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Background: The aim was to investigate the total prevalence of known and undiagnosed diabetes mellitus (DM), and the association of DM with perioperative complications following elective, infrarenal, open surgical (OSR) or endovascular (EVAR), Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) repair., Methods: In this Norwegian prospective multicentre study, 877 patients underwent preoperative screening for DM by HbA 1c measurements from November 2017 to December 2020. Diabetes was defined as screening detected HbA 1c  ≥ 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) or previously diagnosed diabetes. The association of DM with in-hospital complications, length of stay, and 30-day mortality rate were evaluated using adjusted and unadjusted logistic regression models., Results: The total prevalence of DM was 15% (95% CI 13%,17%), of which 25% of the DM cases (95% CI 18%,33%) were undiagnosed upon admission for AAA surgery. The OSR to EVAR ratio was 52% versus 48%, with similar distribution among DM patients, and no differences in the prevalence of known and undiagnosed DM in the EVAR versus the OSR group. Total 30-day mortality rate was 0.6% (5/877). Sixty-six organ-related complications occurred in 58 (7%) of the patients. DM was not statistically significantly associated with a higher risk of in-hospital organ-related complications (OR 1.23, 95% CI 0.57,2.39, p = 0.57), procedure-related complications (OR 1.48, 95% CI 0.79,2.63, p = 0.20), 30-day mortality (p = 0.09) or length of stay (HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.88,1.28, p = 0.54). According to post-hoc-analyses, organ-related complications were more frequent in patients with newly diagnosed DM (n = 32) than in non-DM patients (OR 4.92; 95% CI 1.53,14.3, p = 0.005)., Conclusion: Twenty-five percent of all DM cases were undiagnosed at the time of AAA surgery. Based on post-hoc analyses, undiagnosed DM seems to be associated with an increased risk of organ related complications following AAA surgery. This study suggests universal DM screening in AAA patients to reduce the number of DM patients being undiagnosed and to improve proactive diabetes care in this population. The results from post-hoc analyses should be confirmed in future studies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: In this prospective, observational study, we aimed to investigate epidemiologic and microbial trends of infective endocarditis in western Norway., Methods: Clinical and microbiological characteristics of 497 cases of infective endocarditis from 2016 through 2022 were investigated. Categorical data were analysed using Chi-squared tests. Survival data were analysed using multiple Cox regression and reported using hazard ratios., Results: The mean age was 67 years, and 74% were men. The annual incidence rates varied from 10.4 to 14.1 per 100,000 inhabitants per year. Infective endocarditis on native valves was observed in 257 (52%) of the cases, whereas infective endocarditis on prosthetic valves and/or cardiac implantable electronic devices was observed in 240 (48%) of the cases: infection on surgically implanted bioprostheses was observed in 124 (25%) of the patients, infection on transcatheter aortic valve implantation was observed in 47 (10%) patients, and infection on mechanical valves was observed in 34 (7%) cases. Infection related to cardiac implantable electronic devices was observed in a total of 50 (10%) cases. Staphylococcus aureus and viridans streptococci were the most common microbial causes, and isolated in 145 (29%) and 130 (26%) of the cases, respectively. Enterococcal endocarditis showed a rising trend during the study period and constituted 90 (18%) of our total cases of infective endocarditis, and 67%, 47%, and 26% of the cases associated with prosthetic material, transcatheter aortic valve implantation and cardiac implantable electronic devices, respectively. There was no significant difference in 90-day mortality rates between the native valve endocarditis group (12%) and the group with infective endocarditis on prosthetic valves or cardiac implants (14%), p = 0.522. In a model with gender, age, people who inject drugs, microbiology and type of valve affected, only advanced age was significantly associated with fatal outcome within 90 days., Conclusions: The incidence of infective endocarditis, and particularly enterococcal endocarditis, increased during the study period. Enterococci appeared to have a particular affinity for prosthetic cardiac material. Advanced age was the only independent risk factor for death within 90 days., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Assessment of pain is challenging given its subjective nature. Standard pain assessment tools have limitations. We aimed to compare the verbal numeric rating scale (NRS) and Grasp, a novel handheld electronic device that reports pain by squeezing., Methods: To compare Grasp and NRS, healthy adult volunteers were invited to undergo two subsequent standardised tests of cold-triggered pain using a cold pressor test (CPT) at a temperature of 3°C. Pain intensity was in a randomised manner reported by NRS (scale 0-10) or by squeezing Grasp (0-3 V) during the two CPTs. A third CPT was performed 1 to 14 days later where subjects reported pain by Grasp a second time in order to study the association of repeated Grasp measurements. Acceptable association was a priori considered as mean Kendall's τ - b coefficient ( τ - b ) ≥ 0.7. The subjects reported their experience of using Grasp in a purpose-made questionnaire., Results: In total, 102 subjects were included, and 96 subjects (56 females) completed all three tests. The association of pain intensity reported by Grasp and NRS was moderate with a mean τ - b of 0.53 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47-0.58). The association between the repeated Grasp measurements was weak with a mean τ - b of 0.43 (95% CI 0.37-0.48). Most subjects reported that Grasp was intuitive and easy to use., Conclusions: Pain intensity reported by squeezing Grasp did not show acceptable association with pain intensity reported by NRS during CPTs. The association between pain intensity reported by Grasp during two CPTs on separate days was weak. Further improvements of the Grasp ball are needed before use in clinical settings., (© 2024 the author(s), published by De Gruyter.)

A hallmark of patients with autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1) is serological neutralizing autoantibodies against type 1 interferons (IFN-I). The presence of these antibodies has been associated with severe course of COVID-19. The aims of this study were to investigate SARS-CoV-2 vaccine tolerability and immune responses in a large cohort of patients with APS-1 (N = 33) and how these vaccinated patients coped with subsequent infections. We report that adult patients with APS-1 were able to mount adequate SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific antibody responses after vaccination and observed no signs of decreased tolerability. Compared with age- and gender-matched healthy controls, patients with APS-1 had considerably lower peak antibody responses resembling elderly persons, but antibody decline was more rapid in the elderly. We demonstrate that vaccination protected patients with APS-1 from severe illness when infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus, overriding the systemic danger of IFN-I autoantibodies observed in previous studies., Competing Interests: We confirm that we do not have any financial or other interest related to the submitted work that could affect or have the perception of affecting the authors objectively or could influence or have the perception of influencing the content of the article., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Introduction: Exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) and exercise-induced asthma can cause troublesome respiratory symptoms that can be difficult to distinguish between. Further, there is now a growing appreciation that the two conditions may coexist , complicating the interpretation of symptoms. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of EILO in patients with asthma. Secondary aims include evaluation of EILO treatment effects and investigation of comorbid conditions other than EILO in patients with asthma., Methods and Analysis: The study will be conducted at Haukeland University Hospital and Voss Hospital in Western Norway, and enrol 80-120 patients with asthma and a control group of 40 patients without asthma. Recruitment started in November 2020, and data sampling will continue until March 2024. Laryngeal function will be assessed at baseline and at a 1-year follow-up, using continuous laryngoscopy during high-intensity exercise (CLE). Immediately after the EILO diagnosis is verified, patients will be treated with standardised breathing advice guided by visual biofeedback from the laryngoscope video screen. The primary outcome will be the prevalence of EILO in patients with asthma and control participants. Secondary outcomes include changes in CLE scores, asthma-related quality of life, asthma control and number of the asthma exacerbations, as assessed between baseline and the 1-year follow-up., Ethics and Dissemination: Ethical approval has been obtained from the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics, Western Norway, (ID number 97615). All participants will provide signed informed consent before enrolment. The results will be presented in international journals and conferences., Trial Registration Number: NCT04593394., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Introduction: Exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) is a common cause of exertional breathing problems in young adults. Current management generally consists of breathing advice, speech therapy, inspiratory muscle training or supraglottoplasty in highly motivated subjects with supraglottic collapse. Inhaled ipratropium bromide (IB) is a muscarinic receptor antagonist used to treat asthma that is suggested in a few reports to improve EILO symptoms. The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of inhaled IB in EILO diagnosed by continuous laryngoscopy exercise (CLE) test and classified by CLE scores., Methods: A randomised crossover trial was conducted at Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway, enrolling participants diagnosed with EILO defined by characteristic symptoms and CLE score ≥3 (range 0-12). Two consecutive CLE tests were performed within 2 weeks, one test with and one test without prior administration of inhaled IB in a randomised order. Main outcomes were the CLE score, dyspnoea measured using a modified BORG scale (range 0-10) and cardiopulmonary exercise data provided by the CLE test., Results: 20 participants (14 females) aged 12-25 years participated, and all ran to exhaustion on both tests. Mean CLE score, BORG score and peak oxygen consumption were similar in tests performed with and without IB; mean differences (95% confidence interval) were 0.08 (-0.28-0.43), 0.35 (-0.29-0.99) and -0.4 (-1.9-1.1) mL·kg -1 ·min -1 , respectively., Conclusion: Inhaled IB did not improve CLE score, dyspnoea or exercise capacity in subjects with EILO. The study does not support the use of inhaled IB to treat EILO., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright ©The authors 2023.)

Objective: To compare outcome after less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) and primary endotracheal intubation (non-LISA) in infants born before gestational age (GA) 28 weeks., Setting: All neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Norway during 2012-2018., Methods: Defined population-based data were prospectively entered into a national registry. We compared LISA infants with all non-LISA infants and with non-LISA infants who received surfactant following intubation. We used propensity score (PS) matching to identify non-LISA infants who were similar regarding potential confounders., Main Outcome Variables: Rate and duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), survival, neurological and gastrointestinal morbidity, and need of supplemental oxygen or positive pressure respiratory support at postmenstrual age (PMA) 36 and 40 weeks., Results: We restricted analyses to GA 25-27 weeks (n=843, 26% LISA) because LISA was rarely used at lower GAs. There was no significant association between NICUs regarding proportions treated with LISA and proportions receiving MV. In the PS-matched datasets, fewer LISA infants received MV (61% vs 78%, p<0.001), and they had fewer days on MV (mean difference 4.1, 95% CI 0.0 to 8.2 days) and lower mortality at PMA 40 weeks (absolute difference 6%, p=0.06) compared with all the non-LISA infants, but only a lower rate of MV (64% vs 97%, p<0.001) and fewer days on MV (mean difference 5.8, 95% CI 0.6 to 10.9 days) compared with non-LISA infants who received surfactant after intubation., Conclusion: LISA reduced the rate and duration of MV but had no other clear benefits., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Gas exchange in extremely preterm (EP) infants must take place in fetal lungs. Childhood lung diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide ( D LCO ) is reduced; however, longitudinal development has not been investigated. We describe the growth of D LCO and its subcomponents to adulthood in EP compared with term-born subjects., Methods: Two area-based cohorts born at gestational age ≤28 weeks or birthweight ≤1000 g in 1982-1985 (n=48) and 1991-1992 (n=35) were examined twice, at ages 18 and 25 years and 10 and 18 years, respectively, and compared with matched term-born controls. Single-breath D LCO was measured at two oxygen pressures, with subcomponents (membrane diffusion ( D M ) and pulmonary capillary blood volume ( V C )) calculated using the Roughton-Forster equation., Results: Age-, sex- and height-standardised transfer coefficients for carbon monoxide ( K CO ) and D LCO were reduced in EP compared with term-born subjects, and remained so during puberty and early adulthood (p-values for all time-points and both cohorts ≤0.04), whereas alveolar volume ( V A ) was similar. Development occurred in parallel to term-born controls, with no signs of pubertal catch-up growth nor decline at age 25 years (p-values for lack of parallelism within cohorts 0.99, 0.65, 0.71, 0.94 and 0.44 for z- D LCO , z- V A , z- K CO , D M and V C , respectively). Split by membrane and blood volume components, findings were less clear; however, membrane diffusion seemed most affected., Conclusions: Pulmonary diffusing capacity was reduced in EP compared with term-born subjects, and development from childhood to adulthood tracked in parallel to term-born subjects, with no signs of catch-up growth nor decline at age 25 years., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: E. Satrell has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: H. Clemm has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: O.D. Røksund has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: K.O. Hufthammer has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: E. Thorsen has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: T. Halvorsen has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: M. Vollsæter has nothing to disclose., (Copyright ©The authors 2022.)

Background: Acutely sick or injured patients depend on ambulance and emergency department personnel performing an accurate initial assessment and prioritisation (triage) to effectively identify patients in need of immediate treatment. Triage also ensures that each patient receives fair initial assessment. To improve the patient safety, quality of care, and communication about a patient's medical condition, we implemented a new triage tool (the South African Triage Scale Norway (SATS-N) in all the ambulance services and emergency departments in one health region in Norway. This article describes the lessons we learnt during this implementation process., Methods: The main framework in this quality improvement (QI) work was the plan-do-study-act cycle. Additional process sources were 'The Institute for Healthcare Improvement Model for improvement' and the Norwegian Patient Safety Programme., Results: Based on the QI process as a whole, we defined subjects influencing this work to be successful, such as identifying areas for improvement, establishing multidisciplinary teams, coaching, implementing measurements and securing sustainability. After these subjects were connected to the relevant challenges and desired effects, we described the lessons we learnt during this comprehensive QI process., Conclusion: We learnt the importance of following a structured framework for QI process during the implementation of the SATS-N triage tool. Furthermore, securing anchoring at all levels, from the managements to the medical professionals in direct patient-orientated work, was relevant important. Moreover, establishing multidisciplinary teams with ambulance personnel, emergency department nurses and doctors with various medical specialties provided ownership to the participants. Meanwhile, coaching provided necessary security for the staff directly involved in caring for patients. Keeping the spirit and perseverance high were important factors in completing the implementation. Establishment of the regional network group was found to be important for sustainability and further improvements., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) is a common cause of exertional breathing problems in young individuals, caused by paradoxical inspiratory adduction of laryngeal structures, and diagnosed by continuous visualization of the larynx during high-intensity exercise. Empirical data suggest that EILO consists of different subtypes, possibly requiring different therapeutic approaches. Currently applied treatments do not rest on randomized controlled trials, and international guidelines based on good evidence can therefore not be established. This study aims to provide evidence-based information on treatment schemes commonly applied in patients with EILO., Methods and Analysis: Consenting patients consecutively diagnosed with EILO at Haukeland University Hospital will be randomized into four non-invasive treatment arms, based on promising reports from non-randomized studies: (A) standardized information and breathing advice only (IBA), (B) IBA plus inspiratory muscle training, (C) IBA plus speech therapy, and (D) IBA plus inspiratory muscle training and speech therapy. Differential effects in predefined EILO subtypes will be addressed. Patients failing the non-invasive approach and otherwise qualifying for surgical treatment by current department policy will be considered for randomization into (E) standard or (F) minimally invasive laser supraglottoplasty or (G) no surgery. Power calculations are based on the main outcomes, laryngeal adduction during peak exercise, rated by a validated scoring system before and after the interventions., Ethics and Dissemination: The study will assess approaches to EILO treatments that despite widespread use, are insufficiently tested in structured, verifiable, randomized, controlled studies, and is therefore considered ethically sound. The study will provide knowledge listed as a priority in a recent statement issued by the European Respiratory Society, requested by clinicians and researchers engaged in this area, and relevant to 5-7% of young people. Dissemination will occur in peer-reviewed journals, at relevant media platforms and conferences, and by engaging with patient organizations and the healthcare bureaucracy., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The reviewer CM declared a shared Committee with one the author J-HH at time of review., (Copyright © 2022 Clemm, Røksund, Andersen, Heimdal, Karlsen, Hilland, Fretheim-Kelly, Hufthammer, Sandnes, Hjelle, Vollsæter, Halvorsen and Bergen ILO-group.)

Background: Left vocal cord paralysis (LVCP) is a known complication of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) surgery in extremely preterm (EP) born neonates; however, consequences of LVCP beyond the first year of life are insufficiently described. Both voice problems and breathing difficulties during physical activity could be expected with an impaired laryngeal inlet. More knowledge may improve the follow-up of EP-born subjects who underwent PDA surgery and prevent confusion between LVCP and other diagnoses. Objectives: Examine the prevalence of LVCP in a nationwide cohort of adults born EP with a history of PDA surgery, and compare symptoms, lung function, and exercise capacity between groups with and without LVCP, and vs. controls born EP and at term. Methods: Adults born EP (<28 weeks' gestation or birth weight <1,000 g) in Norway during 1999-2000 who underwent neonatal PDA surgery and controls born EP and at term were invited to complete questionnaires mapping voice-and respiratory symptoms, and to perform spirometry and maximal treadmill exercise testing. In the PDA-surgery group, exercise tests were performed with a laryngoscope positioned to evaluate laryngeal function. Results: Thirty out of 48 (63%) eligible PDA-surgery subjects were examined at mean (standard deviation) age 19.4 (0.8) years, sixteen (53%) had LVCP. LVCP was associated with self-reported voice symptoms and laryngeal obstruction during exercise, not with lung function or peak oxygen consumption (VO 2 peak). In the PDA-surgery group, forced expiratory volume in 1 second z-score (z-FEV 1 ) was reduced compared to EP-born controls ( n = 30) and term-born controls ( n = 36); mean (95% confidence interval) z-FEV 1 was -1.8 (-2.3, -1.2), -0.7 (-1.1, -0.3) and -0.3 (-0.5, -0.0), respectively. For VO 2 peak, corresponding figures were 37.5 (34.9, 40.2), 38.1 (35.1, 41.1), and 43.6 (41.0, 46.5) ml/kg/min, respectively. Conclusions: LVCP was common in EP-born young adults who had undergone neonatal PDA surgery. Within the PDA-surgery group, LVCP was associated with self-reported voice symptoms and laryngeal obstruction during exercise, however we did not find an association with lung function or exercise capacity. Overall, the PDA-surgery group had reduced lung function compared to EP-born and term-born controls, whereas exercise capacity was similarly reduced for both the PDA-surgery and EP-born control groups when compared to term-born controls., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Engan, Engeset, Sandvik, Gamlemshaug, Engesæter, Øymar, Vollsæter, Røksund, Hufthammer, Halvorsen and Clemm.)

Measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in children by iohexol injection and blood sampling from the contralateral arm is widely used. A single intravenous access for iohexol injection and subsequent blood sampling has the obvious advantages of being less painful and easier to perform. The purpose of our study was to determine if blood samples drawn from the injection access are feasible and accurate for iohexol GFR (iGFR) measurements. Thirty-one children, median age 10.5 (range 6-17) years, with chronic kidney disease were given a bolus of iohexol followed by extended saline flushing and subsequent venous blood samples collected from the injection access as well as from a cannula in the contralateral arm, the latter serving as the reference method. Paired venous blood samples were collected at four time points (2, 3, 3.5 and 4 h) after the iohexol bolus. Blood sample discarding preceded and saline flushing followed each blood sampling to avoid marker contamination. iGFR based on samples drawn from the injection access at 2 and 3 h showed significantly lower iGFR than measurement from the contralateral arm (p < 0.01). Singlepoint iGFR did not differ significantly after 3-4 repeated procedures of blood discarding and saline flusing (3.5 and 4 h). Despite thorough saline flushing there is still a relatively high risk of falsely low iGFR due to marker contamination in blood samples from the injection site. Hence, blood sampling from a second intravenous access is recommended for routine iohexol GFR measurements in children.Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier NCT01092260, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01092260?term=tondel&rank=2 ., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: Since patients with chronic inflammatory rheumatic joint diseases may be more prone to infections, we wished to investigate the incidence of COVID-19 in this group, and explore the possible significance of factors related to the rheumatic disease, the patient or the treatment., Material and Method: Altogether 27 907 patients registered in the Norwegian Arthritis Registry (NorArthritis) were linked to the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases and the Norwegian Intensive Care and Pandemic Registry in order to find the incidence of COVID-19 in 2020, and the proportion of patients who were hospitalised. A standardised incidence ratio (SIR) was calculated by comparing with sex and age-specific incidence in the general population. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate whether diagnosis, age, sex, disease activity, comorbidity or drug therapy had any bearing on the incidence., Results: A total of 185 of the patients in NorArthritis tested positive for COVID-19, of whom 10 % were hospitalised. The incidence was lower than in the general population (SIR 0.84; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.72-0.97, P = 0.02). Young age and low disease activity were associated with higher incidence of infection. The other factors had no significant effect., Interpretation: The fact that the incidence of COVID-19 was lower than in the general population, and that within the group it was lower in those with moderate/high disease activity and greater age, is most likely attributable to patients of advanced age with chronic active disease having protected themselves against infection to a greater degree.

Background: Preterm birth and low birthweight have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease in young adults. Endothelial dysfunction is established as an early marker for development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Previous studies of endothelial function in young adults born very preterm or with extremely low birthweight have, however, shown diverging results. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the risk of cardiovascular disease as measured by vascular endothelial function in young adults born very preterm (<29 weeks of gestation) or with extremely low birthweight (<1,000 g), compared with term-born controls. Methods: This study included 50 young adults born very preterm or with extremely low birthweight and 49 term-born controls born in Norway in the periods 1982-1985, 1991-1992, and 1999-2000 at mean age 28 (±6) years. The endothelial function was assessed by ultrasound measured flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the right brachial artery. The arterial diameter was measured at baseline, after release of 5 min of occlusion, and after sublingual administration of nitroglycerine. FMD was reported as absolute and percentage diameter change from baseline and relative to nitroglycerine-induced dilatation. Results: The participants were mainly normal weight non-smokers, without hypertension, diabetes, or established cardiovascular disease. The cases and controls had mean blood pressure 112/71 (SD 12/9) and 112/69 (SD 11/8) mmHg, body mass index 24.0 (SD 4.2) and 24.4 (SD 4.5) kg/m 2 , and HbA1c 32.7 (SD 2.5) and 33.0 (SD 2.6) mmol/mol, respectively. For both groups, 4 (8%) were smokers. Mean FMD for the adults born very preterm or with extremely low birthweight was 0.17 mm (95% CI 0.14, 0.21) vs. 0.24 mm (95% CI 0.20, 0.28) for the controls ( p = 0.01), corresponding to a percentage increase of 5.4% (95% CI 4.2, 6.6) and 7.6% (95% CI 6.2, 8.9), respectively ( p = 0.02). The FMD relative to maximal nitroglycerine-induced dilatation was 20% and 31%, respectively ( p = 0.001). Conclusions: Young adults born very preterm or with extremely low birthweight have significantly lower FMD compared with the term-born controls suggesting an increased risk of cardiovascular disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Engan, Engan, Greve, Vollsæter, Hufthammer and Leirgul.)

Background: Recognized disparities in quality of end-of-life care exist. Our aim was to assess the quality of care for patients dying from cancer, as perceived by bereaved relatives, within hospitals in seven European and South American countries., Materials and Methods: A postbereavement survey was conducted by post, interview, or via tablet in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, U.K., Germany, Norway, and Poland. Next of kin to cancer patients were asked to complete the international version of the Care Of the Dying Evaluation (i-CODE) questionnaire 6-8 weeks postbereavement. Primary outcomes were (a) how frequently the deceased patient was treated with dignity and respect, and (b) how well the family member was supported in the patient's last days of life., Results: Of 1,683 potential participants, 914 i-CODE questionnaires were completed (response rate, 54%). Approximately 94% reported the doctors treated their family member with dignity and respect "always" or "most of the time"; similar responses were given about nursing staff (94%). Additionally, 89% of participants reported they were adequately supported; this was more likely if the patient died on a specialist palliative care unit (odds ratio, 6.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.3-17.8). Although 87% of participants were told their relative was likely to die, only 63% were informed about what to expect during the dying phase., Conclusion: This is the first study assessing quality of care for dying cancer patients from the bereaved relatives' perspective across several countries on two continents. Our findings suggest many elements of good care were practiced but improvement in communication with relatives of imminently dying patients is needed. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03566732)., Implications for Practice: Previous studies have shown that bereaved relatives' views represent a valid way to assess care for dying patients in the last days of their life. The Care Of the Dying Evaluation questionnaire is a suitable tool for quality improvement work to help determine areas where care is perceived well and areas where care is perceived as lacking. Health care professionals need to sustain high quality communication into the last phase of the cancer trajectory. In particular, discussions about what to expect when someone is dying and the provision of hydration in the last days of life represent key areas for improvement., (© 2021 The Authors. The Oncologist published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of AlphaMed Press.)

Background: This pilot trial focused on feasibility and safety to provide preliminary data to evaluate the hemostatic potential of cold-stored platelets (2° to 6°C) compared with standard room temperature-stored platelets (20° to 24°C) in adult patients undergoing complex cardiothoracic surgery. This study aimed to assess feasibility and to provide information for future pivotal trials., Methods: A single center two-stage exploratory pilot study was performed on adult patients undergoing elective or semiurgent complex cardiothoracic surgery. In stage I, a two-armed randomized trial, platelets stored up to 7 days in the cold were compared with those stored at room temperature. In the subsequent single-arm stage II, cold storage time was extended to 8 to 14 days. The primary outcome was clinical effect measured by chest drain output. Secondary outcomes were platelet function measured by multiple electrode impedance aggregometry, total blood usage, immediate and long-term (28 days) adverse events, length of stay in intensive care, and mortality., Results: In stage I, the median chest drain output was 720 ml (quartiles 485 to 1,170, n = 25) in patients transfused with room temperature-stored platelets and 645 ml (quartiles 460 to 800, n = 25) in patients transfused with cold-stored platelets. No significant difference was observed. The difference in medians between the room temperature- and cold-stored up to 7 days arm was 75 ml (95% CI, -220, 425). In stage II, the median chest drain output was 690 ml (500 to 1,880, n = 15). The difference in medians between the room temperature arm and the nonconcurrent cold-stored 8 to 14 days arm was 30 ml (95% CI, -1,040, 355). Platelet aggregation in vitro increased after transfusion in both the room temperature- and cold-stored platelet study arms. Total blood usage, number of adverse events, length of stay in intensive care, and mortality were comparable among patients receiving cold-stored and room temperature-stored platelets., Conclusions: This pilot trial supports the feasibility of platelets stored cold for up to 14 days and provides critical guidance for future pivotal trials in high-risk cardiothoracic bleeding patients., (Copyright © 2020, the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Self-rated health (SRH) is a marker of future health and a possible predictor of future multimorbidity, which is a major challenge for population health and health care. There is a lack of studies on adolescent SRH and patterns of health problems across the transitional period from adolescence to early adulthood. Therefore, this study aimed to identify groups of people with similar health problems in early adulthood and explore the predictive value of adolescent SRH on the group classification after a period of 10-19 years. Data from 8828 adolescents participating in the Young HUNT-1 survey (1995-1997) were linked to the Norwegian registry of general practitioner (GP) claims, which includes diagnoses recorded in GP consultations in 2006-2014. We used latent class analysis (LCA) to identify groups of patients with similar health problems in early adulthood and explored SRH as a predictor of class membership using latent class regression, adjusting for baseline chronic disease, frequency of health care attendance, sex and age. The mean age at baseline was 16 years, and 50% of the participants were female. SRH was reported as very good by 28%, good by 61% and not good by 11%. We identified five groups of patient classification ( classes ): Healthy (35%), Infections and general problems (26%), Musculoskeletal problems (21%), Psychological problems (6%) and Multi-illness (13%). We found a gradual increase in the probability of belonging to the Healthy class with better SRH, and an inverse pattern for the Psychological and Multi-illness classes. This pattern remained after adjusting for baseline variables. In conclusion, there is a clear association between adolescent SRH and the risk of having multi-illness in early adulthood, seen as a proxy for later multimorbidity. This finding warrants greater attention to SRH in adolescence as a possible indicator in targeted prevention of future health problems., Competing Interests: None declared by all the authors., (© 2020 The Authors.)

Background: The electronic health record is expected to improve the quality and efficiency of health care. Many novel functionalities have been introduced in order to improve medical decision making and communication between health care personnel. There is however limited evidence on whether these new functionalities are useful. The aim of our study was to investigate how well the electronic health record system supports physicians in performing basic clinical tasks., Methods: Physicians of three prominent Norwegian hospitals participated in the survey. They were asked, in an online questionnaire, how well the hospital's electronic health record system DIPS supported 49 clinical tasks as well as how satisfied they were with the system in general, including the technical performance. Two hundred and eight of 402 physicians (52%) submitted a completely answered questionnaire., Results: Seventy-two percent of the physicians had their work interrupted or delayed because the electronic health record hangs or crashes at least once a week, while 22% had experienced this problem daily. Fifty-three percent of the physicians indicated that the electronic health record is cumbersome to use and adds to their workload. The majority of physicians were satisfied with managing tests, e.g., requesting laboratory tests, reading test results and managing radiological investigations and electrocardiograms. Physicians were less satisfied with managing referrals. There was high satisfaction with some of the decision support functionalities available for prescribing drugs. This includes drug interaction alerts and drug allergy warnings, which are displayed automatically. However, physicians were less satisfied with other aspects of prescribing drugs, including getting an overview of the ongoing drug therapy., Conclusions: In the survey physicians asked for improvements of certain electronic health record functionalities like medication, clinical workflow support including planning and better overviews. In addition, there is apparently a need to focus on system stability, number of logins, reliability and better instructions on available electronic health record features. Considerable development is needed in current electronic health record systems to improve usefulness and satisfaction.

Objectives: Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is the most frequently performed bariatric surgery procedure worldwide, but reports on long-term quality of life (QOL) outcomes are scarce. We investigated 5-year trajectories in QOL and their associations with weight loss after SG., Design: A prospective cohort study., Setting: The study was conducted in a single Norwegian bariatric surgery centre., Participants: Out of 150 operated patients, 127 were included. Mean age was 41 years, 68% were women and the follow-up rate at 1 year was 85% and 64% at 1 and 5 years, respectively., Outcome Measures: Data were collected preoperatively, and 1 and 5 years after surgery assessing three different levels of QOL. The main exposure was weight loss after SG, assessed as per cent excess body mass index (kg/m 2 ) loss (%EBMIL). The Obesity-Related Problem (OP) scale was used to measure obesity-specific health-related QOL (HRQOL). Physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) composite summary scores of the Short Form 36 Health Survey were used to capture generic HRQOL and Cantril Ladder was used to assess overall QOL., Results: All HRQOL/overall QOL measures significantly improved at 1 year, followed by modest decline from 1 to 5 years after surgery. Greater %EBMIL 5 years after surgery was significantly associated with improvements in OP and PCS scores, but not with MCS and Cantril Ladder scores. Although significant (p<0.001) and clinically relevant improvements in HRQOL/overall QOL outcomes were observed at 5 years, scores were still below the general population norms., Conclusion: Most patients undergoing SG experience substantial weight loss accompanied by statistically significant and clinically relevant long-term improvements in HRQOL/overall QOL. However, an important minority of patients still report low HRQOL/overall QOL 5 years after SG. Further research should aim to identify other factors that contribute to impaired QOL after bariatric surgery, even in the presence of successful weight control., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2019. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Self-rated health (SRH), which is frequently used in epidemiological research, has consistently been shown to be a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality, even after controlling for demographic, social and medical risk factors. However, less is known about the relationship between SRH and all-cause and cause-specific mortality in young adulthood., Objective: To investigate SRH in young people (13-35 years-old) as a predictor of all-cause mortality in young adulthood (deaths before age 54) and examine the associated causes of death., Methods: We used data from two large population-based cohort studies (N = 23,679): Young-HUNT1 (1995-1997, persons 13 to 20 years old, participation rate = 90%) and HUNT2 (1995-1997, persons 20 to 35 years old, participation rate = 70%). These data were linked to the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry up to 2014, and 247 deaths were identified. Other predictors we examined included age, gender, baseline smoking, physical activity and physical and mental disability., Results: Participants reporting 'not so good'/'poor' SRH had approximately twice the risk of death compared to those reporting 'good' or 'very good' SRH at baseline. The association between low SRH and risk of death was attenuated when the models were adjusted for other predictors, but remained statistically significant. The causes of death differed somewhat between SRH levels. Most of the deaths for people reporting 'very good' SRH at baseline were mostly due to neoplasms (34%) and other external causes (30%). The causes of death were more varied for people reporting 'not so good'/'poor' SRH, with suicide (23%), other external causes (21%) and other/unknown causes of death (17%) being the most frequent causes., Conclusion: SRH predicts all-cause mortality in young adulthood, with poor SRH being associated with death in young adulthood. The findings also indicate different causes of death for different SRH. This knowledge is important for identifying groups at risk for later disease, which can potentially be used to prevent morbidity in the adult population.

Objectives: To determine whether an association exists between delirium and length of time indwelling urine catheters (IUC) are used in octogenarian patients treated with surgical aortic valve treatment (SAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)., Design: Prospective cohort study., Setting: Tertiary university hospital covering the western region of Norway., Participants: Octogenarian patients undergoing elective SAVR or TAVI and willing to participate in the study were eligible. Patients unable to speak Norwegian were excluded. Between 2011 and 2013, 143 consecutive patients were included, and data from 136 of them are presented., Primary Outcome: Delirium., Results: Logistic regression analysis shows that lower cognitive function was positively associated with delirium (OR 0.86, CI 0.74 to 0.99, p=0.047). Besides, the interaction term in the model shows that IUC use and delirium differed between SAVR and TAVI patients (p=0.04). The difference corresponded to a weaker association between hours of IUC use and delirium for SAVR (OR 1.01, CI: 0.99 to 1.03, p=0.54) compared with that for TAVI (OR 1.04, CI: 1.01 to 1.08, p=0.004)., Conclusions: The association between IUC use and delirium is stronger for octogenarian patients treated with TAVI than for patients who received SAVR. Our results revealed a previously unknown association between the number of hours an IUC is used and postoperative delirium in octogenarian patients treated with TAVI., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2018. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Purpose: To describe the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR), associated risk factors and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a population-based cohort of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1)., Methods: All patients underwent a general and ophthalmic examination including seven-field stereo fundus photography for grading of DR and diabetic macular oedema (DMO). Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed to evaluate disease progression in relation to diabetes duration, age and year of diabetes onset. HRQoL and its association with DR were assessed by the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire., Results: A total of 237 DM1 patients were included. Mean age at inclusion was 34 years (range, 4-75 years), and mean diabetes duration was 19 years (range, 5 months-63 years). A total of 145 patients (61%) had DR. Sixty-two patients (26%) had mild, 39 (16%) moderate and 13 (5%) severe nonproliferative DR, while 31 (13%) had proliferative DR. The prevalence of DMO was 8%. The most important risk factors predicting severity of DR were diabetes duration (p < 0.0001) and HbA1c level (p < 0.0001). Neuropathy (p = 0.006), nephropathy (p = 0.004) and male gender (p = 0.02) were also significant predictors of DR. Compared to normative SF-36 data, there was a linear trend of decreasing HRQoL with increasing severity of DR that was statistically significant for the four physical dimension scores., Conclusion: The prevalence of DR in DM1 was largely within the range of previous reports. Diabetes duration, HbA1c level, neuropathy, nephropathy and male gender were all significant predictors of DR severity. The patients with more severe DR had lower HRQoL., (© 2018 Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Patients with hip fracture frequently have sarcopenia and are at great risk of loss of mobility. We have investigated if sarcopenia predicts change in mobility after hip fracture., Methods: This is a prospective, multicenter observational study with one-year follow-up. Patients with hip fracture who were community-living and capable of walking before the fracture were included at three hospitals in Norway (2011-2013). The primary outcome of the study was change in mobility, measured by the New Mobility Score (NMS). Sarcopenia was determined postoperatively by anthropometry, grip strength, and NMS., Results: We included 282 participants and sarcopenia status was determined in 201, of whom 38% (77/201) had sarcopenia, 66% (128/194) had low muscle mass, 52% (116/222) had low grip strength and 8% (20/244) had low pre-fracture mobility (NMS < 5). Sarcopenia did not predict change in mobility (effect 0.2 points; 95% CI -0.5 to 0.9, P = 0.6), but it was associated with having lower mobility at one-year (NMS 5.8 (SD 2.3) vs. 6.8 (SD 2.2), P = 0.003), becoming a resident of a nursing home (odds ratio 3.2, 95% CI 0.9 to 12.4, P = 0.048), and the combined endpoint of becoming a resident of a skilled nursing home or death (odds ratio 3.6, 95% CI 1.2 to 12.2, P = 0.02)., Conclusions: Sarcopenia did not predict change in mobility in the year after hip fracture.

Self-rated health (SRH) is a commonly used health indicator predicting morbidity and mortality in a range of populations. However, the relationship between SRH and medication is not well established. The aim of this study was to examine adolescent SRH as a predictor for prescribed medication later in young adulthood. Eighteen years' prospective data from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) and the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD) were analyzed. Baseline data, gathered from 8982 adolescents (mean age 16.0 years) in the Young-HUNT I survey (1995-1997), were linked to individual data from NorPD, including information on all medications prescribed in 2013-2014. Gender-stratified negative binomial regression models were used to investigate the association between SRH and medication, also adjusted for age, baseline self-reported medicine use, physical and mental disability, smoking, and physical activity. Based on the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) Classification System, total consumption and consumption related to various ATC groups were examined. The adjusted analyses showed a dose-response relationship for females, with poorer SRH predicting higher average medication for both total consumption and for the ATC groups "Musculoskeletal system" (M), "Nervous system" (N; Analgesics (N02), Opioids (N02A)) and "Respiratiory system" (R). The predictive power of SRH, as well as the role of the adjustment factors, varies by gender and drug groups. This knowledge is important in order to identify risks for later disease and to capture pathological changes before and beyond the disease diagnosis, potentially preventing morbidity in the adult population.

Background: The effective treatment of airway compromise in trauma and non-trauma patients is important. Hypoxia and hypotension are predictors of negative patient outcomes and increased mortality, and may be important quality indicators of care provided by emergency medical services. Excluding cardiac arrests, critical trauma and non-trauma patients remain the two major groups to which helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) are dispatched. Several studies describe the impact of pre-hospital hypoxia or hypotension on trauma patients, but few studies compare this in trauma and non-trauma patients. The primary aim was to describe the incidence of pre-hospital hypoxia and hypotension in the two groups receiving pre-hospital tracheal intubation (TI) by physician-staffed HEMS., Methods: Data were collected prospectively over a 12-month period, using a uniform Utstein-style airway template. Twenty-one physician-staffed HEMS in Europe and Australia participated. We compared peripheral oxygen saturation and systolic blood pressure before and after definitive airway management. Data were analysed using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel methods and mixed-effects models., Results: Eight hundred forty three trauma patients and 422 non-trauma patients receiving pre-hospital TI were included. Non-trauma patients had significantly lower predicted mean pre-intervention SpO 2 compared to trauma patients. Post-intervention and admission SpO 2 for the two groups were comparable. However, 3% in both groups were still hypoxic at admission. For hypotension, the differences between the groups were less prominent. However, 9% of trauma and 10% of non-trauma patients were still hypotensive at admission. There was no difference in short-term survival between trauma (97%) and non-trauma patients (95%). Decreased level of consciousness was the most frequent indication for TI, and was associated with increased survival to hospital (cOR 2.8; 95% CI: 1.4-5.4)., Conclusions: Our results showed that non-trauma patients had a higher incidence of hypoxia before TI than trauma patients, but few were hypoxic at admission. The difference for hypotension was less prominent, but one in ten patients were still hypotensive at admission. Further investigations are needed to identify reversible causes that may be corrected to improve haemodynamics in the pre-hospital setting. We found high survival rates to hospital in both groups, suggesting that physician-staffed HEMS provide high-quality emergency airway management in trauma and non-trauma patients., Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01502111 . Registered 22 Desember 2011.

Background: Targeted temperature management in cardiac arrest was introduced following evidence of increased survival from two controlled trials published in 2002. We wanted to investigate whether the introduction of targeted temperature management to clinical practice had increased the survival of cardiac arrest patients at Haukeland University Hospital, Norway., Methods: We included 336 unresponsive patients admitted to the emergency department between December 2003 and December 2008 with return of spontaneous circulation following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the analysis. A propensity score model was developed to evaluate the survival of patients receiving intensive care treatment including targeted temperature management, compared with intensive care treatment not including targeted temperature management., Results: Estimation of the treatment effect revealed an increase of 57 days (95% CI: 12-103, p = 0.01) in restricted mean survival during the first year after cardiac arrest for intensive care treatment including targeted temperature management., Discussion: As with all observational studies, bias is probable. However, propensity score methodology has been used in order to reduce bias and establish causality. Although residual confounding is likely, our interpretation is that TTM increased survival for comatose OHCA patients in our hospital because survival increased well beyond the level of significance., Conclusion: The introduction of targeted temperature management to clinical practice is likely to have increased survival for unresponsive patients following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Objectives: To determine whether postoperative delirium predicts first-time readmissions and mortality in octogenarian patients within 180 days after aortic valve therapy with surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) or transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), and to determine the most common diagnoses at readmission., Design: Prospective cohort study of patients undergoing elective SAVR or TAVI., Setting: Tertiary university hospital that performs all SAVRs and TAVIs in Western Norway., Participants: Patients 80+ years scheduled for SAVR or TAVI and willing to participate in the study were eligible. Those unable to speak Norwegian were excluded. Overall, 143 patients were included, and data from 136 are presented., Primary and Secondary Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was a composite variable of time from discharge to first all-cause readmission or death. Secondary outcomes were all-cause first readmission alone and mortality within 180 days after discharge, and the primary diagnosis at discharge from first-time readmission. Delirium was assessed with the confusion assessment method. First-time readmissions, diagnoses and mortality were identified in hospital information registries., Results: Delirium was identified in 56% of patients. The effect of delirium on readmissions and mortality was greatest during the first 2 months after discharge (adjusted HR 2.9 (95% CI 1.5 to 5.7)). Of 30 first-time readmissions occurring within 30 days, 24 (80%) were patients who experienced delirium. 1 patient (non-delirium group) died within 30 days after therapy. Delirious patients comprised 35 (64%) of 55 first-time readmissions occurring within 180 days. Circulatory system diseases and injuries were common causes of first-time readmissions within 180 days in delirious patients. 8 patients died 180 days after the procedure; 6 (75%) of them experienced delirium., Conclusions: Delirium in octogenarians after aortic valve therapy might be a serious risk factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality. Cardiovascular disorders and injuries were associated with first-time readmissions in these patients., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.)

Background. Severe obesity is a risk factor for lower participation in paid work, but whether employment increases and sick leave decreases after obesity surgery is not well documented. Methods. We assessed 224 Norwegian patients with severe obesity (mean age: 40; mean BMI: 49; 61% female) regarding employment status (working versus not working) and the number of days of sick leave during the preceding 12 months, before and five years after obesity surgery (75% follow-up rate). Logistic regression analysis was used to study preoperative predictors of employment status after surgery. Results. There were no change in the employment rate over time (54% versus 58%), but the number of days of sick leave per year was significantly reduced, from a mean of 63 to a mean of 26, and from a median of 36 to a median of 4. Most of this change was attributable to patients with zero days of sick leave, which increased from 25% to 41%. Being female, older, having low education level, receiving disability pension and not being employed before obesity surgery were important risk factors for not being employed after obesity surgery. The type of obesity surgery, BMI and marital status were not useful predictors. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that undergoing obesity surgery is not associated with a higher rate of employment, although it may reduce the number of days of sick leave. Additional interventions are likely needed to influence the employment status of these patients. The significant preoperative predictors of not being employed in this study provide suggestions for further research.

Background: Despite numerous studies on prehospital airway management, results are difficult to compare due to inconsistent or heterogeneous data. The objective of this study was to assess advanced airway management from international physician-staffed helicopter emergency medical services., Methods: We collected airway data from 21 helicopter emergency medical services in Australia, England, Finland, Hungary, Norway and Switzerland over a 12-month period. A uniform Utstein-style airway template was used for collecting data., Results: The participating services attended 14,703 patients on primary missions during the study period, and 2,327 (16 %) required advanced prehospital airway interventions. Of these, tracheal intubation was attempted in 92 % of the cases. The rest were managed with supraglottic airway devices (5 %), bag-valve-mask ventilation (2 %) or continuous positive airway pressure (0.2 %). Intubation failure rates were 14.5 % (first-attempt) and 1.2 % (overall). Cardiac arrest patients showed significantly higher first-attempt intubation failure rates (odds ratio: 2.0; 95 % CI: 1.5-2.6; p < 0.001) compared to non-cardiac arrest patients. Complications were recorded in 13 %, with recognised oesophageal intubation being the most frequent (25 % of all patients with complications). For non-cardiac arrest patients, important risk predictors for first-attempt failure were patient age (a non-linear association) and administration of sedatives (reduced failure risk). The patient's sex, provider's intubation experience, trauma type (patient category), indication for airway intervention and use of neuromuscular blocking agents were not risk factors for first-attempt intubation failure., Conclusions: Advanced airway management in physician-staffed prehospital services was performed frequently, with high intubation success rates and low complication rates overall. However, cardiac arrest patients showed significantly higher first-attempt failure rates compared to non-cardiac arrest patients. All failed intubations were handled successfully with a rescue device or surgical airway., Study Registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT01502111 . Registered 22 December 2011.