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ObjectivesPublic health trends are formed by political, economic, historical and cultural factors in society. The aim of this paper was to describe overall changes in mental health among adolescents and adults in a Norwegian population over the three last decades and discuss some potential explanations for these changes.DesignRepeated population-based health surveys to monitor decennial changes.SettingData from three cross-sectional surveys in 1995–1997, 2006–2008 and 2017–2019 in the population-based HUNT Study in Norway were used.ParticipantsThe general population in a Norwegian county covering participants aged 13–79 years, ranging from 48 000 to 62 000 000 in each survey.Main outcome measuresPrevalence estimates of subjective anxiety and depression symptoms stratified by age and gender were assessed using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-5 for adolescents and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for adults.ResultsAdolescents’ and young adults’ mental distress increased sharply, especially between 2006–2008 and 2017–2019. However, depressive symptoms instead declined among adults aged 60 and over and anxiety symptoms remained largely unchanged in these groups.ConclusionsOur trend data from the HUNT Study in Norway indicate poorer mental health among adolescents and young adults that we suggest are related to relevant changes in young people’s living conditions and behaviour, including the increased influence of screen-based media.

To study the trajectories of body mass index (BMI) in Norway over five decades and to assess the differential influence of the obesogenic environment on BMI according to genetic predisposition. Longitudinal study. General population of Nord-Trøndelag County, Norway. 118 959 people aged 13-80 years who participated in a longitudinal population based health study (Nord-Trøndelag Health Study, HUNT), of whom 67 305 were included in analyses of association between genetic predisposition and BMI. BMI. Obesity increased in Norway starting between the mid-1980s and mid-1990s and, compared with older birth cohorts, those born after 1970 had a substantially higher BMI already in young adulthood. BMI differed substantially between the highest and lowest fifths of genetic susceptibility for all ages at each decade, and the difference increased gradually from the 1960s to the 2000s. For 35 year old men, the most genetically predisposed had 1.20 kg/m (95% confidence interval 1.03 to 1.37 kg/m ) higher BMI than those who were least genetically predisposed in the 1960s compared with 2.09 kg/m (1.90 to 2.27 kg/m ) in the 2000s. For women of the same age, the corresponding differences in BMI were 1.77 kg/m (1.56 to 1.97 kg/m ) and 2.58 kg/m (2.36 to 2.80 kg/m ). This study provides evidence that genetically predisposed people are at greater risk for higher BMI and that genetic predisposition interacts with the obesogenic environment resulting in higher BMI, as observed between the mid-1980s and mid-2000s. Regardless, BMI has increased for both genetically predisposed and non-predisposed people, implying that the environment remains the main contributor.

Background Substance use is a global health concern and early onset among adolescents increases health risks. We explore national overall trends in prevalence and trends in socioeconomic inequalities in past year alcohol intoxication, cannabis use, and use of other illicit drugs among Norwegian adolescents (ages ∼ 15–19 years of age) between 2014 and 2022. Method The present study builds on data from a nationwide repeated cross-sectional survey collected in 2014–2016 (T1), 2017–2019 (T2), 2021 (T3) and 2022 (T4). In total 415,560 adolescents (50.3% girls) completed the questionnaire during the study period. Trends in socioeconomic inequalities were assessed using the Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and the Relative Index of Inequality (RII). Results While the prevalence of alcohol intoxication remained fairly stable, the prevalence of cannabis and other illicit drug use increased between 2014 and 2022 among upper secondary school boys (13.3–17.6%, and 2.0–5.2%, respectively) and girls (8.8–12.8%, and 1.1–2.7%, respectively). Similar trends were observed among 10th-grade adolescents. Boys were more likely than girls to use cannabis or other illicit drugs, but the gender gap in cannabis use narrowed during the study period. Among upper secondary girls, use of cannabis and other illicit drugs was higher among those from less affluent backgrounds, with absolute and relative inequalities in cannabis use increasing between 2014 and 2022. Small inequalities in cannabis use and decreasing relative inequalities in the use of other illicit drug were observed among upper secondary boys. Conclusions The increasing use of cannabis and other illicit drugs among Norwegian adolescents is concerning. Future studies should explore the underlying causes of this rise and explore the complex factors influencing adolescent substance use behaviours. A comprehensive understanding of these factors is essential for developing targeted and effective interventions.

Background Lifestyle risk behaviours are responsible for a large proportion of disease burden and premature mortality worldwide. Risk behaviours tend to cluster in populations. We developed a new lifestyle risk index by including emerging risk factors (sleep, sitting time, and social participation) and examine unique risk combinations and their associations with all-cause and cardio-metabolic mortality. Methods Data are from a large population-based cohort study in a Norway, the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT), with an average follow-up time of 14.1 years. Baseline data from 1995–97 were linked to the Norwegian Causes of Death Registry. The analytic sample comprised 36 911 adults aged 20–69 years. Cox regression models were first fitted for seven risk factors (poor diet, excessive alcohol consumption, current smoking, physical inactivity, excessive sitting, too much/too little sleep, and poor social participation) separately and then adjusted for socio-demographic covariates. Based on these results, a lifestyle risk index was developed. Finally, we explored common combinations of the risk factors in relation to all-cause and cardio-metabolic mortality outcomes. Results All single risk factors, except for diet, were significantly associated with both mortality outcomes, and were therefore selected to form a lifestyle risk index. Risk of mortality increased as the index score increased. The hazard ratio for all-cause mortality increased from 1.37 (1.15-1.62) to 6.15 (3.56-10.63) as the number of index risk factors increased from one to six respectively. Among the most common risk factor combinations the association with mortality was particularly strong when smoking and/or social participation were included. Conclusions This study adds to previous research on multiple risk behaviours by incorporating emerging risk factors. Findings regarding social participation and prolonged sitting suggest new components of healthy lifestyles and potential new directions for population health interventions.

Background With increasing age, having multiple chronic conditions is the norm. It is of importance to study how co-existence of diseases affects functioning and mortality among older persons. Complex multimorbidity may be defined as three or more conditions affecting at least three different organ systems. The aim of this study was to investigate how complex multimorbidity affects activities of daily living and mortality amongst older Norwegians. Methods Participants were 60–69-year-olds at baseline in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study 1995-1997 (HUNT2) n  = 9058. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between complex multimorbidity in HUNT2, basic and instrumental activities of daily living in HUNT3 (2006–2008) and mortality during follow-up ( n  = 5819/5836). Risk ratios (RR) and risk differences (RD) in percentage points (pp) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported. Results 47.8% of 60–69-year-olds met the criteria of complex multimorbidity at baseline (HUNT2). Having complex multimorbidity was strongly associated with the need for assistance in IADL in HUNT3 11 years later (RR = 1.80 (1.58–2.04) and RD = 8.7 (6.8–10.5) pp) and moderately associated with mortality during the follow-up time (RR = 1.22 (1.12–1.33) and RD = 5.1 (2.9–7.3) pp). Complex multimorbidity was to a lesser extent associated with basic activities of daily living 11 years later (RR = 1.24 (0.85–1.83) and RD = 0.4 (− 0.3–1.1) pp). Conclusions This is the first study to show an association between complex multimorbidity and activities of daily living. Complex multimorbidity should receive more attention in order to prevent future disability amongst older persons.

Participation in cultural activities may protect against cause-specific mortality; however, there is limited knowledge regarding this association. The present study examines the association between participation in a range of receptive and creative cultural activities and risk of cardiovascular disease- and cancer-related mortality. We also examined whether participation in such activities and influence by gender have on this association. We followed 35,902 participants of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3) of Cardiovascular-Disease and Cancer Mortality from 2006–08 to 2016. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to estimate the risk of specific mortality based on baseline cultural participation. During the eight-year follow-up, there were 563 cardiovascular-disease- and 752 cancer-related deaths among the sample (292,416 person years). Risk of cardiovascular-disease mortality was higher among non-participants in associations/club meetings (22%) and outdoor activities (23%), respectively, as well as non-attendees of art exhibitions (28%). People who engaged in music, singing, and theatre had a 27% reduced risk of cancer-related mortality when compared to non-participants. Among women, participating in associations/club meetings reduced the risk of cardiovascular-disease mortality by 36%. Men who participated in music, singing, and theatre had a 33% reduced risk of cancer mortality. Overall, a reduced risk of cardiovascular-disease mortality was associated with engaging in creative activities on weekly basis to less than twice per week. For both genders, participating in creative activities less than once a week reduced cardiovascular-disease mortality risk by 40% and 33%, respectively. For the overall sample, participating > 2 times per week in combined receptive and creative activities reduced cancer-related mortality by 29%. Participating frequently in both receptive and creative activities cultural activities was associated with lower risks of CVD and cancer-related mortality. Our data suggest that, to counteract the public health burden of cardiovascular disease- and cancer mortality, policies and initiatives to increase citizens’ participation in cultural activities should be considered.

SummaryAssociation of body mass index and hip fracture has been controversial. In this study, women with lowest and highest body weight had the highest fracture incidence. A 25-year follow-up indicated that obesity associates with early hip fracture risk and suggested increasing trend in normal-weight women at a later stage.IntroductionObesity is a pandemic health issue. Its association with hip fracture risk remains controversial. We studied the long-term relationship of body mass index and hip fracture incidence in postmenopausal women.MethodsThe cohort of 12,715 Finnish women born in 1932–1941 was followed for 25 years, covering ages from 58 up to 83. Fractures and deaths were obtained from national registries. Women were investigated in deciles of BMI as well as in WHO weight categories (normal, overweight, or obese). The follow-up analysis was carried out in two age strata as “early” (58–70 years) and “late” (> 70 years). Body weight information was updated accordingly. Femoral neck BMD was recorded for a subsample (n = 3163). Altogether, 427 hip fractures were observed.ResultsA higher risk of early hip fracture was observed in obese and normal-weight compared with overweight women with hazard ratios (HRs) of 2.3 ((95% CI) 1.4–3.7) and 2.0 (1.3–3.1) while no difference was observed in late hip fracture risk between the three WHO categories (log rank p = 0.14). All-cause mortality during the follow-up was 19.3%. Compared with normal weight women, the obese women had a higher risk of death with an HR of 1.6 (1.4–1.8) and higher baseline BMD (p < 0.001). Faster bone loss was observed in the obese compared with other women (p < 0.001).ConclusionObesity associates with earlier hip fracture and higher postfracture mortality. The obese women with low BMD have clearly the highest risk of hip fracture. This combination increases hip fracture risk more than either of the factors alone. After 75 years of age, risk appears to increase more in normal weight women, but this trend is in need of further confirmation.

Objective To study the association between breast cancer and work burden over 25 years. Methods The study was based on the Kuopio Osteoporosis Risk Factor and Prevention (OSTPRE) cohort (n = 14,220) and included women who had answered the questionnaire from the year 1994 and had no previous breast cancer. Breast cancer cases were recorded from the Finnish Cancer Registry during the study period: from 1st June 1994 till December 31, 2019. Using questionnaires, we collected information on work burden, body mass index (BMI), menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), alcohol consumption, parity, and family history of breast cancer. Work burden was categorized as low or high. Variables were used both in the univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to explore their associations with breast cancer. Results Altogether 825 women (6.9%) were diagnosed with breast cancer during the study period with a mean follow-up of 13.3 ± 7.2 years. Women with breast cancer were compared to those without breast cancer during the follow-up period (n = 11,117). A low work burden was associated with a 1.3-fold higher incidence of breast cancer (95% confidence interval 1.2–1.6) than a high work burden. Low work burden was associated with an increased breast cancer risk. Conclusion Low work burden is associated with elevated postmenopausal breast cancer risk in the 25-year follow-up period.

Aims/hypothesis An excess cancer incidence of 20–25% has been identified among persons with diabetes, most of whom have type 2 diabetes. We aimed to describe the association between type 1 diabetes and cancer incidence. Methods Persons with type 1 diabetes were identified from five nationwide diabetes registers: Australia (2000–2008), Denmark (1995–2014), Finland (1972–2012), Scotland (1995–2012) and Sweden (1987–2012). Linkage to national cancer registries provided the numbers of incident cancers in people with type 1 diabetes and in the general population. We used Poisson models with adjustment for age and date of follow up to estimate hazard ratios for total and site-specific cancers. Results A total of 9,149 cancers occurred among persons with type 1 diabetes in 3.9 million person-years. The median age at cancer diagnosis was 51.1 years (interquartile range 43.5–59.5). The hazard ratios (HRs) (95% CIs) associated with type 1 diabetes for all cancers combined were 1.01 (0.98, 1.04) among men and 1.07 (1.04, 1.10) among women. HRs were increased for cancer of the stomach (men, HR 1.23 [1.04, 1.46]; women, HR 1.78 [1.49, 2.13]), liver (men, HR 2.00 [1.67, 2.40]; women, HR 1.55 [1.14, 2.10]), pancreas (men, HR 1.53 [1.30, 1.79]; women, HR 1.25 [1.02,1.53]), endometrium (HR 1.42 [1.27, 1.58]) and kidney (men, HR 1.30 [1.12, 1.49]; women, HR 1.47 [1.23, 1.77]). Reduced HRs were found for cancer of the prostate (HR 0.56 [0.51, 0.61]) and breast (HR 0.90 [0.85, 0.94]). HRs declined with increasing diabetes duration. Conclusion Type 1 diabetes was associated with differences in the risk of several common cancers; the strength of these associations varied with the duration of diabetes.

SummaryOur findings imply that simple functional tests can predict both hip fracture risk and excess mortality in postmenopausal women. Since the tests characterize general functional capacity (one-legged stance, squatting down, and grip strength), these simple measures should have clinical utility in the assessment of women at risk of falls and fragility fracture.IntroductionFunctional impairment is associated with the risk of fall, which is the leading cause of hip fracture. We aimed to determine how clinical assessments of functional impairment predict long-term hip fracture and mortality.MethodsA population-based prospective cohort involved 2815 Caucasian women with the average baseline age of 59.1 years. The mean follow-up time in 1994–2014 was 18.3 years. Three functional tests and their combinations assessed at baseline were treated as dichotomous risk factors: (1) inability to squat down and touch the floor (SQ), (2) inability to stand on one leg for 10 s (SOL), and (3) having grip strength (GS) within the lowest quartile (≤ 58 kPa, mean 45.6 kPa). Bone mineral density (BMD) at the proximal femur was measured by DXA. Fractures and deaths were verified from registries. Hazard ratios were determined by using Cox proportional models. Age, body mass index (BMI), and BMD were included as covariates for fracture risk estimates. Age, BMI, and smoking were used for mortality.ResultsAltogether, 650 (23.1%) women had 718 follow-up fractures, including 86 hip fractures. The mortality during the follow-up was 16.8% (n = 473). Half of the women (56.8%, n = 1600) had none of the impairments and were regarded as the referent group. Overall, women with any of the three impairments (43.2%, n = 1215) had higher risks of any fracture, hip fracture, and death, with hazard ratios (HR) of 1.3 ((95% CI) 1.0–1.5, p < 0.01), 2.4 (1.5–3.4, p < 0.001), and 1.5 (1.3–1.8, p < 0.001), respectively. The strongest single predictor for hip fracture was failing to achieve a one-leg stand for 10 s (prevalence 7.1%, n = 200), followed by inability to squat down (27.0%, n = 759) and weak grip strength (24.4%, n = 688), with their respective HRs of 4.3 (2.3–8.0, p < 0.001), 3.1 (2.0–5.0, p < 0.001), and 2.0 (1.2–3.4, p < 0.001). In addition, age, lower BMD, BMI, and smoking were significant covariates.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that functional tests provide long-term prediction of fracture and death in postmenopausal women. Whether reversal of these impairments is associated with a reduction in adverse outcomes is an area for future trials.