A population based screening of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA)

The prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in a defined population of elderly men and its correlation to some risk factors were studied in the population cohort "men born in 1914 from Malmo". A total of 499 were invited to attend and 375 (75%) did so. The aorta could be visualised with ultrasound in 364 patients, 39 (10.7%) of whom had aneurysmal changes. The presence of an AAA was related to the findings at a general health examination undertaken 5 years previously. Tobacco and alcohol consumption, impaired lung function and a history of angina pectoris were related to the presence of an AAA. No relationship was found between an AAA and hypertension, hyperlipidaemia or hyperglycaemia. A decreased tissue elasticity as a common denominator for the lung function impairment and development of AAA is discussed

Prognosis in elderly men with screening-detected abdominal aortic aneurysm

OBJECTIVES: To study the natural course of screening-detected symptomless abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in elderly men. SETTING: Malmo, a city in southern Sweden with 230,000 inhabitants and a single referral hospital. MATERIALS: 423 seventy-four-year-old men, randomly selected from the population and belonging to the prospective population study "Men born in 1914", were invited. 343 underwent AAA screening, whereas 80 declined or had moved. CHIEF OUTCOME MEASURES: Five year all cause mortality in relation to participation in and findings at ultrasound screening for AAA. MAIN RESULTS: An abdominal aortic aneurysm was present in 38 (11%) out of 340 men who underwent screening and who had a native aorta. During 5 years of follow-up, one third (13/38) of these men died; 7 from myocardial infarction and 3 from stroke. The mortality rate in men with AAA was 80.2/1000 person years; twice as high as it was in men without AAA (39.4/1000 person years; p = 0.018). Six men underwent AAA surgery. None of them died from aneurysm rupture. However, aneurysm surgery did not reduce the total mortality rate in these men. The highest mortality rate, 91.9/1000 person years, was found in the men who did not participate in the screening. CONCLUSIONS: It is our conclusion that screening for early detection and intervention is of questionable value from a public health perspective

Strategies to develop and strengthen human factors and ergonomics knowledge among stakeholders in Sweden

Knowledge and application of human factors and ergonomics (HFE) has significant potential as auseful tool and solution provider in the development, design and implementation of safe, efficient and sustainable artefacts and systems. Yet, it seems that this HFE knowledge is not utilised to its full potential. In a world of competing financial and commercial priorities, HFE specialists have apparently not succeeded in selling the systems approach as a tool towards improved overall systems performance and human well-being. The present paper describes the strategic and practical workperformed by the Swedish Ergonomics and Human Factors Society (EHSS) to strengthen the quality of human factors and ergonomics knowledge and practice among various stakeholders in Sweden. EHSS view human factors and ergonomics as a systems and design oriented discipline that extends across all aspects of human activity. Beyond the traditional domains of specialization within the discipline, the physical, cognitive and organisational ergonomics, EHSS has identified three focus areas; visual ergonomics, voice ergonomics and ergonomics design for all. Practitioner Summary: This paper presents the strategic and practical work performed by the Swedish Ergonomics and Human Factors Society (EHSS) in order to strengthen the quality of human factors and ergonomics knowledge and practice in Sweden. EHSS has identified three focus areas for its strategic work: visual ergonomics, voice ergonomics and ergonomics design for all

Strategies to develop and strengthen human factors and ergonomics knowledge among stakeholders in Sweden

Knowledge and application of human factors and ergonomics (HFE) has significant potential as auseful tool and solution provider in the development, design and implementation of safe, efficient and sustainable artefacts and systems. Yet, it seems that this HFE knowledge is not utilised to its full potential. In a world of competing financial and commercial priorities, HFE specialists have apparently not succeeded in selling the systems approach as a tool towards improved overall systems performance and human well-being. The present paper describes the strategic and practical workperformed by the Swedish Ergonomics and Human Factors Society (EHSS) to strengthen the quality of human factors and ergonomics knowledge and practice among various stakeholders in Sweden. EHSS view human factors and ergonomics as a systems and design oriented discipline that extends across all aspects of human activity. Beyond the traditional domains of specialization within the discipline, the physical, cognitive and organisational ergonomics, EHSS has identified three focus areas; visual ergonomics, voice ergonomics and ergonomics design for all. Practitioner Summary: This paper presents the strategic and practical work performed by the Swedish Ergonomics and Human Factors Society (EHSS) in order to strengthen the quality of human factors and ergonomics knowledge and practice in Sweden. EHSS has identified three focus areas for its strategic work: visual ergonomics, voice ergonomics and ergonomics design for all

Conceptual and Practical Strategy Work to Promote Ergonomics/Human Factors in Sweden

This paper describes the results of the conceptual and practical strategy work performed by the Swedish Ergonomics and Human Factors Society (EHSS) today. The rationale of EHSS is to strengthen the quality of ergonomics/human factors knowledge and practice in Sweden and form a multidisciplinary platform across disciplines and professions for collaboration and for knowledge sharing. EHSS gathers about 350 members, representing different occupations in industry, academia and the public sector. Together, EHSS members hold knowledge and experience in physical, cognitive and organizational ergonomics and its application in working life and society. The overall aim of this paper is to inspire related societies and stakeholders to initiate discussions about strategies and future projects that allow for collaboration and knowledge sharing. Proposedly follow the EHSS model where we have formed a multidisciplinary platform for collaboration across disciplines and professions. The activities initiated and supported by EHSS are one step towards broadening the knowledge and application of HFE in Sweden, and to comprise new arenas of specialization. By participating in the key areas in society such as teaching, standardization, product development and occupational safety and health, the work of EHSS is one piece of the puzzle to improve human activities in the future. The vision is that together, we can improve safety, efficiency and well-being for all