Læknablaðið : fylgirit - 05.01.2015, Page 32

X V I I V Í S I N D A R Á Ð S T E F N A H Í
F Y L G I R I T 8 2
32 LÆKNAblaðið/Fylgirit 82 2015/101
E 76 Rise in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy during the first
year after a national economic collapse
Védís H. Eiríksdóttir1, Unnur A. Valdimarsdóttir1,2, Tinna L. Ásgeirsdóttir3, Sigrún
H. Lund1, Arna Hauksdóttir1, Helga Zoëga1
1Centre of Public Health Sciences, University of Iceland, 2Department of Epidemiology,
Harvard School of Public Health, 3Department of Economics, University of Iceland
vedis.helga@gmail.com
Introduction: Previous research indicates that stress may play a role
in the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP),
including gestational hypertension (GH) and preeclampsia (PE). The
2008 Icelandic economic collapse represented a powerful stressor that
caused increased level of stress among Icelandic women. The aim of
the study was to assess whether the prevalence of HDP was elevated in
the years following the economic collapse as compared with the years
before the crisis.
Methods and data: Women giving birth to live-born singletons in
Iceland from 2005-2012 constitute the study population. Women‘s
information of the use of antihypertensive drugs during pregnancy,
including β-blockers and calcium channel blockers, was obtained from
the Icelandic Medicines Registry. We used logistic regression analysis to
estimate adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and corresponding 95% confidence
intervals (CI) of HDP and redemption of antihypertensives by exposure
to calendar time of the economic collapse, adjusting for aggregate
economic indicators.
Results: Compared with preceding years, we observed an increased
odds of GH in the first year following the economic collapse (aOR=1.47,
95% CI [1.13-1.91]). Similarly, there was an increase in redemption
of β-blockers in the first year following the collapse (aOR=1.43, 95%
CI [1.07-1.90]). The observed associations attenuated when adjusting
for aggregate unemployment rate (aOR=1.04, 95% CI [0.74-1.47]). No
changes were observed for PE or calcium channel blockers.
Conclusions: The results suggest an increase in GH and in redemption
of β-blockers in the first year following the collapse. This increase may
be explained by an increase in the national unemployment rate.
E 77 Cognitive function in MS and its relation with physical ability,
fatigue and depression
Sólveig Jónsdóttir¹,², Hilmar P. Sigurðsson¹, Haukur Hjaltason¹,², Sóley
Þráinsdóttir¹,²
¹Department of Neurology, Landspítali University Hospital, ²Faculty of Medicine, University
of Iceland
soljonsd@landspitali.is
Introduction: Cognitive impairment is believed to affect approximately
half of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of this study
was to evaluate cognitive function and its association with physical abi-
lity, gender, fatigue and depression in Icelandic patients with relapsing
remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
Methods and data: A total of 64 RRMS patients about to undergo treat-
ment with natalizumab (Tysabri) and 24 sex- and age-matched healthy
controls (HCs) participated in the study. Physical ability of patients
was evaluated using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). All
participants underwent an extensive neuropsychological evaluation.
Fatigue and depression in patients was also assessed.
Results: The RRMS patients scored significantly lower than HCs on
most cognitive domains. Greatest deficits were observed on psycho-
motor speed. Verbal and visuospatial learning and memory, verbal
and visuospatial fluency and linguistic skills were also impaired.
Visuospatial reasoning ability was spared. The EDSS score (mean 3.5)
was significantly related to cognitive measures that did not require any
physical ability. When controlling for hand dexterity, approximately
53% of the patients were considered cognitively impaired. Males were
more impaired than females. Severe fatigue was experienced by 81.3% of
the patients and 45.3% suffered from depression. Fatigue and depress-
ion had no effect on cognitive function.
Conclusions: Impaired cognitive function can have serious effects on
the quality of life and employability of RRMS patients and needs to be
detected early in the disease process as it may affect treatment decisions.
More studies are needed on methods to improve cognitive function and
prevent further decline in patients with RRMS.
E 78 Parental longevity and survival in patients with multiple
myeloma and MGUS
Ingigerður Sólveig Sverrisdóttir1, Sigrún Helga Lund2, Sigurður Yngvi
Kristinsson3,4
1Landspítali University Hospital, 2Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine,
University of Iceland, 3Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, 4Department of Hematology,
Landspítali University Hospital
ingigerdursverrisdottir@gmail.com
Introduction: In the general population, parental longevity is associated
with an increased life expectancy. There are limited data focusing on
host characteristics and their effect on survival among multiple mye-
loma (MM) patients and its precursor, MGUS. Our aim was to study
the impact of parental longevity on survival among MM and MGUS
patients.
Methods and data: A total of 1,815 patients with MM, 1,407 MGUS
patients as well as 8,267 population-based controls for MM patients and
5,595 controls for MGUS were included in the study. We compared the
risk of death among MM and MGUS patients with a history of parental
longevity to those patients without a long-lived parent.
Results: Among MM patients, a history of parental longevity was not
associated with a decreased risk of death (HR=0.92; 95% CI 0.81-1.05).
Having one long-lived parent or both did not have an effect (HR=0.91;
95% CI 0.80-1.04 and HR=1.02; 95% CI 0.72-1.47, respectively). A history
of parental longevity among MGUS patients was associated with a
significant decrease in risk of death (HR=0.69; 95% CI 0.53-0.91). The
risk of death decreased when one parent was long-lived (HR=0.69; 95%
CI 0.52-0.91). However, based on few numbers, when both parents were
long-lived the risk of death was not significantly affected (HR=0.72; 95%
CI 0.34-1.53).
Conclusions: Parental longevity does not predict survival in MM
patients. For MGUS patients, however, the impact of longevity is similar
to controls, with superior survival among those with long-lived parents.
E 79 Prediagnostic serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D and total mortality
of men diagnosed with prostate cancer
Jóhanna Eyrún Torfadóttir1,2, Laufey Steingrímsdóttir2, Thor Aspelund1,4, Laufey
Tryggvadóttir5, Þórhallur I. Halldórsson2, Vilmundur Guðnason 4,6 Unnur A.
Valdimarsdóttir1,3
1Centre of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, 2Unit for
Nutrition Research, Faculty for Food Science and Nutrition, University of Iceland, 3Department
of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 4The Icelandic Heart Association, 5The
Icelandic Cancer Registry, 6Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland
jet@hi.is
Introduction: Limited data are available on the effect of vitamin D