Epilepsy and risk of suicide: a population-based case-control study

BACKGROUND: Studies have linked epilepsy with an increased suicide risk, but the association might be modified by psychiatric, demographic, and socioeconomic factors. METHODS: Suicide cases were identified in the Cause of Death Register in Denmark from 1981 to 1997. Up to 20 controls, matched by sex, birth year, and calendar date, were assigned to each suicide case. FINDINGS: We identified 21 169 cases of suicide and 423 128 controls. 492 (2.32%) individuals who committed suicide had epilepsy compared with 3140 (0.74%) controls, corresponding to a three times higher risk (rate ratio [RR] 3.17 [95% CI 2.88-3.50]; p<0.0001). The RR remained high after excluding those with a history of psychiatric disease and adjusting for socioeconomic factors (1.99, 1.71-2.32; p<0.0001). The highest risk of suicide was identified in patients with epilepsy and comorbid psychiatric disease, even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors (13.7, 11.8-16.0; p<0.0001). In individuals with epilepsy, the highest risk of suicide was found during the first half year after diagnosis was made (5.35, 3.43-8.33; p<0.0001), and was especially high in those with a history of comorbid psychiatric disease (29.2, 16.4-51.9; p<0.0001). INTERPRETATION: Individuals with epilepsy have a higher risk of suicide, even if coexisting psychiatric disease, demographic differences, and socioeconomic factors are taken into account. Our study identifies people with newly diagnosed epilepsy as a vulnerable group that require special attention.     

Increased rate of treatment with antidepressants in patients with epilepsy

The risk of depressive and anxiety disorders is increased among patients with epilepsy, but it is not known whether patients are treated with antidepressants in clinical practice. In a nationwide case register linkage study, all patients who received a main diagnosis of epilepsy or osteoarthritis on first admission or outpatient contact during the period 1995 to 2000 in Denmark were identified, and rates of subsequent purchases of antidepressants were calculated. Comparisons were also made with a gender-, age-, and calendar-matched sample of the general population. Patients diagnosed with epilepsy had a 1.73 (95% CI: 1.45-2.06) times increased rate of subsequently purchasing antidepressants, compared with patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis and a 2.44 times (95% CI: 2.12-2.81) increased rate compared with the rate among the general population. It is concluded that patients with epilepsy have a moderately increased probability of being prescribed antidepressants in clinical practice.     

Randomized trial of screen-film versus full-field digital mammography with soft-copy reading in population-based screening program: follow-up and final results of Oslo II study

PURPOSE: To prospectively compare performance indicators at screen-film mammography (SFM) and full-field digital mammography (FFDM) in a population-based screening program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The regional ethics committee approved the study; informed consent was obtained from patients. Women aged 45-69 years were assigned to undergo SFM (n=16 985) or FFDM (n=6944). Two-view mammograms were interpreted by using independent double reading and a five-point rating scale for probability of cancer. Positive scores were discussed at consensus meetings before decision for recall. The group was followed up for 1.5 years (women aged 45-49 years) and 2.0 years (women aged 50-69 years) to include subsequent cancers with positive scores at baseline interpretation and to estimate interval cancer rate. Recall rates, cancer detection, positive predictive values (PPVs), sensitivity, specificity, tumor characteristics, and discordant interpretations of cancers were compared. RESULTS: Recall rate was 4.2% at FFDM and 2.5% at SFM (P<.001). Cancer detection rate was 0.59% at FFDM and 0.38% at SFM (P=.02). There was no significant difference in PPVs. Median size of screening-detected invasive cancers was 14 mm at FFDM and 13 mm at SFM. Including cancers dismissed at consensus meetings, overall true-positive rate at baseline reading was 0.63% at FFDM and 0.43% at SFM (P=.04). Sensitivity was 77.4% at FFDM and 61.5% at SFM (P=.07); specificity was 96.5% and 97.9%, respectively (P<.005). Interval cancer rate was 17.4 at FFDM and 23.6 at SFM. The proportion of cancers with discordant double readings was comparable at FFDM and SFM. CONCLUSION: FFDM resulted in a significantly higher cancer detection rate than did SFM. The PPVs were comparable for the two imaging modalities.     

Eccentric treatment for patellar tendinopathy: a prospective randomised short-term pilot study of two rehabilitation protocols

Objective

To compare the efficacy and safety of two eccentric rehabilitation protocols for patients with symptomatic patellar tendinopathy. A new eccentric overload training device was compared with the present standard eccentric rehabilitation programme on a decline board.

Design

Prospective, randomised clinical trial.

Setting

Sports rehabilitation clinic, university sports laboratory, supplemented with home exercises.

Patients

20 competitive and recreational athletes, all with clinical diagnosis of patellar tendinopathy, verified by MRI or ultrasound imaging.

Interventions

A 12‐week rehabilitation period, either with bilateral eccentric overload strength training using the Bromsman device twice a week or with unilateral eccentric body load training using a decline board twice a week, supplemented with daily home exercises.

Outcome measures

The primary outcome was pain and function, assessed by the Swedish Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment for Patella (VISA‐P) score. Secondary outcome measures were isokinetic muscle torque, dynamic function and muscle flexibility, as well as pain level estimations using visual analogue scale (VAS). Side effects were registered.

Results

Both treatment groups improved in the short term according to the VISA‐P scores during the 12‐week rehabilitation period. However, there were no significant differences between the groups in terms of pain and function. After a 3‐month rehabilitation period, most patients could be regarded as improved enough to be able to return to training and sports. No serious side effects were detected in either group.

Conclusion

In patients with patellar tendinopathy pain, two‐legged eccentric overload training twice per week, using the new device (Bromsman), was as efficient and safe as the present standard daily eccentric one‐legged rehabilitation‐training regimen using a decline board.Proximal patellar tendon pain (patellar tendinopathy) occurs typically in sports characterised by high demands on force and power of the leg extensor muscles, such as basketball, volleyball, tennis and soccer. Controlled eccentric strengthening of the muscle–tendon complexes involved seems to be important for successful rehabilitation.^1,2,3,4,5 Eccentric squat training on a decline board has been shown to have a superior therapeutic effect in reduction of pain compared with squatting on a flat surface.⁶ One‐legged squatting, using the decline board, resulted in encouraging results with, for example, earlier return to a functional level of sport.^7,8 By contrast, Visnes et al⁹ showed no significant improvements of eccentric training on patellar tendinopathy among volleyball players when instituted during the playing season.Previous research suggests that the efficacy of eccentric squatting rehabilitation may be correlated with the load applied to the quadriceps muscle. The aim of the present prospective randomised short‐term study was to evaluate and compare clinical outcomes in terms of knee pain and function after eccentric training, using either a novel eccentric overload training device (Bromsman, Lidingö, Sweden)¹⁰ or the current standard programme of one‐leg squatting exercises.¹¹     

Children in Sweden admitted to intensive care after trauma

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to describe the demographics, injuries, mechanisms and severity of injury, prehospital and hospital care during the first 24h, and patient outcome, in the most severely injured children cared for following trauma at a paediatric intensive care unit in Sweden. METHODS: The medical records of 131 traumatised children (0-16 years of age), admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit in Gothenburg from January 1990 to October 2000, were retrospectively examined. Nine internationally recognised scoring systems were used to calculate severity of injury, in order to predict the chances of patient survival. RESULTS: Paediatric trauma was more common in boys (68%). The mean age at injury was 7.9 years (S.D. 4.7 years). Traffic-related accidents (40%) and falls (34%) were the leading causes of injury. Injuries to the head were the most frequent, forming 24% of all injuries. Severity of injury was recorded as an Injury Severity Score median of 14, Trauma Score Injury Severity Score median of 99% and Paediatric Risk of Mortality Score median of 0.69%. The mortality rate was 3%. CONCLUSION: Trauma with admission to a paediatric intensive care unit is rare in a Swedish paediatric population. When cared for at a centre with the necessary facilities and trained personnel, these children have a good chance of survival.