Ingrid Alethe Sivesind Mehlum

• Aarhus, Lisa; Kjærheim, Kristina; Heikkinen, Sanna; Martinsen, Jan Ivar; Pukkala, Eero; Selander, Jenny; Sjöström, Mattias; Skare, Øivind; Straif, Kurt & Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind (2020). Occupational noise exposure and vestibular schwannoma. A case-control study in Sweden. American Journal of Epidemiology.  ISSN 0002-9262. . doi: 10.1093/aje/kwaa091 Vis sammendrag

  It has been suggested that the association between self-reported occupational noise exposure and vestibular schwannoma (VS) found in several studies, represents recall bias. Therefore, we aim to study the relation in a large case-control study using occupational noise measurements. We performed a case-control study from Sweden of 1913 VS cases diagnosed in 1961-2009 and 9566 age- and sex-matched population controls. We defined occupational history by linkage to national censuses from 1960, 1970, 1980, and 1990. We estimated occupational noise exposure for each case and control using a job-exposure matrix (JEM). There was no association between occupational noise exposure and VS. Among subjects assessed as ever exposed to occupational noise levels ≥85 dB (214 cases and 1142 controls), the odds ratio for VS per five years of exposure was 1.02 (95% confidence interval 0.90-1.17). Workers with noise levels of 85 dB or higher for at least 15 years (5-year latency period), showed no increased risk of VS (odds ratio 0.98, 0.73-1.31) compared to those who had never been exposed to noise levels of 75 dB or higher. To conclude, our large study does not support an association between occupational noise exposure and VS.

• Amaro, Joana; Queiroga, Ana Catarina; Amaro, João; Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind & Lucas, Raquel (2020). Work-life prevalence of self-reported occupational injuries in mothers of a birth cohort. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics (JOSE).  ISSN 1080-3548. . doi: 10.1080/10803548.2020.1832353 Vis sammendrag

  Purpose: To study self-reported occupational injuries among mothers of a large birth cohort study and to assess the relation of their characteristics with different injury outcomes: occurrence, severity, temporal proximity and recurrence. Methods: We asked 4338 women whether they had ever had “an accident at work, even if it did not require medical treatment”. Participants were also asked the number of accidents throughout their working life, type of injury, and whether it occurred within the last 12 months. Results: Over a fifth (21.8%) of working-age mothers reported having had at least one occupational injury throughout their working life. Wounds and superficial injuries were the most frequently reported types of occupational injuries (11.0%), followed by dislocated bones and joints, sprains and strains (10.7%). Women who reported a history of occupational injuries also had a higher likelihood of reporting a work-related health problem (adjusted-OR=2.64; 95% CI [2.27, 3.07]) and of having a partner who also reported an occupational injury throughout their working life (adjusted-OR=1.86; 95% CI [1.33, 2.62]). Associations remained fairly stable across all outcomes. Conclusions: Our findings point towards a broadened understanding of occupational injury consequences and research focusing on family-level factors that account for the embeddedness of workers in households.

• Bodin, Theo; Çağlayan, Çiğdem; Garde, Anne Helene; Gnesi, Marco; Jonsson, Johanna; Kiran, Sibel; Kreshpaj, Bertina; Leinonen, Taina; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Nena, Evangelia; Orellana, Cecilia; Peckham, Trevor; Seixas, Noah; Vanroelen, Christophe & Julià, Mireia (2020). Precarious employment in occupational health – An omega-net working group position paper. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health.  ISSN 0355-3140.  46(3), s 321- 329 . doi: 10.5271/sjweh.3860 Vis sammendrag

  Objectives The aims of this position paper are to (i) summarize research on precarious employment (PE) in the context of occupational health; (ii) develop a theoretical framework that distinguishes PE from related concepts and delineates important contextual factors; and (iii) identify key methodological challenges and directions for future research on PE and health. Methods This position paper is the result of a working group consisting of researchers from the EU, Turkey and the USA, who have discussed the issue over the course of six months (October 2018–April 2019), meeting both online and face-to-face on several occasions. Results The lack of a common theoretical framework of PE hinders it from becoming an established part of occupational and public health research. There are also issues regarding operationalization in surveys and registers. Further, previous research on PE and health suffers from methodological limitations including inadequate study designs and biased assessments of exposure and outcomes. PE is highly dependent on contextual factors and cross-country comparison has proven very difficult. We also point to the uneven social distribution of PE, ie, higher prevalence among women, immigrants, young and low educated. We propose a theoretical framework for understanding precarious employment as a multidimensional construct. Conclusions A generally accepted multidimensional definition of PE should be the highest priority. Future studies would benefit from improved exposure assessment, temporal resolution, and accounting for confounders, as well as testing possible mechanisms, eg, by adopting multi-level and intersectional analytical approaches in order to understand the complexity of PE and its relation to health.

• Hanvold, Therese Nordberg; Kristensen, Petter; Corbett, Karina; Hasting, Rachel Louise & Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind (2020). Long-term sickness absence among young and middle-aged workers in Norway. The impact of a population-level intervention. BMC Public Health.  ISSN 1471-2458.  20, s 1- 12 . doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-09205-3 Vis sammendrag

  Background The study objective was to evaluate the impact of a population-level intervention (the IA Agreement) on the of one-year risk for long-term sickness absence spells (LSAS) among young and middle aged workers in Norway. Methods Using an observational design, we conducted a quasi-experimental study to analyse registry data on individual LSAS for all employed individuals in 2000 (n = 298,690) and 2005 (n = 352,618), born in Norway between 1976 and 1967. The intervention of interest was the tripartite agreement for a more inclusive working life (the IA Agreement). We estimated difference in pre-post differences (DID) in LSAS between individuals working in IA companies with the intervention and companies without, in 2000 and 2005. We used logistic regression models and present odds ratios (DID OR) with accompanying 95% CI. We stratified analyses by sex, industry and company size. Results We found no significant change in the overall risk of long-term sickness absence spells after implementing the intervention among young and middle aged workers. Stratified by sex, the intervention resulted in a slight decrease in LSAS risk among female workers (DID OR 0.93 (0.91–0.96)) while the intervention showed no impact among male workers (DID OR 1.01 (0.97–1.06)). We found that companies signing the IA Agreement were large (≥50 employees) and often within the manufacturing and health and social sectors. In large manufacturing companies, we found a reduction in LSAS, among workers both in companies with and without the intervention, resulting in no statistically significant impact of the IA intervention. In large health and social companies, we found an increase in LSAS among workers both in companies with and without the intervention. The increase was smaller among the workers in companies offering the IA intervention compared with workers in companies without, resulting in a positive impact of the IA intervention in the health and social industry. This impact was statistically significant only among female workers. Conclusions The results indicate that the impact of the IA Agreement on the risk of long-term sickness absence spells varies considerably depending on sex and industry. These findings suggest that reducing LSAS may warrant industry-specific interventions.

• Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind & Aarhus, Lisa (2020). Occupational noise. A determinant of social inequalities in health, In Töres Theorell (ed.),  Handbook of Socioeconomic Determinants of Occupational Health. From Macro-level to Micro-level Evidence.  Springer Nature.  ISBN 978-3-030-31437-8.  Kap..  s 195 - 205 Vis sammendrag

  Occupational noise exposure is common in many workplaces and a well-known cause of noise-induced hearing loss and related to tinnitus and hyperacusis (hypersensitivity to sound), as well as other health outcomes, such as distress, hypertension, and occupational injuries. Hearing loss and many health conditions are more frequent in lower socioeconomic groups. Loud occupational noise is generally also more common among blue-collar workers, while white-collar workers are virtually unexposed. Therefore, occupational noise exposure would seem like a plausible cause of socioeconomic inequalities in hearing and other health outcomes; in other words, occupational noise could be a mediator (intermediate variable) between socioeconomic position and health. However, hardly any studies have investigated the impact of occupational noise exposure on social inequalities in hearing, and none seems to have studied its impact on other health outcomes. One study found that the association between socioeconomic position and hearing loss was reduced after controlling for occupational noise exposure, suggesting that occupational noise to a considerable extent could explain the association between occupation and hearing loss. There is a lack of studies addressing the impact of occupational noise exposure on social inequalities in health; thus, more studies specifically designed to investigate this topic are needed.

• Canu, Irina Guseva; Mesot, Olivia; Gyorkos, Christina; Mediouni, Zakia; Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind & Bugge, Merete Drevvatne (2019). Burnout syndrome in Europe: towards a harmonized approach in occupational health practice and research. Industrial Health.  ISSN 0019-8366.  57(6), s 745- 752 . doi: 10.2486/indhealth.2018-0159
• Hanvold, Therese Nordberg; Sterud, Tom; Kristensen, Petter & Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind (2019). Mechanical and psychosocial work exposures: the construction and evaluation of a gender-specific job exposure matrix (JEM). Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health.  ISSN 0355-3140.  45(3), s 239- 247 . doi: 10.5271/sjweh.3774 Vis sammendrag

  Objectives: The aim of this study was to (i) construct and evaluate a gender-specific job exposure matrix (JEM) for mechanical and psychosocial work exposures and (ii) test its predictive validity for low-back pain. Methods: We utilized data from the Norwegian nationwide Survey of Living Conditions on work environment in 2006 and 2009. We classified occupations on a 4-digit level based on the Norwegian version of the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-88). The mechanical and psychosocial exposure information was collected by personal telephone interviews and included exposures that were known risk factors for low-back pain. We evaluated the agreement between the individual- and JEM-based exposure estimates, with kappa, sensitivity and specificity measures. We assessed the JEM`s predictive validity by testing the associations between low-back pain and the individual- and JEM-based exposure. Results: The results showed an overall fair-to-moderate agreement between the constructed JEM and individual work exposures. The JEM performed considerably better for mechanical work exposures compared with psychosocial work exposures. The predictive validity of the mechanical and psychosocial JEM showed a consistently lower but predominantly reproducible association with low-back pain for both genders. Conclusions: The mechanical estimates and psychosocial stressors, such as psychological demands, monotonous work and decision latitude in the constructed JEM, may be useful in large epidemiological register studies. The predictive validity of the matrix was evaluated as being overall acceptable, it can thus be an effective and versatile approach to estimate the relationship between work exposures and low-back pain.

• Hoff, Rune; Putter, Hein; Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind & Gran, Jon Michael (2019). Landmark estimation of transition probabilities in non-Markov multi-state models with covariates. Lifetime Data Analysis.  ISSN 1380-7870.  25(4), s 660- 680 . doi: 10.1007/s10985-019-09474-0 Fulltekst i vitenarkiv. Vis sammendrag

  In non-Markov multi-state models, the traditional Aalen–Johansen (AJ) estimator for state transition probabilities is generally not valid. An alternative, suggested by Putter and Spitioni, is to analyse a subsample of the full data, consisting of the individuals present in a specific state at a given landmark time-point. The AJ estimator of occupation probabilities is then applied to the landmark subsample. Exploiting the result by Datta and Satten, that the AJ estimator is consistent for state occupation probabilities even in non-Markov models given that censoring is independent of state occupancy and times of transition between states, the landmark Aalen–Johansen (LMAJ) estimator provides consistent estimates of transition probabilities. So far, this approach has only been studied for non-parametric estimation without covariates. In this paper, we show how semi-parametric regression models and inverse probability weights can be used in combination with the LMAJ estimator to perform covariate adjusted analyses. The methods are illustrated by a simulation study and an application to population-wide registry data on work, education and health-related absence in Norway. Results using the traditional AJ estimator and the LMAJ estimator are compared, and show large differences in estimated transition probabilities for highly non-Markov multi-state models.

• Tang, Fang; Mehlum, Lars; Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind & Qin, Ping (2019). Physical illness leading to absence from work and the risk of subsequent suicide. A national register-based study. European Journal of Public Health.  ISSN 1101-1262.  29(6), s 1073- 1078 . doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckz101 Vis sammendrag

  Background: Studies have shown that people with physical illness are at increased risk of suicide, but knowledge on the association between absence from work due to specific physical health problems and suicide risk is limited. This study aimed to examine the relationship between suicide risk and physical illness requiring leave from work across a range of specific physical diagnoses, and to study the interactions of mental illness and socioeconomic factors on this relationship. Methods: Using a nested case-control design, 9313 suicide cases and 169 235 matched controls were retrieved and interlinked from Norwegian national registries. Data on sick leave and related physical illness were derived from claims for sickness benefit and analyzed using conditional logistic regression. Results: For males, the risk of suicide increased progressively with the number of previous physical illness-related absences and the duration of recent physical illness-related absences. Absences related to digestive, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders as well as cancer and accidents/injuries were associated with a significantly increased risk of suicide. In contrast, females with a history of physical illness-related absence and a diagnosis of most organ or system specific illnesses were at a relatively reduced risk of suicide. In both genders, the suicide risk associated with physical illness resulting in absence from work differentiated significantly by history of sickness absence due to mental illness, and by education and income levels. Conclusions: The risk of suicide associated with physical illness requiring leave from work varied significantly by gender and by education and income status.

• Hoff, Rune; Corbett, Karina; Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind; Mohn, Ferdinand A; Kristensen, Petter; Hanvold, Therese Nordberg & Gran, Jon Michael (2018). The impact of completing upper secondary education - a multi-state model for work, education and health in young men. BMC Public Health.  ISSN 1471-2458.  18 . doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5420-y Fulltekst i vitenarkiv. Vis sammendrag

  Background: Completing upper secondary education is associated with higher work participation and less health-related absence from work. Although these outcomes are closely interrelated, most studies focus on single outcomes, using cross-sectional designs or short follow-up periods. As such, there is limited knowledge of the long-term outcomes, and how paths for completers and non-completers unfold over time. In this paper, we use multi-state models for time-to-event data to assess the long-term effects of completing upper secondary education on employment, tertiary education, sick leave, and disability pension over twelve and a half years for young men. Methods: Baseline covariates and twelve and a half years of follow-up data on employment, tertiary education, sick leave and disability pension were obtained from national registries for all males born in Norway between 1971 and 1976 (n =184951). The effects of completing upper secondary education (by age 23) were analysed in a multi-state framework, adjusting for both individual and family level confounders. All analyses were done separately for general studies and vocational tracks. Results: Completers do better on a range of outcomes compared to non-completers, for both fields of upper secondary education, but effects of completion change over time. The largest changes are for tertiary education and work, with the probability of work increasing reciprocally to the probability of education. Vocational students are quicker to transfer to the labour market, but tend to have more unemployment, sick leave and disability, and the absolute effects of completion on these outcomes are largest for vocational tracks. However, the relative effects of completion are larger for general studies. Conclusion: Completing upper secondary education increases long-term work participation and lowers health-related absence for young men, but effects diminish over time. Studies that have used shorter follow-up periods could be overstating the negative effects of dropout on labour market participation. Multi-state models are well suited to analyse data on work, education and health-related absence, and can be useful in understanding the dynamic aspects of these outcomes.

• Kristensen, Petter; Corbett, Karina; Mohn, Ferdinand A; Hanvold, Therese Nordberg & Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind (2018). Information bias of social gradients in sickness absence: a comparison of self-report data in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) and data in national registries. BMC Public Health.  ISSN 1471-2458.  18:1275, s 1- 10 . doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-6208-9 Fulltekst i vitenarkiv. Vis sammendrag

  Background: Measurement error in self-report questionnaires is a common source of bias in epidemiologic studies. The study aim was to assess information bias of the educational gradient in sickness absence among participants in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), comparing self-report data with national register data. Methods: MoBa is a national prospective cohort study. The present study included 49,637 participants, born 1967–1976, who gave birth 2000–2009. The highest completed education level was recorded in categories and as educational years. Sickness absence was defined as one or more spell lasting more than 16 days between pregnancy weeks 13 and 30. We computed sickness absence risk in mid-pregnancy in strata of education level. Associations between completed educational years and sickness absence were estimated as risk differences in binomial regression and compared between self-report and register data. In additional analyses, we aimed to explain discrepancies between estimates from the two data sources. Results: The overall registry-based sickness absence risk was 0.478 and decreased for increasingly higher education in a consistent fashion, yielding an additive risk difference in association with one additional education year of − 0.032 (95% confidence interval − 0.035 to − 0.030). The self-report risk was lower (0.307) with a corresponding risk difference of only − 0.013 (95% confidence interval − 0.015 to − 0.011). The main explanation of the lower risk difference in the self-report data was a tendency for mothers in low education categories to omit reporting sickness absence in the questionnaire. Conclusions: A plausible explanation for the biased self-report association is complexity of the sickness absence question and a resulting educational gradient in non-response. As shown for sickness absence in mid-pregnancy in the present study, national registries could be a preferred alternative to self-report questionnaires.

• Sterud, Tom; Tynes, Tore; Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind; Veiersted, Kaj Bo; Bergbom, Barbara; Airila, Auli; Johansson, Bo; Brendler-Lindqvist, Maria; Hviid, Kirsten & Flyvholm, Mari-Ann (2018). A systematic review of working conditions and occupational health among immigrants in Europe and Canada. BMC Public Health.  ISSN 1471-2458.  18:770, s 1- 15 . doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5703-3 Fulltekst i vitenarkiv. Vis sammendrag

  Background: A systematic attempt to summarize the literature that examines working conditions and occupational health among immigrant in Europe and Canada. Methods: We established inclusion criteria, searched systematically for articles included in the Medline, Embase and Social Sciences Citation Index databases in the period 2000–2016 and checked the reference lists of all included papers. Results: Eighty-two studies were included in this review; 90% were cross-sectional and 80% were based on self-report. Work injuries were consistently found to be more prevalent among immigrants in studies from different countries and in studies with different designs. The prevalence of perceived discrimination or bullying was found to be consistently higher among immigrant workers than among natives. In general, however, we found that the evidence that immigrant workers are more likely to be exposed to physical or chemical hazards and poor psychosocial working conditions is very limited. A few Scandinavian studies support the idea that occupational factors may partly contribute to the higher risk of sick leave or disability pension observed among immigrants. However, the evidence for working conditions as a potential mediator of the associations between immigrant status and poor general health and mental distress was very limited. Conclusion: Some indicators suggest that immigrant workers in Europe and Canada experience poorer working conditions and occupational health than do native workers. However, the ability to draw conclusions is limited by the large gaps in the available data, heterogeneity of immigrant working populations, and the lack of prospectively designed cohort studies.

• Aarhus, Lisa & Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind (2017). Arbeidsmedisinsk pasientutredning i Norge. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening.  ISSN 0029-2001.  137(14-15) . doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.16.0652 Vis sammendrag

  BAKGRUNN: De arbeidsmedisinske sykehusavdelingene og Statens arbeidsmiljøinstitutt etablerte et felles, anonymt utredningsregister i 2009. Formålet var å få bedre oversikt over arbeidsmedisinsk pasientutredning i Norge, inkludert endring i arbeidsrelatert eksponering og sykdom over tid. MATERIALE OG METODE: Utredende lege fyller ut et skjema etter pasientkonsultasjonen, hvorpå dette registreres elektronisk. Artikkelen bygger på analyse av registrerte pasientutredninger i perioden 2010-15. RESULTATER: Det var registrert 8 775 pasientutredninger. Flest menn ble utredet (75 %), og vanligste aldersgruppe var 50-69 år (52 %). Vanligste eksponering var irritanter/allergener (18 %) og organiske løsemidler (15 %), som ble registrert i henholdsvis noe økende og noe minkende grad i perioden. Industri og bergverksdrift toppet bransjestatistikken (30 %). Vanligste symptomorgan var lunger/luftveier (57 %), med astma, kols og lungekreft som hyppigste diagnoser. Andelen saker som ble vurdert å ha sannsynlig eller mulig arbeidsrelasjon, holdt seg stabil på rundt henholdsvis 40 % og 23 %. 16 % av pasientene mottok sykepenger, 10 % arbeidsavklaringspenger og 13 % uførepensjon på undersøkelsestidspunktet. FORTOLKNING: Arbeidsrelatert sykdom har store konsekvenser for enkeltmennesker og samfunn. Utredningsregisteret gir en god oversikt over pasientutredningen ved de arbeidsmedisinske avdelingene i Norge og kan avdekke endringer i arbeidsrelatert eksponering og sykdom over tid. Slik kan registeret bidra til målrettet forebyggende innsats.

• Kristensen, Petter; Keyes, Katherine M.; Susser, Ezra; Corbett, Karina; Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind & Irgens, Lorentz M. (2017). High birth weight and perinatal mortality among siblings: A register based study in Norway, 1967-2011. PLOS ONE.  ISSN 1932-6203.  12(2) . doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172891 Fulltekst i vitenarkiv. Vis sammendrag

  Background: Perinatal mortality according to birth weight has an inverse J-pattern. Our aim was to estimate the influence of familial factors on this pattern, applying a cohort sibling design. We focused on excess mortality among macrosomic infants (>2 SD above the mean) and hypothesized that the birth weight-mortality association could be explained by confounding shared family factors. We also estimated how the participant’s deviation from mean sibling birth weight influenced the association. Methods and findings: We included 1 925 929 singletons, born term or post-term to mothers with more than one delivery 1967–2011 registered in the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. We examined z-score birth weight and perinatal mortality in random-effects and sibling fixed-effects logistic regression models including measured confounders (e.g. maternal diabetes) as well as unmeasured shared family confounders (through fixed effects models). Birth weight-specific mortality showed an inverse J-pattern, being lowest (2.0 per 1000) at reference weight (z-score +1 to +2) and increasing for higher weights. Mortality in the highest weight category was 15-fold higher than reference. This pattern changed little in multivariable models. Deviance from mean sibling birth weight modified the mortality pattern across the birth weight spectrum: small and medium-sized infants had increased mortality when being smaller than their siblings, and large-sized infants had an increased risk when outweighing their siblings. Maternal diabetes and birth weight acted in a synergistic fashion with mortality among macrosomic infants in diabetic pregnancies in excess of what would be expected for additive effects. Conclusions: The inverse J-pattern between birth weight and mortality is not explained by measured confounders or unmeasured shared family factors. Infants are at particularly high mortality risk when their birth weight deviates substantially from their siblings. Sensitivity analysis suggests that characteristics related to maternal diabetes could be important in explaining the increased mortality among macrosomic infants.

• Lie, Arve; Skogstad, Marit; Johannessen, Håkon Andre; Tynes, Tore; Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind; Nordby, Karl-Christian; Engdahl, Bo Lars & Tambs, Kristian (2016). Occupational noise exposure and hearing: a systematic review. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health.  ISSN 0340-0131.  89(3), s 351- 372 . doi: 10.1007/s00420-015-1083-5 Vis sammendrag

  Purpose: To give a systematic review of the development of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) in working life. Methods: A literature search in MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Health and Safety Abstracts, with appropriate keywords on noise in the workplace and health, revealed 22,413 articles which were screened by six researchers. A total of 698 articles were reviewed in full text and scored with a checklist, and 187 articles were found to be relevant and of sufficient quality for further analysis. Results: Occupational noise exposure causes between 7 and 21 % of the hearing loss among workers, lowest in the industrialized countries, where the incidence is going down, and highest in the developing countries. It is difficult to distinguish between NIHL and age-related hearing loss at an individual level. Most of the hearing loss is age related. Men lose hearing more than women do. Heredity also plays a part. Socioeconomic position, ethnicity and other factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, vibration and chemical substances, may also affect hearing. The use of firearms may be harmful to hearing, whereas most other sources of leisure-time noise seem to be less important. Impulse noise seems to be more deleterious to hearing than continuous noise. Occupational groups at high risk of NIHL are the military, construction workers, agriculture and others with high noise exposure. Conclusion: The prevalence of NIHL is declining in most industrialized countries, probably due to preventive measures. Hearing loss is mainly related to increasing age.

• Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind (2016). Samfunnsmedisin og arbeidsmedisin. Michael.  ISSN 1893-9651.  13, s 120- 125 Vis sammendrag

  Samfunnsmedisin handler om samspillet mellom samfunn og helse, mens arbeidsmedisin omhandler forholdet mellom arbeid og helse. De to fagområdene har mye felles, men det er også til dels store forskjeller mellom dem. Forebyggende og helsefremmende arbeid er viktige oppgaver for begge fagområder. Arbeidsmedisin praktiseres av leger både i bedriftshelsetjenester og ved arbeidsmedisinske avdelinger på sykehus, samt enkelte andre steder og befinner seg derfor både i første- og annenlinjen. Fagområdet har et gruppeperspektiv, men forholder seg også til enkeltpersoner gjennom utredning av arbeidsrelatert sykdom, helsekontroller og tilrettelegging av arbeid. Arbeidsmedisin kan derfor være vanskelig å plassere. Selv om arbeidsrelaterte helseproblemer er vanlige i befolkningen, er arbeidsmedisin lite synlig i det medisinske landskapet. Andre leger ser sannsynligvis flere tilfeller av arbeidsrelatert sykdom enn arbeidsmedisinere, og hvis de ikke tenker på at arbeid kan være årsak til sykdommen, er det ikke sikkert pasienten får den beste behandlingen.

• Skogstad, Marit; Johannessen, Håkon Andre; Tynes, Tore; Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind; Nordby, Karl-Christian & Lie, Arve (2016). Systematic review of the cardiovascular effects of occupational noise. Occupational Medicine.  ISSN 0962-7480.  66(1), s 10- 16 . doi: 10.1093/occmed/kqv148 Vis sammendrag

  Abstract: Background Cross-sectional studies of occupational noise and cardiovascular effects show an association between noise and hypertension but for coronary heart disease or other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) the evidence is not convincing. Aims: To assess possible associations between occupational noise exposure and the risk for cardiovascular effects in follow-up studies published after 1999. Methods: We performed a systematic critical literature review of original articles from key literature databases of associations between workplace noise and health. The studies were identified by search in Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Web of Science, Scopus and ProQuest Health and Safety Sciences Abstracts. We selected prospective studies of adequate quality with a measure of association between occupational noise exposure and cardiovascular health for the meta-analysis. Results: Twelve papers, all prospective and mostly with high quality but with methodological shortcomings in exposure assessment, were included in the review and meta-analysis. Exposure to noise at work was consistently positively associated with hypertension [Hazard ratio (HR) = 1.68; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–2.57] and CVD [relative risk (RR) = 1.34; 95% CI 1.15–1.56]. In addition, we found a trivial effect of noise exposure on CVD mortality (HR = 1.12; 95% CI 1.02–1.24). Conclusions: Occupational noise exposure is strongly associated with hypertension. For other cardiovascular effects, this meta-analysis suggests a weak association, but the evidence is limited. More longitudinal studies on the effects of occupational noise on the cardiovascular system are warranted.

• Alfonso, Jose Hernan; Thyssen, Jacob P.; Tynes, Tore; Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind & Johannessen, Håkon Andre (2015). Self-reported occupational exposure to chemical and physical factors and risk of skin problems: A 3-year follow-up study of the general working population of Norway. Acta Dermato-Venereologica.  ISSN 0001-5555.  95(8), s 959- 962 . doi: 10.2340/00015555-2135 Fulltekst i vitenarkiv. Vis sammendrag

  Prospective studies on occupational dermatoses in the general working population are sparse. This study investigated prospectively the impact of self-reported occupational exposure to chemicals and physical factors on the risk of skin problems. The cohort comprised respondents drawn randomly from the general population in Norway, who were registered employed in 2006 and 2009 (n = 6,745). Indoor dry air (odds ratio (OR) 1.3; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.1–1.6) was a significant baseline predictor of skin problems at follow-up, whereas exposure to cleaning products (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.2–2.5), water (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.1–1.9) and indoor dry air (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1–2.1) at both measurement time-points was significantly associated with skin problems. The population risk attributable to these factors was 16%. This study quantified the contribution of occupational exposure factors to skin problems in the general working population of Norway.

• Corbett, Karina; Gran, Jon Michael; Kristensen, Petter & Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind (2015). Adult social position and sick leave: the mediating effect of physical workload. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health.  ISSN 0355-3140.  41(6), s 542- 553 . doi: 10.5271/sjweh.3525 Vis sammendrag

  Objective: This study aimed to quantify how much of the adult social gradient in sick leave can be attributed to the mediating role of physical workload while accounting for the role of childhood and adolescent social position and neuroticism. Methods: Our sample consisted of 2099 women and 1229 men from a Norwegian birth cohort study (born 1967–1976) who participated in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (2006–2008) (HUNT3). Data on sick leave (defined as >16 calendar days; 2006–2009) and social position during childhood, adolescence, and adulthood were obtained from national registers. Study outcome was time-to-first sick leave spell. Physical workload and neuroticism were self-reported in HUNT3. Mediating effects through physical workload were estimated using a method based on the additive hazards survival model. Results: A hypothetical change from highest to lowest group in adult social position was, for women, associated with 51.6 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 24.7–78.5] additional spells per 100 000 person-days at risk, in a model adjusted for childhood and adolescent social position and neuroticism. The corresponding rate increase for men was 41.1 (95% CI 21.4–60.8). Of these additional spells, the proportion mediated through physical workload was 24% (95% CI 10–49) and 30% (95% CI 10–63) for women and men, respectively. Conclusions: The effect of adult social position on sick leave was partly mediated through physical workload, even while accounting for earlier life course factors. Our findings provide support that interventions aimed at reducing physical workload among those with lower adult social position could reduce sick leave risk.

• Kristensen, Petter; Corbett, Karina & Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind (2015). The gender gap in sickness absence from work and the influence of parental absence on offspring absence 15 years later. Register-based cohort of Norwegians born in 1974-1976. BMC Public Health.  ISSN 1471-2458.  15 . doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-2037-2 Vis sammendrag

  Background: Women have shown consistently higher levels of sickness absence from work in comparison to men, but explanations for this gender gap have not been completely understood. Life-course studies suggest that health and health-related social benefits in adult age are influenced by early life experiences. We aimed to estimate intergenerational associations with a 15-year time gap between parents’ and offspring sickness absences, pursuing the hypothesis that this parental influence would have a stronger impact for women than for men. Methods: All persons born alive between 1974 and 1976 in Norway were followed up in several national registries. Employed persons considered to be at risk of sickness absence and also with parents at risk of sickness absence (n = 78 878) were followed in the calendar year of their 33rd birthday with respect to spells lasting >16 days. The probability of one or more spells during this year constituted the one-year risk under study. Additive risk differences in association with an exposure (parental sickness absence 15 years earlier) were estimated in a binomial regression analysis. The estimates were adjusted for parental socioeconomic factors. Results: The 1-year sickness absence risk was higher for women (30.4 %) than for men (12.3 %). The crude risk differences between those exposed and those unexposed to parental sickness absence were similar in percentage points (PP) for women (3.8; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 2.6 to 4.9) and men (3.8; 95 % CI 2.9 to 4.6). The risk differences were moderately attenuated after adjustment for parental education and father’s income to 3.4 PP (2.2 to 4.5) for women and 2.8 PP (2.0 to 3.7) for men. Male absence was more strongly associated with the father’s than with the mother’s sickness absence, while associations for women were stronger for the same diagnostic groups as their parents. Conclusions: Parental sickness absence was moderately associated with sickness absence in the next generation. Bias from unmeasured confounders cannot be entirely dismissed. Contrary to our hypothesis, associations were not stronger for women than for men. If parental sickness absence has a long-term causal effect, preventive measures could have an impact over generations.

• Kristensen, Petter; Susser, Ezra; Irgens, Lorentz M.; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Corbett, Karina & Bjerkedal, Tor (2014). The association of high birth weight with intelligence in young adulthood: A cohort study of male siblings. American Journal of Epidemiology.  ISSN 0002-9262.  180(9), s 876- 884 . doi: 10.1093/aje/kwu241 Vis sammendrag

  We aimed to explore why, in population studies, the positive association between normal-range birth weight and intelligence becomes negative at the highest birth weights. The study population comprised 217,746 Norwegian male singletons born at term between 1967 and 1976. All had data on birth weight and intelligence quotient (IQ) score at the time of military conscription; 137,574 had data on sibling birth weights; and 62,906 had data on male sibling birth weights. We estimated associations between birth weight and IQ score by ordinary least squares regression for the total study population and by fixed-effects regression for comparisons of brothers. The crude mean IQ score was 1.2 points (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.3, 2.2) lower for those with birth weights of 5,000 g or more compared with the reference group (with birth weights of 4,000–4,499 g). This difference leveled off to 0.0 (95% CI: −0.8, 0.9) in multivariable ordinary least squares regression and reversed to 2.2 points (95% CI: 0.3, 4.2) higher in fixed-effects regression. Results differed mainly because, at a given birth weight, participants who had a sibling with macrosomia had a lower mean IQ score. Nevertheless, within families with 1 or more macrosomic siblings, as in other families, men with higher birth weights tended to have higher IQ scores. Thus, a family-level confounder introduces a cross-level bias that cannot be detected in individual-level studies. We suggest ways in which future studies might elucidate the nature of this confounder.

• Foss, Line; Gravseth, Hans Magne Ulrik; Kristensen, Petter; Claussen, Bjørgulf; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind & Skyberg, Knut (2013). “Inclusive working life in Norway”: a registry-based five-year follow-up study. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology.  ISSN 1745-6673.  8 . doi: 10.1186/1745-6673-8-19 Vis sammendrag

  Background: In 2001, the Norwegian authorities and major labour market partners signed an agreement regarding ‘inclusive working life’ (IW), whereby companies that participate are committed to reducing sickness absence. Our main aim was to determine the effect of the IW program and work characteristics by gender on long-term (>8 weeks) sickness absence (LSA). Methods: Self-reported data on work characteristics from the Oslo Health Study were linked to registry-based data on IW status, education and LSA. From 2001–2005, 10,995 participants (5,706 women and 5,289 men) aged 30, 40, 45 and 60 years were followed. A Cox regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HR) for LSA risk. The cohort was divided into an IW group (2,733 women and 2,058 men) and non-IW group (2,973/3,231). Results: 43.2% and 41.6% of women and 22.3%/24.3% of men (IW / non-IW, respectively) experienced at least one LSA. In a multivariate model, statistically significant risk factors for LSA were low education (stronger in men), shift work/night work or rotating hours (strongest in men in the non-IW group), and heavy physical work or work involving walking and lifting (men only and stronger in the non-IW group). Among men who engaged in shift work, the LSA risk was significantly lower in the IW group. Conclusions: Our results could suggest that IW companies that employ many men in shift work have implemented relevant efforts for reducing sickness absence. However, this study could not demonstrate a significant effect of the IW program on the overall LSA risk.

• Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Kristensen, Petter; Veiersted, Kaj Bo; Wærsted, Morten & Punnett, Laura (2013). Does the threshold for reporting musculoskeletal pain or the probability of attributing work-relatedness vary by socioeconomic position or sex?. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  ISSN 1076-2752.  55(8), s 901- 909 . doi: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e31828dc8ec Vis sammendrag

  Objective: To examine the effect of sex and socioeconomic position (SEP) on individuals’ perceptions of pain and its work-relatedness. Methods: We compared self-reported pain in neck–shoulder or arm with clinical diagnoses and workers’ judgments of work-relatedness with physicians’ assessments based on specific criteria, between sexes and high- and low-SEP participants in the Oslo Health Study (n = 217). Results: Clinical diagnoses were more frequent in low-SEP subjects than high-SEP subjects with pain and generally higher in women than in men. Pain attributed to work was more frequently assessed as work-related by the physicians in low-SEP subjects than high-SEP subjects and in men than in women of low SEP. Conclusions: The threshold for reporting pain seemed higher in lowSEP subjects and among women. Physicians were more likely to agree with low-SEP workers about work-relatedness.

• Kristensen, Petter; Corbett, Karina; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind & Bjerkedal, Tor (2012). Impact of aerobic fitness on musculoskeletal sickness absence 5-15 years later: a cohort study of 227 201 male Norwegian employees. Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  ISSN 1351-0711.  69(4), s 250- 255 . doi: 10.1136/oemed-2011-100144 Vis sammendrag

  Objectives: The aim of the study was to estimate associations between aerobic fitness among men at age 18–19 years and work absence due to musculoskeletal sickness 5–15 years later. Methods: All 321 975 men born between 1967 and 1976 in Norway were identified and followed up in several national registers. Men who completed an aerobic fitness test at military conscription during 1985–1995 (N=227 201) were followed from 2000 through 2003 with respect to a first musculoskeletal absence. Cox regression was conducted to estimate HRs between aerobic fitness (high, medium, poor) and musculoskeletal absence. Results: A total of 26 061 men had a musculoskeletal absence (absolute risk 0.115). Absence was associated with fitness level. Associations were confounded by other conscript characteristics (intellectual capacity, body mass index, musculoskeletal condition) and parental education level and were restricted to non-injury absence. With high fitness as reference, the adjusted non-injury HR estimates were 1.18 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.24) and 1.39 (1.31 to 1.47) for medium and poor fitness, respectively. Poor fitness men were more likely to achieve low educational attainment and employment in high-absence industries and enterprises. The impact of intellectual capacity and parental education level on absence was considerably larger than the effect from fitness. A subset analysis with fitness data of better quality yielded moderately stronger associations. Conclusions: Aerobic fitness among conscripts was moderately associated with non-injury musculoskeletal absence 5–15 years later. However, the overall impact of intellectual capacity and parental education appears to be greater than that of aerobic fitness.

• Foss, Line; Gravseth, Hans Magne Ulrik; Kristensen, Petter; Claussen, Bjørgulf; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Knardahl, Stein & Skyberg, Knut (2011). The impact of workplace risk factors on long-term musculoskeletal sickness absence: a registry-based 5-year follow-up from the Oslo Health Study. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  ISSN 1076-2752.  53(12), s 1478- 1482 . doi: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e3182398dec Vis sammendrag

  Objective: To determine the influence of work-related risk factors by gender on long-term sickness absence with musculoskeletal diagnoses (LSM). Methods: Data from the Oslo Health Study were linked to the historical event database of Statistics Norway. Eight thousand three hundred thirty-three participants were followed from 2001 through 2005. Generalized linear models were used to compute risk differences for LSM. Results: In total, 12.6% of the women and 8.8% of the men experienced at least one LSM. Statistically, significant LSM risk increases between 0.039 and 0.086 in association with work environment were found for heavy physical work, low job control (men only), low support from superior (women only), and having shift/night work (men only). Conclusions: Women exhibited a higher LSM risk, but the associations with job exposures were stronger for men. This should be addressed when occupational health services give advice on preventive measures.

• Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind (2011). Hvor mye av sykefraværet er arbeidsrelatert?. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening.  ISSN 0029-2001.  131(2), s 122- 125 . doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.10.0665 Vis sammendrag

  BAKGRUNN: Sykefravær er et aktuelt tema, blant annet etter revisjonen av intensjonsavtalen om et mer inkluderende arbeidsliv (IA-avtalen). I hvilken grad sykefravær kan ha sammenheng med arbeid, har likevel vært lite omtalt. MATERIALE OG METODE: Artikkelen bygger på et ikke-systematisk litteratursøk i PubMed og egen forskning og erfaring. RESULTATER: Forskjellige studier tyder på at en vesentlig del av sykefraværet kan skyldes sykdom forårsaket av arbeidsforhold. Tungt fysisk arbeid, belastende arbeidsstillinger og lav kontroll over arbeidssituasjonen er faktorer som er spesielt viktige. Personer med arbeidsrelatert sykdom har større behov for fravær fra jobben enn personer med tilsvarende sykdom som ikke skyldes arbeidet. Tiltak på arbeidsplassen som forebygger arbeidsrelatert sykdom, kan forebygge sykefravær. Sykefravær som skyldes ubalanse mellom individuelle ressurser og jobbkrav, kan ofte forebygges eller forkortes ved tiltak på arbeidsplassen, uansett hva som er årsaken til denne ubalansen. FORTOLKNING: Jeg mener at man bør legge mer vekt på primærforebyggende tiltak for å redusere arbeidsrelatert sykdom og tilrettelegge arbeidet for personer med økt risiko for sykefravær, men dette er ikke tilstrekkelig ivaretatt i dagens IA-avtale.

• Foss, Line; Gravseth, Hans Magne Ulrik; Kristensen, Petter; Claussen, Bjørgulf; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind & Skyberg, Knut (2010). Risk Factors for Long-Term Absence Due To Psychiatric Sickness: A Register-Based 5-Year Follow-Up From the Oslo Health Study. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  ISSN 1076-2752.  52(7), s 698- 705 . doi: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181e98731 Vis sammendrag

  Objective: To identify individual and work-related predictors of long-term (8 weeks) sickness absence with psychiatric diagnoses (LSP). Methods: Data from the Oslo Health Study (response rate 46%) were linked to public registers. A total of 8333 subjects were followed from 2001 through 2005. Cox regression was used to compute hazard ratios for LSP. Results: At least one LSP was present in 7.8% of women and 3.9% of men. Poor support from superior had an independent and moderate effect. Path and linear regression analyses indicated that the effect of support from superior was mediated through mental distress and not the other way around. Selfreported mental distress had a strong independent effect. Conclusions: Women had a higher risk of LSP than men. Low education and poor support from superior and mental distress were found to be determinants of LSP.

• Kristensen, Petter; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind & Gravseth, Hans Magne Ulrik (2009). Arbeid og yrke: Helsefremmende og helsenedbrytende faktorer, I: John Gunnar Mæland; Jon Ivar Elstad; Øyvind Erik Næss & Steinar Westin (red.),  Sosialepidemiologi - sosiale årsaker til sykdom og helsesvikt.  Gyldendal Akademisk.  ISBN 978-82-05-39268-7.  Kapittel.  s 152 - 169
• Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Veiersted, Kaj Bo; Wærsted, Morten; Wergeland, Ebba & Kjuus, Helge (2009). Self-reported versus expert-assessed work-relatedness of pain in the neck, shoulder, and arm. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health.  ISSN 0355-3140.  35(3), s 222- 232 . doi: 10.5271/sjweh.1327 Vis sammendrag

  Objectives The aim of this study was to compare self-reported work-relatedness of neck–shoulder and arm pain with experts’ assessments based on specific criteria. Methods A sample of 217 employed participants in the Oslo Health Study 2000–2001, aged 30, 40, and 45 years, who reported neck–shoulder or arm pain in the past month, underwent a health examination. A criteria document for evaluating the work-relatedness of upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders was used to ­establish clinical diagnoses and assess the work-relatedness of pain with respect to the subject’s present job. We measured agreement between the participants and experts on whether pain was related to work as observed agreement, positive and negative specific agreement, and kappa. Results A major proportion of the cases were assessed as work-related, somewhat more frequently by self-report than when assessed by experts (80% versus 65% for neck–shoulder pain, and 78% versus 72% for arm pain, respectively). However, there was considerable disagreement as to which cases were work-related. The experts disagreed more frequently in cases that were reported as non-work-related (particularly for neck–shoulder pain and cases reported by men). Positive specific agreement was fairly high (76–85% in the total population), while negative specific agreement was lower (37–51%). Kappa values were also low (0.16–0.34). Conclusions Compared with expert assessment, self-reporting did not seem to particularly exaggerate work-relatedness. Nevertheless, there was considerable disagreement, especially on cases assessed as non-work-­related. However, agreement will depend on the case definitions and the criteria for work-relatedness used both by the participants and the experts.

• Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Kristensen, Petter; Kjuus, Helge & Wergeland, Ebba (2008). Are occupational factors important determinants of socio-economic inequalities in musculoskeletal pain?. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health.  ISSN 0355-3140.  34(4), s 250- 259 . doi: 10.5271/sjweh.1269 Vis sammendrag

  Objectives The aim of this study was to quantify socioeconomic inequalities in low-back pain, neck–shoulder pain, and arm pain in the general working population in Oslo and to examine the impact of job characteristics on these inequalities. Methods All economically active 30-, 40-, and 45-year-old persons who attended the Oslo health study in 2000–2001 and answered questions on physical job demands, job autonomy, and musculoskeletal pain were included (N=7293). Occupational class was used as an indicator of socioeconomic status. The lower occupational classes were compared with higher grade professionals, and prevalences, prevalence ratios, prevalence differences, and population attributable fractions were calculated. Results There were marked, stepwise socioeconomic gradients for musculoskeletal pain, steeper for the men than for the women. The relative differences (prevalence ratios) were larger for low-back pain and arm pain than for neck–shoulder pain. The absolute differences (prevalence differences) were the largest for low-back pain. Physical job demands explained a substantial proportion of the absolute occupational class inequalities in low-back pain, while job autonomy was more important in explaining the inequalities in neck–shoulder pain and arm pain. The estimated population attributable fractions supported the impact of job characteristics at the working population level, especially for low-back pain. Conclusions In this cross-sectional study, physical job demands and job autonomy explained a substantial proportion of occupational class inequalities in self-reported musculoskeletal pain in the working population in Oslo. This finding indicates that the workplace may be an important arena for preventive efforts to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in musculoskeletal pain.

• Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Kjuus, Helge; Veiersted, Kaj Bo & Wergeland, Ebba (2006). Self-reported work-related health problems from the Oslo Health Study. Occupational Medicine.  ISSN 0962-7480.  56, s 371- 379 . doi: 10.1093/occmed/kql034 Vis sammendrag

  Background: Lack of knowledge about the occurrence of work-related health problems in the general population makes it difficult to estimate the potential for their prevention in the workplace. Aims: To examine the prevalence of self-reported work-related health problems among adult citizens of Oslo, Norway. Methods: The study was part of the Oslo Health Study 2000−2001, in which all individuals in certain age cohorts were invited to a comprehensive health screening. All 30-, 40- and 45-year old subjects who attended the screening were asked if they had experienced any of 11 common health problems in the past month, and whether they considered these to be work-related. Of the 26 074 invitees in these age cohorts, 8594 (33%) answered the questionnaire. Results: Nearly 60% of subjects reported one or more work-related health problems, most commonly reported were pain in the neck/shoulders (38%) and low back pain (23%). Neck/shoulder pain was most frequently attributed to working conditions, by 74% of subjects with this problem; followed by arm pain (72%), fatigue (51%) and low back pain (50%). Work-related fractions for eczema and asthma symptoms were 23 and 18%, respectively. There were marked gender differences, but small age differences. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of common health problems in the Oslo population were attributed to working conditions. This implies a large preventive potential and call for increased preventive efforts targeted at known risk factors in the workplace.

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• Poulsson, Otto Melchior; Fridriksson, Johan Fridrik; Tómasson, Kristinn; Midtsundstad, Tove Irene; Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind; Hilsen, Anne I; Nilsson, Kerstin & Albin, Maria (2017). Working environment and work retention. Nordisk ministerråd.  ISBN 978-92-893-5196-6.  125 s.

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• Kogevinas, Manolis; Schlünssen, Vivi; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind & Turner, Michelle C. (2020). The OMEGA-NET International Inventory of Occupational Cohorts. Annals of Work Exposures and Health.  ISSN 2398-7308.  64(6), s 565- 568 . doi: 10.1093/annweh/wxaa039 Vis sammendrag

  In a recent count of cohort studies in Europe capturing information on occupation and/or occupational exposures, we estimated that there are more than 60 major studies with some type of occupational information that enrolled over 30 million persons. With few exceptions there have been no large-scale analyses systematically combining cohorts from this extraordinary resource. We present the development of an inventory of cohorts with occupational information in Europe and internationally and describe the online interactive tool with detailed information on existing cohorts. The OMEGA-NET inventory can be accessed at http://occupationalcohorts.net/ includes cohorts, case-control studies nested within cohorts and intervention studies that are active or can substantiate that their data are potentially accessible; that include data on occupation and/or industry or at least one occupational exposure; and that have at least one follow-up, either already conducted or planned. We expect that this open access inventory will be an important prerequisite for use of this resource of existing studies for research and policy development.

• Aarhus, Lisa & Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind (2019). Utredning av unge med arbeidsrelatert sykdom.
• Aas, Oddfrid; Fossum, Trude; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Randem, Britt Grethe; Granslo, Jens-Tore & Haanes, Jan Vilis (2019). Å skifte yrke er ikke enkelt. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening.  ISSN 0029-2001.
• Hasting, Rachel Louise; Hanvold, Therese Nordberg; Merkus, Suzanne; Kristensen, Petter & Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind (2019). Evaluation of the Norwegian Agreement on a More Inclusive Working Life: sickness absence in four diagnosis groups. Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  ISSN 1351-0711.  76, s A11- A11 . doi: 10.1136/OEM-2019-EPI.A11
• Kristensen, Petter; Hanvold, Therese Nordberg; Hasting, Rachel Louise; Merkus, Suzanne & Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind (2019). Risk of mental health disorders in human service occupations: a register based study of 445,651 Norwegians.. Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  ISSN 1351-0711.  76, s A30- A30 . doi: 10.1136/OEM-2019-EPI.A30
• Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind; Hanvold, Therese Nordberg; Mehlum, Lars; Hasting, Rachel Louise; Merkus, Suzanne & Kristensen, Petter (2019). Are psychosocial working conditions associated with suicide and intentional self-harm? A register-based study of 420,895 Norwegians.. Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  ISSN 1351-0711.  76, s A63- A63 . doi: 10.1136/OEM-2019-EPI.A63
• Sterud, Tom; Tynes, Tore; Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind; Veiersted, Kaj Bo; Bergbom, Barbara; Airila, Auli; Johansson, Bo; Brendler-Lindqvist,, Maria; Hviid, Kirsten & Flyvholm, Mari-Ann (2019). Arbeidsmiljø og helse blant innvandrerpopulasjoner. En systematisk gjennomgang av forskningslitteraturen i Europa og Canada. TemaNord. 509. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv.
• Turner, Michelle C. & Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind (2018). Greater coordination and harmonisation of European occupational cohorts is needed. Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  ISSN 1351-0711.  75(7), s 475- 476 . doi: 10.1136/oemed-2017-104955
• Johannessen, Håkon Andre; Løchting, Ida; Bakke, Berit; Nielsen, Morten Birkeland; Skyberg, Knut & Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind (2017). Effekter av myndighetstiltak på arbeidsmiljø og helse. En systematisk kunnskapsoppsummering. STAMI-rapport. Nr.5. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv.
• Midtsundstad, Tove Irene & Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind (2017). The impact of the working environment on work retention of older worker. National report - Norway (det norske perspektivet)..
• Midtsundstad, Tove Irene; Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind & Hilsen, Anne I. (2017). The impact of the working environment on work retention of older workers. National report - Norway. Fafo-notat. 2017:09.
• Tang, Fang; Mehlum, Lars; Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind & Qin, Ping (2017). Suicide risk and physical illness leading to leave from work: a national study of people in Norwegian labor force.
• Corbett, Karina & Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind (2016). Understanding sick leave risk in a lifecourse framework. A register-based birth cohort study of Norwegians born 1967–1976. Series of dissertations submitted to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo. No. 55347.
• Kristensen, Petter; Susser, Ezra; Corbett, Karina; Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind & Irgens, Lorentz M (2015). Birth weight, perinatal mortality, and the family: a sibling study of singletons born at term in Norway, 1967-2011.
• Kristensen, Petter; Susser, Ezra; Corbett, Karina; Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind & Irgens, Lorentz M (2015). Macrosomia at birth and perinatal mortality: a register study of siblings born at term in Norway, 1967-2011.
• Mehlum, Ingrid Sivesind; Corbett, Karina; Gran, Jon Michael & Kristensen, Petter (2015). Do psychosocial working conditions mediate social inequalities in musculoskeletal and psychiatric sickness absence in a life-course perspective?.
• Kristensen, Petter; Corbett, Karina & Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind (2014). Arbeid og helse i et livsløpsperspektiv. Arbeid og helse.  ISSN 0806-3648.  (1), s 18- 19
• Kristensen, Petter; Susser, Ezra; Irgens, Lorentz M.; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Corbett, Karina & Bjerkedal, Tor (2014). Kristensen et al. respond to ”high birth weight and later health”. Response to invited commentary. American Journal of Epidemiology.  ISSN 0002-9262.  180(9), s 888- 889 . doi: 10.1093/aje/kwu244
• Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Corbett, Karina; Gran, Jon Michael & Kristensen, Petter (2014). The relationship between socioeconomic position, working conditions and sickness absence in a life-course perspective.
• Corbett, Karina; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; McKeague, Ian; Susser, Ezra & Kristensen, Petter (2013). Does an unstable household income lead to poor cognitive outcomes?.
• Corbett, Karina; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; McKeague, Ian; Susser, Ezra & Kristensen, Petter (2013). Does an unstable household income lead to poor cognitive outcomes?. Norsk Epidemiologi, Supplement.  ISSN 0803-4206.  23, s 14- 14
• Kristensen, Petter; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Corbett, Karina & Bjerkedal, Tor (2013). Social interaction: intergenerational sickness absence among Norwegians born in 1976 and their parents.
• Kristensen, Petter; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Corbett, Karina & Bjerkedal, Tor (2013). Transgenerational sickness absence patterns in Norwegian families.
• Kristensen, Petter; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Corbett, Karina & Bjerkedal, Tor (2013). Transgenerational sickness absence patterns in Norwegian families. Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  ISSN 1351-0711.  70, s A107- A107 . doi: 10.1136/oemed-2013-101717.314
• Lie, Arve; Skogstad, Marit; Tynes, Tore; Johannessen, Håkon Andre; Nordby, Karl-Christian; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Arneberg, Line; Engdahl, Bo Lars & Tambs, Kristian (2013). Støy i arbeidslivet og helse. STAMI-rapport. Nr.10.
• Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Corbett, Karina & Kristensen, Petter (2013). The interaction between work-related factors and life-course socioeconomic position and its effect on subsequent sickness absence.
• Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Susser, Ezra; Link, Bruce; Corbett, Karina & Kristensen, Petter (2013). Social position and intelligence: which is the more important determinant of sickness absence in a life-course perspective?.
• Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Susser, Ezra; Link, Bruce; Corbett, Karina & Kristensen, Petter (2013). Social position and intelligence: which is the more important determinant of sickness absence in a life-course perspective?. Occupational and Environmental Medicine.  ISSN 1351-0711.  70, s A111- A111 . doi: 10.1136/oemed-2013-101717.326
• Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Susser, Ezra; Link, Bruce & Kristensen, Petter (2013). Socio-economic position in childhood and adulthood, intelligence, and mental health. Comprehensive Psychiatry.  ISSN 0010-440X.  54, s E7
• Kristensen, Petter; Susser, Ezra; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Corbett, Karina & Bjerkedal, Tor (2012). The relationship between high birthweight and IQ in young adult age.
• Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Susser, Ezra; Link, Bruce & Kristensen, Petter (2012). Socio-economic position in childhood and adulthood, intelligence, and health.
• Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Susser, Ezra; Link, Bruce & Kristensen, Petter (2012). Socio-economic position in childhood and adulthood, intelligence, and mental health.
• Corbett, Karina; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Aalen, Odd O. & Kristensen, Petter (2011). Is risk of sickness absence associated with sibling sickness absence?.
• Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Kristensen, Petter & Punnett, Laura (2011). Is the threshold for reporting pain or the tendency to attribute the pain to the job linked to socioeconomic position or gender?.
• Kristensen, Petter; Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind & Bjerkedal, Tor (2010). Physical fitness in adolescence and musculoskeletal sickness absence 5-15 years later: cohort study of 227 201 male employees born in Norway 1967-1976.
• Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Veiersted, Kaj Bo; Wærsted, Morten; Wergeland, E & Kjuus, Helge (2009). Self-reported versus expert-assessed work-relatedness of pain in the neck, shoulder, and arm.
• Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Kristensen, Petter; Kjuus, Helge & Wergeland, Ebba (2008). Are occupational factors important determinants for socio-economic inequalities in musculoskeletal pain?.
• Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Kristensen, Petter; Wergeland, Ebba & Kjuus, Helge (2007). Are occupational factors important determinants for socio-economic inequalities in musculoskeletal pain?.
• Mehlum, Ingrid Alethe Sivesind; Kristensen, Petter; Wergeland, Ebba & Kjuus, Helge (2007). Are occupational factors important determinants for socio-economic inequalities in musculoskeletal pain?.

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