Metabolic changes induced by peroral oestrogen and transdermal oestradiol gel therapy.

Objective: To investigate changes in plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels induced by peroral oestrogen replacement and transdermal oestradiol gel therapy.

Design: The effects of peroral oestradiol valerate tablets (2 mg) and placebo gel were compared with 1g transdermal oestradiol gel (1mg oestradiol) and placebo tablets in a randomised, double-blind, double-dummy study for 6 months.

Setting: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oulu and Oulu Deaconess Institute, Oulu, Finland.

Deinstitutionalization of the elderly in Finland, 1981-91.

The success of Finnish deinstitutionalization policy among the elderly in 1981-1991 was evaluated in terms of institutionalization rates and case-mix. Censuses of institutionalized people in all public and private residential homes and health centre hospitals (or nursing homes) were performed in 1981, 1986 and 1991. Data on demographic factors, diagnoses and dependency level were gathered.

Private medicine and socioeconomic differences in the rates of common surgical procedures in Finland.

The aim of the study was to evaluate socioeconomic equity in access to surgical services in Finland and to explore the contribution of private sector procedures to any inequities. Data on nine common surgical procedures performed on patients aged 25 and over were obtained from the 1987-88 Finnish Hospital Discharge Register. Socioeconomic indicators were linked to the procedure data by personal identity numbers from the 1987 population census, which was also used to derive the data on population at risk.

Structure and costs of health care of diabetic patients in Finland.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine both the structure, including modes of drug treatment, ambulatory care, and hospital inpatient care, and the costs of health care for drug-treated diabetic patients in Finland.

Research Design And Methods: The modes of drug treatment and ambulatory care were studied with the help of a questionnaire given to all diabetic patients obtaining their medication through pharmacies in Finland during a 7-week period in 1989. The questionnaire sought information on drug treatment, site of health care, and frequency of visits to physicians.

Influence of morbidity and health care structure on hospitalization among adult diabetic patients.

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of outpatient care, overall hospital bed provision and the prevalence of diabetes on the hospital use by adult diabetic patients. Population based data were collected in Finland from a 3-year period. Hospital admissions, inpatient days, and mean length of stay due to diabetes were derived from the Hospital Discharge Register.

Socioeconomic equity in Finnish hospital care in relation to need.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the success of Finnish health care policy in establishing socioeconomic equity in the use of hospital inpatient care. We studied the use of short-term (< 30 days) care at Finnish general hospitals among those aged 25 or over, psychiatric and obstetric patients excluded. The data on service utilization were obtained from the 1988 Finnish Hospital Discharge Register.

Educational level and hospital use in mental disorders. A population-based study.

This population-based study presents socioeconomic differences in psychiatric inpatient care by diagnosis. Inpatient care among the Finnish population aged 25-64 years was studied using data from the Finnish National Hospital Discharge Register. All major mental disorders in the ICD-9 were included in the study.

Hospital use among diabetic patients and the general population.

Objective: This register-based linkage study compared hospital use among diabetic and nondiabetic populations. The study focused on overall use, use by disease categories, and inpatient care caused by complications.

Research Design And Methods: The patient data were derived from the Hospital Discharge Register and the Central Drug Register in Finland.