Health care needs and quality of life of elderly in home care in Reykjavik, 1997

Neðst á síðunni er hægt að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinn View/OpenObjective: It is increasingly emphasized that the elderly should be supported to live at home as long as possible. The purpose of this study was to describe the health and conditions of people in home care. Material and methods: Individuals who received home care in the Reykjavik area in autumn of 1997 were assessed with the Minimum Data Set-Resident Assessment Instrument for Home Care, MDS-RAI HC. Results: The study evaluated 257 individuals at four primary care health centers. The mean age was 82.7 years, women were 78.6%, living alone were 62.5%, and they had received home care on average of 2.4 years. Almost all were independent in primary activities of daily living, ADL, but about half needed help with instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Impaired cognition was observed in 40% of individuals, depressive symptoms in 18%, daily pain was noted in 47% and 47% assessed their health as poor. Loneliness was expressed by 21%, 18% had not gone out doors in over 30 days and 27% were always alone during the day. The mean number of hours during two weeks was 3.5 hours in nursing care and 9.5 hours in home help. Thirty-four percent took 9 or more medications. Conclusion: Individuals in home care were independent in ADL but needed assistance with IADL. There are important quality of life issues that are of concern. Further research is needed in home care with particular emphasis on improvement of well being.Tilgangur: Vaxandi áhersla er lögð á að aldraðir geti búið heima sem lengst, en rannsóknir á högum aldraðra Íslendinga sem njóta þjónustu í heimahúsum eru takmarkaðar. Markmið rannsóknarinnar var að lýsa heilsufari, líðan og aðstæðum fólks í heimaþjónustu. Aðferð: Einstaklingarnir sem nutu heimaþjónustu heilsugæslunnar á Reykjavíkursvæðinu haustið 1997 voru metnir með MDS-RAI HC (Minimum Data Set-Resident Assessment Instrument for Home Care) mælitækinu. Niðurstöður: Metnir voru 257 einstaklingar á fjórum heilsugæslustöðvum. Meðalaldur var 82,7 ár, 62,5% bjuggu einir, og höfðu þeir notið heimaþjónustu að meðaltali í 2,4 ár. Konur voru 78,6%. Nær allir voru sjálfbjarga með persónulegar athafnir daglegs lífs (ADL), en 53% þurftu aðstoð við böðun. Um helmingur þurftu mikla aðstoð við almennar athafnir daglegs lífs (IADL). Skert minni var hjá tæplega 40% einstaklinganna en dapurt yfirbragð hjá 18%. Átján prósent höfðu aldrei farið út úr húsi á 30 daga tímabili, 27% voru alltaf einir yfir daginn, en 21% tjáði sig um einmanaleika. Daglegir verkir greindust hjá 47% einstaklinganna og 47% töldu heilsufar sitt vera lélegt. Á 14 dögum var meðalfjöldi klukkustunda á skjólstæðing í heimahjúkrun 3,5 klukkustundir og heimilishjálp 9,5 klukkustundir. Lyfjanotkun var mikil og voru 34% á níu lyfjum eða fleiri. Ályktun: Einstaklingar í heimahjúkrun eru sjálfbjarga með ADL en þeir þurfa aðstoð við almenn dagleg verk og böðun. Ýmis atriði sem snerta lífsgæði þyrfti að skoða nánar með hliðsjón af því hvort bæta megi líðan þeirra sem njóta þjónustunna

Development of a prognostic model of COVID-19 severity : a population-based cohort study in Iceland

© 2022. The Author(s).BACKGROUND: The severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection varies from asymptomatic state to severe respiratory failure and the clinical course is difficult to predict. The aim of the study was to develop a prognostic model to predict the severity of COVID-19 in unvaccinated adults at the time of diagnosis. METHODS: All SARS-CoV-2-positive adults in Iceland were prospectively enrolled into a telehealth service at diagnosis. A multivariable proportional-odds logistic regression model was derived from information obtained during the enrollment interview of those diagnosed between February 27 and December 31, 2020 who met the inclusion criteria. Outcomes were defined on an ordinal scale: (1) no need for escalation of care during follow-up; (2) need for urgent care visit; (3) hospitalization; and (4) admission to intensive care unit (ICU) or death. Missing data were multiply imputed using chained equations and the model was internally validated using bootstrapping techniques. Decision curve analysis was performed. RESULTS: The prognostic model was derived from 4756 SARS-CoV-2-positive persons. In total, 375 (7.9%) only required urgent care visits, 188 (4.0%) were hospitalized and 50 (1.1%) were either admitted to ICU or died due to complications of COVID-19. The model included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), current smoking, underlying conditions, and symptoms and clinical severity score at enrollment. On internal validation, the optimism-corrected Nagelkerke's R2 was 23.4% (95%CI, 22.7-24.2), the C-statistic was 0.793 (95%CI, 0.789-0.797) and the calibration slope was 0.97 (95%CI, 0.96-0.98). Outcome-specific indices were for urgent care visit or worse (calibration intercept -0.04 [95%CI, -0.06 to -0.02], Emax 0.014 [95%CI, 0.008-0.020]), hospitalization or worse (calibration intercept -0.06 [95%CI, -0.12 to -0.03], Emax 0.018 [95%CI, 0.010-0.027]), and ICU admission or death (calibration intercept -0.10 [95%CI, -0.15 to -0.04] and Emax 0.027 [95%CI, 0.013-0.041]). CONCLUSION: Our prognostic model can accurately predict the later need for urgent outpatient evaluation, hospitalization, and ICU admission and death among unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2-positive adults in the general population at the time of diagnosis, using information obtained by telephone interview.Peer reviewe

System identification, finite element modelling, and wind-induced vibration control of the Smáratorg building in Reykjavik, Iceland.

The focus of this thesis is to assess the dynamic characteristics of 21 storey building, Smáratorg, in Reykjavik. The building is known to be sensitive to wind-induced vibrations. Vibration measurements taken from three floors of the building during past earthquakes are used to identify the dynamic properties of the building such as its vibration frequencies and damping ratios. A detailed finite element model of the building is prepared, and the model is updated with dynamic properties obtained from system identification using earthquake-induced vibration measurements. The updated model is verified by simulating its seismic response to ground motion recorded at its basement, and comparing the simulated results with corresponding vibrations recorded at two different floors. The results show that the system identification provides reliable estimates of the dynamic properties of the structure, and that the model adequately simulates recorded seismic response. The updated model is then used to simulated wind-induced response of the building. Using several relevant scenarios of wind forces, floor accelerations of the building are estimated by performing dynamic time history analysis of the finite element model. Simulation results show that floor accelerations during strong winds could exceed comfort limit of the occupants. To reduce wind-induced floor accelerations, a passive tuned mass damper is placed at the top floor of the numerical model of the building. The parameters of the tuned mass damper are optimized to minimize wind-induced vibrations by tuning the damper to the appropriate vibration mode of the building. Wind response of the building with and without tuned mass damper was compared. The results show that the tuned mass damper can significantly reduce both peak and root mean square floor acceleration of the building, and therefore offer potential mitigation measure for the building. The results also show that, tuned mass dampers, while very effective in controlling wind response, are not very effective in reducing seismic response of the building. Nevertheless, installation of tuned mass damper to reduce wind-induced vibration was found not to pose any detrimental effects on the seismic response of the building.This thesis was financially supported by the SERICE (Seismic Risk in Iceland) project funded by a Grant of Excellence from the Icelandic Research Fund, Grant Number: 218149-051

Talbankinn

Talbankinn is a final project at the School of Computer Science at University of Reykjavik. The project was made in cooperation with Landsbankinn. The project's goal was to implement a private banking service, controlled by vocal commands. Along with the project, extensive researches were performed to find out how a service could be accomplished to support Icelandic language. The researches and their results are also part of the final project report

Assessment of health and caring needs in nursing homes. The Resident Assessment Instrument, its development and some pilot study results

Neðst á síðunni er hægt að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinn View/OpenThose elderly living in institutions have multiple social, health and mental problems, in addition to loss of function. The Resident Assessment Instrument assesses the individual in detail and his caring needs. Resident Assessment Protocols come with the instrument and a handbook that describes how to evaluate specific problems further. Quality indicators allow comparisons between institutions and thus the quality of care can be assessed in comparable groups of residents. The elderly can be put into defined resource utilisation groups and an average cost calculated per unit or nursing home. A pilot study was conducted in Iceland in 1994 to examine the utility of the instrument. It was shown that most of the residents were viewed as competent according to documents, even if about half of them had considerable cognitive dysfunction. Dementia was the most common diagnosis. One fourth of the residents took antidepressant medications and 54-62% took sedatives or hypnotic drugs. Eight out of 10 had dentures and one third had difficulty chewing. Many more interesting findings showed up that are described in a special report.Aldraðir sem dvelja á stofnunum búa við margvíslegan félagslegan, heilsufarslegan og andlegan vanda, auk færnitaps. Lýst er RAI mælitækinu (Resident Assessment Instrument) sem metur ítarlega heilsufar og aðbúnað aldraðra á stofnunum. Mælitækinu fylgja matslyklar og leiðbeiningarhandbók sem lýsa viðbrögðum við greindum vandamálum. Gæðavísar gera kleift að meta gæði þeirrar umönnunar sem veitt er á einstökum stofnunum. Jafnframt er hægt að reikna út svokallaða þyngdarstuðla sem gefa til kynna kostnað við að annast mismunandi hópa aldraðra innan elli- og hjúkrunarheimilanna. Forkönnun var gerð á notagildi RAI mælitækisins á Íslandi árið 1994. í þeirri könnun kom meðal annars fram að nær allir vistmenn voru skráðir sjálfráða, enda þótt um það bil helmingur hafi haft einhvers konar vitræna skerðingu. Heilabilun var ein algengasta sjúkdómsgreiningin. Fjórðungur allra tók geðdeyfðarlyf og 54-62% íbúanna tóku róandi lyf og svefnlyf. Átta af hverjum 10 voru með gervitennur og um þriðjungur átti erfitt með að tyggja. Margar fleiri athyglisverðar niðurstöður komu fram og er þeim lýst í sérstakri skýrslu

Health care needs and quality of life of elderly in home care in Reykjavik, 1997

Neðst á síðunni er hægt að nálgast greinina í heild sinni með því að smella á hlekkinn View/OpenObjective: It is increasingly emphasized that the elderly should be supported to live at home as long as possible. The purpose of this study was to describe the health and conditions of people in home care. Material and methods: Individuals who received home care in the Reykjavik area in autumn of 1997 were assessed with the Minimum Data Set-Resident Assessment Instrument for Home Care, MDS-RAI HC. Results: The study evaluated 257 individuals at four primary care health centers. The mean age was 82.7 years, women were 78.6%, living alone were 62.5%, and they had received home care on average of 2.4 years. Almost all were independent in primary activities of daily living, ADL, but about half needed help with instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). Impaired cognition was observed in 40% of individuals, depressive symptoms in 18%, daily pain was noted in 47% and 47% assessed their health as poor. Loneliness was expressed by 21%, 18% had not gone out doors in over 30 days and 27% were always alone during the day. The mean number of hours during two weeks was 3.5 hours in nursing care and 9.5 hours in home help. Thirty-four percent took 9 or more medications. Conclusion: Individuals in home care were independent in ADL but needed assistance with IADL. There are important quality of life issues that are of concern. Further research is needed in home care with particular emphasis on improvement of well being.Tilgangur: Vaxandi áhersla er lögð á að aldraðir geti búið heima sem lengst, en rannsóknir á högum aldraðra Íslendinga sem njóta þjónustu í heimahúsum eru takmarkaðar. Markmið rannsóknarinnar var að lýsa heilsufari, líðan og aðstæðum fólks í heimaþjónustu. Aðferð: Einstaklingarnir sem nutu heimaþjónustu heilsugæslunnar á Reykjavíkursvæðinu haustið 1997 voru metnir með MDS-RAI HC (Minimum Data Set-Resident Assessment Instrument for Home Care) mælitækinu. Niðurstöður: Metnir voru 257 einstaklingar á fjórum heilsugæslustöðvum. Meðalaldur var 82,7 ár, 62,5% bjuggu einir, og höfðu þeir notið heimaþjónustu að meðaltali í 2,4 ár. Konur voru 78,6%. Nær allir voru sjálfbjarga með persónulegar athafnir daglegs lífs (ADL), en 53% þurftu aðstoð við böðun. Um helmingur þurftu mikla aðstoð við almennar athafnir daglegs lífs (IADL). Skert minni var hjá tæplega 40% einstaklinganna en dapurt yfirbragð hjá 18%. Átján prósent höfðu aldrei farið út úr húsi á 30 daga tímabili, 27% voru alltaf einir yfir daginn, en 21% tjáði sig um einmanaleika. Daglegir verkir greindust hjá 47% einstaklinganna og 47% töldu heilsufar sitt vera lélegt. Á 14 dögum var meðalfjöldi klukkustunda á skjólstæðing í heimahjúkrun 3,5 klukkustundir og heimilishjálp 9,5 klukkustundir. Lyfjanotkun var mikil og voru 34% á níu lyfjum eða fleiri. Ályktun: Einstaklingar í heimahjúkrun eru sjálfbjarga með ADL en þeir þurfa aðstoð við almenn dagleg verk og böðun. Ýmis atriði sem snerta lífsgæði þyrfti að skoða nánar með hliðsjón af því hvort bæta megi líðan þeirra sem njóta þjónustunna