Real-life treatment persistence and treatment outcomes of Finnish patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving vedolizumab as first-line biological treatment.

Purpose: To analyze treatment persistence and treatment outcomes of vedolizumab as first-line biological treatment in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients in a Finnish real-world setting.

Methods: Observational, retrospective, multi-center chart review study that included adult CD and UC patients initiating vedolizumab as first-line biological treatment between 2014 and 2020.

Results: The cohort consisted of 54 CD and 69 UC patients.

Epidemiology of myasthenia gravis in Denmark, Finland and Sweden: a population-based observational study.

Background: Incidence and prevalence rates of myasthenia gravis (MG) vary considerably across studies, and mortality risk is rarely addressed. We examined the prevalence and incidence rates, mortality and factors associated with mortality with MG.

Method: This was a registry linkage study based on nationwide health and administrative registries of Denmark, Finland and Sweden (populations of 5.

Real-world experience of novel multiple myeloma treatments in a large, single-center cohort in Finland.

In this single-center study, we aimed to describe the characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) following treatment with bortezomib, carfilzomib, daratumumab, ixazomib, lenalidomide or pomalidomide-based regimens. Data were collected retrospectively from a study cohort of patients receiving a MM treatment in the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS) in Finland between 2016-2020. In total, 472 patients were included in the study.

Real-world treatment outcomes and safety of natalizumab in Finnish multiple sclerosis patients.

Objectives: The primary objective was to evaluate long-term treatment persistence and safety of natalizumab in Finnish multiple sclerosis patients. The secondary objectives were to assess patient characteristics, use of natalizumab-related safety protocol, and treatment persistence in patients with different anti-John Cunningham virus antibody statuses (John Cunningham virus status).

Materials & Methods: All adult multiple sclerosis patients in the Finnish multiple sclerosis register who started natalizumab between 1/2006 and 12/2018 were included in this study and followed retrospectively until treatment discontinuation or end of follow-up (12/2019).

Comorbidity Burden in Severe and Nonsevere Asthma: A Nationwide Observational Study (FINASTHMA).

Background: Asthma, affecting more than 330 million people worldwide, is associated with a high level of morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic costs.

Objective: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the comorbidity burden in patients with severe asthma compared with nonsevere asthma and investigated the role of corticosteroid use on the risk of comorbidities.

Methods: All adults (≥18 y) with a diagnosis of asthma (International Classification of Diseases-10th revision code J45.

The association between body mass index groups and metabolic comorbidities with healthcare and medication costs: a nationwide biobank and registry study in Finland.

Background: The increasing prevalence of obesity imposes a significant cost burden on individuals and societies worldwide.

Objective: In this nationally representative study, the association between body mass index (BMI) groups and the number of metabolic comorbidities (MetC) with total direct costs was investigated in the Finnish population.

Study Design, Setting, And Participants: The study cohort included 5,587 adults with BMI ≥18.

Early start of anti-dementia medication is associated with lower health and social care costs in Alzheimer´s patients: a Finnish nationwide register study.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between health and social care costs and early start of anti-dementia medication in a nationwide cohort of Finnish Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients.

Methods: The cohort included 7454 Finnish AD patients who had their first AD diagnosis in 2012 and lived at home at the time of diagnosis. Data were collected retrospectively from the Finnish national health and social care registers.

Obesity and metabolic state are associated with increased healthcare resource and medication use and costs: a Finnish population-based study.

Aim: To characterize healthcare resource (HCRU) and medication use and associated costs in individuals with obesity compared with individuals with normal weight or overweight in a population-based cohort of Finnish adults. The association between metabolic state and direct costs was also assessed.

Methods: The study cohort included 5587 randomly selected individuals who participated in the national FinHealth 2017 health examination survey.

The association of body mass index with quality of life and working ability: a Finnish population-based study.

Purpose: The impact of obesity on quality of life (QoL) and working ability vary in different dimensions. This study investigated the association of obesity with QoL and working ability in Finnish adults. Comorbidities as associative factors were also characterised.

Benefit of measuring vedolizumab concentrations in inflammatory bowel disease patients in a real-world setting.

Objectives: We set out to determine the reasons for serum vedolizumab (VDZ) trough concentration (TC) measurements in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and to evaluate treatment modifications after therapeutic drug measurement (TDM). We also evaluated the effect of increased dosing on patients' response to VDZ therapy.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of IBD patients who received VDZ therapy at Helsinki University Hospital and whose VDZ levels were measured between June 2014 and December 2018.

Early Start of Anti-Dementia Medication Delays Transition to 24-Hour Care in Alzheimer's Disease Patients: A Finnish Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: Dementia is one of the strongest predictors of admission to a 24-hour care facility among older people, and 24-hour care is the major cost of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of early start of anti-dementia medication and other predisposing factors with 2-year risk of transition to 24-hour care in the nationwide cohort of Finnish AD patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective, non-interventional study based on individual-level data from Finnish national health and social care registers.

Characterisation of healthcare utilisation and cost of haemophilia care in real-life: A 4-year follow-up study in Finland.

Introduction: Characterisation of outcomes and costs of haemophilia care in common practice settings is essential for evaluation of new treatment options and for developing clinical practices. In Finland, haemophilia care is mostly centralised to University Hospitals, but treatment practices and costs in adult patients have not been systematically evaluated.

Aim: This study was designed to characterise healthcare resource utilisation and treatment costs of adult inhibitor-negative haemophilia patients managed in Finnish University Hospitals.

Impact of Anti-Dementia Medication on the Risk of Death and Causes of Death in Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: The Finnish population offers many advantages for evaluating the impact of anti-dementia medication on mortality in Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to broad range of individual-level data collected in national health and social care registries and the fact that Finland has one of the highest mortality rates for dementia globally.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of anti-dementia medication with 2-year risk of death and all-cause mortality in patients with AD.

Methods: This was a retrospective, non-interventional registry study based on individual-level data using Finnish national health and social care registries.

Healthcare resource utilization and treatment costs of Finnish chronic inflammatory bowel disease patients treated with infliximab.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with a high economic burden to society due to its early onset and chronic character. Here, we set out to characterize healthcare resource utilization and associated costs in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients with infliximab treatment, the most widely used first-line biologic agent in Finland, in a real-world clinical setting. This was a retrospective, non-interventional single-center study.

Characterization of inflammatory bowel disease management by vedolizumab and concomitant treatments in real-life clinical practice.

Limited data is available on vedolizumab combination therapies in real-world clinical practice. Here, we evaluated the concomitant corticosteroid, immunosuppressive, and 5-aminosalicylic acid utilization of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients treated with vedolizumab in a nationwide, retrospective, non-interventional, multi-centre chart review study. All adult patients from 27 Finnish gastroenterology centres with a diagnosis of Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) who had at least one vedolizumab infusion since it's availability in Finland were included in the study.

High treatment persistence rate and significant endoscopic healing among real-life patients treated with vedolizumab - a Finnish Nationwide Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort Study (FINVEDO).

Objectives: The efficacy and tolerability of vedolizumab in the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) has been demonstrated in an extensive GEMINI clinical trial programme. Clinical trials represent highly selected patient populations and, therefore, it is important to demonstrate effectiveness in real-life clinical practice. We set out to assess real-world treatment outcomes of vedolizumab in a nationwide cohort of treatment refractory Finnish Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients.

Cardiovascular disease risk factors in relation to smoking behaviour and history: a population-based cohort study.

Objective: To investigate how individual risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) (blood pressure, lipid levels, body mass index, waist and hip circumference, use of antihypertensive or hypolipidemic medication, and diagnosed diabetes) differ in people aged 46 years with different smoking behaviour and history.

Methods: This population-based cohort study is based on longitudinal data from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 project. Data were collected at the 31-year and 46-year follow-ups, when a total of 5038 and 5974 individuals participated in clinical examinations and questionnaires.

Primary health care utilisation and its costs among middle-aged smokers.

Objective: To study and compare the utilisation of primary health care services among 46-year-old current smokers, ex-smokers and never-smokers, and to estimate the corresponding costs.

Methods: This population-based cohort study is based on the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, which is a longitudinal research program in Finland's two northernmost provinces. The study is based on data collected at the 46-year follow-up, during which a total of 4997 individuals completed questionnaires on their primary health care service utilisation.

Physicians discuss the risks of smoking with their patients, but seldom offer practical cessation support.

Background: Our aim was to study the smoking cessation-related 1) attitudes & experiences and 2) consultation practices of Finnish physicians and to determine if there is a relationship between the two.

Methods: An online survey on smoking cessation was sent to 39 % of all Finnish physicians, with emphasis on physicians working in fields relevant to smoking cessation. A total of 1141 physicians (response rate 15 %) responded to the online survey, 53 % of whom were employed in primary health care.

[Tobacco withdrawal in individuals suffering from mental disorders].

Smoking is very common in individuals with mental illnesses, but smoking cessation help is inadequately offered to them. Some 54% of Finnish psychiatrists often advise their patients to quit smoking, yet 34% often recommend nicotine replacement therapy, and only 12% of them often prescribe tobacco withdrawal medication. Factors that affect advisement in smoking cessation include the psychiatrists' own attitudes and personal smoking history, barriers within the work settings, and the patient's diagnosis.

Prevalence of anxiety disorders among Finnish primary care high utilizers and validation of Finnish translation of GAD-7 and GAD-2 screening tools.

Objective: To analyse the prevalence of GAD and other anxiety disorders, as well as sensitivity and specificity of GAD-7 among high utilizers of health care.

Setting: Four municipal health centres in Northern Finland.

Subjects: A psychiatric interview was conducted for 150 high utilizers of health care.

Comparative cost analysis of generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder patients in secondary care from a national hospital registry in Finland.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) has shown to cause high costs to society. Earlier research indicates that generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) also causes high costs, but only limited data is available in varying settings.

Aims: To analyse the secondary care costs of GAD compared with those of MDD.