Summary: The use of Sámi ethnicity as a variable in studies aiming at quantitative knowledge on health and living conditions at the population level in contemporary Norway is challenged by in-sufficient Sámi-demographic data and blurred Sámi-ethnic boundaries. Based on the premise that the Sámi can be conceptualized as an ethnic group which is also an indigenous people, this thesis explores aspects ...

Background: Dyspnea is a prevalent condition causing reduced quality of life increasingly by age. The main causes are heart failure (HF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with less common conditions being ischemic dyspnea, heart disease, atrial fibrillation, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis. The aim of study was to determine causes of dyspnea in a general population through examination ...

Background: There exist different descriptive system for reporting Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and Subjective Well-being (SWB). Comparisons of results obtained from respondents shows not only diseases or health status that influence the result, but also social circumstance and behavioural factors are important to consider when analysing the results obtained when measuring HRQoL and ...

The need for recruiting and retaining general practitioners (GPs) is expected to increase substantially in the next years, both because of an ageing population and a reform suggesting to shift more resources to primary care. This will not only reinforce the current challenge of recruitment and retention in rural areas, but it may also make it more difficult to recruit and retain GPs in urban areas. ...

Background: Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), a marker of average plasma glucose during the last 8-12 weeks, is associated with future risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. Objectives: To examine the association between hyperglycemia, assessed by HbA1c, and future risk of VTE in a population based cohort. Methods: HbA1c was measured in 16 156 unique subjects (25-87 years) ...

Background: Guidelines for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease provide little guidance on how patients’ preferences should be taken into account. We wanted to explore whether general practitioners (GPs) are sensitive to patient preferences regarding survival gains from statin therapy. Methods: In a cross sectional, online survey 3,270 Norwegian GPs were presented with a 55 year old patient ...

Objectives: To determine the mean body mass index (BMI, kg/m2 ) and prevalence of low weight (BMI<20) and obesity (BMI≥30) in 3 population-based surveys, and to describe the longitudinal changes during 1994– 2008 in mean BMI, and the prevalence of low weight and obesity. Setting: A population study in Tromsø, Norway. Participants: A total of 29 688 different participants in 1 or more of 3 ...

Background: Social inequalities in health persist even in egalitarian countries such as Norway. There is a social gradient found for many cancers, with higher incidence and mortality for lower socioeconomic groups. The social gradient can be positive, with higher incidence for higher socioeconomic groups. Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers worldwide, with varying results ...

Objective: Cardiovascular response to passive leg raising (PLR) is useful in assessing preload reserve, but it has not been studied longitudinally during pregnancy. We aimed to investigate gestational age associated serial changes in maternal functional hemodynamics and establish longitudinal reference ranges for the second half of pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective ...

Background: Multimorbidity receives increasing scientific attention. So does the detrimental health impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACE). Aetiological pathways from ACE to complex disease burdens are under investigation. In this context, the concept of allostatic overload is relevant, denoting the link between chronic detrimental stress, widespread biological perturbations and disease ...