scholarly journals Antibacterial use by birth year and birth season in children 0-2 years in Norway

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanna Beckstrøm ◽  
Kristian Svendsen ◽  
Lars Småbrekke

Introduction: Consumption of antibacterials in children follows seasonal cycles, and time to first treatment depends on birth season. The aim of this study was to describe dispensing rate, one-year periodic prevalence, and age at first prescription in children aged 0-2 years in Norway.Methods: We used data from the Norwegian prescription database and included all dispensed prescriptions on systemic antibacterials in 2008-2017 during the first three years of life to children born 2005-2014. We calculated age by subtracting birth month and birth year from date of collection of prescription. We used multiple linear regression to investigate the effect of birth season on age at first dispensed prescription.Results: We included 714 262 prescriptions to 281 888 individuals (53.1% boys). In 2016, one-year-old boys had the highest periodic prevalence (35.6%) and the highest dispense rate (545/1000 individuals), followed by one-year-old girls (32.6%, 478/1000 individuals). The lowest prevalence and dispense rate in all age groups was found towards the end of the period. Winter months had the highest proportion of dispensed prescriptions, and children born in autumn were significantly younger when collecting their first prescription. On average, boys collected their first prescription 26 days younger compared to girls.Conclusion: One-year-olds have the highest periodic prevalence and the highest dispense rate. This contrast with results from other studies on Norwegian data and is probably attributed to our use of birth month for calculation of age. Children born in autumn were younger when collecting their first prescription compared to other birth seasons. It is unknown whether this has any long-term clinical implications.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guttorm Raknes ◽  
Lars Småbrekke

Abstract In this controlled before-after study based on data from the Norwegian Prescription Database, we examine whether starting off-label use of Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is followed by changes in the consumption of psychotropic medicines including antiepileptics. Patients that collected LDN for the first time in 2013 (N = 11247) were included and stratified into three groups based on LDN exposure. We compared differences in means of cumulative number of defined daily doses (DDD) as well as changes in the number of users one year before and one year after starting LDN. There was a dose-response association between increasing LDN exposure and reductions in the number of users of antiepileptics, antipsychotics and antidepressants. There were significant difference-in-differences in DDDs between the groups with the lowest and highest LDN exposure of antipsychotics (1.4 DDD, 95% CI 0.4 to 2.3, p = 0.007), and in number of users of antiepileptics (3.1% points, 95% CI 1.6% to 4.6%, p < 0.001), antipsychotics (2.1% points, 95% CI 1.2% to 3%, p < 0.001), and antidepressants (2.8% points, 95% CI 1.1% to 4.4%, p = 0.001). The findings show an association between the initiation of persistent LDN use and reduced consumption of several psychotropic medicines and antiepileptics. Beneficial effects of LDN in the treatment of psychiatric diseases cannot be ruled out.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1048-1051 ◽  
Author(s):  
David H. Fukuda

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate relative age effects (RAEs) in elite youth judo athletes from different chronological age groups, between sexes, and across weight categories. Data from 1542 place winners of the cadet (under 17 y, 2009-2013) and junior judo world championships (under 20/21 y, 1990-2013) were separated by birth month into quarters (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4). The observed values were compared with expected annual age distributions using χ2 analyses, and odd ratios (OR) were used to evaluate effect sizes between quarters. The observed frequency of place winners was significantly different from the expected frequency for the age-group and sex comparisons and all body-mass groups (P < .05) with the exception of the extra-light categories (P = .572). When comparing Q1 with Q4 (OR, 95% confidence interval), small effect sizes were observed for cadets (1.72, 1.12-2.66), juniors (1.54, 1.23-1.94), males (1.75, 1.32-2.33), females (1.39, 1.03-1.87), and the light- (1.79, 1.21-2.64) and middle-weight (1.80, 1.20-2.70) categories. RAEs are apparent in cadet and junior judo athletes. Thus, coaches and administrators should consider the potential for physical and/or competitive advantages while adopting strategies that encourage long-term participation in youth judo athletes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haihui Jiang ◽  
Kefu Yu ◽  
Yong Cui ◽  
Xiaohui Ren ◽  
Mingxiao Li ◽  
...  

BackgroundGlioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive intracranial tumor which can be divided into two subtypes based on status of isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH). A small fraction of patients after receiving standard treatment can be long-term survivors (LTS). This study was designed to disclose the predictors and clinical implications associated with LTS in IDH wildtype and mutant GBM.MethodsPatients who survived beyond five years after diagnosis of GBM were defined as LTS, while those with a survival less than one year were defined as short-term survivors (STS). A total of 211 patients with diagnosis of GBM in Beijing Tiantan Hospital from January 2007 to January 2015 were enrolled, including 44 (20.9%) LTS and 167 (79.1%) STS. The clinical, radiological and molecular features between groups were systematically compared.ResultsCompared with STS, LTS were a subgroup of patients with a younger age at diagnosis (P=0.006), a higher KPS score (P=0.011), higher rates of cystic change (P=0.037), O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation (P=0.007), and IDH mutation (P=0.049), and more likely to have undergone gross total resection (P&lt;0.001). Survival analysis demonstrated that LTS with wildtype IDH conferred a longer progression-free survival (66.0 vs. 27.0 months, P=0.04), but a shorter post-progression survival (46.5 months vs. not reached, P=0.0001) than those of LTS with mutant IDH. LTS with mutant IDH showed a trend towards increased survival after receiving re-operation (P=0.155) and reirradiation (P=0.127), while this clinical benefit disappeared in the subset of LTS with wildtype IDH (P&gt;0.05).ConclusionThe prognostic value and therapeutic implications associated with LTS in GBM population significantly differed on the basis of IDH status. Our findings provide a new approach for physicians to better understand the two subtypes of GBM, which may assist in making more tailored treatment decisions for patients.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0243804
Author(s):  
Anne Sverdrup Efjestad ◽  
Hege Ihle-Hansen ◽  
Vidar Hjellvik ◽  
Knut Engedal ◽  
Hege Salvesen Blix

Background/aims The aim was to explore the impact of sex on prevalence, patterns and trends in the prescription of psychotropics and analgesics in users of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs), before and after AChEI initiation, compared to the general population. Methods A prospective study applying data from the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD) in the period 2004–2016. Prescription of antidepressants, antipsychotics, analgesics including opioids, benzodiazepines and z-hypnotics in persistent AChEI users was studied in a follow-up period from four years before to two years after AChEI initiation in men and women of four age groups: 37–64, 65–72, 73–80 and 81–88 years. Results Use of antidepressants, antipsychotics and weaker analgesics increased in both sexes during the follow-up period in 11.764 persistent AChEI users. Women with pre-dementia and dementia stages of AD showed a prescription pattern with more use of psychotropics and opioids than men, except for antipsychotics. Conclusion Female sex showed to have a significant influence on the prescriptions of psychotropics and analgesics in AD patients in a pre-dementia and dementia stage. The exception is for antipsychotics, that men used more than women. The prescription pattern showed a higher extent of polypharmacy of psychotropics and/or opioids in women than in men. The total prescription pattern of analgesics could indicate an undertreatment of pain in pre-dementia and dementia stages, most pronounced in men.


1978 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 392-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry Guitar ◽  
Colin Bass

Previous research has indicated that attitude change generally follows behavior change in operant stuttering therapy programs. This study sought to examine the longterm therapy outcome of stutterers whose communication attitudes were not substantially normalized after fluency establishment and generalization. Posttransfer attitude scores of 20 stutterers were used to classify them into one of two groups: those whose communication attitudes had been modified to show less abnormality than the mean level for normal speakers, and those whose attitudes had not. Follow-up interviews with the 20 stutterers one year later indicated that those whose posttransfer attitudes were not substantially normalized stuttered significantly more. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.


2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingeborg Hartz ◽  
Aage Tverdal ◽  
Svetlana Skurtveit

<p><strong><em>Objectives: </em></strong>The Norwegian Government urges that actions are needed to stimulate the working capacity in disability pensioners (DPs) with such a potential. Information on factors that may impair rehabilitation efforts, including use of potentially addictive drugs, may be useful in this context. Thus, the aim was to study the association between DP on initiation as well as long-term use of benzodiazepines (BZDs), and to describe aspects of problematic use of BZDs in terms of: long-term use pattern, including escalation of dose over time, and use of other potentially addictive drugs.</p><p><strong><em>Methods: </em></strong>We followed a cohort of 8,942 men and 10,578 women aged 40, 45, 60 years (non-users of BZDs at baseline), who participated in health surveys in 2000-01 in three Norwegian counties, with respect to use of BZDs, and other potentially addictive drugs, by linkage to the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD) for 2004-2007. Information on DP status was retrieved from Statistics Norway.</p><p><strong><em>Results: </em></strong>Incident BZD use was highest among female DPs; 18-20% compared to 5-8% of the non-DPs. Multivariable analyses revealed an independent effect of DP on incident (OR 1.6 (95% CI 1.4-2.0)) and long-term use (OR 2.47 (95% CI 1.90-3.20)) of BZDs. Among incident users, 51-60% of the DPs retrieved BZDs throughout the period 2004-07, as compared to 32-33% of the non-DPs. The annual median defined daily doses (DDDs) of BZDs among long-term users increased throughout the period 2004-07, most pronounced in the youngest DPs; from 50 (interquartile range (IQR) 14,140) DDD to 205 (IQR 25,352) DDD.</p><p><strong><em>Conclusions: </em></strong>The chance of being prescribed BZDs as well as becoming a long-term user was higher among DPs. High continuation rates, with a steadily increasing annual amount of use among the long term users may reflect an unfavourable use pattern of potentially addictive drugs among DPs, most worrisome among the youngest.</p>


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. e027888
Author(s):  
Julie Ekman ◽  
Finn Egil Skjeldestad

ObjectivesTo assess whether changes in patterns of combined oral contraceptive (COC) prescriptions to starters between 2008 and 2016 were in line with changes in national recommendations for use.DesignHistorical prospective cohort study.SettingThe national Norwegian Prescription Database.ParticipantsWomen aged 10–49 years who started COCs between 1 January 2008 and 30 June 2016, in total 285 009 women.Primary outcomeThe proportion of levonorgestrel-containing COC prescriptions to starters.InterventionThe Norwegian Medical Agency recommended levonorgestrel-containing COCs to starters from 2010 onwards.ResultsThe proportion of levonorgestrel-containing COCs prescribed to starters increased from 41% in 2008 to 80% in 2016 with the greatest increase from 2011 to 2012. This prescription pattern comprised all age groups but was observed to a lower extent among older women. Public health nurses and midwifes had the highest compliance with recommendations and prescribed levonorgestrel-containing COCs to 96% of starters aged <20 years in 2016, compared with 75% and 86% among general practitioners and doctors with no specialty.ConclusionAll professions have increased the proportion of levonorgestrel-containing COC prescriptions to starters. Public health nurses and midwives had the highest compliance with the new recommendations. Future studies will examine whether this shift in prescription pattern has prevented venous thromboembolism in women of reproductive age in Norway.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariona Lozano ◽  
Elisenda Rentería

Long-term unemployment has severe negative consequences. However, little is known about how long people could expect to be unemployed for more than one year during their lifespan, and which age groups are spending more time out of work while looking for jobs. We apply demographic techniques to enhance our understanding of long-term unemployment, and use the European Labour Force Survey and mortality data to calculate the time that a person could expect to be unemployed for more than a year in 25 European countries between 2000 and 2018. We identify four groups of countries that are characterised by different trends in the duration of long-term unemployment. Results show very different impact of the 2008 Recession on the length of long-term unemployment in Europe, and it was especially large in Southern and Eastern countries, as well as in Ireland. In addition, although younger workers record higher rates of long-term unemployment, older workers could expect to spend a larger proportion of their working lives unemployed. Finally, we show that, in some countries, the measure of long-term unemployment has been underestimated due to a discouraged worker effect.


2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliana C. Bachs ◽  
Jørgen G. Bramness ◽  
Anders Engeland ◽  
Svetlana Skurtveit

Aims: Our objective was to explore the use of codeine analgesics in individual patients in Norway, giving special attention to the 10% who consume the highest amounts. Methods: We retrieved data from the Norwegian Prescription Database on patients who were dispensed at least one codeine analgesic prescription during 2006. We looked at age and gender specific 1-year periodic prevalence. The 10% of codeine users who were prescribed the highest amounts of the drug that year were further characterized. Age and gender distribution and concurrent high consumption of other potential drugs of abuse were also considered. Results: In the year 2006, a total of 386,836 individuals filled at least one prescription for codeine analgesics from Norwegian pharmacies, excluding cancer patients. The crude prevalence for the use of codeine analgesics was 7.3% and 9.3% of the male and female Norwegian population, respectively. Twelve percent of women and 9% of men who filled a codeine prescription received 120 defined daily doses (DDD) or more of codeine analgesics in 2006 (moderate to high consumers). Fifty percent of those patients (21,759) were also dispensed large amounts of benzodiazepines or carisoprodol over the same period. In comparison, only ten percent of patients who received fewer than 120 DDD of codeine analgesics were dispensed large amounts of benzodiazepines or carisoprodol. Conclusions: A high percentage of the Norwegian population used codeine analgesics. One-year prevalence use of codeine increased with age and was higher for women at all ages. Our study showed that codeine use was mainly sporadic, but that a relatively large sub-group of users were dispensed repeated prescriptions of the drug in combination with other potential drugs of abuse. Key Words: Codeine analgesics, Norwegian Prescription Database, prevalence, dispensed quantity, concurrent use, high consumers, abuse.


Antibiotics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Guro Fossum ◽  
Morten Lindbæk ◽  
Svein Gjelstad ◽  
Kari Kværner

Antibiotics are the most frequent prescription drugs used by pregnant women. Our objective was to investigate if the dispensation of antibiotics and antiasthmatics in children less than 1 year of age is associated with prenatal antibiotic exposure. A secondary aim was to explore the incidence of dispensed antibiotics in pregnancy and dispensed antibiotics and antiasthmatics in children. We conducted an observational study using the Peer Academic Detailing study database to select patients eligible for match in the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, a total of 7747 mother-and-child pairs. Details on antibiotic and antiasthmatic pharmacy dispensations were obtained from the Norwegian Prescription Database. One quarter (1948 of 7747) of the mothers in the study had been dispensed antibiotics during pregnancy. In their first year of life, 17% (1289) of the children had had an antibiotic dispensation, 23% (1747) an antiasthmatic dispensation, and 8% (619) of the children had had both. We found a significant association between dispensed antibiotics in pregnancy and dispensed antibiotics to the child during their first year of life; OR = 1.16 (95% CI: 1.002–1.351). The association was stronger when the mothers were dispensed antibiotics at all, independent of the pregnancy period; OR = 1.60 (95% CI: 1.32–1.94). We conclude that the probability for dispensation of antibiotics was increased in children when mothers were dispensed antibiotics, independent of pregnancy. Diagnostic challenges in the very young and parental doctor-seeking behavior may, at least in part, contribute to the association between dispensations in mothers and children below the age of one year.


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