A health economic evaluation of the multinational, randomized controlled CONVINCE trial - cost-utility of high-dose online hemodiafiltration compared to high-flux hemodialysis.

High-flux hemodialysis (HD) and high-dose hemodiafiltration (HDF) are established treatments for patients with kidney failure. Since HDF has been associated with improved survival rates compared to HD, we evaluated the cost-effectiveness of HDF compared to HD. Cost-utility analyses were performed from a societal perspective alongside the multinational randomized controlled CONVINCE trial.

Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Long-Term Risk of Heart Failure in Women: National Cohort and Co-Sibling Study.

Background: Adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm delivery and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, may be associated with higher future risks of heart failure (HF). However, the comparative effects of different adverse pregnancy outcomes on long-term risk of HF, and their potential causality, are unclear.

Objectives: The authors sought to examine 5 major adverse pregnancy outcomes in relation to long-term risk of HF in a large population-based cohort.

Self-Efficacy in Hypertension Management Using e-Health Technology: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Primary Care.

Self-efficacy is tightly intertwined with person-centered care and correlates with engaging in self-care behaviors, an important part of hypertension treatment. Evidence indicates that e-Health-based self-management interventions could increase self-efficacy. The objectives of this study were to investigate whether an intervention with a person-centered approach supported by e-Health technology can impact self-efficacy.

Multigenerational family coaggregation study of obsessive-compulsive disorder and cardiometabolic disorders.

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality due to cardiometabolic disorders. Whether this association is driven by familial factors is unknown. This population-based family study explored the familial co-aggregation of OCD and cardiometabolic disorders.

Health-related quality of life, lifestyle habits and chronic pain in individuals with knee pain - a 2-year follow-up study.

Introduction: Knee pain increases the risk of developing chronic widespread pain (CWP) and knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The prevalence of CWP and KOA has increased, and there is a need for early prevention. Therefore, the aim was to examine the associations of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and lifestyle habits with chronic pain at a two-year follow-up in individuals with knee pain.

Fibrinogen genotypes and their impact on recurrence of venous thromboembolism and family history: A prospective population-based study.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) involves blood clot formation in veins, resulting in serious health issues. Fibrinogen, a crucial clotting protein, consists of three polypeptides encoded by the fibrinogen genes: alpha (FGA), beta (FGB) and gamma (FGG). We genotyped most common missense variants in the fibrinogen genes in relation to VTE, recurrence and family history in Malmö Thrombophilia Study, including 1465 VTE patients followed for ~10 years and 429 healthy donors.

Encountering children with suspected neurodevelopmental disorders in Child Health Services: Swedish nurses' experiences.

Purpose: To describe nurses' experiences encountering children with suspected neurodevelopmental disorders in Child Health Services.

Design And Methods: This qualitative inductive study was conducted in Sweden. Twenty nurses were interviewed individually on a virtual platform using a semi-structured interview guide with open-ended and explorative questions.

Myocardial infarction in second-generation immigrants compared to native-born Swedes in the total population of Sweden.

Background And Aims: Environmental and genetic factors predispose to cardiovascular disease. Some first-generation immigrants have a higher cardiovascular risk in Sweden, while less is known about second-generation immigrants. We aimed to analyze the risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) among second-generation immigrants in Sweden.

Cutting through the noise: A narrative review of Alzheimer's disease plasma biomarkers for routine clinical use.

As novel, anti-amyloid therapies have become more widely available, access to timely and accurate diagnosis has become integral to ensuring optimal treatment of patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD). Plasma biomarkers are a promising tool for identifying AD pathology; however, several technical and clinical factors need to be considered prior to their implementation in routine clinical use. Given the rapid pace of advancements in the field and the wide array of available biomarkers and tests, this review aims to summarize these considerations, evaluate available platforms, and discuss the steps needed to bring plasma biomarker testing to the clinic.

Nurses' experiences of text-based digital triage at primary healthcare centres in Sweden: a qualitative interview study.

Background: Telehealth services are becoming increasingly popular at primary healthcare centres. Some examples include text-based digital triage and health guidance using chats, emails, images and pre-filled forms. Telephone-based communication has until recent years been the predominant means for triage and health guidance, but now includes written communication via computer or smartphone.

Point of view: Challenges in implementation of new immunotherapies for Alzheimer's disease.

The advancement of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) for Alzheimer's disease (AD), along with the approval of three amyloid-targeting therapies in the US and several other countries, represents a significant development in the treatment landscape, offering new hope for addressing this once untreatable chronic progressive disease. However, significant challenges persist that could impede the successful integration of this class of drugs into clinical practice. These challenges include determining patient eligibility, appropriate use of diagnostic tools and genetic testing in patient care pathways, effective detection and monitoring of side effects, and improving the healthcare system's readiness by engaging both primary care and dementia specialists.

Risk of colorectal cancer associated with frequency of colorectal polyp diagnosis in relatives.

Background & Aims: We aimed to evaluate the association of frequency of polyp diagnosis in relatives with the risk of overall and early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: We leveraged data from nationwide Swedish family cancer datasets (1964-2018) to calculate standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for individuals with a family history of polyp by frequency of polyp diagnosis in family members.

Results: We followed up 11,676,043 individuals for up to 54 years.

Meat intake in relation to composition and function of gut microbiota.

Objective: Meat intake is suggested to affect gut microbiome composition and the risk of chronic diseases. We aimed to identify meat-associated gut microbiome features and their association with host factors.

Design: Gut microbiota species were profiled by deep shotgun metagenomics sequencing in 9669 individuals.

Common infections in children aged 6 months to 7 years after high prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances from contaminated drinking water in Ronneby, Sweden.

Background: Perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are suggested to impair immune function in children. Previous studies investigating associations between prenatal PFAS exposure and common infections were performed in background-exposed populations whilst studies from high-exposed populations are lacking.

Objectives: To investigate the association between prenatal PFAS exposure from contaminated drinking water and common infections in children aged 6 months to 7 years in Ronneby, Sweden.

Immigrant Background and Rape Conviction: A 21-Year Follow-Up Study in Sweden.

While extensive research exists on the severe consequences among rape victims, little is known about specific predictors in relation to rape convictions among immigrants to Europe. This study from Sweden (having one of Europe's highest per capita rates of rape) investigates individuals convicted of rape, aggravated rape, attempted rape, or attempted aggravated rape, collectively termed as rape+, against women 18 years or older, from 2000 to 2020. In this case-control study, we analyzed data from Swedish population-based registers.

Polygenic score distribution differences across European ancestry populations: implications for breast cancer risk prediction.

Background: The 313-variant polygenic risk score (PRS) provides a promising tool for clinical breast cancer risk prediction. However, evaluation of the PRS across different European populations which could influence risk estimation has not been performed.

Methods: We explored the distribution of PRS across European populations using genotype data from 94,072 females without breast cancer diagnosis, of European-ancestry from 21 countries participating in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC) and 223,316 females without breast cancer diagnosis from the UK Biobank.

ChatGPT (GPT-4) versus doctors on complex cases of the Swedish family medicine specialist examination: an observational comparative study.

Background: Recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence research include the development of generative pretrained transformers (GPT). ChatGPT has been shown to perform well when answering several sets of medical multiple-choice questions. However, it has not been tested for writing free-text assessments of complex cases in primary care.

Clinical Pharmacist-Led Collaboration of Multiple Clinical Professions Model Focusing on Continuity of Pharmacotherapy: Japanese Version of the Lund Integrated Medicines Management (LIMM) Model.

(1) Background: In general, it is known that continuity of care can contribute to an increase in patient satisfaction, reduce health care costs, and improve patient outcomes. A guarantee of continuity in pharmacotherapy is a big challenge facing Japanese health care as a system that encourages cooperation/collaboration for pharmacists with other health care professions is currently lacking. (2) Method: This is a narrative review.

Osteocalcin in Infancy and Early Childhood and Its Correlation With Later Growth and Body Composition: A Longitudinal Birth Cohort Study.

Background: Osteocalcin is a metabolic active hormone, which correlates positively with bone formation and inversely with body mass index and waist circumference in adults.

Objectives: To investigate whether osteocalcin in infancy and early childhood were related to childhood growth or body composition.

Methods: A Swedish longitudinal birth cohort with blood samples from 551 children from birth until 5 years of age.

The association between animal protein, plant protein, and their substitution with bladder cancer risk: a pooled analysis of 10 cohort studies.

Purpose: Although total dietary protein intake has been associated with bladder cancer (BC) risk, the effect of the origin (plant or animal) and the substitutions remain to be understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of total dietary protein, animal-based protein, plant-based protein, and their substitutions with each other on the risk of BC using a pooled analysis of 10 cohort studies.

Methods: The study was conducted within the "BLadder cancer Epidemiology and Nutritional Determinants" (BLEND) study, including 10 prospective cohort studies from several European countries, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

High leptin levels in blood are associated with chronic widespread pain in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: High body mass index (BMI) has been shown to have an association with chronic widespread pain (CWP), both in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in other pain conditions such as fibromyalgia. Research on the adipose tissue and it's adipokines, for example the well described leptin, is emerging. The objective of this study was to determine if there is an association between leptin levels in blood and CWP in patients with RA.

Patient characteristics in relation to opioid exposure in a chronic non-cancer pain population.

Objectives: The efficacy of long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) in treating patients with chronic non-cancer pain (CnCP) is questionable, and the potential risks of adverse effects are well established. The aims were as follows: (1) compare characteristics in patients exposed to LTOT vs non-exposed. (2) Regarding opioid-exposed patients, describe characteristics of patients with risk factors for opioid use disorder or overdose in relation to opioid dosage.