Physical activity as an investment or consumption good-a mixed methods approach.

Studying individuals' motivation to engage in physical activity raises the question of whether physical activity is a consumption good (enjoyment) or an investment good (a health investment). The aims of the study were: (i) What kind of motivational background is it possible to identify for different forms of physical activity among adults, and (ii) Is there an association between different motivational factors and the form and amount of physical activity among adults. A mixed methods approach was applied using interviews (n = 20) and a questionnaire (n = 156).

High secondary attack rate and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in household transmission study participants, Finland 2020-2021.

Background: Household transmission studies offer the opportunity to assess both secondary attack rate (SAR) and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies over time.

Methods: In Spring 2020, we invited confirmed COVID-19 cases and their household members to four visits, where we collected nasopharyngeal and serum samples over 28 days after index case onset. We calculated SAR based on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies (NAb) and assessed the persistence of NAb and IgG antibodies (Ab) against SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein and nucleoprotein.

Long-term work disability due to type I and II bipolar disorder: findings of a six-year prospective study.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. However, the prevalence and predictors of long-term work disability among patients with type I and II BD have scarcely been studied. We investigated the clinical predictors of long-term work disability among patients with BD.

Municipal resources to promote adult physical activity - a multilevel follow-up study.

Background: In Finland, local authorities (municipalities) provide many services, including sports and physical activity facilities such as pedestrian and bicycle ways and lanes, parks, sports arenas and pools. This study aimed to determine whether local authorities can promote physical activity by allocating resources to physical activity facilities.

Methods: The data on municipality expenditure on physical activity and sports, number of sports associations receiving subsidies from the municipality, kilometers of ways for pedestrians and bicycles and hectares of parks in 1999 and 2010 were gathered from national registers.

Cost-effectiveness of physical activity intervention in children - results based on the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study.

Background: We assessed the cost-effectiveness of a 2-year physical activity (PA) intervention combining family-based PA counselling and after-school exercise clubs in primary-school children compared to no intervention from an extended service payer's perspective.

Methods: The participants included 506 children (245 girls, 261 boys) allocated to an intervention group (306 children, 60 %) and a control group (200 children, 40 %). The children and their parents in the intervention group had six PA counselling visits, and the children also had the opportunity to participate in after-school exercise clubs.

Predominant polarity in bipolar I and II disorders: A five-year follow-up study.

Background: Patients with bipolar disorder (BD) differ in their relative predominance of types of episodes, yielding predominant polarity, which has important treatment implications. However, few prospective studies of predominant polarity exist.

Methods: In the Jorvi Bipolar Study (JoBS), a regionally representative cohort of 191 BD I and BD II in- and outpatients was followed for five years using life-chart methodology.

Examining Health Inequalities in Latvia: A Decade of Association between Socioeconomic Position and Perceived Health Status.

The relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) and population health is contextual. This study identifies the determinants of SEP producing health inequalities in the Latvian population. We also estimate the proportional contribution of different socioeconomic strata- (SES-) related determinants in Latvian health inequalities and measure the changes in the relative contributions of such determinants over the period 2005-2015.

Incident Use of a Potentially Inappropriate Medication and Hip Fracture in Community-Dwelling Older Persons With Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) increase the risk of adverse drug reactions and events and have been associated with greater health care service use, such as an increased risk of hospitalization.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between PIM use and hip fractures in a nationwide cohort of community-dwelling persons ≥65 years old with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: The study, which is based on the Finnish nationwide MEDALZ cohort, included all persons diagnosed with AD between 2005 and 2011 (n = 70 718).

A randomised clinical trial of routine versus selective CT imaging in acute abdomen: Impact of patient age on treatment costs and hospital resource use.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of patient age on hospital resource use and treatment costs of acute abdominal pain (AAP).

Materials And Methods: A total of 300 adult patients with AAP were randomised to either computed tomography (CT, n=150) or selective imaging practice (SIP, n=150) groups. Final analysis included 254 patients, 143 (42 patients ≥65years) in the CT and 111 (32 patients ≥65years) in the SIP group.

Risk Factors for Initiation of Potentially Inappropriate Medications in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with and without Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Various criteria have been created to define potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) to help improve the quality and safety of medicine use in older patients. Individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be at higher risk of adverse drug events associated with PIMs (such as falls).

Objective: Our objective was to determine the risk factors for PIM initiation in a nationwide cohort of community dwellers aged ≥65 years with and without AD.

A Systematic Review of the Impact of Potentially Inappropriate Medication on Health Care Utilization and Costs Among Older Adults.

Background: Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are defined as those medicines having a greater potential risk than benefit for older adults. In this systematic literature review, we evaluate the current evidence on health care service use and health care costs associated with PIMs among older adults.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in August 2015 without publication date restrictions using the databases PubMed and Scopus.

Health inequality in the Russian Federation: An examination of the changes in concentration and achievement indices from 1994 to 2013.

Background: To assess and quantify the magnitude of health inequalities ascribed to socioeconomic strata from 1994 to 2013 in the Russian Federation.

Methods: A balanced sample of 1,496 adult individuals extracted from the 1994 wave of the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS) is followed for stated self-perceived health status until 2013. The socioeconomic strata (SES) index is constructed with a set of variables (adult equivalent household income, ownership of assets and living conditions) by applying principal component analysis (PCA).

The association between self-perceived health status and satisfaction with healthcare services: Evidence from Armenia.

Background: Armenians very rarely seek healthcare services and, consequently experience more serious health conditions. With its ongoing reforms, Armenia is focusing on linking health system financing to the quality and volume of care provided. We examine the relationship between the perceived health status of the population and the satisfaction with healthcare services.

Inequalities in perceived health in the Russian Federation, 1994-2012.

Background: Individual characteristics and socioeconomic strata (SES) are important determinants of health differences. We examine health inequalities in Russia and estimate the association of demography (gender and age) and SES (working status, income, geography of residence, living standard, wealth possession, and durable asset-holding) with perceived health over the period 1994-2012.

Methods: This study uses nationally representative datasets from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS: 1994-2012).

Predictors of long-term work disability among patients with type I and II bipolar disorder: a prospective 18-month follow-up study.

Objectives: Bipolar disorder (BD) is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. However, vocational ability and predictors of long-term work disability have rarely been studied among patients with BD. We investigated clinical predictors of work disability among patients with BD in psychiatric care.

Electrode migration after cochlear implant surgery: more common than expected?

The overall complication rate of cochlear implant surgery is low and so-called electrode failures (electrode migration, misplacement, etc.,) account for only a minority of all complications. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of electrode migration as the cause for increased impedance values and non-auditory stimulation in the basal channels.

Psychosocial problems in adolescents associated with frequent health care use.

Background: The prevalence of somatic, mental and behavioural problems increases in puberty. Nevertheless, compared to adults, health service utilization by adolescents, and associated factors such as risky health behaviours, have been poorly explored. In order to improve health care services, there is a need for further research on adolescents frequently using primary health care.

Five-year outcome of bipolar I and II disorders: findings of the Jorvi Bipolar Study.

Objectives: The long-term outcome of bipolar disorder (BD) has been extensively investigated. However, previous studies may be biased towards hospitalized patients with bipolar I disorder (BD-I), and generalizability to the current treatment era remains uncertain. In this naturalistic study, we followed a secondary-care cohort of patients with BD.

Sample selection may bias the outcome of an adolescent mental health survey: results from a five-year follow-up of 4171 adolescents.

Objectives: The representativeness of the data is one of the main issues in evaluating the significance of research findings. Dropping out is common in adolescent mental health research, and may distort the results. Nevertheless, very little is known about the types of systematic bias that may affect studies in a) the informed consent phase and b) later in follow-up phases.

Cost-effectiveness of population-level physical activity interventions: a systematic review.

Objective: This systematic review synthesizes the evidence on the cost-effectiveness of population-level interventions to promote physical activity.

Data Source: A systematic literature search was conducted between May and August 2013 in four databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus.

Study Inclusion And Exclusion Criteria: Only primary and preventive interventions aimed at promoting and maintaining physical activity in wide population groups were included.