Long-Term Health Economic Evaluation of Intermittently Scanned Glucose Monitoring Compared with Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose in a Real-World Setting in Finnish Adult Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes.

There has been an evolving trend in the use of intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) among individuals with type 1 diabetes. Although isCGM is proven to be beneficial in the treatment of individuals with type 1 diabetes, its use leads to increasing device costs. This study aimed to investigate the long-term cost-effectiveness of isCGM.

Consistent service use before the COVID-19 pandemic predicted the continuity of face-to-face appointments during the lockdown among type 2 diabetes patients.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic affected diabetes care among type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. However, it is not known whether the observed changes in care concern all T2D patients equally. We examined the changes in health service usage and treatment outcomes among T2D patients according to the pre-pandemic follow-up activity.

Factors affecting the effectiveness of the physical activity counselling intervention implemented in primary health care in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has become a major public health threat; physical inactivity and obesity are both independent risk factors. Increasing daily physical activity (PA) significantly benefits treatment. Individual PA counselling is helpful for people with T2D, especially those with previous inactivity or with diabetes complications.

The use of isCGM leads to marked reduction in severe hypoglycemia requiring emergency medical service or hospital admission and diabetic ketoacidosis in adult type 1 diabetes patients.

Aims: To determine the effect of the use of intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) on acute diabetes-related complications in adult type 1 diabetes patients.

Methods: Six hundred and forty-two adult type 1 diabetes patients with isCGM were identified from electronic health records in Siun sote region in Eastern Finland. A retrospective real-world analysis was conducted combining hospital admission and prehospital emergency service data to compare incidences of hypoglycemia requiring emergency medical support (EMS) involvement or hospital admission and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) before and after the start of isCGM.

Marked Improvement in A1C Levels After Initiation of Intermittently Scanned Continuous Glucose Monitoring Is Maintained Over 4 Years in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes.

Objective: This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of long-term use of intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) in adult patients with type 1 diabetes.

Design And Methods: In this retrospective real-world study, 689 patients with type 1 diabetes who were >18 years of age and using isCGM were identified from the electronic patient records in North Karelia, Finland. A1C data were collected before and after the initiation of isCGM.

Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdown on Monitoring and Treatment Balance of Finnish Coronary Heart Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Patients.

Purpose: We aimed to examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on monitoring and treatment balance of Finnish coronary heart disease (CHD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients.

Patients And Methods: We used data from the electronic health records on 1604 CHD and 10,136 T2D patients aged 18‒85 years in Eastern Finland. Measurement and levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) of CHD patients and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) of T2D patients were assessed monthly during January 2019-June 2021.

Mode of treatments and achievement of treatment targets among type 2 diabetes patients with different comorbidities - a register-based retrospective cohort study in Finland.

Aims: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a progressive disease often associated with comorbidities that complicate the management of T2D and affect the achievement of treatment targets. However, adherence to guidelines and individualized treatments can potentially improve treatment outcomes. This study assessed the association between different glucose lowering and lipid lowering medication lines and the achievement of treatment targets with different comorbidities among a T2D cohort in North Karelia, Finland (2011-12 to 2015-16).

Effectiveness of physical activity counselling provided for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary healthcare in North Karelia, Finland: a register-based evaluation study.

Objectives: Physical activity (PA) plays a significant role in the treatment of type two diabetes (T2D). This study evaluated the effectiveness of PA counselling in primary healthcare (PHC) on clinical outcome measures in patients with T2D, comparing them with a registry-based controls.

Setting: The study was carried out in North Karelia, Finland, among PHC clients who have been diagnosed with T2D in 2016-2018.

The adverse effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on health service usage among patients with type 2 diabetes in North Karelia, Finland.

Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged health systems and their capacity to deliver essential health services while responding to COVID-19. This study examines the pandemic's impact on health service usage among patients with type 2 diabetes in the North Karelia region, in Finland.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used electronic health records of 11,458 type 2 diabetes patients, comprising all primary and specialised care contacts in 2019 and 2020.

Type 2 diabetes medication and HbA1c levels in North Karelia Finland, 2013-2019.

Aims: To analyse the prevalence of prescribed medications among people with type 2 diabetes, their relationship to HbA1c levels and transitions between medications.

Methods: The data included all 18- to 85-year-old adults with type 2 diabetes (identified from the electronic health records), who lived in North Karelia, Finland, between 2013 and 2019. Type 2 diabetes medication was defined based on prescriptions.

The effect of the integration of health services on health care usage among patients with type 2 diabetes in North Karelia, Finland.

Background: The need to improve the care of people with complex care requirements has been driving the reforms integrating care processes. This study examines the effect of the integration of health services on health care usage and the processes and outcomes of care among type 2 diabetes patients.

Methods: Data include all type 2 diabetes patients who lived in North Karelia, Finland, between 2014 and 2018.

Trends in the process and outcome indicators of type 2 diabetes care: a cohort study from Eastern Finland, 2012-2017.

Background: Evidence-based guidelines include concrete treatment targets that can be used as process and outcome indicators in the evaluation of the quality of healthcare services and diabetes care. Quality improvement can be evaluated by monitoring longitudinal trends in the care indicators on the system level. The aim of this study is to describe trends in the processes and outcomes of care among people with type 2 diabetes in North Karelia, Finland.

Screening of hydrocephalus in infants using either WHO or population-based head circumference reference charts.

Aim: The aim was to compare the performances of the World Health Organization (WHO) and population-based (PB) references in the screening for hydrocephalus in infants aged <2 years.

Methods: We collected 341 longitudinal head circumference (HC) measurements of hydrocephalic infants and 120 181 measurements of 15 145 healthy infants from primary care. The measurements were converted into z-scores, and a new screening parameter, change in HC standard deviation score (SDS) over time (ΔHC SDS), was calculated.

Association of mental disorders and quality of diabetes care - A six-year follow-up study of type 2 diabetes patients in North Karelia, Finland.

Aims: To compare the quality of diabetes care among type 2 diabetes patients with and without mental disorders during six-year follow-up in North Karelia, Finland.

Methods: All type 2 diabetes patients (n = 10190) were analysed using the electronic health records data from 2011-12 to 2015-16. The diabetes care was evaluated using the measurement activity and the achievement of the treatment targets for HbA1c and LDL.

Predictors of adherence to treatment by patients with coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Aims And Objectives: To identify the predictors of adherence in patients with coronary heart disease after a percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Adherence is a key factor in preventing the progression of coronary heart disease.

Design: An analytical multihospital survey study.

Perceived social support following percutaneous coronary intervention is a crucial factor in patients with coronary heart disease.

Aims And Objectives: To describe perceived social support among patients with coronary heart disease following percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: A low level of social support is considered a risk factor for coronary heart disease in healthy individuals and reduces the likelihood that people diagnosed with coronary heart disease will have a good prognosis.

Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

Transient Postnatal Gonadal Activation and Growth Velocity in Infancy.

Background And Objective: Transient activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis with a sex steroid surge is observed in boys and girls during the first months of life. However, the role of sex steroids in the regulation of growth has not been substantiated in infancy. We tested the hypothesis that testosterone (T) surge, known to be higher in infant boys than in girls during the transient postnatal gonadal activation regulates linear growth in infants.

Learning to ensure patient safety in clinical settings: comparing Finnish and British nursing students' perceptions.

Aims And Objectives: To explore and compare Finnish and British nursing students' perceptions of their learning about patient safety in clinical settings.

Background: Patient safety culture and practices in different health care organisations and clinical units varies, posing challenges for nursing students' learning about patient safety during their clinical placements. Patient safety as a growing international concern has challenged health care professionals globally requiring a comprehensive review.

Motivation is a crucial factor for adherence to a healthy lifestyle among people with coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention.

Aim: To test the Theory of Adherence of People with Chronic Disease with regard to adherence to treatment among patients with coronary heart disease after a percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Increased knowledge of the concept of adherence is needed for the development of nursing interventions and nursing guidelines for patients with coronary heart disease.

Design: A cross-sectional, multi-centre study.