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Objectives: Earlier studies on the association between plasma lipid profiles and functional somatic disorders (FSD) are mainly small case control studies hampered by selection bias and do not consider the great overlap between the various FSDs. The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between various FSDs and plasma lipid profiles (total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol and triglycerides) in a large, unselected population. Design: A cross-sectional general population-based study Setting: The Danish Study of Functional Somatic Disorders (DanFunD) conducted in 2011–2015 in 10 municipalities in the western part of greater Copenhagen, Denmark. Participants: A total of 8,608 men and women aged 18–76 years were included in the analyses. Various delimitations of FSD such as chronic fatigue, chronic widespread pain, irritable bowel, and bodily distress syndrome were measured using validated self-administrated questionnaires. Lipid parameters were measured from fasting plasma samples using colorimetric slide methods with Vitros 4600/5600 Ortho Clinical Diagnostics. Outcome measures: Logistic regression analyses were used to calculate possible associations between plasma lipids and the various delimitations of FSD. Associations are presented by OR (95% CI) and shown in boxplots. Results: We found a positive association between bodily distress syndrome and triglycerides and non-HDL cholesterol and a negative association with HDL-cholesterol, but no consistent association with total cholesterol. A similar pattern was observed for persons with chronic fatigue, and to some degree for persons with chronic widespread pain, whereas persons with irritable bowel did not show a clear association with the lipid profiles. Conclusion: This is the first major study on plasma lipid profiles and FSD indicating an association between some delimitations of FSD and an unfavorable lipid profile. Due to the cross-sectional design, it cannot be determined whether the findings are consequences or determinants of FSD. Further studies–preferable prospective studies—are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiological studies have shown a J- or U-shaped relation between alcohol and type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD). The underlying mechanisms are not clear. The aim was to examine the association between alcohol intake and diabetes and intermediate CHD risk factors in relation to selected ADH and ALDH gene variants. Methodology/Principal Findings: Cross-sectional study including 6,405 Northern European men and women aged 30-60 years from the general population of Copenhagen, Denmark. Data were collected with self-administered questionnaires, a physical examination, a 2 hour oral glucose tolerance test, and various blood tests. J shaped associations were observed between alcohol and diabetes, metabolic syndrome (MS), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and total homocysteine. Positive associations were observed with insulin sensitivity and HDL cholesterol, and a negative association with insulin release. Only a few of the selected ADH and ALDH gene variants was observed to have an effect. The ADH1c (rs1693482) fast metabolizing CC genotype was associated with an increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)/diabetes compared to the CT and TT genotypes. Significant interactions were observed between alcohol and ADH1b (rs1229984) with respect to LDL and between alcohol and ALDH2 (rs886205) with respect to IGT/diabetes. Conclusions/Significance: The selected ADH and ALDH gene variants had only minor effects, and did not seem to markedly modify the health effects of alcohol drinking. The observed statistical significant associations would not be significant, if corrected for multiple testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To examine trends in alcohol drinking in different educational groups. Methods: Data from three cross-sectional WHO MONICA surveys conducted in 1982-84, 1987, and 1991-92 were analysed to estimate trends in abstention, moderate, heavy, and sporadic heavy alcohol use in relation to level of education, age and smoking. In total, 6,695 Danish men and women aged 30, 40, 50, and 60 years were included. Results: Alcohol drinking decreased in both men and women during the study period, but changes were only significant among the highest educated. In the highest educated men the prevalence of moderate alcohol use increased from 77 to 82%, while heavy alcohol use declined from 19 to 12%. In the highest educated women the prevalence of abstention increased from 15 to 22%, while moderate alcohol use declined from 78 to 68%. Conclusion: During the 1980s, alcohol drinking decreased among the highest educated men and women and an educational gradient in alcohol drinking widened in men and attenuated in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1990 and 1998 15–41-year-old people were patch-tested in 2 cross-sectional studies of random samples of the population in the western part of Copenhagen County, Denmark. In 1990, 290 subjects and in 1998, 469 subjects were patch-tested. The participation rates were 69% and 51%, respectively. Contact sensitivity to one or more haptens was found in 15.9% and 18.6% in 1990 and 1998, respectively. Nickel sensitivity is still the most common contact sensitivity. Therisk of contact sensitivity to the cosmetic-related haptens included in the series (formaldehyde was not included) increased significantly from 2.4% in 1990 to 5.8% in 1998 (odds ratio 2.44, 95% confidence interval 1.04-5.73). The prevalence of contact sensitivity to cosmetic-related allergens has been doubled between 199O and 1998. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a cross-sectional study of gallstone disease, ascertained by ultrasonography, the prevalence was assessed in relation to clinically diagnosed gallstones in first degree relatives by selected socioeconomic factors. In both sexes, clinically diagnosed gallstones among first degree relatives occurred significantly more frequently among subjects with than among those without gallstone disease. None of the socioeconomic variables was significantly associated with gallstone disease in females. In males gallstone disease was positively associated with longer school education, living alone, and duration of residence in the municipality of Copenhagen. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Introduction: A high risk strategy is one of more strategies in public health. Smoking remains the most important contributor to the burden of disease in developed countries. Methods: A population-based multi-factorial intervention study, Inter99 (1999–2006), Copenhagen, Denmark, using a high risk strategy. All 2408 daily smokers were repeatedly offered individual face-to-face lifestyle counselling. Smokers in the high-intensity group were offered participation in smoking cessation groups. We measured point abstinence at 1, 3 and 5-year follow-up and compared with a control group, using adjusted intention-to treat analyses. Results: Compared with the control group it was twice as likely to be self-reported abstinent at 5-year follow-up in the high-intensity intervention group (OR: 2.19; 95%CI: 1.7–2.8; p <0.001). The effect of the intervention was significant, even when comparing validated abstinence in the intervention groups with self-reported abstinence in the control group (OR: 1.38; 95%CI: 1.1–1.8; p =0.014). Male gender, vocational training, higher age at onset of smoking, high knowledge of harm of smoking and lower tobacco consumption predicted abstinence. Conclusion: A high risk strategy showed a significant effect on smoking in the long term. Proactive recruitment, face-to-face setting, repeated offer of assistance to quit and a multi-factorial approach may explain the success of the intervention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]