the dominant hand in 10 degrees C water for 10 min was performed pre-training on 77 men.

The effects of a 1-year physical exercise programme on development of fatigue during a simulated ambulance work task.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of individually prescribed physical exercise programmes on development of fatigue during the carrying of a loaded stretcher up and down the stairs. Nineteen ambulance personnel performed the training for 1 year. Testing occurred before and after 1 year of the training.

Characteristics of cardiac arrest and resuscitation by age group: an analysis from the Swedish Cardiac Arrest Registry.

Aim: The objective of this study was to describe patients who experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) by age group.

Methods: All patients who suffered from an OHCA between 1990 and 2005 and are included in the Swedish Cardiac Arrest Registry (n = 40,503) were classified into the following age groups: neonates, younger than 1 year; young children, between 1 and 4 years; older children, between 5 and 12 years; adolescents, between 13 and 17 years; young adults, between 18 and 35 years; adults not retired, between 36 and 64 years; adults retired, between 65 and 79 years; and older adults, 80 years or older.

Results: Ventricular fibrillation was lowest in young children (3%) and highest in adults (35%).

Stress monitoring of ambulance personnel during work and leisure time.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess physiological and subjective stress markers during a 24-h ambulance work shift and during the next two work-free days, and relate these parameters to self-reported health complaints.

Methods: Twenty-six ambulance personnel were followed during a 24-h work shift and during the next two work-free days with electrocardiogram, cortisol assessments and diary notes. The ambulance personnel also performed tests of autonomic reactivity before and at the end of the work shift.

Relationships between work-related factors and disorders in the neck-shoulder and low-back region among female and male ambulance personnel.

This cross-sectional study on a random sample of 1,500 ambulance personnel investigated the relationships between self-reported work-related physical and psychosocial factors, worry about work conditions, and musculoskeletal disorders among female and male ambulance personnel. Three different outcomes, complaints, activity limitation, and sick leave, for the neck-shoulder and low-back region, respectively, were chosen. Among the female personnel, physical demands was significantly associated with activity limitation in the neck-shoulder (OR 4.

Work-related psychosocial factors, worry about work conditions and health complaints among female and male ambulance personnel.

This study aimed at investigating the relationships between work-related psychosocial factors, worry about work conditions and health complaints (sleeping problems, headache and stomach symptoms) among female and male ambulance personnel. Out of 4000 ambulance personnel in Sweden, 1500 (300 female and 1200 male personnel) were randomly selected. They answered a questionnaire including items on self-reported health complaints, individual characteristics, work-related psychological demands, decision latitude, social support and worry about work conditions.

Efficacy of bystander CPR: intervention by lay people and by health care professionals.

Background: Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by bystanders prior to the arrival of the rescue team has been shown to be associated with increased survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The aim of this survey was to evaluate the impact on survival of no bystander CPR, lay bystander CPR and professional bystander CPR.

Methods: Patients suffering an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Sweden between 1990 and 2002 who were given CPR and were not witnessed by the ambulance crew were included.

Factors associated with an increased chance of survival among patients suffering from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a national perspective in Sweden.

Aim: To describe factors associated with an increased chance of survival among patients suffering from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Sweden.

Patients And Methods: All patients suffering from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, which were not crew witnessed, in Sweden and in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was attempted and who were registered in the Swedish Cardiac Arrest Registry. This registry covers about 85% of the Swedish population and has been running since 1990.

Changes in demographic factors and mortality after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Sweden.

Objective: To describe changes between 1992 and 2003 in age, sex, factors at resuscitation and survival among patients suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Sweden.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study including various ambulance organizations in Sweden. Patients suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between 1992 and 2003 included in the Swedish Cardiac Arrest Registry were followed for survival to 1 month.

Decrease in the occurrence of ventricular fibrillation as the initially observed arrhythmia after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest during 11 years in Sweden.

Aim: To describe the change in the occurrence of ventricular fibrillation as initially observed arrhythmia among patients suffering from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Sweden.

Patients: All patients included in the Swedish cardiac arrest registry between 1991 until 2001. The registry covers 85% of the population in Sweden.

Is female sex associated with increased survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest?

Aim: To evaluate survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in relation to sex.

Methods: All patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest included in the Swedish Cardiac Arrest Registry between 1990 and 2000 in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was attempted and who did not have a crew witnessed arrest were included. The registry covers 85% of the inhabitants of Sweden (approximately 8 million inhabitants).

A short delay from out of hospital cardiac arrest to call for ambulance increases survival.

Aim: To describe the relative impact on survival of the delay from estimated time of collapse to call for an ambulance among patients who suffer from a bystander witnessed out of hospital cardiac arrest of a cardiac aetiology.

Methods: A majority of all ambulance organizations in Sweden (covering 85% of Sweden inhabitants) participate in a National survey of out of hospital cardiac arrest.

Results: In all there were 9340 patients with a bystander witnessed cardiac arrest of a cardiac aetiology in whom cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was attempted participating in this survey.