Dag Steinar Thelle

• Tverdal, Aage; Selmer, Randi Marie & Thelle, Dag Steinar (2026). Associations between beer, wine, and spirits consumption and major mortality outcomes in 187,294 Norwegian men and women, with a focus on low-level wine intake. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. ISSN 1403-4948. doi: 10.1177/14034948261459749. Full text in Research Archive
• Johansen, Kristoffer Robin; Nes, Bjarne Martens; Malmo, Vegard; Myrstad, Marius; Thelle, Dag Steinar & Heitmann, Kim Arne [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2026). Impact of Physical Activity on Stroke and Mortality in Individuals With and Without Atrial Fibrillation: The HUNT Study and the Tromsø Study. Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA). doi: 10.1161/jaha.126.048812. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Although physical activity (PA) is associated with a reduced risk of stroke and mortality, its impact among individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains insufficiently explored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the impact of PA on stroke and mortality, both overall and with respect to AF diagnosis. Methods We included 87 340 participants, of which 6539 had AF, from 2 Norwegian population‐based studies, the Tromsø Study and the HUNT (Trøndelag Health Study). Information about AF, stroke, and death were obtained from national health registries. Participants were classified as inactive (reference) or performing low, moderate, or high PA on the basis of a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using multivariable adjusted flexible parametric survival models. Results During a median follow‐up of 13.5 years, 3415 strokes and 7833 deaths occurred. The respective stroke risk reduction associated with low, moderate, and high PA was 9% (95% CI, 1%–16%), 19% (95% CI, 11%–27%) and 18% (95% CI, 8%–26%). Mortality was reduced by 11% (95% CI, 7%–14%), 18% (95% CI, 14%–22%), and 22% (95% CI, 18%–27%). Similar benefits were observed for both stroke and mortality when stratifying by presence or absence of AF. Among individuals with AF, an increased life expectancy was observed, with gains of 0.50 (95% CI, 0.22–0.78), 0.66 (95% CI, 0.31–1.01) and 1.15 (95% CI, 0.77–1.53) years, respectively. Conclusions PA was associated with a reduced risk of stroke and mortality, and similar benefits were observed irrespective of AF diagnosis. Our findings suggest that PA may complement current medical treatment strategies in individuals with AF.

• Viktorisson, Adam; Khatib, Ilham Al; Bashir, Muwada; Nyberg, Fredrik; Lissner, Lauren & Thelle, Dag Steinar (2026). Long-term incidence of atrial fibrillation and cardiovascular outcomes in men and women with sinus rhythm: a 20-year follow-up of the INTERGENE population-based cohort. Open heart. 13(1). doi: 10.1136/openhrt-2025-003944. Full text in Research Archive
• Tverdal, Aage; Selmer, Randi Marie & Thelle, Dag Steinar (2026). Beyond smoking: Education, marital status and mortality in 513,552 Norwegians - PubMed. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. ISSN 1403-4948. doi: 10.1177/14034948251391598. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  An educational gradient in mortality persists in the absence of smoking and is more pronounced among the unmarried. Marital status appears to modify the relationship between education and mortality, underscoring the need to consider social and relational factors in health inequality research.

• Tverdal, Aage; Selmer, Randi Marie & Thelle, Dag Steinar (2026). Beyond smoking: Education, marital status and mortality in 513,552 Norwegians. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. ISSN 1403-4948. doi: 10.1177/14034948251391598. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background: Smoking is closely linked to socioeconomic status and risk of death. We examined the extent to which educational disparities in mortality can be explained by smoking. Methods: We analysed data from 513,552 men and women aged 25–69 years, excluding individuals with a history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes or cancer. The educational level was lower (less than 10 years), upper (10–12 years) and higher (13 or more years). We employed the direct method to estimate age-adjusted mortality rates and used the Cox proportional hazards model to calculate hazard ratios, using a higher educational level as the reference level. We ran models among non-smokers with interaction terms, educational level and another variable. Based on Akaike information criterion, we performed stratified analyses by marital status among non-smokers. Results: The hazard ratio for lower educational level in men was 1.38 (1.31–1.45) in non-smokers and 1.57 (1.49–1.66) in smokers. The figures for women were almost identical. Among non-smoking men, the hazard ratio for lower educational level was 1.28 (1.21–1.35) for the ever married and 2.20 (1.93–2.52) for the unmarried men. In women the figures were the same. For non-smoking men and women combined, the population attributable risk ascribed to upper or lower educational level was 17% for the ever married and 35% for the unmarried. Conclusions: An educational gradient in mortality persists in the absence of smoking and is more pronounced among the unmarried. Marital status appears to modify the relationship between education and mortality, underscoring the need to consider social and relational factors in health inequality research.

• Asefa, Henok; Brustad, Hilde Kjelgaard; Næss, Øyvind Erik; Thelle, Dag S & Holst, Rene (2025). On modeling the shared environment. American Journal of Epidemiology. ISSN 0002-9262. p. 1–8. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwaf255. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Abstract The shared environment is a key component in estimating the heritability of phenotypic traits from familial data. Unlike the genetic components, defined by the kinship parameters, the shared environment stems from complex, latent processes that vary in nature and impact across traits. This concept is intricate, encompassing latent variables and ambiguous interpretations that differ across scientific disciplines. A common approach assumes a 100% correlation for the shared environment among all family members. However, this model has inherent limitations and may fail to capture the dynamics of the conditions that constitute the shared environment within and across traits. This study explores aspects of the shared environment and adopts a more general approach to modeling its correlation structure. We introduce models that represent different dynamic structures, enabling alternative interpretations of shared environmental influence on the transmission of phenotypic traits. A more realistic correlation structure for the shared environment will result in more accurate and precise heritability estimates for a given trait, as well as deeper understanding of its etiology. We demonstrate the performance of our proposed models through simulations and application to data on body mass index and systolic blood pressure from Norwegian health surveys linked to family data.

• Tverdal, Aage; Selmer, Randi Marie & Thelle, Dag Steinar (2025). Smoking history and all-cause, ischaemic heart disease and lung cancer mortality: follow-up study of 358 551 men and women aged 40–43 years. Tobacco Control. ISSN 0964-4563. 34(2), p. 147–153. doi: 10.1136/tc-2023-057977. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Aims We studied the health consequences of quitting smoking before age 43 by time since quitting, number of years smoked and cigarettes smoked per day. The outcomes were all-cause, ischaemic heart disease and lung cancer mortality. Design Prospective study. Setting Norwegian counties. Participants Men and women aged 40–43 years who participated in a national cardiovascular screening programme and who were followed from 1985 to 2018. Measurements Self-reports from questionnaire on time since quitting smoking, years smoked and number of cigarettes per day, and measurements of height, weight and blood pressure, and a blood sample where serum was analysed for total serum cholesterol and triglycerides. Findings The all-cause mortality rate was 30% higher among quitters less than 1 year ago compared with never smokers (adjusted HR=1.30, 95% CI 1.18–1.43 in men and HR=1.31, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.50 in women). Quitters who had smoked longer than 20 years had 23% higher mortality in men (HR=1.23, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.34) and 32% higher mortality in women (HR=1.32, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.49). Past smoking of more than 20 cigarettes/day was associated with HR=1.14 (1.05–1.23) in men and HR=1.16 (1.01–1.32) in women. The HR for lung cancer was 6.77 (95% CI 4.86 to 9.45) for quitting men who had smoked for more than 20 years compared with never smokers. The corresponding figure for women was 5.75 (95% CI 4.08 to 8.09). Conclusions The mortality among quitters was close to that of never smokers, except for a higher mortality for lung cancer, which on the other hand was much lower than the lung cancer mortality in current smokers.

• Skultecka, Alina; Nyberg, Fredrik; Lissner, Lauren; Rosvall, Maria; Thelle, Dag S. & Olin, Anna-Carin [Show all 11 contributors for this article] (2024). Comparison of associations between alcohol consumption and metabolic syndrome according to three definitions: The Swedish INTERGENE study. Metabolism Open. 23, p. 100292–100292. doi: 10.1016/j.metop.2024.100292. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  While prevalence estimates differ by definition of metabolic syndrome (MetS), it is less clear how different definitions affect associations with alcohol consumption. We studied 3051 adults aged 25-77 from the baseline examination of the Swedish INTERGENE cohort (2001-2004). Using multiple logistic regression, we investigated cross-sectional associations between ethanol intake and MetS defined according to the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III), the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and the Joint Interim Statement (JIS). Alcohol exposure categories comprised abstinence, and low, medium, and high consumption defined via sex-specific tertiles of ethanol intake among current consumers. Covariates included sociodemographics, health, and lifestyle factors. MetS prevalence estimates varied between 13.9 % (ATP III) and 25.3 % (JIS), with higher prevalence in men than women. Adjusted for age and sex, medium-high alcohol consumption was associated with lower odds of MetS compared to low consumption, while no difference was observed for abstainers. Only the most specific (and thus severe) definition of MetS (ATP III) showed decreasing odds for ethanol intake when adjusted for all covariates. Conclusion: Our study shows that alcohol-related associations differ by definition of MetS. The finding that individuals with the most stringently defined MetS may benefit from alcohol consumption calls for further well-controlled studies.

• Håheim, Lise Lund; Olsen, Ingar; Thelle, Dag Steinar & Rønningen, Kjersti Skjold (2024). Comparative analysis of antibodies to four major periodontal bacteria in respiratory diseases: a cohort study. BMJ Open. 14(4), p. e082116–e082116. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082116. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objectives To make a descriptive comparison of antibodies to four major periodontal bacteria and their relation to the respiratory diseases asthma and bronchitis/emphysema, and to cancer incidence. Methods The serum of a random sample of men with no history of cancer incidence (n=621) was analysed by the ELISA method for antibody levels of four periodontal bacteria; the anaerobes of the so-called red complex Tannerella forsythia (TF), Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG), and Treponema denticola (TD), and the facultative anaerobe Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (AA). The antibody readings were divided into quartiles and the distribution of cases of the relevant diseases as compared with the non-cases. Comparisons of the quartile distributions were by the Pearson χ2 test. Data and serum from the Oslo II study of Norwegian men from 2000 were used. The ELISA analyses were performed on thawed frozen serum. Cancer data from 17.5 years of follow-up were provided by the Norwegian Cancer Registry. Results In all, 52 men had reported asthma and 23 men had bronchitis/emphysema at the health screening. Results on cancer incidence are given for all respiratory cancers, n=23, and bronchi and lung cancers separately, n=18. Stratified analyses were performed for the four endpoints showing significant association with low levels of TD antibodies for bronchitis; p=0.035. Both TF and TD were significant for low levels of antibodies among daily smokers; p=0.030 for TF and p<0.001 for TD in the analysis of the full study sample. For PG and AA, no such associations were observed. An association with respiratory cancers was not observed. Conclusion A low level of TD was associated with bronchitis/emphysema compared with the rest of the cohort. In the total study sample, low levels of antibodies to both TF and TD were associated with daily smoking.

• Thelle, Dag Steinar & Grønbæk, Morten (2024). Alcohol – a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023. Food & Nutrition Research (FNR). ISSN 1654-6628. 68. doi: 10.29219/fnr.v68.10540. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The objective of this scoping review is to evaluate the updated evidence on the consumption of alcohol and health outcomes regarded as relevant for the Nordic and Baltic countries, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality. It is based on the previous Nordic Nutrition Recommendations of 2012 and relevant papers published until 31 May 2021. Current evidence from mainly observational epidemiological studies suggests that regular, moderate alcohol consumption may confer protective effects against myocardial infarction (MI) and type 2 diabetes. Mendelian randomization analyses do not fully support these findings, possibly because these analyses may fail to identify low alcohol intake. For several cancers, it is not possible to set any safe limit. All-cause mortality is not increased with light to moderate alcohol intake in middle-aged and older adults who do not engage in binge drinking. Total abstinence is associated with the lowest risk of mortality in young adults. Observational studies on alcohol consumption are hampered by a number of inherent methodological issues such as ascertainment of alcohol intake, selection of appropriate exposure groups, and insufficient control of confounding variables, colliders, and mediators. It should also be emphasized that there is a socio-economic contribution to the alcohol-health axis with a stronger detrimental effect of alcohol in the lower social classes. The above issues contribute to the complexity of unravelling the causal web between alcohol, mediators, confounders, and health outcome.

• Johansen, Kristoffer Robin; Ranhoff, Anette Hylen; Sørensen, Eivind; Nes, Bjarne Martens; Sandbakk, Silvana Bucher & Wilsgaard, Tom [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2023). Ten-year mortality among older male recreational endurance athletes in the Birkebeiner Aging Study in comparison with older men from the Tromsø Study - PubMed. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. ISSN 0905-7188. 33(8), p. 1541–1551. doi: 10.1111/sms.14385. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Endurance sport practice was associated with reduced 10-year mortality, beyond the effect of PA in older men. This study suggests that long-term endurance sport practice maintained into older adulthood promotes longevity.

• Albrektsen, Grethe; Wilsgaard, Tom; Heuch, Ivar; Løchen, Maja-Lisa; Thelle, Dag Steinar & Njølstad, Inger [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2023). Lipid Levels During Adult Lifetime in Men and Women With and Without a Subsequent Incident Myocardial Infarction: A Longitudinal Analysis of Data From the Tromsø Study 1974 to 2016 - PubMed. Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA). 12(14). doi: 10.1161/JAHA.122.030010. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background The atherosclerotic effect of an adverse lipid profile is assumed to accumulate throughout life, leading to increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI). Still, little is known about age at onset and duration of unfavorable lipid levels before MI. Methods and Results Longitudinal data on …

• Thelle, Dag Steinar & Grønbæk, Morten (2023). Alcohol – a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023 | Food & Nutrition Research. Food & Nutrition Research (FNR). ISSN 1654-6628. 68. doi: 10.29219/fnr.v68.10540. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The objective of this scoping review is to evaluate the updated evidence on the consumption of alcohol and health outcomes regarded as relevant for the Nordic and Baltic countries, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality. It is based on the previous Nordic Nutrition Recommendations of 2012 and relevant papers published until 31 May 2021. Current evidence from mainly observational epidemiological studies suggests that regular, moderate alcohol consumption may confer protective effects against myocardial infarction (MI) and type 2 diabetes. Mendelian randomization analyses do not fully support these findings, possibly because these analyses may fail to identify low alcohol intake. For several cancers, it is not possible to set any safe limit. All-cause mortality is not increased with light to moderate alcohol intake in middle-aged and older adults who do not engage in binge drinking. Total abstinence is associated with the lowest risk of mortality in young adults. Observational studies on alcohol consumption are hampered by a number of inherent methodological issues such as ascertainment of alcohol intake, selection of appropriate exposure groups, and insufficient control of confounding variables, colliders, and mediators. It should also be emphasized that there is a socio-economic contribution to the alcohol-health axis with a stronger detrimental effect of alcohol in the lower social classes. The above issues contribute to the complexity of unravelling the causal web between alcohol, mediators, confounders, and health outcome.

• Johansen, Kristoffer Robin; Ranhoff, Anette Hylen; Sørensen, Eivind; Nes, Bjarne Martens; Sandbakk, Silvana Bucher & Wilsgaard, Tom [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2023). Ten-year mortality among older male recreational endurance athletes in the Birkebeiner Aging Study in comparison with older men from the Tromsø Study. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. ISSN 0905-7188. 33(8), p. 1541–1551. doi: 10.1111/sms.14385. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Physical activity (PA) is associated with reduced mortality. However, whether there is an added benefit of long-term endurance training is unclear. Thus, we aimed to examine 10-year mortality in older male endurance athletes compared with an older male general population. Method Male athletes (n = 503) participating in an annual long-distance ski race (median years of participation: 14, range: 1–53) from the Norwegian Birkebeiner Aging study (BiAS), and non-athletic men (n = 1867) attending the sixth Tromsø Study (Tromsø6) aged ≥65 years were included. Associations with endurance sport practice and joint exposures of endurance sport practice and self-reported leisure-time PA with all-cause mortality were examined. We analyzed the data with Cox proportional hazard models and regression standardization. Results After 10 years (median: 10.4, range: 0.5–11.1) the mortality rate was lower in athletes (hazard ratio (HR) 0.34, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.24–0.49) compared with non-athletes, corresponding to a 15% (95% CI: 12–19%) absolute risk reduction associated with endurance sport practice. In joint analyses categorized according to PA and endurance sport practice, we observed an inverse dose–response relationship with mortality (p < 0.001). Compared to inactive non-athletes, PA was associated with lower mortality in both active non-athletes and athletes. However, the observed benefit among participants reporting moderate-to-vigorous PA was larger in athletes (HR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.14–0.32) than non-athletes (HR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.31–0.59) (p < 0.01). Conclusion Endurance sport practice was associated with reduced 10-year mortality, beyond the effect of PA in older men. This study suggests that long-term endurance sport practice maintained into older adulthood promotes longevity.

• Tverdal, Aage; Selmer, Randi & Thelle, Dag Steinar (2023). Smoking history and all-cause, ischaemic heart disease and lung cancer mortality: Follow-up study of 358 551 men and women aged 40-43 years. Tobacco Control. ISSN 0964-4563. doi: 10.1136/tc-2023-057977. Full text in Research Archive
• Albrektsen, Grethe; Wilsgaard, Tom; Heuch, Ivar; Løchen, Maja-Lisa; Thelle, Dag Steinar & Njølstad, Inger [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2023). Lipid Levels During Adult Lifetime in Men and Women With and Without a Subsequent Incident Myocardial Infarction: A Longitudinal Analysis of Data From the Tromsø Study 1974 to 2016. Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA). 12(14). doi: 10.1161/JAHA.122.030010. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background The atherosclerotic effect of an adverse lipid profile is assumed to accumulate throughout life, leading to increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI). Still, little is known about age at onset and duration of unfavorable lipid levels before MI. Methods and Results Longitudinal data on serum lipid levels for 26 130 individuals (50.5% women, aged 20–89 years) were obtained from 7 population‐based health surveys in Tromsø, Norway. Diagnoses of MI were obtained from national registers. A linear mixed model was applied to compare age‐ and sex‐specific mean values of total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), and triglyceride concentration by MI status (MI versus non‐MI). Already from young adulthood, 20 to 35 years before the incident MI, individuals with a subsequent incident MI had on average more adverse lipid levels than individuals of the same age and sex without MI. Analogous to a dose–response relationship, there was a clear trend toward more severe adverse lipid levels the lower the age at incident MI (P<0.001, test for trend through ordered categories <55, 55–74, ≥75 years). This trend was particularly pronounced for high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol in percentage of total cholesterol (both sexes) and for the relative relationship between triglyceride, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total cholesterol level (women). The difference in mean lipid level by MI status was just as large in women as in men, but the age pattern differed (P≤0.05, tests of 3‐way interaction). Conclusions Compared with general population mean levels, adverse lipid levels were seen 20 to 35 years before the incident MI in both men and women.

• Tverdal, Aage; Selmer, Randi Marie & Thelle, Dag Steinar (2022). Alcohol consumption and incidence of pancreatic cancer - PubMed. Global Epidemiology. doi: 10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100078. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Our findings of an association between higher level of alcohol consumption and incident pancreatic cancer, could be attributed to confounding by smoking habits.

• Svatun, Åsne; Thelle, Dag Steinar; Løchen, Maja-Lisa & Wilsgaard, Tom (2022). Association between espresso coffee and serum total cholesterol: the Tromsø Study 2015-2016. Open heart. 9(1), p. 1–9. doi: 10.1136/openhrt-2021-001946. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background - Coffee raises serum cholesterol because of its diterpenes, cafestol and kahweol, and the effect varies by brewing method. Population-based research on espresso coffee’s impact on serum cholesterol is scarce. Our aim was to examine how various brewing methods, in particular espresso, were associated with serum total cholesterol (S-TC).<p> <p>Methods - We used cross-sectional population data from the seventh survey of the Tromsø Study in Northern Norway (N=21 083, age ≥40 years). Multivariable linear regression was used to assess the association between S-TC as the dependent variable and each level of coffee consumption using 0 cups as the reference level, adjusting for relevant covariates and testing for sex differences.<p> <p>Results - Consumption of 3–5 cups of espresso daily was significantly associated with increased S-TC (0.09 mmol/L, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.17 for women and 0.16 mmol/L, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.24 for men), compared with participants drinking 0 cups of espresso per day. Consumption of ≥6 cups of boiled/plunger coffee daily was also associated with increased S-TC (0.30 mmol/L, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.48 for women and 0.23 mmol/L, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.38 for men), compared with participants drinking 0 cups of boiled/plunger coffee. Consumption of ≥6 cups of filtered coffee daily was associated with 0.11 mmol/L (95% CI 0.03 to 0.19) higher S-TC levels for women but not for men. Instant coffee consumption had a significant linear trend but showed no dose–response relationship when excluding participants not drinking instant coffee. There were significant sex differences for all coffee types except boiled/plunger coffee.<p> <p>Conclusion<- Espresso coffee consumption was associated with increased S-TC with significantly stronger association for men compared with women. Boiled/plunger coffee was associated with increased S-TC in both sexes and with similar magnitude as shown in previous research. Filtered coffee was associated with a small increase in S-TC in women. Further research on espresso and S-TC is warranted.

• Håheim, Lise Lund; Thelle, Dag Steinar; Rønningen, Kjersti Skjold; Olsen, Ingar & Schwarze, Per Everhard (2022). Low level of antibodies to the oral bacterium Tannerella forsythia predicts bladder cancers and Treponema denticola predicts colon and bladder cancers: A prospective cohort study. PLOS ONE. 17(8). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272148. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  This study explores the risk for cancer by level of antibodies to the anaerobe oral bacteria of periodontitis Tannerella forsythia (TF), Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG), and Treponema denticola (TD) all three collectively termed the red complex, and the facultative anaerobe bacterium Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (AA). The prospective cohort, the Oslo II-study from 2000, the second screening of the Oslo study of 1972/73, has been followed for 17 ½ years with regard to cancer incidence and mortality. A random sample of 697 elderly men comprised the study cohort. The antibody results measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used in the Cox proportional hazards analyses, and quartile risk on cancer incidence in a 17 ½ years follow-up. Among the 621 participants with no prior cancer diagnoses, 221 men developed cancer. The incidence trend was inverse, and the results are shown as 1st quartile of highest value and 4th as lowest of antibody levels. The results of the Cox proportional regression analyses showed that TF inversely predicts bladder cancer (n = 22) by Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.71 (95% CI: 1.12, 2.61). TD inversely predicts colon cancer (n = 26) by HR = 1.52 (95% CI: 1.06, 2.19) and bladder cancer (n = 22) by HR = 1.60 (95% CI: 1.05, 2.43). Antibodies to two oral bacteria, TF and TD, showed an inverse risk relationship with incidence of specific cancers: TF bladder cancer, TD bladder and colon cancer. Lowered immunological response to the oral infection, periodontitis, is shown to be a risk factor in terms of cancer aetiology.

• Johansen, Kristoffer Robin; Ranhoff, Anette Hylen; Sørensen, Eivind; Nes, Bjarne; Heitmann, Kim Arne & Apelland, Turid [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2022). Risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke among older men exposed to prolonged endurance sport practice: a 10-year follow-up. The Birkebeiner Ageing Study and the Tromsø Study. Open heart. 9(2). doi: 10.1136/openhrt-2022-002154. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Aims Endurance sport practice is associated with a high prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF), which increases the risk of stroke in the general population. However, stroke risk in endurance athletes with AF is sparsely investigated. Most studies have been limited by design and are largely restricted to younger and middle-aged populations. Thus, we aimed to investigate AF and stroke risk in older athletes exposed to prolonged endurance training. Method During a 10-year period, 505 male athletes aged ≥65 years frequently participating in a long-distance ski race were compared with 1867 men of the same age from the general population. The main exposure was endurance sport practice with self-reported AF and stroke as outcomes. Stroke risk was further examined by joint modelling of AF and endurance practice. Statistical analysis was conducted with a modified Poisson model. Results Athletes (median age: 68, range: 65–90) participated in a long-distance ski race over a median of 14 years (range: 1–53). Prevalence (28.5% vs 17.8%) and adjusted risk of AF (risk ratio (RR): 1.88, 95% CI: 1.49 to 2.37) were higher in athletes compared with non-athletes, whereas the prevalence (5.4% vs 9.7%) and risk of stroke were lower (RR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.37 to 0.95). Compared with athletes without AF, risk of stroke was twofold in athletes (RR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.08 to 5.24) and nearly fourfold in non-athletes (RR: 3.87, 95% CI: 1.98 to 7.57) with AF. Conclusion Although older male endurance athletes experienced an increased risk of AF, the long-term risk of stroke was substantially reduced compared with non-athletes.

• Tverdal, Aage; Selmer, Randi Marie & Thelle, Dag Steinar (2022). Alcohol consumption and incidence of pancreatic cancer. Global Epidemiology. 4. doi: 10.1016/j.gloepi.2022.100078. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Purpose The association between alcohol consumption and pancreatic cancer is unsettled. Methods Altogether 243,169 men and women 20–79 years, without cancer at baseline, were followed with respect to pancreatic cancer by linkage to the Cancer Registry of Norway and the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry. They participated in a cardiovascular survey where information on alcohol consumption, smoking habits, anthropometric measures, and some biological variables were recorded. During 20 years of follow-up, 991 incident pancreatic cancers were registered. We estimated the hazard ratios with the Cox proportional hazards model, and graphed spline curves between glass-units/d of alcohol and hazard ratio of incident pancreatic cancer. Results The multivariable adjusted hazard per 1 glass-unit/d was 1.08 (95% confidence interval 1.02–1.15) for men and 1.04 (0.97–1.13) for women. The association between alcohol consumption and incident pancreatic cancer was present in ex- and current smokers, but the association could be ascribed to smoking habits. The multivariable adjusted spline curves increased with increasing glass-units/d and with confidence bands not encompassing 1.0 above one glass-unit/day. Conclusion Our findings of an association between higher level of alcohol consumption and incident pancreatic cancer, could be attributed to confounding by smoking habits.

• Thelle, Dag Steinar (2021). Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Uptake of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation - PubMed. JAMA Network Open. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.10116. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Uptake of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

• Kirsten, Mehlig; Schult, Andeas Bernd; Björkelund, Cecilia; Thelle, Dag Steinar & Lissner, Lauren (2021). Associations between alcohol and liver enzymes are modified by coffee, cigarettes, and overweight in a Swedish female population - PubMed. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. ISSN 0036-5521. doi: 10.1080/00365521.2021.2009557. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The results suggest that coffee consumption reduces the enzyme-raising effect of ethanol in the presence of synergistic interactions with smoking and overweight, specifically in women.

• Mehlig, Kirsten; Schult, Andreas; Björkelund, Cecilia; Thelle, Dag Steinar & Lissner, Lauren (2021). Associations between alcohol and liver enzymes are modified by coffee, cigarettes, and overweight in a Swedish female population. Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. ISSN 0036-5521. 57(3), p. 1–7. doi: 10.1080/00365521.2021.2009557. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Purpose To examine whether positive associations between alcohol and liver enzymes were modified by coffee consumption, smoking, or weight status in a female population. Methods Regular consumption of beer, wine, and spirits was assessed in a representative cohort of 1462 Swedish women aged 38–60 in 1968, and re-assessed in 1974. In 1980, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and aspartase transaminase (AST) were measured in 1130 women. Exposures were averaged over values obtained in 1968 and 1974. Multivariable linear regression linked total ethanol intake to log-transformed enzyme values, including interactions by coffee, smoking, and overweight in mutually adjusted models. Results Coffee consumption significantly modified the association between ethanol intake and liver enzymes. One g/day higher ethanol intake was associated with 5.5 (3.5, 7.5)% higher values of GGT, and 1.2 (0.4, 2.1)% higher values of AST in women consuming 0–1 cups of coffee per day, while smaller or no effects were observed in women consuming ≥2 cups/day. Synergistic interactions were observed for ethanol and smoking, and for ethanol and overweight. Average alcohol-related effects on GGT in smokers and non-smokers were given by 3.8 (2.7, 4.9)% and 2.1 (0.9, 3.2)% per g ethanol/day, and by 0.9 (0.4, 1.4)% and 0.2 (−0.3, 0.7)% for AST. Similarly, in overweight women, 1 g/day higher ethanol intake was associated with 4.3 (3.0, 5.6)% higher GGT compared to 1.6 (0.7, 2.5)% in non-overweight women. Conclusions The results suggest that coffee consumption reduces the enzyme-raising effect of ethanol in the presence of synergistic interactions with smoking and overweight, specifically in women.

• Håheim, Lise Lund; Schwarze, Per Everhard; Thelle, Dag Steinar; Nafstad, Per; Rønningen, Kjersti Skjold & Olsen, Ingar (2020). Low levels of antibodies for the oral bacterium Tannerella forsythia predict cardiovascular disease mortality in men with myocardial infarction: A prospective cohort study - PubMed. Medical Hypotheses. ISSN 0306-9877. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109575. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Antibody levels to periodontal pathogens in prediction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality were explored using data from a health survey in Oslo in 2000 (Oslo II-study) with 12 1/2 years follow-up. IgG antibodies to four common periodontal pathogens; Tannerella forsythia (TF), Porphyromonas gi …

• Thelle, Dag Steinar (2020). Long-term ECG - PubMed. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.20.0080. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Long-term ECG

• Thelle, Dag Steinar (2020). Alcohol and heart health: The need for a randomized controlled trial - PubMed. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology (EJPC). ISSN 2047-4873. doi: 10.1177/2047487320914433. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Alcohol and heart health: The need for a randomized controlled trial

• Tverdal, Aage; Selmer, Randi Marie & Thelle, Dag Steinar (2020). Coffee consumption and mortality from cardiovascular diseases and total mortality: Does the brewing method matter? - PubMed. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology (EJPC). ISSN 2047-4873. 27(18), p. 1–8. doi: 10.1177/2047487320914443. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Unfiltered brew was associated with higher mortality than filtered brew, and filtered brew was associated with lower mortality than no coffee consumption.

• Thelle, Dag Steinar (2020). [Is alcohol good for the heart?] - PubMed. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.20.0187. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  [Is alcohol good for the heart?]

• Thelle, Dag Steinar (2020). EKG over lang tid. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 140. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.20.0080. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Vi trenger retningslinjer for hvordan man skal bruke langtidsregistrering av EKG for å påvise atrieflimmer.

• Håheim, Lise Lund; Schwarze, Per Everhard; Thelle, Dag Steinar; Nafstad, Per; Rønningen, Kjersti Skjold & Olsen, Ingar (2020). Low levels of antibodies for the oral bacterium Tannerella forsythia predict cardiovascular disease mortality in men with myocardial infarction: A prospective cohort study. Medical Hypotheses. ISSN 0306-9877. 138. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109575. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Antibody levels to periodontal pathogens in prediction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality were explored using data from a health survey in Oslo in 2000 (Oslo II-study) with 12 1/2 years follow-up. IgG antibodies to four common periodontal pathogens; Tannerella forsythia (TF), Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG), and Treponema denticola (TD) all termed collectively the “red complex”, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (AA) were analysed. The study sample consisted of 1172 men drawn from a cohort of 6,530 men who participated in the Oslo II-study, where they provided information on medical and dental history. Of the study sample, 548 men had reported prior myocardial infarction (MI) at baseline whereas the remaining 624 men were randomly drawn from the ostensibly healthy participants for comparative analyses. Dental anamnestic information included tooth extractions and oral infections. An inverse relation was found for trend by the quartile risk level of TF predicting CVD mortality, p-value for trend = 0.017. Comparison of the first to fourth quartile of TF antibodies resulted in hazard ratio (HR) = 1.82, 95% confidence interval 1.12–2.94, p = 0.015, adjusted for age, education, diabetes, daily smoking, and systolic blood pressure. Specificity comparing decile 1 to deciles 2–10 of TF predicting mortality was 92.3%. We found an increased HR by low levels of antibodies to the bacterium T. forsythia predicting CVD mortality in a 12 ½ years follow-up in persons who had experienced an MI but not among non-MI men. This novel finding constitutes a plausible causal link between oral infections and CVD mortality.

• Håheim, Lise Lund; Nafstad, Per; Schwarze, Per Everhard; Olsen, Ingar; Rønningen, Kjersti Skjold & Thelle, Dag Steinar (2019). Oral health and cardiovascular disease risk factors and mortality of cerebral haemorrhage, cerebral infarction and unspecified stroke in elderly men: A prospective cohort study. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. ISSN 1403-4948. doi: 10.1177/1403494819879351. Full text in Research Archive
• Tverdal, Aage; Skurtveit, Svetlana; Selmer, Randi Marie; Myhre, Ronny & Thelle, Dag Steinar (2018). Coffee and wine consumption is associated with reduced mortality from alcoholic liver disease: follow-up of 219,279 Norwegian men and women aged 30-67 years. Annals of Epidemiology. ISSN 1047-2797. 28(11), p. 753–758. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2018.08.010. Full text in Research Archive
• Morseth, Bente; Løchen, Maja-Lisa; Ariansen, Inger Kristine Holtermann; Myrstad, Marius & Thelle, Dag Steinar (2018). The ambiguity of physical activity, exercise and atrial fibrillation. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology (EJPC). ISSN 2047-4873. 25(6), p. 624–636. doi: 10.1177/2047487318754930. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Although commonly associated with cardiovascular disease or other medical conditions, atrial fibrillation may also occur in individuals without any known underlying conditions. This manifestation of atrial fibrillation has been linked to extensive and long-term exercise, as prolonged endurance exercise has shown to increase prevalence and risk of atrial fibrillation. In contrast, more modest physical activity is associated with a decreased risk of atrial fibrillation, and current research indicates a J-shaped association between atrial fibrillation and the broad range of physical activity and exercise. This has led to the hypothesis that the mechanisms underlying an increased risk of atrial fibrillation with intensive exercise are different from those underlying a reduced risk with moderate physical activity, possibly linked to distinctive characteristics of the population under study. High volumes of exercise over many years performed by lean, healthy endurance trained athletes may lead to cardiac (patho)physiological alterations involving the autonomic nervous system and remodelling of the heart. The mechanisms underlying a reduced risk of atrial fibrillation with light and moderate physical activity may involve a distinctive pathway, as physical activity can potentially reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation through favourable effects on cardiovascular risk factors.

• Albrektsen, Grethe; Heuch, Ivar; Løchen, Maja-Lisa; Thelle, Dag Steinar; Wilsgaard, Tom & Njølstad, Inger [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2017). Data on gender contrasts in the risk of incident myocardial infarction by age. The Tromsø Study 1979-2012. Data in Brief. 13, p. 779–784. doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2017.07.001. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The data presented in this article relate to the research article entitled “Risk of incident myocardial infarction by gender: Interactions with serum lipids, blood pressure and smoking. The Tromsø Study 1979–2012” (Albrektsen et al., 2017) [1]. Data quantify the gender differences in the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in terms of incidence rate ratios (IRR), in subgroups defined by serum lipids, blood pressure and smoking among persons aged 35–54 years, 55–74 years and 75–94 years, respectively. Data also describe the age- and gender-specific linear associations with the coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors. IRRs for combined categories of age, gender and a CHD risk factor, with each category compared to the same reference group, are also shown. IRRs were calculated as estimates of relative risk in Poisson regression analyses of person-years at risk. Among 33,859 individuals at risk, a total of 622, 1308 and 816 were diagnosed with MI at ages 35–54, 55–74 and 75–94 years, respectively.

• Tverdal, Aage; Magnus, Per; Selmer, Randi & Thelle, Dag Steinar (2017). Consumption of alcohol and cardiovascular disease mortality: a 16 year follow-up of 115,592 Norwegian men and women aged 40–44 years. European Journal of Epidemiology (EJE). ISSN 0393-2990. 32(9), p. 775–783. doi: 10.1007/s10654-017-0313-4. Full text in Research Archive
• Albrektsen, Grethe; Heuch, Ivar; Løchen, Maja-Lisa; Thelle, Dag Steinar; Wilsgaard, Tom & Njølstad, Inger [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2017). Risk of incident myocardial infarction by gender: Interactions with serum lipids, blood pressure and smoking. The Tromsø Study 1979-2012. Atherosclerosis. ISSN 0021-9150. 261, p. 52–59. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2017.04.009. Full text in Research Archive
• Mehlig, Kirsten; Berg, Christina; Björck, Lena; Nyberg, Fredrik; Olin, Anna-Carin & Rosengren, Annika [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2017). Cohort Profile: The INTERGENE study. International Journal of Epidemiology. ISSN 0300-5771. 46(6), p. 1742–1743h. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyw332. Full text in Research Archive
• Morseth, Bente; Graff-Iversen, Sidsel; Jacobsen, Bjarne K.; Jørgensen, Lone; Nyrnes, Audhild & Thelle, Dag Steinar [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2016). Physical activity, resting heart rate, and atrial fibrillation: the Tromsø Study. European Heart Journal. ISSN 0195-668X. 37(29), p. 2307–2313. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehw059. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Aims: The objective was to examine the association of physical activity and resting heart rate (RHR) with hospital-diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) in a Norwegian cohort. <p> Methods and Results: This prospective study included 20 484 adults (50.3% men) who participated in the third Tromsø Study survey in 1986-1987. At baseline, physical activity was assessed by a validated questionnaire, and RHR was objectively measured. Participants were followed from baseline through 2010 with respect to incident cases of hospitaldiagnosed AF documented on an electrocardiogram. During a mean follow-up period of 20 years (409 045 person-years), 750 participants (70.5% men) were diagnosed with AF. Compared with the low physical activity group, moderately active individuals had a 19% lower risk of any AF (adjusted HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.68-0.97), whereas highly active had similar risk of AF. Vigorously active individuals showed a non-significantly higher risk of AF (adjusted HR 1.37, 95% CI 0.77-2.43). Risk of AF increased with decreasing RHR (adjusted HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86-0.98 for each 10 beats/minutes increase in RHR), and RHR <50 beats/minute was a risk factor for AF (P<0.05). <p> Conclusion: In this prospective cohort study, leisure time physical activity was associated with AF in a J-shaped pattern. Moderate physical activity was associated with a reduced risk of AF, whereas higher activity levels attenuated the benefits of moderate activity. Low RHR was a risk factor for AF. Our results support the hypothesis that moderate and vigorous physical activity may affect AF risk via different pathophysiological mechanisms.

• Pattaro, Cristian; Teumer, Alexander; Gorski, Mathias; Chu, Audrey Y.; Li, Man & Mijatovic, Vladan [Show all 698 contributors for this article] (2016). Genetic associations at 53 loci highlight cell types and biological pathways relevant for kidney function. Nature Communications. 2016(10023). doi: 10.1038/ncomms10023. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Reduced glomerular filtration rate defines chronic kidney disease and is associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. We conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), combining data across 133,413 individuals with replication in up to 42,166 individuals. We identify 24 new and confirm 29 previously identified loci. Of these 53 loci, 19 associate with eGFR among individuals with diabetes. Using bioinformatics, we show that identified genes at eGFR loci are enriched for expression in kidney tissues and in pathways relevant for kidney development and transmembrane transporter activity, kidney structure, and regulation of glucose metabolism. Chromatin state mapping and DNase I hypersensitivity analyses across adult tissues demonstrate preferential mapping of associated variants to regulatory regions in kidney but not extra-renal tissues. These findings suggest that genetic determinants of eGFR are mediated largely through direct effects within the kidney and highlight important cell types and biological pathways.

• Njølstad, Inger; Mathiesen, Ellisiv B.; Schirmer, Henrik & Thelle, Dag Steinar (2016). The Tromsø Study 1974-2016: 40 years of cardiovascular research. Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal. ISSN 1401-7431. 50(5-6), p. 276–281. doi: 10.1080/14017431.2016.1239837. Full text in Research Archive
• Mannsverk, Jan Torbjørn; Wilsgaard, Tom; Mathiesen, Ellisiv B.; Løchen, Maja-Lisa; Rasmussen, Knut & Thelle, Dag Steinar [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2016). Trends in modifiable risk factors are associated with declining incidence of hospitalized and nonhospitalized acute coronary heart disease in a population. Circulation. ISSN 0009-7322. 133(1), p. 74–81. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.016960. Full text in Research Archive
• Albrektsen, Grethe; Heuch, Ivar; Løchen, Maja-Lisa; Thelle, Dag Steinar; Wilsgaard, Tom & Njølstad, Inger [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2016). Lifelong gender gap in risk of incident myocardial infarction: The Tromsø study. JAMA Internal Medicine. ISSN 2168-6106. 176(11), p. 1673–1679. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.5451. Full text in Research Archive
• Grimby, Gunnar; Börjesson, Mats; Jónsdóttir, Ingibjörg H.; Schnohr, Peter; Thelle, Dag Steinar & Saltin, Bengt (2015). The "Saltin-Grimby Physical Activity Level Scale" and its application to health research. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. ISSN 0905-7188. 25, p. 119–125. doi: 10.1111/sms.12611. Full text in Research Archive
• Kern, Silke; Mehlig, Kirsten; Kern, Jurgen; Zetterberg, Henrik; Thelle, Dag Steinar & Skoog, Ingmar [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2015). The distribution of apolipoprotein e genotype over the adult lifespan and in relation to country of birth. American Journal of Epidemiology. ISSN 0002-9262. 181(3), p. 214–217. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwu442. Full text in Research Archive
• Huan, Tianxiao; Esko, Tõnu; Peters, Marjolein J.; Pilling, Luke C.; Schramm, Katharina & Schurmann, Claudia [Show all 48 contributors for this article] (2015). A Meta-analysis of Gene Expression Signatures of Blood Pressure and Hypertension. PLoS Genetics. ISSN 1553-7390. 11:e1005035(3), p. 1–29. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005035. Full text in Research Archive
• Arking, Dan E.; Pulit, Sara L.; Crotti, Lia; Harst, Pim Van Der; Munroe, Patricia B. & Koopmann, Tamara T. [Show all 230 contributors for this article] (2014). Genetic association study of QT interval highlights role for calcium signaling pathways in myocardial repolarization. Nature Genetics. ISSN 1061-4036. 46(8), p. 826–836. doi: 10.1038/ng.3014. Full text in Research Archive
• Myrstad, Marius; Nystad, Wenche; Graff-Iversen, Sidsel; Thelle, Dag Steinar; Stigum, Hein & Aarønæs, Marit [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2014). Effect of years of endurance exercise on risk of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. American Journal of Cardiology. ISSN 0002-9149. 114(8), p. 1229–1233. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2014.07.047. Full text in Research Archive
• Myrstad, Marius; Løchen, Maja-Lisa; Graff-Iversen, Sidsel; Gulsvik, Anne Kristine; Thelle, Dag Steinar & Stigum, Hein [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2014). Increased risk of atrial fibrillation among elderly Norwegian men with a history of long-term endurance sport practice. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports. ISSN 0905-7188. 24(4), p. e238–e244. doi: 10.1111/sms.12150. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. The prevalence increases with increasing age. In middle-aged men, endurance sport practice is associated with increased risk of AF but there are few studies among elderly people. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of long-term endurance sport practice as a risk factor for AF in elderly men. A cross-sectional study compared 509 men aged 65–90 years who participated in a long-distance cross-country ski race with 1768 men aged 65–87 years from the general population. Long-term endurance sport practice was the main exposure. Self-reported AF and covariates were assessed by questionnaires. Risk differences (RDs) for AF were estimated by using a linear regression model. After multivariable adjustment, a history of endurance sport practice gave an added risk for AF of 6.0 percent points (pp) (95% confidence interval 0.8–11.1). Light and moderate leisure-time physical activity during the last 12 months reduced the risk with 3.7 and 4.3 pp, respectively, but the RDs were not statistically significant. This study suggests that elderly men with a history of long-term endurance sport practice have an increased risk of AF compared with elderly men in the general population.

• Lerang, Karoline; Gilboe, Inge-Margrethe; Thelle, Dag Steinar & Gran, Jan Tore (2014). Mortality and years of potential life loss in systemic lupus erythematosus: A population-based cohort study. Lupus. ISSN 0961-2033. 23(14), p. 1546–1552. doi: 10.1177/0961203314551083. Full text in Research Archive
• Mehlig, Kirsten; Strandhagen, Elisabeth; Svensson, Per-Arne; Rosengren, Annika; Torén, Kjell & Thelle, Dag Steinar [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2014). CETP TaqIB genotype modifies the association between alcohol and coronary heart disease: The INTERGENE case-control study. Alcohol. ISSN 0741-8329. 48(7), p. 695–700. doi: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2014.08.011. Full text in Research Archive
• Thelle, Dag Steinar; Selmer, Randi; Gjesdal, Knut; Sakshaug, Solveig; Jugessur, Astanand & Graff-Iversen, Sidsel [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2013). Resting heart rate and physical activity as risk factors for lone atrial fibrillation: a prospective study of 309 540 men and women. Heart. ISSN 1355-6037. 99(23), p. 1755–1760. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2013-303825. Full text in Research Archive
• Mehlig, K; Leander, K.; Faire, U. De; Nyberg, F; Berg, C & Rosengren, A [Show all 14 contributors for this article] (2013). The association between plasma homocysteine and coronary heart disease is modified by the MTHFR 677C > T polymorphism. Heart. ISSN 1355-6037. 99(23), p. 1761–1765. doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2013-304460. Full text in Research Archive
• Gulsvik, Anne Kristine; Thelle, Dag Steinar; Samuelsen, Sven Ove; Myrstad, Marius; Mowe, Morten & Wyller, Torgeir Bruun (2012). Ageing, physical activity and mortality - a 42-year follow-up study. International Journal of Epidemiology. ISSN 0300-5771. 41(2), p. 521–530. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyr205. Full text in Research Archive
• Graff-Iversen, Sidsel; Gjesdal, Knut; Jugessur, Astanand; Myrstad, Marius; Nystad, Wenche & Selmer, Randi Marie [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2012). Atrieflimmer, fysisk aktivitet og utholdenhetstrening. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 132(3), p. 295–299. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.11.0567. Full text in Research Archive
• Steingrímsdóttir, Ólöf Anna; Næss, Øyvind; Moe, Joakim Oliu; Grøholt, Else-Karin; Thelle, Dag Steinar & Strand, Bjørn Heine [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2012). Trends in life expectancy by education in Norway 1961-2009. European Journal of Epidemiology (EJE). ISSN 0393-2990. 27(3), p. 163–171. doi: 10.1007/s10654-012-9663-0. Full text in Research Archive
• Lerang, Karoline; Gilboe, Inge-Margrethe; Garen, Torhild Oddveig; Thelle, Dag Steinar & Gran, Jan Tore (2012). High incidence and prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus in Norway. Lupus. ISSN 0961-2033. 21(12), p. 1362–1369. doi: 10.1177/0961203312458168. Full text in Research Archive
• Rödjer, Lars; Jonsdottir, Ingibjørg; Rosengren, Annika; Björck, Lena; Grimby, Gunnar & Thelle, Dag Steinar [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2012). Self-reported leisure time physical activity: a useful assessment tool in everyday health care. BMC Public Health. 12. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-693. Full text in Research Archive
• Johnson, Toby; Gaunt, Tom R; Newhouse, Stephen J; Padmanabhan, S; Tomaszewski, Maciej & Kumari, M [Show all 104 contributors for this article] (2012). Blood Pressure Loci Identified with a Gene-Centric Array. American Journal of Human Genetics. ISSN 0002-9297. 89(6), p. 688–700. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2011.10.013. Full text in Research Archive
• Gulsvik, Anne Kristine; Gulsvik, Amund; Skovlund, Eva; Thelle, Dag Steinar; Mowe, Morten & Hummerfeldt, Sjur [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2012). The association between lung function and fatal stroke in a community followed for 4 decades. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. ISSN 0143-005X. 66(11), p. 1030–1036. doi: 10.1136/jech-2011-200312. Full text in Research Archive
• Mannsverk, Jan Torbjørn; Wilsgaard, Tom; Njølstad, Inger; Hopstock, Laila Arnesdatter; Løchen, Maja-Lisa & Mathiesen, Ellisiv B. [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2012). Age and gender differences in incidence and case fatality trends for myocardial infarction: a 30-year follow-up. The Tromso Study. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology (EJPC). ISSN 2047-4873. 19(5), p. 927–934. doi: 10.1177/1741826711421081. Full text in Research Archive
• Tognon, Gianluca; Berg, Christina; Mehlig, Kirsten; Thelle, Dag Steinar; Strandhagen, Elisabeth & Gustavsson, Jaana [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2012). Comparison of Apolipoprotein (apoB/apoA-I) and Lipoprotein (Total Cholesterol/HDL) Ratio Determinants. Focus on Obesity, Diet and Alcohol Intake. PLOS ONE. 7(7). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040878. Full text in Research Archive
• Landgren, Sara; Simms, Jeffrey A.; Thelle, Dag Steinar; Strandhagen, Elisabeth; Bartlett, Selena E. & Engel, Jörgen A. [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2011). The Ghrelin Signalling System Is Involved in the Consumption of Sweets. PLOS ONE. 6(3). doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0018170. Full text in Research Archive
• Sherpa, Lhamo Yangchen; Deji, -; Stigum, Hein; Chongsuvivatwong, Virasakdi; Luobu, Ouzhu & Thelle, Dag Steinar [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2011). Lipid Profile and Its Association with Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease in the Highlanders of Lhasa, Tibet. High Altitude Medicine & Biology. ISSN 1527-0297. 12(1), p. 57–63. doi: 10.1089/ham.2010.1050. Full text in Research Archive
• Olsson, Maja; Olsson, Bob; Jacobson, Peter; Thelle, Dag Steinar; Björkegren, Johan & Walley, Andrew [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2011). Expression of the selenoprotein S (SELS) gene m subcutaneous adipose tissue and SELS genotype are associated with metabolic risk factors. Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental. ISSN 0026-0495. 60(1), p. 114–120. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2010.05.011. Full text in Research Archive
• Thelle, Dag Steinar; Gustavsson, J; Mehlig, K; Leander, K.; Strandhagen, E & Björck, L [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2011). Interaction of apolipoprotein E genotype with smoking and physical inactivity on coronary heart disease risk in men and women. Atherosclerosis. ISSN 0021-9150. 220(2), p. 486–492. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2011.10.011. Full text in Research Archive
• Thelle, Dag Steinar (2011). Chapter 4. Cardiovascular Risk Factors – An Aetiologically Oriented Epidemiologist's Perspective. In Håheim, Anne-Lise Lund (Eds.), Oral infections and cardiovascular disease. Bentham Science Publishers Ltd. ISSN 9781608052325. Full text in Research Archive
• Magnus, Per; Bakke, Eirin; Hoff, Dominic Anthony; Høiseth, Gudrun; Graff-Iversen, Sidsel & Knudsen, Gun Peggy [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2011). Controlling for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol does not affect the magnitude of the relationship between alcohol and coronary heart disease. Circulation. ISSN 0009-7322. 124(21), p. 2296–2302. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.036491. Full text in Research Archive
• Aune, Erlend; Røislien, Jo; Mathisen, Mariann; Thelle, Dag Steinar & Otterstad, Jan Erik (2011). The "smoker's paradox" in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a systematic review. BMC Medicine. 9. doi: 10.1186/1741-7015-9-97. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Background Smokers have been shown to have lower mortality after acute coronary syndrome than non-smokers. This has been attributed to the younger age, lower co-morbidity, more aggressive treatment and lower risk profile of the smoker. Some studies, however, have used multivariate analyses to show a residual survival benefit for smokers; that is, the "smoker's paradox". The aim of this study was, therefore, to perform a systematic review of the literature and evidence surrounding the existence of the "smoker's paradox". Methods Relevant studies published by September 2010 were identified through literature searches using EMBASE (from 1980), MEDLINE (from 1963) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, with a combination of text words and subject headings used. English-language original articles were included if they presented data on hospitalised patients with defined acute coronary syndrome, reported at least in-hospital mortality, had a clear definition of smoking status (including ex-smokers), presented crude and adjusted mortality data with effect estimates, and had a study sample of > 100 smokers and > 100 non-smokers. Two investigators independently reviewed all titles and abstracts in order to identify potentially relevant articles, with any discrepancies resolved by repeated review and discussion. Results A total of 978 citations were identified, with 18 citations from 17 studies included thereafter. Six studies (one observational study, three registries and two randomised controlled trials on thrombolytic treatment) observed a "smoker's paradox". Between the 1980s and 1990s these studies enrolled patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) according to criteria similar to the World Health Organisation criteria from 1979. Among the remaining 11 studies not supporting the existence of the paradox, five studies represented patients undergoing contemporary management. Conclusion The "smoker's paradox" was observed in some studies of AMI patients in the pre-thrombolytic and thrombolytic era, whereas no studies of a contemporary population with acute coronary syndrome have found evidence for such a paradox.

• Ehret, GB; Munroe, PB; Rice, KM; Bochud, M; Johnson, AD & Chasman, DI [Show all 346 contributors for this article] (2011). Genetic variants in novel pathways influence blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk. Nature. ISSN 0028-0836. 478(7367), p. 103–109. doi: 10.1038/nature10405. Full text in Research Archive
• Berg, Christina; Thelle, Dag Steinar; Rosengren, Annika; Lissner, Lauren; Torén, Kjell & Olin, Anna-Carin (2011). Decreased Fraction of Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Obese Subjects With Asthma Symptoms Data From the Population Study INTERGENE/ADONIX. Chest. ISSN 0012-3692. 139(5), p. 1109–1116. doi: 10.1378/chest.10-1299. Full text in Research Archive
• Gulsvik, Anne Kristine; Gulsvik, Amund; Svendsen, Einar; Mæhle, Bjørn Ove; Thelle, Dag Steinar & Wyller, Torgeir Bruun (2011). Diagnostic validity of fatal cerebral strokes and coronary deaths in mortality statistics: an autopsy study. European Journal of Epidemiology (EJE). ISSN 0393-2990. 26(3), p. 221–228. doi: 10.1007/s10654-010-9535-4. Full text in Research Archive
• Zylberstein, Dimitri E.; Lissner, Lauren; Björkelund, Cecilia; Mehlig, Kirsten; Thelle, Dag Steinar & Gustafson, Deborah [Show all 10 contributors for this article] (2011). Midlife homocysteine and late-life dementia in women. A prospective population study. Neurobiology of Aging. ISSN 0197-4580. 32(3), p. 380–386. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2009.02.024. Full text in Research Archive
• Strandhagen, E; Berg, Christina; Lissner, L.; Nunez, Leyla; Rosengren, Annika & Toren, Kjell [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2010). Selection bias in a population survey with registry linkage: potential effect on socioeconomic gradient in cardiovascular risk. European Journal of Epidemiology (EJE). ISSN 0393-2990. 25(3), p. 163–172. doi: 10.1007/s10654-010-9427-7. Full text in Research Archive
• Gulsvik, Anne Kristine; Gulsvik, Amund; Svendsen, Einar; Mæhle, Bjørn Ove; Thelle, Dag Steinar & Wyller, Torgeir Bruun (2010). Diagnostic validity of fatal cerebral strokes and coronary deaths in mortality statistics: an autopsy study. European Journal of Epidemiology (EJE). ISSN 0393-2990. doi: 10.1007/s10654-010-9535-4. Full text in Research Archive
• Aminoff, Anna; Ledmyr, Helena; Thulin, Petra; Lundell, Kerstin; Nunez, Leyla & Strandhagen, Elisabeth [Show all 20 contributors for this article] (2010). Allele-specific regulation of MTTP expression influences the risk of ischemic heart disease. Journal of Lipid Research. ISSN 0022-2275. 51(1), p. 103–111. doi: 10.1194/jlr.M900195-JLR200. Full text in Research Archive
• Olin, AC; Rosengren, Annika; Thelle, Dag Steinar; Lissner, Lauren & Toren, Kjell (2010). Increased Fraction of Exhaled Nitric Oxide Predicts New-onset Wheeze in a General Population. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. ISSN 1073-449X. 181(4), p. 324–327. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200907-1079OC. Full text in Research Archive

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• Thelle, Dag Steinar; Breivik, Gunnar; Enebakk, Vidar; Skolbekken, John-Arne & Teigen, Karl Halvor (2018). På den usikre siden - risiko som forestilling, atferd og rettesnor (9788213030304) | Akademika Bokhandel. Kopinor. ISBN 9788213030304. 220 p. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Hva er risiko? Hvem tar risiko? Hvordan oppfatter vi risiko? Hva vil det si at vi er blitt et samfunn som fokuserer på risiko? I denne tverrvitenskapelige og allment rettede boken viser forfatterne oss risikobegrepet fra mange sider - her behandles medisinsk risiko, hva risiko er statistisk sett, ulike typer risikoadferd og oppfatninger av risiko slik det fordeler seg mellom ulike typer mennesker.

• Thelle, Dag Steinar (2015). Epidemiology A basis for public health and disease prevention. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISBN 9788205412200. 320 p. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Epidemiology involves the study of the distribution and determinants of health in a given population, and the subsequent application of this study to improve outcomes.This book introduces major topics in this field, and where applicable, illustrated by tables and figures from Norwegian and Swedish studies. The first twelve chapters concern epidemiologic methods, including discussion of study designs and bias, together with an overview of vital statistics and a discussion on causality. The final eight chapters discuss changes in health more generally (or the epidemiologic transition), prevention, an introduction to genetic epidemiology, infectious disease, reporting observational studies, and assessing new information. The book is aimed at students in medical school, as well as public health and other health sciences students at the Bachelor and Master’s level.

• Thelle, Dag Steinar (2015). Epidemiology. A basis for public health and disease prevention. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISBN 9788205412200. 320 p. Full text in Research Archive
• Thelle, Dag Steinar & Løchen, Maja-Lisa (2010). Kaotiske hjerter | Atrieflimmer- en moderne epidemi. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISBN 9788205405431. 225 p. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Hjerteflimmer er blant annet en av de største risikofaktorene for hjerneslag. På vel 20 år har hjerteflimmer gått fra å være en nesten bortgjemt kronisk tilstand, med lite håp om varig bedring, til en sykdom vi kan behandle, og trolig også forebygge. Årsakene til flimmer spenner fra genetiske forhold til kjønnsforskjeller, hjertesykdommer, overvekt, overtrening, for mye alkohol, og stress. Mekanismene og behandlingsprinsippene er kompliserte, men i denne boken legger forfatterne et helikopterperspektiv på tilstandens utbredelse, årsaker, behandling og hvordan den er å leve med. Bokens tema er belyst med ni pasienthistorier, der pasienten forteller sin sykdomshistorie. En av disse er forfatter og musiker Ketil Bjørnstad, som også har skrevet bokens forord.

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• Johansen, Kristoffer Robin; Ranhoff, Anette Hylen; Sørensen, Eivind; Nes, Bjarne; Heitmann, Kim Arne & Apelland, Turid [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2022). Risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke among older men exposed to prolonged endurance sport practice – a 10-year follow-up. The Birkebeiner Ageing Study and the Tromsø Study. Full text in Research Archive
• Svanæs, Dag; Kvåle, Gunnar; Klein, Jørn & Thelle, Dag Steinar (2021). Flørter med flokkimmunitet. Dagbladet. ISSN 0805-3766. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  https://www.dagbladet.no/meninger/florter-med-flokkimmunitet/74110297

• Thelle, Dag Steinar (2020). Er alkohol sunt for hjertet? Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 140(9). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.20.0187. Full text in Research Archive
• Thelle, Dag Steinar (2020). Alcohol and heart health: The need for a randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology (EJPC). ISSN 2047-4873. 27(18), p. 1964–1966. doi: 10.1177/2047487320914433. Full text in Research Archive
• Thelle, Dag Steinar (2019). Middelhavskostens velsignelser? 139(9). doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.18.0876. Full text in Research Archive
• Thelle, Dag Steinar (2018). Coffee, caffeine and atrial fibrillation. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology (EJPC). ISSN 2047-4873. 25(10), p. 1053–1054. doi: 10.1177/2047487318778650. Full text in Research Archive
• Barrett-Connor, Elizabeth; Gaetano, Giovanni De; Djoussé, Luc; Ellison, Robert Curtis; Estruch, Ramon & Finkel, Harvey [Show all 17 contributors for this article] (2016). Comments on moderate alcohol consumption and mortality. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. ISSN 1937-1888. 77(5), p. 834–836. doi: 10.15288/jsad.2016.77.834. Full text in Research Archive
• Otterstad, Jan Erik; Munkhaugen, John; Ruddox, Vidar; Haffner, Johan F W; Thelle, Dag Steinar & Thelle, Dag S (2016). Utdatert kunnskapsgrunnlag for betablokkere etter hjerteinfarkt? 136(7), p. 624–627. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.15.0884. Full text in Research Archive
• Morseth, Bente; Graff-Iversen, Sidsel; Jacobsen, Bjarne K.; Jørgensen, Lone; Nyrnes, Audhild & Thelle, Dag Steinar [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2016). Associations between physical activity and atrial fibrillation: Is resting heart rate a mediator? Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. ISSN 0195-9131. 48. Full text in Research Archive
• Morseth, Bente; Graff-Iversen, Sidsel; Jacobsen, Bjarne K.; Jørgensen, Lone; Nyrnes, Audhild & Thelle, Dag Steinar [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2016). Associations between physical activity and atrial fibrillation: Is resting heart rate a mediator? Full text in Research Archive
• Thelle, Dag Steinar & Laake, Petter (2015). Epidemiology. In Laake, Petter; Benestad, Haakon Breien & Olsen, Bjørn Reino (Ed.), Research in Medical and Biological Sciences: From Planning and Preparation ot Grant Application and Publication.. Academic Press. ISSN 9780127999432. p. 275–320. Full text in Research Archive
• Thelle, Dag Steinar (2014). Endelig et norsk hjerteinfarktregister :. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 134(19), p. 1818–1818. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.14.1148. Full text in Research Archive
• Thelle, Dag Steinar (2014). Validity and selection. Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal. ISSN 1401-7431. 48(5), p. 259–261. doi: 10.3109/14017431.2014.957237. Full text in Research Archive
• Gulsvik, Anne Kristine; Myrstad, Marius & Thelle, Dag Steinar (2014). Re: Fysisk aktivitet, røyking og dødelighet hos menn som deltok i Oslo-undersøkelsene i 1972 og 2000. Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening (Tidsskriftet). ISSN 0029-2001. 134(22), p. 2126–2126. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.14.1357. Full text in Research Archive
• Thelle, Dag Steinar; Tverdal, Aage & Selmer, Randi (2012). Is the use of cholesterol in mortality risk algorithms in clinical guidelines valid? Ten years prospective data from the Norwegian HUNT 2 study. Journal of Evaluation In Clinical Practice. ISSN 1356-1294. 18(6), p. 1219–1219. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2753.2012.01833.x. Full text in Research Archive
• Thelle, Dag Steinar (2012). Are observational data on therapeutic outcome trustworthy? Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal. ISSN 1401-7431. 46(5), p. 252–253. doi: 10.3109/14017431.2012.711847. Full text in Research Archive
• Thelle, Dag Steinar; Tverdal, Aage & Selmer, Randi Marie (2012). Is the use of cholesterol in mortality risk algorithms in clinical guidelines valid? Ten years prospective data from the Norwegian HUNT 2 study. Journal of Evaluation In Clinical Practice. ISSN 1356-1294. 18(1), p. 169–169. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2753.2011.01813.x. Full text in Research Archive
• Thelle, Dag Steinar (2011). Case fatality of acute myocardial infarction: an emerging gender gap. European Journal of Epidemiology (EJE). ISSN 0393-2990. 26(11), p. 829–831. doi: 10.1007/s10654-011-9627-9. Full text in Research Archive
• Vollset, Stein Emil; Tell, Grethe S; Thelle, Dag Steinar; Tretli, Steinar; Tverdal, Aage & Vatten, Lars Johan (2012). Dødelighet og dødsårsaker i Norge gjennom 60 år 1951-2010. Folkehelseinstituttet. ISSN 9788280825247. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Forventet levealder og store linjer i dødelighetsutviklingen beskrives i et eget kapittel som dekker perioden 1846-2010. Rapporten inneholder også en oversikt over utvikling og endringer i kodepraksis i Dødsårsaksregisteret. I perioden har for eksempel 5 revisjoner av International Classification of Diseases (ICD; ICD-6 til ICD-10) vært i bruk. For de 80 dødsårsaksgruppene er det definert bro-koding gjennom de forskjellige revisjonene av ICD.

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