Espen Bjertness

• Rødseth, Siri Christine; Høvik, Hedda; Bjertness, Espen & Skudutyte-Rysstad, Rasa (2024). Exploring socioeconomic inequality in caries experience in an adult Norwegian population; the HUNT4 Oral Health Study. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology. ISSN 0301-5661. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12960.
• Zayar, Nyi Nyi; Chotipanvithayakul, Rassamee; Bjertness, Espen; Htet, Aung Soe; Geater, Alan Frederick & Chongsuvivatwong, Virasakdi (2023). Vulnerability of NCDs and Mediating Effect of Risk Behaviors Among Tuberculosis Patients and Their Household Contacts Compared to the General Population in the Yangon Region, Myanmar. International Journal of General Medicine. ISSN 1178-7074. doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S439141.
• Øien-Ødegaard, Carine; Hauge, Lars Johan; Stene-Larsen, Kim; Christiansen, Solveig Tobie Glestad; Bjertness, Espen & Reneflot, Anne (2023). Widening the knowledge of non-employment as a risk factor for suicide: a Norwegian register-based population study. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 23(1), p. 1–10. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16084-x. Full text in Research Archive
• Mishra, Anu; Zhou, Bin; Rodriguez-Martinez, Andrea; Bixby, Honor; Singleton, Rosie K. & Carrillo-Larco, Rodrigo M. [Show all 1,626 contributors for this article] (2023). Diminishing benefits of urban living for children and adolescents’ growth and development. Nature. ISSN 0028-0836. 615, p. 874–883. doi: 10.1038/s41586-023-05772-8. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Optimal growth and development in childhood and adolescence is crucial for lifelong health and well-being1,2,3,4,5,6. Here we used data from 2,325 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight from 71 million participants, to report the height and body-mass index (BMI) of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years on the basis of rural and urban place of residence in 200 countries and territories from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, children and adolescents residing in cities were taller than their rural counterparts in all but a few high-income countries. By 2020, the urban height advantage became smaller in most countries, and in many high-income western countries it reversed into a small urban-based disadvantage. The exception was for boys in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in some countries in Oceania, south Asia and the region of central Asia, Middle East and north Africa. In these countries, successive cohorts of boys from rural places either did not gain height or possibly became shorter, and hence fell further behind their urban peers. The difference between the age-standardized mean BMI of children in urban and rural areas was <1.1 kg m–2 in the vast majority of countries. Within this small range, BMI increased slightly more in cities than in rural areas, except in south Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and some countries in central and eastern Europe. Our results show that in much of the world, the growth and developmental advantages of living in cities have diminished in the twenty-first century, whereas in much of sub-Saharan Africa they have amplified.

• Rødseth, Siri Christine; Høvik, Hedda; Schuller, Annemarie A.; Bjertness, Espen & Skudutyte-Rysstad, Rasa (2022). Dental caries in a Norwegian adult population, the HUNT4 oral health study; prevalence, distribution and 45-year trends. Acta Odontologica Scandinavica. ISSN 0001-6357. doi: 10.1080/00016357.2022.2117735.
• Zhou, Bin; Carrillo-Larco, Rodrigo M.; Danaei, Goodarz; Riley, Leanne M.; Paciorek, Christopher J. & Stevens, Gretchen A. [Show all 100 contributors for this article] (2021). Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019: a pooled analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million participants. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 398(10304), p. 957–980. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01330-1. Full text in Research Archive
• Iurilli, Maria Laura Caminia; Zhou, Bin; Bennett, James E.; Carrillo-Larco, Rodrigo M.; Sophiea, Marisa K. & Rodriguez-Martinez, Andrea [Show all 77 contributors for this article] (2021). Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight. eLIFE. ISSN 2050-084X. 10. doi: 10.7554/eLife.60060. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in different regions using data from 2896 population-based studies with 187 million participants. Changes in the prevalence of underweight and total obesity, and to a lesser extent severe obesity, are largely driven by shifts in the distribution of BMI, with smaller contributions from changes in the shape of the distribution. In East and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the underweight tail of the BMI distribution was left behind as the distribution shifted. There is a need for policies that address all forms of malnutrition by making healthy foods accessible and affordable, while restricting unhealthy foods through fiscal and regulatory restrictions.

• Aye, Win Thuzar; Lien, Lars; Stigum, Hein & Bjertness, Espen (2021). Childhood abuse and its association with adults’ mental health problems: A cross-sectional study among men and women in the Yangon Region of Myanmar. BMJ Open. ISSN 2044-6055. 11(11). doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045870. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objectives To estimate the prevalence of emotional, physical and sexual childhood abuse, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to examine the association between childhood abuse and adult mental health problems, including mental distress and PTSD symptoms. Design A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted. Childhood abuse was assessed with the NorVold Abuse Questionnaire, and mental distress and symptoms of PTSD were measured using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist 10 and the Impact of Event Scale—Revised, respectively. The Wald test and multiple linear regression analysis were applied for testing differences between proportions and the association between childhood abuse and adult mental health outcomes, respectively. Setting Urban and rural areas of the Yangon Region, Myanmar. Participants A total of 2377 men and women aged 18–49 years were included. Institutionalised people, monks, nuns and individuals deemed too ill physically and/or mentally to participate were excluded. Results Overall, 21.1% (95% CI 18.8 to 23.6) reported any form of childhood abuse, 10.4% (95% CI 8.9 to 12.4) physical abuse, 10.4% (95% CI 8.8 to 12.2) emotional abuse and 7.3% (95% CI 5.7 to 9.3) sexual abuse. Childhood abuse was more common in women (29.8%) than in men (12.4%). The prevalence of PTSD symptoms in the total sample was 6.6%. After adjusting for confounding variables, positive associations were found between childhood abuse with adult mental distress and PTSD symptoms among women and older men. Conclusions Childhood abuse is prevalent among both men and women in the Yangon Region of Myanmar and associated with adult mental health problems. Approximately 7% of people report PTSD symptoms. It should prompt local health professionals and policy makers to establish prevention programmes to eliminate violence against children and to organise services for victims of childhood abuse. Care should be taken in generalising findings for less populated areas.

• Thapa, Rupa; Dahl, Cecilie; Aung, Wai Phyo & Bjertness, Espen (2021). Urban-rural differences in overweight and obesity among 25-64 years old Myanmar residents: A cross-sectional, nationwide survey. BMJ Open. ISSN 2044-6055. 11(3), p. 1–11. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042561.
• Wai, Myint Myint; Bjertness, Espen; Htay, Thein Thein; Liabsuetrakul, Tippawan; Myint, Aye Nyein Moe & Stigum, Hein [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2020). Dynamics of contraceptive use among married women in North and South Yangon, Myanmar: findings from a cross-sectional household survey. Contraception: X. 2. doi: 10.1016/j.conx.2019.100015.
• Larsen, Lise Wessel; Aye, Win Thuzar & Bjertness, Espen (2020). Prevalence of intimate partner violence and association with wealth in Myanmar. Journal of Family Violence. ISSN 0885-7482. p. 1–12. doi: 10.1007/s10896-020-00190-0.
• Taddei, Cristina; Zhou, Bin; Bixby, Honor; Carrillo-Larco, Rodrigo M.; Danaei, Goodarz & Jackson, Rod T. [Show all 55 contributors for this article] (2020). Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol . Nature. ISSN 0028-0836. 582, p. 73–77. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2338-1. Full text in Research Archive
• Rodriguez-Martinez, Andrea; Zhou, Bin; Sophiea, Marisa K.; Bentham, James; Paciorek, Christopher J. & Turilli, Maria L.C. [Show all 54 contributors for this article] (2020). Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 396(10261), p. 1511–1524. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31859-6. Full text in Research Archive
• Aye, Win Thuzar; Lien, Lars; Stigum, Hein; Win, Hla Hla; Oo, Tin & Bjertness, Espen (2020). The prevalence of mental distress and the association with education: a cross-sectional study of 18-49-year-old citizens of Yangon Region, Myanmar. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 20(1). doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-8209-8. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Poor mental health is an important contributor to the global burden of disease. Mental health problems are often neglected in communities, and are scarcely studied in developing countries, including Myanmar. This study estimates the prevalence of mental distress by socio-demographic and health related factors, and the association between education and mental distress. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first population-based study in Myanmar estimating the prevalence of mental distress. Methods: Between October and November 2016, a cross sectional study was conducted using a multi-stage sampling design with face-to-face interviews using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (HSCL-10) for mental distress (symptoms of depression and anxiety). The multivariable analysis strategy was based on Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs), to identify confounders, mediators and colliders. Pearson's chi-square was used for testing differences between proportions and multiple linear regression analysis was applied to explore the association between education (years at school) and mental distress (HSCL score). Results: A random sample of 2391 (99.6% response) men and women aged 18-49 years participated in the study. The prevalence of mental distress was 18.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 14.7-21.9), being higher among women (21.2%; 95% (CI): 16.6-26.6) than men (14.9%; 95% (CI): 11.4-19.2). Older-age, being separated or divorced and having a higher number of children were associated with increased mental distress. In linear regression analyses, adjusted for confounders (age, marital status and income), there was a significant negative association between years at school and mental distress among women and older men (> 30 years), but not among the youngest men. Conclusions: The prevalence of mental distress is high, and there is an association between HSCL-10 score and education. Due to the scarcity of mental health services in Myanmar, the findings indicate a need for a mental health policy to handle the burden of mental health problems in Yangon, a burden which is probably high within the country.

• Mjørud, Marit; Selbæk, Geir; Bjertness, Espen; Edwin, Trine Holt; Engedal, Knut & Knapskog, Anne Brita [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2020). Time from dementia diagnosis to nursing-home admission and death among persons with dementia: A multistate survival analysis. PLOS ONE. ISSN 1932-6203. 15(12). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243513. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objectives: To estimate transition times from dementia diagnosis to nursing-home (NH) admission or death and to examine whether sex, education, marital status, level of cognitive impairment and dementia aetiology are associated with transition times. Design: Markov multistate survival analysis and flexible parametric models. Setting: Participants were recruited from the Norwegian Registry of Persons Assessed for Cognitive Symptoms (NorCog) in specialist healthcare between 2008 and 2017 and followed until August 2019, a maximum of 10.6 years follow-up time (mean 4.4 years, SD 2.2). Participants’ address histories, emigration and vital status were retrieved from the National Population Registry from time of diagnosis and linked to NorCog clinical data. Participants 2,938 home-dwelling persons with dementia, ages 40–97 years at time of diagnosis (mean 76.1, SD 8.5). Results: During follow-up, 992 persons (34%) were admitted to nursing-homes (NHs) and 1,556 (53%) died. Approximately four years after diagnosis, the probability of living in a NH peaked at 19%; thereafter, the probability decreased due to mortality. Median elapsed time from dementia diagnosis to NH admission among those admitted to NHs was 2.28 years (IQR 2.32). The probability of NH admission was greater for women than men due to women´s lower mortality rate. Persons living alone, particularly men, had a higher probability of NH admission than cohabitants. Age, dementia aetiology and severity of cognitive impairment at time of diagnosis did not influence the probability of NH admission. Those with fewer than 10 years of education had a lower probability of NH admission than those with 10 years or more, and this was independent of the excess mortality in the less-educated group. Conclusion: Four years after diagnosis, half of the participants still lived at home, while NH residency peaked at 19%. Those with fewer than 10 years of education were less often admitted to NH.

• Aye, Win Thuzar; Lien, Lars; Stigum, Hein; Schei, Berit; Sundby, Johanne & Bjertness, Espen (2020). Domestic violence victimisation and its association with mental distress: A cross-sectional study of the Yangon Region, Myanmar. BMJ Open. ISSN 2044-6055. 10:e037936(9), p. 1–13. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037936. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objectives To estimate the prevalence of domestic violence, with subgroups of physical, sexual and emotional violence, among men and women and to assess the association between any lifetime domestic violence (DV) and mental distress among ever-married men and women. Design We conducted a cross-sectional study from October to November 2016 using a multistage sampling design. DV questionnaire was adopted from the Demographic and Health Survey programme. Mental distress was estimated using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-10 (HSCL-10). HSCL-score and DV were the outcome and exposure variables, respectively, in multiple linear regression. Prevalence estimates and associations were presented with a 95% CI and the Wald test. Setting Urban and rural areas of the Yangon region, Myanmar. Participants Men and women ages 18 to 49 years were included. Institutionalised people, monks, nuns and individuals deemed too ill physically and/or mentally to participate were excluded. Results A random sample of 2383 people was included in the analyses. Among ever-married participants, lifetime (LT) and past-12-month (12M) prevalence of any domestic violence victimisation was higher in women compared with men: LT women: 61.8% (95% CI: 54.3 to 68.9) versus LT men: 42.4% (95% CI: 37.5 to 47.5) and 12M women: 51.2% (95% CI: 44.9 to 57.5) versus 12M men: 37.7% (95% CI: 32.9 to 42.7). Among never-married participants, lifetime physical and sexual violence victimisation rates was higher in men (34.3% and 7.9%) compared with women (19.1% and 6.4%). Mental distress was significantly associated with lifetime DV in women who were afraid of their husbands and men who had wives who exhibited controlling behaviours. Conclusions Domestic violence is prevalent among both men and women and is associated with mental distress. The findings highlight an urgent need to prevent domestic violence in both sexes, including through legal and policy reform and improved mental health services for DV victims.

• Lee, Crystal Man Ying; Woodward, Mark; Batty, G. David; Beiser, Alexa S.; Bell, Steven & Berr, Claudine [Show all 46 contributors for this article] (2020). Association of anthropometry and weight change with risk of dementia and its major subtypes: A meta‐analysis consisting 2.8 million adults with 57 294 cases of dementia. Obesity Reviews. ISSN 1467-7881. 21:e12989(4), p. 1–14. doi: 10.1111/obr.12989. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Uncertainty exists regarding the relation of body size and weight change with dementia risk. As populations continue to age and the global obesity epidemic shows no sign of waning, reliable quantification of such associations is important. We examined the relationship of body mass index, waist circumference, and annual percent weight change with risk of dementia and its subtypes by pooling data from 19 prospective cohort studies and four clinical trials using meta‐analysis. Compared with body mass index–defined lower‐normal weight (18.5‐22.4 kg/m2), the risk of all‐cause dementia was higher among underweight individuals but lower among those with upper‐normal (22.5‐24.9 kg/m2) levels. Obesity was associated with higher risk in vascular dementia. Similarly, relative to the lowest fifth of waist circumference, those in the highest fifth had nonsignificant higher vascular dementia risk. Weight loss was associated with higher all‐cause dementia risk relative to weight maintenance. Weight gain was weakly associated with higher vascular dementia risk. The relationship between body size, weight change, and dementia is complex and exhibits non‐linear associations depending on dementia subtype under scrutiny. Weight loss was associated with an elevated risk most likely due to reverse causality and/or pathophysiological changes in the brain, although the latter remains speculative.

• Bixby, Honor; Bentham, James; Zhou, Bin; Di Cesare, Mariachiara; Paciorek, Christopher J. & Bennett, James E. [Show all 51 contributors for this article] (2019). Rising rural body-mass index is the main driver of the global obesity epidemic in adults. Nature. ISSN 0028-0836. 569, p. 260–264. doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1171-x. Full text in Research Archive
• Aung, Wai Phyo; Bjertness, Espen; Htet, Aung Soe; Stigum, Hein & Kjøllesdal, Marte Karoline Råberg (2019). Trends in diabetes prevalence, awareness, treatment and control in Yangon region, Myanmar, between 2004 and 2014, two cross-sectional studies. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH). ISSN 1661-7827. 16(18). doi: 10.3390/ijerph16183461. Full text in Research Archive
• Wai, Myint Myint; Bjertness, Espen; Stigum, Hein; Htay, Thein Thein; Liabsuetrakul, Tippawan & Moe Myint, Aye Nyein [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2019). Unmet Need for Family Planning among Urban and Rural Married Women in Yangon Region, Myanmar-a Cross-Sectional Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH). ISSN 1661-7827. 16(19). doi: 10.3390/ijerph16193742. Full text in Research Archive
• Ahmed , Hassan Soheir; Marjerrison, Niki; Kjøllesdal, Marte Karoline Råberg; Stigum, Hein; Htet, Aung Soe & Bjertness, Espen [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2019). Comparison of Cardiovascular Risk Factors among Somalis Living in Norway and Somaliland. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH). ISSN 1661-7827. 16(13), p. 1–12. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16132353. Full text in Research Archive
• Ahmed, Soheir H.; Meyer, Haakon E; Kjøllesdal, Marte Karoline Råberg; Marjerrison, Niki; Mdala, Ibrahimu & Htet, Aung Soe [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2019). The prevalence of selected risk factors for non-communicable diseases in Hargeisa, Somaliland: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 19(1). doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-7101-x. Full text in Research Archive
• Strand, Bjørn Heine; Knapskog, Anne Brita; Persson, Karin Ester Torun; Edwin, Trine Holt; Bjertness, Espen & Engedal, Knut [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2019). The Loss in Expectation of Life due to Early-Onset Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early-Onset Dementia in Norway. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders. ISSN 1420-8008. 47, p. 355–365. doi: 10.1159/000501269.
• Myint, Aye Nyein Moe; Liabsuetrakul, Tippawan; Htay, Thein Thein; Wai, Myint Myint; Sundby, Johanne & Bjertness, Espen (2018). Impoverishment and catastrophic expenditures due to out-of-pocket payments for antenatal and delivery care in Yangon Region, Myanmar: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. ISSN 2044-6055. 8. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022380. Full text in Research Archive
• Labasangzhu, X; Bjertness, Espen; McNeil, EB*; Deji, Deji; Guo, Y & Songwathana, P [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2018). Progress and challenges in improving maternal health in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Risk Mangement and Healthcare Policy. ISSN 1179-1594. doi: 10.2147/RMHP.S170445. Full text in Research Archive
• Lozano, R; Fullman, N; Abate, D; Winkler, Andrea Sylvia; Bjertness, Espen & Zuhlke, LJJ [Show all 51 contributors for this article] (2018). Measuring progress from 1990 to 2017 and projecting attainment to 2030 of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals for 195 countries and territories: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. . The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32281-5. Full text in Research Archive
• Aung, Wai Phyo; Bjertness, Espen; Htet, Aung Soe; Stigum, Hein; Chongsuvivatwong, Virasakdi & Soe, Pa Pa [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2018). Fatty Acid Profiles of Various Vegetable Oils and the Association between the Use of Palm Oil vs. Peanut Oil and Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Diseases in Yangon Region, Myanmar. Nutrients. ISSN 2072-6643. 10(9), p. 1–14. doi: 10.3390/nu10091193. Full text in Research Archive
• Aung, Wai Phyo; Htet, Aung Soe; Bjertness, Espen; Stigum, Hein; Chongsuvivatwong, Virasakdi & Kjøllesdal, Marte Karoline Råberg (2018). Urban-rural differences in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among 25-74 year-old adults of the Yangon Region, Myanmar: Two cross-sectional studies. BMJ Open. ISSN 2044-6055. 8:e020406(3), p. 1–9. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020406. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objectives To investigate the association between urban–rural location and the occurrence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the Yangon Region, and to estimate the proportion of urban and rural participants already diagnosed with DM, and of those, the proportion under treatment and under control. Design Two cross-sectional studies, using the WHO STEPs methodology. Setting The Yangon Region of Myanmar, urban and rural areas. Participants Men and women, aged 25–74 years, included during the study period from September–November 2013 (urban) and 2014 (rural areas) (n=1372). Institutionalised people, physically and mentally ill person, monks and nuns were excluded. Results The age-standardised prevalence of DM was 12.1% in urban and 7.1% in rural areas (p=0.039). In urban areas, the prevalence of DM was lowest in the highest educational groups (p<0.001). There were no differences in DM prevalence between gender or income levels. In rural areas, those who were physically inactive had a low intake of fruit and vegetable and were overweight/obese had a higher DM prevalence than others. In a logistic regression, the OR for DM in rural compared with urban areas was 0.38 (0.22, 0.65), adjusted for sociodemographic variables and behavioural risk factors. In urban areas, 43.1% of participants had the experience of receiving blood glucose measurements by a doctor or health worker, and 61.5% of all cases of DM were already diagnosed, 78.7% were under treatment and 45.8% were under control. The corresponding proportions in rural areas were 26.4%, 52.4%, 78.1% and 32.0%, respectively. Conclusion The prevalence of DM in the Yangon Region was high, and significantly higher in urban than in rural areas. More health services are needed to serve this population with a large proportion of undiagnosed diabetes. Preventive measures to halt and reduce the prevalence of DM are urgently needed. This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial.

• Zhou, Bin; Bentham, James; Di Cesare, Mariachiara; Bixby, Honor; Danaei, Goodarz & Hajifathalian, Kaveh [Show all 847 contributors for this article] (2018). Contributions of mean and shape of blood pressure distribution to worldwide trends and variations in raised blood pressure: A pooled analysis of 1018 population-based measurement studies with 88.6 million participants. International Journal of Epidemiology. ISSN 0300-5771. 47(3), p. 872–883i. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyy016. Full text in Research Archive
• Strand, Bjørn Heine; Knapskog, Anne Brita; Persson, Karin Ester Torun; Edwin, Trine Holt; Amland, Rachel & Mjørud, Marit [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2018). Survival and years of life lost in various aetiologies of dementia, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in Norway. PLOS ONE. ISSN 1932-6203. 13(9). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204436. Full text in Research Archive
• Eriksen, Astrid; Hansen, Ketil Lenert; Schei, Berit; Sørlie, Tore; Stigum, Hein & Bjertness, Espen [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2018). Childhood violence and mental health among indigenous Sami and non-Sami populations in Norway: a SAMINOR 2 questionnaire study. International Journal of Circumpolar Health. ISSN 1239-9736. 77(1). doi: 10.1080/22423982.2018.1508320. Full text in Research Archive
• Khalifa, Dina Mohammed Sami; Glavin, Kari; Bjertness, Espen & Lien, Lars (2018). Course of depression symptoms between 3 and 8 months after delivery using two screening tools (EPDS and HSCL-10) on a sample of Sudanese women in Khartoum state. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. ISSN 1471-2393. 18(324). doi: 10.1186/s12884-018-1948-1. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Effects of depression on parenting and on cognitive development of newborns are augmented when symptoms continue throughout the first postnatal year. Current classification systems recognize maternal depression as postnatal if symptoms commence within four to six weeks. Traditional cultural rituals in Sudan offer new mothers adequate family support in the first 6–8 weeks postpartum. The course of postnatal depression symptoms beyond that period is not explored in such settings. We therefore aim to investigate the change in screening status and in severity of depression and distress symptoms between three and eight months postpartum among a sample of Sudanese women using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a locally used tool: the 10-items Hopkins Symptoms Checklist (HSCL-10). Methods Three hundred pregnant women in their 2nd or 3rd trimester were recruited from two clinics in Khartoum state. They were followed up and screened for depression symptoms eight months after delivery by EPDS at ≥12, and by HSCL-10 at ≥1.85. The same sample was previously screened for depression at three months after birth. Results Prevalence of postnatal depression symptoms by EPDS was lower at eight months compared to three months after birth (3.6% at eight months (8/223) compared to 9.2% at three months (22/238), p <  0.001). Eight Mothers exhibited depression symptoms eight months after birth. Depressed mothers at three months had a 56% reduction in EPDS mean scores by eight months and 96.4% of participants either remained in the same EPDS category, or improved eight months after birth. Four participants with major depression symptoms at eight months were also depressed three months after birth and four participants had new onset depression symptoms. The HSCL-10 measured higher distress than EPDS across the two screening points (19.3% at three months, 9.1% at eight months postpartum, p <  0.001). Nonetheless, the two tests correlated positively at both points. Conclusions Repeated screenings by EPDS (depression surveillance) is recommended during the first postnatal year because a subset of mothers can have symptoms beyond the early postnatal period. Existing depression screening instruments can be assessed for their validity to detect PND.

• Myint, Aye Nyein Moe; Liabsuetrakul, Tippawan; Htay, Thein Thein; Wai, Myint Myint; Sundby, Johanne & Bjertness, Espen (2018). Inequity in the utilization of antenatal and delivery care in Yangon region, Myanmar: A cross-sectional study. International Journal for Equity in Health. ISSN 1475-9276. 17(63). doi: 10.1186/s12939-018-0778-0. Full text in Research Archive
• Zotcheva, Ekaterina; Selbæk, Geir; Bjertness, Espen; Ernstsen, Linda & Strand, Bjørn Heine (2018). Leisure-Time Physical Activity Is Associated With Reduced Risk of Dementia-Related Mortality in Adults With and Without Psychological Distress: The Cohort of Norway. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. ISSN 1663-4365. 10. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00151. Full text in Research Archive
• Htet, Aung Soe; Kjøllesdal, Marte Karoline Råberg; Aung, Wai Phyo; Moe Myint, Aye Nyein; Aye, Win Thuzar & Wai, Myint Myint [Show all 33 contributors for this article] (2017). Lipid profiles and determinants of total cholesterol and hypercholesterolaemia among 25-74 year-old urban and rural citizens of the Yangon Region, Myanmar: A cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. ISSN 2044-6055. 7(11). doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017465.
• Htet, Aung Soe; Bjertness, Marius Bergsmark; Oo, Win Myint; Kjøllesdal, Marte Karoline Råberg; Sherpa, Lhamo Yangchen & Zaw, Ko Ko [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2017). Changes in prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension from 2004 to 2014 among 25-74-year-old citizens in the Yangon Region, Myanmar. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 17(1). doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4870-y. Full text in Research Archive
• Bentham, James; Di Cesare, Mariachiara; Bilano, Ver; Bixby, Honor; Zhou, Bin & Stevens, Gretchen A. [Show all 110 contributors for this article] (2017). Worldwide trends in body-mass index, underweight, overweight, and obesity from 1975 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 2416 population-based measurement studies in 128·9 million children, adolescents, and adults. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 390(10113), p. 2627–2642. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32129-3. Full text in Research Archive
• Gonggalanzi, ?; Labasangzhu, X; Bjertness, Espen; Wu, Tianyi; Stigum, Hein & Nafstad, Per (2017). Acute mountain sickness, arterial oxygen saturation and heart rate among Tibetan students who reascend to Lhasa after 7 years at low altitude: A prospective cohort study. BMJ Open. ISSN 2044-6055. 7. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016460. Full text in Research Archive
• Albarqouni, Loai; Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen M.E.; Elessi, Khamis; Obeidallah, Mohammad; Bjertness, Espen & Chalmers, Iain (2017). The quality of reports of medical and public health research from Palestinian institutions: A systematic review. BMJ Open. ISSN 2044-6055. 7:e016455(6), p. 1–9. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016455.
• Hassan, Sahar; Vikanes, Åse Vigdis; Laine, Katariina; Zimmo, Kaled; Zimmo, Mohammed & Bjertness, Espen [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2017). Building a research registry for studying birth complications and outcomes in six Palestinian governmental hospitals. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. ISSN 1471-2393. 17(1). doi: 10.1186/s12884-017-1296-6.
• Afshin, Ashkan; Forouzanfar, Mohammad H.; Reitsma, Marissa B.; Sur, Patrick; Estep, Kara & Lee, Alex [Show all 152 contributors for this article] (2017). Health effects of overweight and obesity in 195 countries over 25 years. New England Journal of Medicine. ISSN 0028-4793. 377(1), p. 13–27. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1614362. Full text in Research Archive
• Ulvestad, Maria; Bjertness, Espen; Dalgard, Florence & Halvorsen, Jon Anders (2017). Acne and dairy products in adolescence: Results from a Norwegian longitudinal study. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. ISSN 0926-9959. 31(3), p. 530–535. doi: 10.1111/jdv.13835. Show summary

  Abstract BACKGROUND: Acne is a very common skin condition, and it is of great interest to elucidate lifestyle factors that may contribute to its occurrence. In the last decade, the acne-diet connection has been brought back to credibility. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether high intakes of dairy products in early adolescence is associated with moderate to severe acne in later adolescence. METHODS: The study is a longitudinal, questionnaire-based population study of Norwegian adolescents. Students attending the 10th grade (15-16 years old) of compulsory schooling in Oslo in 2000-2001 and the 13th grade (18-19 years old) 3 years later, in 2004, were invited. Dairy product consumption was self-reported at age 15-16 and acne severity was self-assessed and reported at age 18-19. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of moderate to severe acne was 13.9%. High intakes (≥2 glasses per day) of full-fat dairy products were associated with moderate to severe acne. In boys with exclusively high intakes of full-fat dairy products, the odds ratio for acne was 4.81 (1.59-14.56). A high total intake of dairy products was associated with acne in girls (OR 1.80, 1.02-3.16). No significant associations were found between acne and intake of semi-skimmed or skimmed dairy products, and not with moderate intakes of any fat variety of dairy products. CONCLUSION: This study shows association between high intakes of dairy products and acne in adolescence. Our findings support a hypothesis suggesting that dairy consumption may be a factor contributing to acne. The study is based on multiple hypothesis testing, and the methodological limitations must be considered when interpreting the results.

• Zhou, Bin; Bentham, James; Di Cesare, Mariachiara; Bixby, Honor; Danaei, Goodarz & Cowan, Melanie J. [Show all 114 contributors for this article] (2017). Worldwide trends in blood pressure from 1975 to 2015: a pooled analysis of 1479 population-based measurement studies with 19·1 million participants. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 389(10064), p. 37–55. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31919-5. Full text in Research Archive
• Wang, Haidong; Bhutta, Zulfiqar A; Coates, Matthew M; Coggeshall, Megan; Dandona, Lalit & Diallo, Khassoum [Show all 551 contributors for this article] (2016). Global, regional, national, and selected subnational levels of stillbirths, neonatal, infant, and under-5 mortality, 1980–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 388(10053), p. 1725–1774. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31575-6.
• Kassebaum, N.J.; Barber, R.M.; Dandona, L.; Hay, S.I.; Larson, H.J. & Lim, S.S. [Show all 538 contributors for this article] (2016). Global, regional, and national levels of maternal mortality, 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 388(10053), p. 1775–1812. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31470-2.
• Bentham, James; Di Cesare, Mariachiara; Stevens, Gretchen A.; Zhou, Bin; Bixby, Honor & Cowan, Melanie [Show all 794 contributors for this article] (2016). A century of trends in adult human height. eLIFE. ISSN 2050-084X. 5. doi: 10.7554/elife.13410.
• Gonggalanzi, X; Labasangzhu, X; Nafstad, Per; Stigum, Hein; Wu, Tianyi & Haldorsen, Øyvind Drejer [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2016). Acute mountain sickness among tourists visiting the high-altitude city of Lhasa at 3658 m above sea level: A cross-sectional study. Archives of Public Health. ISSN 0778-7367. 74. doi: 10.1186/S13690-016-0134-Z.
• Kassebaum, Nicholas J.; Arora, Megha; Barber, Ryan M.; Bjertness, Espen; Hailu, Alemayehu & Knudsen, Ann Kristin [Show all 15 contributors for this article] (2016). Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 315 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE), 1990-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 388(10053), p. 1603–1658. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31460-X. Full text in Research Archive
• Wang, Haidong; Naghavi, Mohsen; Allen, Christine; Vollset, Stein Emil; Knudsen, Ann Kristin & Hailu, Alemayehu [Show all 13 contributors for this article] (2016). Global, regional, and national life expectancy, all-cause mortality, and cause-specific mortality for 249 causes of death, 1980-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 388(10053), p. 1459–1544. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31012-1. Full text in Research Archive
• Forouzanfar, Mohammad H.; Afshin, Ashkan; Alexander, Lily T.; Aasvang, Gunn Marit; Bjertness, Espen & Htet, Aung Soe [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2016). Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks, 1990-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 388(10053), p. 1659–1724. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31679-8. Full text in Research Archive
• Vos, Theo; Allen, Christine; Arora, Megha; Barber, Ryan M.; Bhutta, Zulfiqar A. & Brown, Alexandria [Show all 432 contributors for this article] (2016). Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 310 diseases and injuries, 1990-2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 388(10053), p. 1545–1602. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31678-6. Full text in Research Archive
• Htet, Aung Soe; Bjertness, Marius Bergsmark; Sherpa, Lhamo Yangchen; Kjøllesdal, Marte Karoline Råberg; Oo, Win Myint & Meyer, Haakon E [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2016). Urban-rural differences in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases risk factors among 25-74 years old citizens in Yangon Region, Myanmar: a cross sectional study. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 16(1). doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3882-3.
• Anderson, Ian; Robson, Bridget; Connolly, Michele; Al-Yaman, Fadwa; Bjertness, Espen & King, Alexandra [Show all 65 contributors for this article] (2016). Indigenous and tribal peoples' health (The Lancet–Lowitja Institute Global Collaboration): a population study. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 388(10040), p. 131–157. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00345-7.
• Jaradat, Yousef ; Nielsen, Morten Birkeland; Kristensen, Petter; Nijem, Khaldoun; Bjertness, Espen & Stigum, Hein [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2016). Workplace aggression, psychological distress, and job satisfaction among Palestinian nurses. A cross-sectional study. Applied Nursing Research. ISSN 0897-1897. 32, p. 190–198. doi: 10.1016/j.apnr.2016.07.014. Show summary

  Background: Nurses can be exposed to aggressive behavior from patients, patient's relatives, colleagues and visitors. Purpose: To determine the prevalence of workplace aggression among Palestinian nurses in the Hebron district and to examine cross-sectional associations between exposure to workplace aggression and the occurrence of psychological distress and job satisfaction. Methods: Of 372 nurses eligible for the study, 343 were included (response rate of 92.2%). The sample comprised 62% females and 38% males. The participants responded to questions about their socio-demographic status, workplace aggression (WHO questionnaires), psychological distress (General Health Questionnaire, GHQ-30), and job satisfaction (Generic Job Satisfaction Scale). Results: Ninety-three (27.1%) of the respondents reported exposure to workplace aggression of any kind. Seventeen (5%) reported exposure to physical aggression, 83 (24.2%) reported exposure to verbal aggression, and 25 (7.3%) reported exposure to bullying. The patients and the patients' relatives were the main sources of physical and verbal aggression, whereas colleagues were the main source of bullying. Males reported a higher prevalence of bullying than females. Younger nurses reported a higher prevalence of exposure to physical aggression, verbal aggression and bullying. Verbal aggression was associated with more psychological distress. Bullying was associated with lower job satisfaction. Conclusions: More than a quarter of the nurses reported that they had been subject to some sort of aggression at the workplace. Verbal aggression was associated with higher psychological distress. Workplace bullying was associated with lower job satisfaction. Increased awareness and preventive measures to address this problem among health care workers are warranted.

• Bjertness, Marius Bergsmark; Htet, Aung Soe; Meyer, Haakon E; Htike, Maung Maung Than; Zaw, Ko Ko & Oo, Win Myint [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2016). Prevalence and determinants of hypertension in Myanmar - a nationwide cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. ISSN 1471-2458. 16. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3275-7. Full text in Research Archive
• Strand, Bjørn Heine; Wills, Andrew K; Langballe, Ellen Melbye; Rosness, Tor Atle; Engedal, Knut & Bjertness, Espen (2016). Weight Change in Midlife and Risk of Mortality From Dementia up to 35 Years Later. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. ISSN 1079-5006. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glw157.
• Kjøllesdal, Marte Karoline Råberg; Htet, Aung Soe; Stigum, Hein; Hla, Ne Yi; Hlaing, Hlaing Hlaing & Khaine, Ei Kay [Show all 26 contributors for this article] (2016). Consumption of fruits and vegetables and associations with risk factors for non-communicable diseases in the Yangon region of Myanmar: A cross-sectional study . BMJ Open. ISSN 2044-6055. 6(8). doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011649.. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  OBJECTIVES: To explore the intake of fruits and vegetables in the Yangon region, Myanmar, and to describe associations between intake of fruits and vegetables (FV) and established risk factors for non-communicable diseases. DESIGN: 2 cross-sectional studies, using the STEPs methodology. SETTING: Urban and rural areas of the Yangon region of Myanmar. PARTICIPANTS: 1486, men and women, 25-74 years, were recruited through a multistage cluster sampling method. Institutionalised people, military personnel, Buddhist monks and nuns were not invited. Physically and mentally ill people were excluded. RESULTS: Mean intake of fruit was 0.8 (SE 0.1) and 0.6 (0.0) servings/day and of vegetables 2.2 (0.1) and 1.2 (0.1) servings/day, in urban and rural areas, respectively. Adjusted for included confounders (age, sex, location, income, education, smoking and low physical activity), men and women eating ≥2 servings of fruits and vegetables/day had lower odds than others of hypertriglyceridaemia (OR 0.72 (95% CI 0.56 to 0.94)). On average, women eating at least 2 servings of fruits and vegetables per day had cholesterol levels 0.28 mmol/L lower than the levels of other women. When only adjusted for sex and age, men eating at least 2 servings of fruits and vegetables per day had cholesterol levels 0.27 mmol/L higher than other men. CONCLUSIONS: A high intake of FV was associated with lower odds of hypertriglyceridaemia among men and women. It was also associated with cholesterol levels, negatively among women and positively among men.

• Zhou, Bin; Lu, Yuan; Hajifathalian, Kaveh; Bentham, James; Di Cesare, Mariachiara & Danaei, Goodarz [Show all 502 contributors for this article] (2016). Worldwide trends in diabetes since 1980: A pooled analysis of 751 population-based studies with 4.4 million participants. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 387(10027), p. 1513–1530. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00618-8. Full text in Research Archive
• Di Cesare, Mariachiara; Bentham, James; Stevens, Gretchen A; Zhou, Bin; Danaei, Goodarz & Lu, Yuan [Show all 740 contributors for this article] (2016). Trends in adult body-mass index in 200 countries from 1975 to 2014: A pooled analysis of 1698 population-based measurement studies with 19.2 million participants. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 387(10026), p. 1377–1396. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)30054-X. Full text in Research Archive
• Jaradat, Yousef; Nijem, Khaldoun; Lien, Lars; Stigum, Hein; Bjertness, Espen & Bast-Pettersen, Rita (2016). Psychosomatic symptoms and stressful working conditions among Palestinian nurses: a cross-sectional study. Contemporary Nurse: health care across the lifespan. ISSN 1037-6178. 52(4), p. 381–397. doi: 10.1080/10376178.2016.1188018. Show summary

  Background: High levels of perceived stressful working conditions have been found to have an adverse effect on physical and mental health. Objectives: To examine the associations between self-reported stressful working conditions and Psychosomatic Symptoms (PSS), and to investigate possible gender differences. Methods: The present cross-sectional study comprises 430 nurses employed in Hebron district, Palestine. Self-reported stressful working conditions were recorded, and a Psychosomatic Symptoms Check list was used to assess prevalence of PSS. Findings: Median score on the psychosomatic symptom checklist for the group was 11, (range 1–21). Women reported more symptoms than men, with medians 11.6 and 10.0, respectively (p = .0001). PSS were associated with more self-reported stressful working conditions for both men (p < .0001) and women (p < .0001). The association was strongest among men. Conclusions: PSS were associated with high self-reported stressful working conditions, and this association was strongest among the men

• Khalifa, Dina Mohammed Sami; Glavin, Kari; Bjertness, Espen & Lien, Lars (2016). Determinants of postnatal depression in Sudanese women at 3 months postpartum: A cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. ISSN 2044-6055. 6(3). doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009443. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objectives: Maternal mental health is a neglected issue in Sudanese healthcare. The aim of this study was to explore the factors associated with postnatal depression (PND) at 3 months postpartum in a sample of Sudanese women in Khartoum state. Setting: Recruitment was from two major public antenatal care (ANC) clinics in two maternity teaching hospitals in Khartoum state. The study participants were recruited during their pregnancy and were followed up and screened for PND at 3 months postpartum using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Participants: A sample of 300 pregnant Sudanese women in their second or third trimester was included in the study. The inclusion criteria were Sudanese nationality, pregnancy in the second or third trimester and satisfactory contact information. Outcome measures: PND was assessed using the EPDS at a cut-off score of ≥12. Maternal and sociodemographic factors of interest were illustrated in a directed acyclic graph (DAG) to identify which variables to adjust for in multivariate analyses and to show their type of effect on PND. A forward logistic regression model was built to assess the factors that are independently associated with PND. Results: History of violence increased the odds of PND sevenfold, OR=7.4 (95% CI 1.9 to 27.6). Older age of mothers decreased the odds of PND by almost 20%, OR=0.82 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.92). Exclusive breast feeding and regular prenatal vitamins during pregnancy are associated with an 80% decrease in odds of PND, OR=0.2 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.70) and 0.17 (95% CI 0.06 to 0.5), respectively. Conclusions: Factors associated with PND in this study are comparable to factors from other developing countries, although findings should be judged with caution owing to the high number of women who refused recruitment into the study.

• Rosness, Tor Atle; Engedal, Knut; Bjertness, Espen & Strand, Bjørn Heine (2016). Association between Random Measured Glucose Levels in Middle and Old Age and Risk of Dementia-Related Death. Journal of The American Geriatrics Society. ISSN 0002-8614. 64(1), p. 156–161. doi: 10.1111/jgs.13870.
• Rosness, Tor Atle; Strand, Bjørn Heine; Bergem, Astrid Liv Mina; Nafstad, Per; Langballe, Ellen Melbye & Engedal, Knut [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2016). Association of psychological distress late in life and dementia-related mortality. Aging & Mental Health. ISSN 1360-7863. 20(6), p. 603–610. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2015.1031639.
• Ormstad, Heidi Kristin; Rosness, Tor Atle; Bergem, Astrid Liv Mina; Bjertness, Espen & Strand, Bjørn Heine (2016). Alcohol consumption in the elderly and risk of dementia related death - a Norwegian prospective study with a 17-year follow up. International Journal of Neuroscience. ISSN 0020-7454. 126(2), p. 135–144. doi: 10.3109/00207454.2014.997876.
• Strand, Bjørn Heine; Skirbekk, Vegard; Rosness, Tor Atle; Engedal, Knut & Bjertness, Espen (2015). Income in midlife and dementia related mortality over three decades: A Norwegian prospective study. eNeurologicalSci. ISSN 2405-6502. 1(2), p. 24–29. doi: 10.1016/j.ensci.2015.09.002.
• Yangzong, Yangzong; Berntsen, Sveinung; Andersen, Lars Bo; Stigum, Hein; Nafstad, Per & Bjertness, Espen [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2015). Anthropometric measures of 9-to 10-year-old native tibetan children living at 3700 and 4300m above sea level and han Chinese living at 3700m. Medicine. ISSN 0025-7974. 94(42). doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000001516. Full text in Research Archive
• Du, Qing; Lian, Wu; Næss, Øyvind; Bjertness, Espen; Kumar, Bernadette. N & Shi, Shu-hua (2015). The trends in maternal mortality between 1996 and 2009 in Guizhou, China: Ethnic differences and associated factors. Journal of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Medical Sciences. ISSN 1672-0733. 35(1), p. 140–146. doi: 10.1007/s11596-015-1403-8.
• Nemer, Maysaa Y K Sadeya; Kristensen, Petter; Nijem, Khaldoun; Bjertness, Espen; Skare, Øivind & Skogstad, Marit (2015). Lung function and respiratory symptoms among female hairdressers in Palestine: a 5-year prospective study. BMJ Open. ISSN 2044-6055. 5(10). doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-007857. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objectives: Hairdressers are exposed to chemicals at the workplace which are known to cause respiratory symptoms and asthma. This study aimed to examine changes in self-reported respiratory symptoms over 5 years, as well as to examine the lung function decline and determine whether it is within the expected range, to assess the dropout rate and reasons for leaving the profession, and to examine the associations between occupational factors and lung function changes at follow-up. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Female hairdressing salons in Hebron city, Palestine. Participants: 170 female hairdressers who participated in a baseline survey in 2008 were followed up in 2013. A total of 161 participants participated in 2013. Outcome: measures Change in reported respiratory symptoms and change in lung function over follow-up. Dropout from the profession and reasons for it. Differences between current and former hairdressers in respiratory symptoms and lung function at follow-up. Ambient air ammonia levels in 13 salons. Results: Current hairdressers reported more respiratory symptoms in 2013 compared with baseline. Former hairdressers reported fewer symptoms at follow-up. At follow-up, current hairdressers showed a significant decrease in forced vital capacity of 35 mL/year (95% CI 26 to 44 mL/year) and of 31 mL/year (95% CI 25 to 36 mL/year) for forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1). 28 (16%) of the hairdressers quit the job during the 5-year follow-up, 8 (28%) because of health problems. Hairdressers who had been working for 4 years or more at baseline showed a stronger decline in FEV1 compared with those who worked less than 4 years (difference 13, 95% CI 1 to 25). Conclusions: Current hairdressers developed more respiratory symptoms and larger lung function decline than former hairdressers during follow-up. Few hairdressers left their profession because of respiratory health problems. Working for more years is associated with lung function decline among current hairdressers.

• Khalifa, Dina Mohammed Sami; Glavin, Kari; Bjertness, Espen & Lien, Lars (2015). Postnatal depression among Sudanese women: Prevalence and validation of the Edinburgh Postnatal depression scale at 3 months postpartum. International Journal of Women's Health. ISSN 1179-1411. 7, p. 677–684. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S81401. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Purpose: Postnatal depression (PND) rates in low-resource countries have reached levels between 4.9% and 59%. Maternal mental health has not been researched in Sudan, and there are no existing statistics on prevalence or significant risk factors for PND. Consequently, no screening test has been validated to screen for PND at the primary health care level. This study investigates the 3 months prevalence of PND and validates the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) against the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Methodology: Pregnant Sudanese women in the second and third trimesters were recruited to the study during routine antenatal care visits in two major maternity hospitals in Khartoum state. They were screened for PND at 3 months postpartum using the EPDS. Test positive women were matched with test negative women according to nearest date of birth. A clinical psychologist verified their depression status using the MINI. Results: The follow-up rate was 79%. At a cutoff point of $12, the 3 months prevalence of PND was 9.2%. The sensitivity and specificity of the EPDS were 89% and 82%, respectively. The EPDS and MINI showed a strong positive relationship (odds ratio =36). The positive predictive value and negative predictive value, using this study’s prevalence, were 33% and 98.7%, respectively. The receiver operator characteristic analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.89. The cut-off point $12 was the most acceptable point as it had the lowest number needed to diagnose (1.4) and a false-positive rate of 18%. Conclusion: The EPDS is a valid tool for screening for PND on a Sudanese population. It was accepted, easily administered, and understood by postnatal women. Health care personnel, especially village midwives, should be trained on screening and referral of depressed women for clinical evaluation and management. Due to limited resources available in Sudan, shorter screening tests need to be validated in the future

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• Øien-Ødegaard, Carine; Hauge, Lars Johan; Stene-Larsen, Kim; Christiansen, Solveig Tobie Glestad; Bjertness, Espen & Reneflot, Anne (2023). Patterns of healthcare utilization prior to suicide according to educational attainment: a nationwide register-based population study. Population Medicine. 5. doi: 10.18332/popmed/163689.
• Bjertness, Espen; Bjertness, Marius Slåtto; Bjertness, Cecilie Bergsmark; Kromberg, Marika; Elessi, Khamis & Lien, Lars (2023). Save the remaining people of Gaza—save the children. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 402(10417), p. 2072–2073. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02556-4.
• Green Krogshus, Kristian; Bjertness, Espen; Czajkowski, Nikolai Olavi; Bang Nes, Ragnhild & Rodriguez-Cano, Ruben (2023). 5 Ways to Promote Wellbeing @School.
• Reneflot, Anne; Hauge, Lars Johan; Bjertness, Espen; Christiansen, Solveig Tobie Glestad & Stene-Larsen, Kim (2023). Waitlist for mental health services prior to suicide: a Norwegian register-based study.
• Reneflot, Anne; Hauge, Lars Johan; Stene-Larsen, Kim; Christiansen, Solveig Tobie Glestad & Bjertness, Espen (2023). Waitlist for mental health services prior to suicide: a Norwegian register-based study.
• Abudayya, Abdallah; Abu Ghali, Khaled; Hargreaves, Sally; Blanchet, Karl; Bjertness, Espen & Bhopal, Anand Singh [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2023). An urgent call to save and protect lives of vulnerable populations in the Gaza Strip. The Lancet Regional Health - Europe. ISSN 2666-7762. 35. doi: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100767.
• Rødseth, Siri Christine; Høvik, Hedda; Bjertness, Espen & Skudutyte-Rysstad, Rasa (2023). Socio-economic gradients in caries experience in Norwegian adults, HUNT4 Oral Health Study.
• Bernhoft, Aksel; das Neves, Carlos G.; Skjerve, Eystein; Mamelund, Svenn-Erik; Hungnes, Olav & Grødeland, Gunnveig [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2022). Pandemiers start og spredning - Hvilken innflytelse har vi mennesker? In Havelin, Gro (Eds.), Årbok 2021. Det Norske Videnskaps-Akademi.. Novus Forlag. ISSN 978-82-7099-939-2. p. 295–313.
• Jaradat, Yousef; Bast-Pettersen, Rita & Bjertness, Espen (2022). Shift work and job satisfaction among Palestinian nurses. A cross-sectional study. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 399. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01151-5.
• Bernhoft, Aksel; Alexander, Jan; Birgisdottir, Bryndis Eva; Bjertness, Espen; Grødeland, Gunnveig & Hungnes, Olav [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2022). Pandemiers start og spredning - hvilken innflytelse har vi mennesker? Harvest Magazine.
• Rødseth, Siri Christine; Høvik, Hedda; Schuller, Annemarie A.; Bjertness, Espen & Skudutyte-Rysstad, Rasa (2021). Dental caries prevalence and trends among adults in Central Norway, The HUNT4 Study.
• Ishaq, Bushra; Aukrust, Pål; Diaz, Esperanza; Solbakk, Jan Helge; Bjertness, Espen & Tyssvang, Marius [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Hvorfor er koronasmitten så høy blant minoriteter? Vi trenger grundige analyser. Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.). ISSN 0804-3116.
• Watt, Graham; Giacaman, Rita; Zurayk, Huda; Bjertness, Espen; Holmboe-Ottesen, Gerd & Ghattas, Hala [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2021). COVID-19 vaccines for Palestinians. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 397(10274). doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00185-9.
• Jaradat, Yousef; Bjertness, Espen; Birkeland Nielsen, Morten & Bast-Pettersen, Rita (2021). Associations between stressful working conditions and psychosomatic symptoms among Palestinian nurses: a cross-sectional survey. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 398. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01519-1. Show summary

  Background Stressful working conditions among nurses have adverse effects on their physical and mental health. We investigated associations between self-reported stressful working conditions and psychosomatic symptoms among nurses in the Hebron district, occupied Palestinian Territory, and whether there are differences the sexes in the perceptions of working conditions and psychosomatic symptoms. Methods We did a cross-sectional survey between Oct 7 and Dec 10, 2012, among registered nurses in all health sectors in Hebron district. A nine-point ordinal scale of working conditions was used to categorise perception of stress as low, medium, or high, and seven psychosomatic symptoms were recorded on a checklist coded as never (0), seldom (1), occasionally (2), or often (3), allowing for a total score between 0 and 21. All analyses were done with STATA (version 10). P values of less than 0·05 were significant. Participation in the study was voluntary, and written informed consent was obtained from each participant. The study was approved by the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics, Norway. Permission to do the study was obtained from the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Findings Among 372 eligible nurses, ten were on extended leave from work, 16 declined to participate, and four had incomplete data, giving a final sample of 342 nurses (92% response rate). 212 (62%) were women and 130 (38%) were men. Low levels of stress were reported by 42 (12%) nurses, medium levels by 206 (60%), and high levels by 94 (28%). The mean score of psychosomatic symptoms for the group was 10·4 (SD 4·02, range 0–21). Scores did not differ significantly between men and women. Mean symptom scores differed between nurses with self-reported highly stressful working conditions and those with low levels of stress (12.6 vs 8.4, difference 4·1, 95% CI 2·7–5·5; p<0·001). Among male nurses, those with self-reported highly stressful working conditions had a mean psychosomatic symptom score of 13.0, compared with that was 7.7 among those working in low-stress conditions (difference 5·3 units, p<0·001). This effect remained significant after adjustment for the covariates age, education, number of children, work schedule, and years of experience (12·6 vs 7·7, difference 4·9 units, 95% CI 2·6–7·2). Among female nurses, the scores among those with high-stress working conditions was 12.4 and for those with low-stress working conditions was 9.0 (difference 3·4 units, p<0·001). After adjustment the difference remained similar (12·4 vs 9·0, difference 3·5 units, 95% CI 1·7–5·3, p<0·001). Interpretation We found that psychosomatic symptoms increased as self-reported perception of stressful working conditions increased, irrespective of sex. The study had a cross-sectional design and both exposure and outcomes were measured using self-report and, therefore, interpretation of the results should be made with caution. Longitudinal epidemiological studies are recommended. Future studies should investigate whether stressful working conditions affect the quality of patients’ care in health services.

• Ishaq, Bushra; Aukrust, Pål; Diaz, Esperanza; Solbakk, Jan-Helge; Østby, Lars & Bjertness, Espen [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). Vi trenger grundige analyser av den høye minoritetssmitten. Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.). ISSN 0804-3116. p. 26–27.
• Chol, Ri Hak; Madar, Ahmed Ali; Slettedal, J.K; Bjertness, Kjersti B.; Sundby, Johanne & Bjertness, Espen (2019). Drivers of health transition in the DPRK. The Lancet Planetary Health. ISSN 2542-5196. 3 (3), p. 118–119. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(19)30013-0..
• Blanchet, Karl; El-Zein, Abbas; Langer, Ana; Sato, Mito; Bjertness, Espen & Holmboe-Ottesen, Gerd (2018). Support for UNRWA's survival. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 382, p. 1009–1010. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32264-5.
• Edwin, Trine Holt; Strand, Bjørn Heine; Knapskog, Anne Brita; Amland, Rachel; Persson, Karin Ester Torun & Mjørud, Marit [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2018). TRAILDEM- Trajectories of cognitive impairment and dementia, and risk factors for progression.
• Strand, Bjørn Heine; Knapskog, Anne Brita; Edwin, Trine Holt; Persson, Karin Ester Torun; Amland, Rachel & Mjørud, Marit [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2018). Survival in dementia and milder cognitive diagnoses. Results from the TRAIL-DEM Project .
• Kassebaum, N.J.; Barber, R.M.; Dandona, L.; Hay, S.I.; Larson, H.J. & Lim, S.S. [Show all 536 contributors for this article] (2017). Erratum: Global, regional, and national levels of maternal mortality, 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015 (The Lancet (2016) 388(10053) (1775–1812)(S0140673616314702)(10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31470-2)). The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 389(10064). doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32609-5.
• Wang, Haidong; Bhutta, Zulfiqar A; Coates, Matthew M; Coggeshall, Megan; Dandona, Lalit & Diallo, Khassoum [Show all 551 contributors for this article] (2017). Erratum: Global, regional, national, and selected subnational levels of stillbirths, neonatal, infant, and under-5 mortality, 1980–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015 (The Lancet (2016) 388(10053) (1725–1774)(S0140673616315756)(10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31575-6)). The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 389(10064). doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32608-3.
• Zotcheva, Ekaterina; Selbæk, Geir; Bjertness, Espen; Ernstsen, Linda & Strand, Bjørn Heine (2017). Associations of leisure-time physical activity and psychological distress with dementia-related mortality: The Cohort of Norway (CONOR). Norsk Epidemiologi, Supplement. ISSN 0803-4206. 27.
• Zotcheva, Ekaterina; Selbæk, Geir; Bjertness, Espen; Ernstsen, Linda & Strand, Bjørn Heine (2017). Associations of leisure-time physical activity and psychological distress with dementia-related mortality: The Cohort of Norway (CONOR).
• Bjertness, Espen; Htay, Thein Thein; Maung, Nay Soe; Soe, Zaw Wai; Aye, Saw Sanda & Ottersen, Ole Petter [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2016). E-learning resources in Myanmar. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 388(10063), p. 2990–2991. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32520-X.
• Anderson, Ian; Bang, Abhay; Bjertness, Espen; Connolly, Michele; King, Alexandra & Robson, Bridget (2016). Indigenous and tribal peoples' health – Authors' reply. The Lancet. ISSN 0140-6736. 388(10062), p. 2868–2868. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)32465-5.
• Bergem, Astrid Liv Mina; Siafarikas, Nikias; Nilsen, Thomas Severin; Magnus, Per; Rosness, Tor Atle & Strand, Bjørn Heine [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2016). A Norwegian twin study of heritability and environmental factors in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
• Rosness, Tor Atle; Engedal, Knut; Bjertness, Espen & Strand, Bjørn Heine (2016). Response to Cintosun and Colleagues. Journal of The American Geriatrics Society. ISSN 0002-8614. 64(9), p. 1925–1926. doi: 10.1111/jgs.14191.
• Strand, Bjørn Heine; Langballe, Ellen Melbye; Wills, Andrew; Rosness, Tor Atle; Engedal, Knut & Totland, Torunn Holm [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2016). Response to Kim et al. The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences. ISSN 1079-5006. 72(4), p. 589–590. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glw231.
• Rosness, Tor Atle; Strand, Bjørn Heine; Bergem, Astrid Liv Mina; Engedal, Knut & Bjertness, Espen (2016). Antidepressants and risk of dementia – a never-ending story? International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. ISSN 0885-6230. 31(6), p. 553–554. doi: 10.1002/gps.4367.
• Tellnes, Gunnar; Irgens, Lorentz M.; Kristensen, Petter; Larsen, Øivind; Vøllestad, Nina Køpke & Lie, Rolv T. [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2015). MINNEORD: Tor Bjerkedal. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening. ISSN 0029-2001. 135(17). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.15.0755. Show summary

  Professor i forebyggende medisin, dr.med. Tor Bjerkedal døde 11. 6. 2015, 88 år gammel. Etableringen av Medisinsk fødselsregister kom til å bli hans livsverk, og dette arbeidet var han engasjert i inn til det siste. Tor Bjerkedal deltok i motstandsarbeid under den annen verdenskrig, og han satt på Grini deler av krigsårene. Etter krigen fikk han plass på legestudiet i København, der han også traff den danske tannlegestudenten Gudrun Kjerulff som ble hans kone. Sammen fikk de tre barn, seks barnebarn og tre oldebarn. I 1952 fullførte Bjerkedal legeutdanningen ved Universitetet i Oslo. Han arbeidet deretter et års tid som distriktslege i Vik i Sogn før han i 1954 ble vitenskapelig assistent ved Hygienisk Institutt i Oslo. Bjerkedal hadde flere forskningsopphold i USA og tok mastergrad i folkehelse ved Harvard i 1958. Sin doktorgrad om tuberkulose forsvarte han ved Universitetet i Oslo i 1965, og året etter ble han styrer for Institutt for hygiene og sosialmedisin ved Universitetet i Bergen. Gjennom sin tilknytning til Statistisk sentralbyrå ble Bjerkedal engasjert i arbeidet med den medisinske fødselsmeldingen. Han overbeviste raskt alle involverte parter om at dette datagrunnlaget i forskning og helsetjeneste burde knyttes til et aktivt medisinsk forskningsmiljø. I 1970 etablerte Bjerkedal Medisinsk fødselsregister, verdens første i sitt slag. Han var en drivende kraft i nordisk og internasjonalt samarbeid innenfor dette fagfeltet. Videre gjennomførte han forsøk med nye rutiner for systematisk og standardisert registering av helseopplysninger om småbarn, med mål om å effektivisere helsestasjonsarbeidet. Han etablerte også et system, SYSVAK, for registrering av alle vaksinasjoner utført på småbarn og skolebarn. Bjerkedal tok tidlig i bruk informasjonsteknologi, noe han ble en pådriver for å innføre i helsevesenet. Her møtte han en rekke tilbakeslag og frustrasjoner. Selv i sine senere år kunne han registrere at hans visjoner ennå langt fra var realiserte. I 1976 ble Bjerkedal styrer for Institutt for forebyggende medisin, Universitetet i Oslo. Han var arbeidsom og utholdende, og ble en nestor i forebyggende medisin og epidemiologi. Samtidig var han en visjonær og hjelpsom kollega. Noen kunne kanskje oppleve hans krav til kvalitet og nøyaktighet som en utfordring. Men kanskje ikke alle så de samme mulighetene som Bjerkedal selv så, eller riktig forsto hans kraftfulle personlighet og de mange visjonene som var en naturlig del av hans liv. Kanskje hadde tiden på Grini og oppholdene i USA også satt sitt preg på hans visjonære, kvalitetsbevisste, kritiske og handlekraftige måte å arbeide på? Han var veileder for en rekke stipendiater og forskere, noe som bidro til å gi ham en bred akademisk kompetanse innen samfunnsmedisin. Hans store lidenskap var registerepidemiologi for å finne årsaker til sykdom. Dette ga mulighet for helsefremmende og forebyggende tiltak. Han forsket også på arbeidsmedisin, infeksjonsmedisin, kreftsykdommer, trygdemedisin og initierte global helseforskning i Palestina. I sin lange pensjonisttid publiserte Bjerkedal over 50 artikler. Da han var 76 år, etablerte han en fødselskohort basert på de ti første årgangene i Medisinsk fødselsregister og koblet denne til et flertall nasjonale registre. Dette har resultert i et stort antall originalartikler, også i Science. Samarbeidet med Haakon Natvig på Hygienisk institutt i 1960-årene omfattet en oppfølging av det såkalte «oljeforsøket». Bjerkedal fulgte opp denne kohorten helt til de yngste gjenlevende var over 90 år gamle. Siste publikasjon med ham som førsteforfatter sto i Tidsskriftet i 2012. En visjonær og hjelpsom kollega har gått bort. Varm takk til vår venn Bjerkedal for hans innsats til folkehelsens beste. Våre tanker går til Gudrun og øvrige familie. På vegne av kolleger tilknyttet Universitetet i Oslo og Universitet i Bergen

• Siafarikas, Nikias; Bergem, Astrid Liv Mina; Nilsen, Thomas; Magnus, Per; Rosness, Tor Atle & Strand, Bjørn Heine [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2015). En tvillingstudie om arvelighet ved Alzheimers sykdom og andre demensformer. Show summary

  Gjennom registerkobling mellom Det norske tvillingregisteret og Dødsårsaksregisteret er 273 tvillingpar identifisert, der en eller begge tvillingene i paret døde med en demensdiagnose. Ved bruk av tvilling-metoden for estimering av arvelighet, viste resultatene at arvelige faktorer utgjør 86% av den totale risikoen for å utvikle Alzheimers sykdom. Resultatene for øvrige demensformer viste at arv ikke utgjør noen risiko for demensutviklingen.

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