Katrin Lang | University of Tartu (original) (raw)

Papers by Katrin Lang

Research paper thumbnail of Long-term outcome of bystander-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Estonia from 1999 to 2002

Resuscitation, 2009

To assess the long-term outcome of bystander-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims in ... more To assess the long-term outcome of bystander-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims in Estonia by using the survival rate and quality of life assay. All resuscitation attempts made from 01.01.1999 to 31.12.2002 in Estonia were retrospectively screened for bystander-witnessed adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrests of cardiac origin. The patients who survived hospital discharge were included in the study. Their long-term survival data were retrieved from Estonian Population Registry on March 15, 2004. Quality of life was assessed by RAND-36 questionnaire. Comparisons were made with population norms, and patients suffering from myocardial infarction or angina pectoris. 854 bystander-witnessed resuscitation attempts were made in four years. 91 patients (10.7%) survived to hospital discharge. Their one-year survival rate was 77.0% and five-year survival rate 64.3%. 44 patients responded to quality of life questionnaire, sent 16-62 months after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (response rate 77.2%). Respondents rated their quality of life significantly worse than general population in five out of eight categories. The out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors with known cardiovascular disease in history (n=30) had quality of life similar to patients suffering from myocardial infarction or angina pectoris who had not required resuscitation. In Estonia majority of bystander-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims who survive hospital discharge are alive one and also more than three years after resuscitation. Their quality of life is worse than that of general population.

Research paper thumbnail of A rapid situation assessment of the market for surrogate and illegal alcohols in Tallinn, Estonia

International Journal of Public Health, 2007

To understand the phenomenon of consumption of surrogate and illegal alcohols in Tallinn, capital... more To understand the phenomenon of consumption of surrogate and illegal alcohols in Tallinn, capital of Estonia. This study, conducted in Tallinn in May 2006, used rapid situation assessment. Interviews with key informants in relevant settings such as emergency departments of hospitals, accommodation for the homeless, police etc. (n = 22), with alcohol abusers (n = 33), natural observations of surrogate sale and consumption venues (n = 46), and tracking of trade data were carried out. Key informants confirmed that consumption of illegal and surrogate alcohols are widely used by alcohol abusers, a finding confirmed by the alcohol abusers. Availability of surrogates varied by area of the city, mainly sold from street kiosks. Illegally produced spirits were also easily available. Sales of surrogates appear to have increased in recent years. A range of alcohol-containing substances that appear to be easily available at low cost, and that have high concentration of ethanol or contaminants known to be toxic, were identified in Tallinn. Alcohol policies in Estonia should address the consumption and availability of these substances.

Research paper thumbnail of Author ' s response to reviews Title : Ethnic differences of cancer incidence in Estonia : two cross-sectional unlinked census based cancer incidence analyses

Reviewer's report Title: Ethnic differences of cancer incidence in Estonia: two cross-section... more Reviewer's report Title: Ethnic differences of cancer incidence in Estonia: two cross-sectional unlinked census based cancer incidence analyses Version: 1 Date: 2 March 2009 Reviewer number: 1 Reviewer's report: Paper ‘Ethnic differences of cancer incidence in Estonia: two cross-sectional unlinked census based cancer incidence analyses’ examines differences in cancer incidence between Estonians and Russians in Estonia. Aims are clearly stated and Paper is well designed, data sources are clearly explained and analysed with adequate statistical methods. However, before accepting the paper for publications there are following points to consider (Minor Essential Revisions):

Research paper thumbnail of 12-MONTH Prevalence of Atopic Dermatitis in Resource-Rich Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Scientific Reports

There is a lack of robust prevalence estimates of atopic dermatitis (AD) globally and trends over... more There is a lack of robust prevalence estimates of atopic dermatitis (AD) globally and trends over time due to wide variation of populations and age groups studied, different study methodologies and case definitions used. We sought to characterize 12-month AD prevalence across the life span and change over time in resource-rich countries focusing on population-based studies and using a standardized AD case definition. This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Medline (Ovid), Embase, WOS core collection, Cinahl, and Popline were searched for studies published since inception through August 15, 2016. Studies were synthesized using random effects meta-analysis. Sources of heterogeneity were investigated using subgroup analyses and meta-regression. From 12,530 records identified, 45 studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis with random effects revealed the 12-month period prevalence of 9.2% (95% confidence interval 8.4–10.1%). The prevalence was signifi...

Research paper thumbnail of Haigusregistrite andmekvaliteedi uurimise meetodid

Rahvastikul pohinevatesse haigusregistritesse kogutakse epidemioloogilisi andmeid haiguste esinem... more Rahvastikul pohinevatesse haigusregistritesse kogutakse epidemioloogilisi andmeid haiguste esinemissageduse kohta. Taiuslik register peaks sisaldama iga registreerimisele kuuluva juhu kohta uhe voimalikult tapse ja taiusliku kirje. Tegelikkuses ilmneb andmekvaliteedis puudujaake. On ulimalt tahtis teada, millised on puudujaagid registriandmete taielikkuses ja tapsuses, kuna neid andmeid kasutatakse laialdaselt kliinilistes ning epidemioloogilistes uurimustes. Eesti Arst 2003; 82 (10): 693–698

Research paper thumbnail of Sünnikaalukõverad Eestis ja sünnikaalu mõjutavad tegurid: registripõhine uuring

Taust. Vastsundinute keskmine sunnikaal erineb riigiti. Sunnikaalu uurimisega on voimalik kliinil... more Taust. Vastsundinute keskmine sunnikaal erineb riigiti. Sunnikaalu uurimisega on voimalik kliinilises meditsiinis paremini analuusida perinataalset suremust ja haigestumise pohjuseid, sh patsiendi hilisemas elueas. Eesmark. Koostada sunnikaalukoverad raseduse kestuse jargi Eestis aastatel 1995–2012 elusalt sundinud poeg- ja tutarlaste andmete pohjal. Alaeesmarkideks oli vorrelda saadud tulemusi aastate 1992–1994 andmetega ning kirjeldada erinevusi ning analuusida sunnikaalu mojutavaid tegureid. Metoodika. Andmeallikana kasutati Eesti meditsiinilise sunniregistri (EMSR) mitteisikustatud andmeid laste kohta, kes sundisid Eestis ajavahemikul 1995–2012 (n = 240 108). Sunnikaalude analuusimiseks kasutati protsentiile 3, 10, 25, 50, 75, 90, 97. Protsentiilid arvutati raseduskestuse jargi nadalates poiste ja tudrukute kohta eraldi. Sunnikaalu mojutavate teguritena analuusiti ema sotsiaal-demograafi list tausta, rasedusaegseid riskitegureid ja varasemaid sunnitusi ja aborte. Tegureid analuu...

Research paper thumbnail of COVID-19 Vaccines Safety Tracking (CoVaST): Protocol of a Multi-Center Prospective Cohort Study for Active Surveillance of COVID-19 Vaccines’ Side Effects

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine-related side effects have a determinant role i... more Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine-related side effects have a determinant role in the public decision regarding vaccination. Therefore, this study has been designed to actively monitor the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines globally. Methods: A multi-country, three-phase study including a cross-sectional survey to test for the short-term side effects of COVID-19 vaccines among target population groups. In the second phase, we will monitor the booster doses’ side effects, while in the third phase, the long-term safety and effectiveness will be investigated. A validated, self-administered questionnaire will be used to collect data from the target population; Results: The study protocol has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, with the identifier NCT04834869. Conclusions: CoVaST is the first independent study aiming to monitor the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines following booster doses, and the long-term safety and effectiveness of said vaccines.

Research paper thumbnail of Cancer Incidence Trends in the Oil Shale Industrial Region in Estonia

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020

Large oil shale resources are found in Eastern Estonia, where the mineral resource is mined, exca... more Large oil shale resources are found in Eastern Estonia, where the mineral resource is mined, excavated, and used for electricity generation and shale oil extraction. During industrial activities in the last 100 years, pollutants have been emitted in large amounts, some of which are toxic and carcinogenic. The current study aims to analyse time trends in cancer incidence in the oil shale industry-affected areas and compare them with overall cancer incidence rates and trends in Estonia. We analysed Estonian Cancer Registry data on selected cancer sites that have been previously indicated to have relationships with industrial activities like oil shale extraction. We included lung cancer, kidney cancer, urinary bladder cancer, leukaemia, breast cancer, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. A statistically significantly higher lung cancer age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) was found during the study period (1992—2015) only in males in the oil shale areas as compared to males in Estonia overall...

Research paper thumbnail of Increasing kidney cancer incidence and survival in Estonia: role of age and stage

Research paper thumbnail of Hysterectomy types in Estonia are still different from the Nordic countries

Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence of alcohol-related pathologies at autopsy: Estonian Forensic Study of Alcohol and Premature Death

Addiction (Abingdon, England), 2014

Alcohol can induce diverse serious pathologies, yet this complexity may be obscured when alcohol-... more Alcohol can induce diverse serious pathologies, yet this complexity may be obscured when alcohol-related deaths are classified according to a single underlying cause. We sought to quantify this issue and its implications for analysing mortality data. Cross-sectional study included 554 men aged 25-54 in Estonia undergoing forensic autopsy in 2008-09. Potentially alcohol-related pathologies were identified following macroscopic and histological examination. Alcohol biomarkers levels were determined. For a subset (26%), drinking behaviour was provided by next-of-kin. The Estonian Statistics Office provided underlying cause of death. Most deaths (75%) showed evidence of potentially alcohol-related pathologies, and 32% had pathologies in two or more organs. The liver was most commonly affected [60.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 56.3-64.6] followed by the lungs (18.6%, 95% CI = 15.4-22.1), stomach (17.5%, 95% CI = 14.4-20.9), pancreas (14.1%, 95% CI = 11.3-17.3), heart (4.9%, 95% CI =...

Research paper thumbnail of The timing of introduction of pharmaceutical innovations in seven E uropean countries

Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Surgical-Site Infections Following Cesarean Section in an Estonian University Hospital: Postdischarge Surveillance and analysis of Risk Factors

Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 2005

Objectives:To evaluate a multi-method approach to postdischarge surveillance of surgical-site inf... more Objectives:To evaluate a multi-method approach to postdischarge surveillance of surgical-site infections (SSIs) and to identify infection rates and risk factors associated with SSI following cesarean section.Design:Cross-sectional survey.Setting:Academic tertiary-care obstetric and gynecology center with 54 beds.Patients:All women who delivered by cesarean section in Tartu University Women's Clinic during 2002.Methods:Infections were identified during hospital stay or by postdischarge survey using a combination of telephone calls, healthcare worker questionnaire, and outpatient medical records review. SSI was diagnosed according to the criteria of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System.Results:The multi-method approach gave a follow-up rate of 94.8%. Of 305 patients, 19 (6.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI95)], 3.8-9.6) had SSIs. Forty-two percent of these SSIs were detected during postdischarge surveillance. We found thre...

Research paper thumbnail of Innovations in medical care and mortality trends from four circulatory diseases between 1970 and 2005

The European Journal of Public Health, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Study of completeness of registration at the Estonian cancer registry

European Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2003

Research paper thumbnail of Women's knowledge about cervical cancer risk factors, screening, and reasons for non-participation in cervical cancer screening programme in Estonia

Research paper thumbnail of Alcohol and premature death in Estonian men: a study of forensic autopsies using novel biomarkers and proxy informants

Research paper thumbnail of Childhood deaths from external causes in Estonia, 2001–2005

BMC Public Health, 2007

BackgroundIn 2000, the overall rate of injury deaths in children aged 0–14 was 28.7 per 100000 in... more BackgroundIn 2000, the overall rate of injury deaths in children aged 0–14 was 28.7 per 100000 in Estonia, which is more than 5 times higher than the corresponding rate in neighbouring Finland. This paper describes childhood injury mortality in Estonia by cause and age groups, and validates registration of these deaths in the Statistical Office of Estonia against the autopsy data.MethodsThe data on causes of all child deaths in Estonia in 2001–2005 were abstracted from the autopsy protocols at the Estonian Bureau of Forensic Medicine. Average annual mortality rates per 100,000 were calculated. Coverage (proportion of the reported injury deaths from the total number of injury deaths) and accuracy (proportion of correctly classified injury deaths) of the registration of causes of death in Statistical Office of Estonia were assessed by comparing the Statistical Office of Estonia data with the data from Estonian Bureau of Forensic Medicine.ResultsAverage annual mortality from external c...

Research paper thumbnail of The Composition of Surrogate and Illegal Alcohol Products in Estonia

Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Age-specific cancer survival in Estonia: recent trends and data quality

Clinical Epidemiology, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Long-term outcome of bystander-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Estonia from 1999 to 2002

Resuscitation, 2009

To assess the long-term outcome of bystander-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims in ... more To assess the long-term outcome of bystander-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims in Estonia by using the survival rate and quality of life assay. All resuscitation attempts made from 01.01.1999 to 31.12.2002 in Estonia were retrospectively screened for bystander-witnessed adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrests of cardiac origin. The patients who survived hospital discharge were included in the study. Their long-term survival data were retrieved from Estonian Population Registry on March 15, 2004. Quality of life was assessed by RAND-36 questionnaire. Comparisons were made with population norms, and patients suffering from myocardial infarction or angina pectoris. 854 bystander-witnessed resuscitation attempts were made in four years. 91 patients (10.7%) survived to hospital discharge. Their one-year survival rate was 77.0% and five-year survival rate 64.3%. 44 patients responded to quality of life questionnaire, sent 16-62 months after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (response rate 77.2%). Respondents rated their quality of life significantly worse than general population in five out of eight categories. The out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors with known cardiovascular disease in history (n=30) had quality of life similar to patients suffering from myocardial infarction or angina pectoris who had not required resuscitation. In Estonia majority of bystander-witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims who survive hospital discharge are alive one and also more than three years after resuscitation. Their quality of life is worse than that of general population.

Research paper thumbnail of A rapid situation assessment of the market for surrogate and illegal alcohols in Tallinn, Estonia

International Journal of Public Health, 2007

To understand the phenomenon of consumption of surrogate and illegal alcohols in Tallinn, capital... more To understand the phenomenon of consumption of surrogate and illegal alcohols in Tallinn, capital of Estonia. This study, conducted in Tallinn in May 2006, used rapid situation assessment. Interviews with key informants in relevant settings such as emergency departments of hospitals, accommodation for the homeless, police etc. (n = 22), with alcohol abusers (n = 33), natural observations of surrogate sale and consumption venues (n = 46), and tracking of trade data were carried out. Key informants confirmed that consumption of illegal and surrogate alcohols are widely used by alcohol abusers, a finding confirmed by the alcohol abusers. Availability of surrogates varied by area of the city, mainly sold from street kiosks. Illegally produced spirits were also easily available. Sales of surrogates appear to have increased in recent years. A range of alcohol-containing substances that appear to be easily available at low cost, and that have high concentration of ethanol or contaminants known to be toxic, were identified in Tallinn. Alcohol policies in Estonia should address the consumption and availability of these substances.

Research paper thumbnail of Author ' s response to reviews Title : Ethnic differences of cancer incidence in Estonia : two cross-sectional unlinked census based cancer incidence analyses

Reviewer's report Title: Ethnic differences of cancer incidence in Estonia: two cross-section... more Reviewer's report Title: Ethnic differences of cancer incidence in Estonia: two cross-sectional unlinked census based cancer incidence analyses Version: 1 Date: 2 March 2009 Reviewer number: 1 Reviewer's report: Paper ‘Ethnic differences of cancer incidence in Estonia: two cross-sectional unlinked census based cancer incidence analyses’ examines differences in cancer incidence between Estonians and Russians in Estonia. Aims are clearly stated and Paper is well designed, data sources are clearly explained and analysed with adequate statistical methods. However, before accepting the paper for publications there are following points to consider (Minor Essential Revisions):

Research paper thumbnail of 12-MONTH Prevalence of Atopic Dermatitis in Resource-Rich Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Scientific Reports

There is a lack of robust prevalence estimates of atopic dermatitis (AD) globally and trends over... more There is a lack of robust prevalence estimates of atopic dermatitis (AD) globally and trends over time due to wide variation of populations and age groups studied, different study methodologies and case definitions used. We sought to characterize 12-month AD prevalence across the life span and change over time in resource-rich countries focusing on population-based studies and using a standardized AD case definition. This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Medline (Ovid), Embase, WOS core collection, Cinahl, and Popline were searched for studies published since inception through August 15, 2016. Studies were synthesized using random effects meta-analysis. Sources of heterogeneity were investigated using subgroup analyses and meta-regression. From 12,530 records identified, 45 studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis with random effects revealed the 12-month period prevalence of 9.2% (95% confidence interval 8.4–10.1%). The prevalence was signifi...

Research paper thumbnail of Haigusregistrite andmekvaliteedi uurimise meetodid

Rahvastikul pohinevatesse haigusregistritesse kogutakse epidemioloogilisi andmeid haiguste esinem... more Rahvastikul pohinevatesse haigusregistritesse kogutakse epidemioloogilisi andmeid haiguste esinemissageduse kohta. Taiuslik register peaks sisaldama iga registreerimisele kuuluva juhu kohta uhe voimalikult tapse ja taiusliku kirje. Tegelikkuses ilmneb andmekvaliteedis puudujaake. On ulimalt tahtis teada, millised on puudujaagid registriandmete taielikkuses ja tapsuses, kuna neid andmeid kasutatakse laialdaselt kliinilistes ning epidemioloogilistes uurimustes. Eesti Arst 2003; 82 (10): 693–698

Research paper thumbnail of Sünnikaalukõverad Eestis ja sünnikaalu mõjutavad tegurid: registripõhine uuring

Taust. Vastsundinute keskmine sunnikaal erineb riigiti. Sunnikaalu uurimisega on voimalik kliinil... more Taust. Vastsundinute keskmine sunnikaal erineb riigiti. Sunnikaalu uurimisega on voimalik kliinilises meditsiinis paremini analuusida perinataalset suremust ja haigestumise pohjuseid, sh patsiendi hilisemas elueas. Eesmark. Koostada sunnikaalukoverad raseduse kestuse jargi Eestis aastatel 1995–2012 elusalt sundinud poeg- ja tutarlaste andmete pohjal. Alaeesmarkideks oli vorrelda saadud tulemusi aastate 1992–1994 andmetega ning kirjeldada erinevusi ning analuusida sunnikaalu mojutavaid tegureid. Metoodika. Andmeallikana kasutati Eesti meditsiinilise sunniregistri (EMSR) mitteisikustatud andmeid laste kohta, kes sundisid Eestis ajavahemikul 1995–2012 (n = 240 108). Sunnikaalude analuusimiseks kasutati protsentiile 3, 10, 25, 50, 75, 90, 97. Protsentiilid arvutati raseduskestuse jargi nadalates poiste ja tudrukute kohta eraldi. Sunnikaalu mojutavate teguritena analuusiti ema sotsiaal-demograafi list tausta, rasedusaegseid riskitegureid ja varasemaid sunnitusi ja aborte. Tegureid analuu...

Research paper thumbnail of COVID-19 Vaccines Safety Tracking (CoVaST): Protocol of a Multi-Center Prospective Cohort Study for Active Surveillance of COVID-19 Vaccines’ Side Effects

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine-related side effects have a determinant role i... more Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine-related side effects have a determinant role in the public decision regarding vaccination. Therefore, this study has been designed to actively monitor the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines globally. Methods: A multi-country, three-phase study including a cross-sectional survey to test for the short-term side effects of COVID-19 vaccines among target population groups. In the second phase, we will monitor the booster doses’ side effects, while in the third phase, the long-term safety and effectiveness will be investigated. A validated, self-administered questionnaire will be used to collect data from the target population; Results: The study protocol has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, with the identifier NCT04834869. Conclusions: CoVaST is the first independent study aiming to monitor the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines following booster doses, and the long-term safety and effectiveness of said vaccines.

Research paper thumbnail of Cancer Incidence Trends in the Oil Shale Industrial Region in Estonia

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020

Large oil shale resources are found in Eastern Estonia, where the mineral resource is mined, exca... more Large oil shale resources are found in Eastern Estonia, where the mineral resource is mined, excavated, and used for electricity generation and shale oil extraction. During industrial activities in the last 100 years, pollutants have been emitted in large amounts, some of which are toxic and carcinogenic. The current study aims to analyse time trends in cancer incidence in the oil shale industry-affected areas and compare them with overall cancer incidence rates and trends in Estonia. We analysed Estonian Cancer Registry data on selected cancer sites that have been previously indicated to have relationships with industrial activities like oil shale extraction. We included lung cancer, kidney cancer, urinary bladder cancer, leukaemia, breast cancer, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. A statistically significantly higher lung cancer age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) was found during the study period (1992—2015) only in males in the oil shale areas as compared to males in Estonia overall...

Research paper thumbnail of Increasing kidney cancer incidence and survival in Estonia: role of age and stage

Research paper thumbnail of Hysterectomy types in Estonia are still different from the Nordic countries

Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence of alcohol-related pathologies at autopsy: Estonian Forensic Study of Alcohol and Premature Death

Addiction (Abingdon, England), 2014

Alcohol can induce diverse serious pathologies, yet this complexity may be obscured when alcohol-... more Alcohol can induce diverse serious pathologies, yet this complexity may be obscured when alcohol-related deaths are classified according to a single underlying cause. We sought to quantify this issue and its implications for analysing mortality data. Cross-sectional study included 554 men aged 25-54 in Estonia undergoing forensic autopsy in 2008-09. Potentially alcohol-related pathologies were identified following macroscopic and histological examination. Alcohol biomarkers levels were determined. For a subset (26%), drinking behaviour was provided by next-of-kin. The Estonian Statistics Office provided underlying cause of death. Most deaths (75%) showed evidence of potentially alcohol-related pathologies, and 32% had pathologies in two or more organs. The liver was most commonly affected [60.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 56.3-64.6] followed by the lungs (18.6%, 95% CI = 15.4-22.1), stomach (17.5%, 95% CI = 14.4-20.9), pancreas (14.1%, 95% CI = 11.3-17.3), heart (4.9%, 95% CI =...

Research paper thumbnail of The timing of introduction of pharmaceutical innovations in seven E uropean countries

Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Surgical-Site Infections Following Cesarean Section in an Estonian University Hospital: Postdischarge Surveillance and analysis of Risk Factors

Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 2005

Objectives:To evaluate a multi-method approach to postdischarge surveillance of surgical-site inf... more Objectives:To evaluate a multi-method approach to postdischarge surveillance of surgical-site infections (SSIs) and to identify infection rates and risk factors associated with SSI following cesarean section.Design:Cross-sectional survey.Setting:Academic tertiary-care obstetric and gynecology center with 54 beds.Patients:All women who delivered by cesarean section in Tartu University Women's Clinic during 2002.Methods:Infections were identified during hospital stay or by postdischarge survey using a combination of telephone calls, healthcare worker questionnaire, and outpatient medical records review. SSI was diagnosed according to the criteria of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System.Results:The multi-method approach gave a follow-up rate of 94.8%. Of 305 patients, 19 (6.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI95)], 3.8-9.6) had SSIs. Forty-two percent of these SSIs were detected during postdischarge surveillance. We found thre...

Research paper thumbnail of Innovations in medical care and mortality trends from four circulatory diseases between 1970 and 2005

The European Journal of Public Health, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Study of completeness of registration at the Estonian cancer registry

European Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2003

Research paper thumbnail of Women's knowledge about cervical cancer risk factors, screening, and reasons for non-participation in cervical cancer screening programme in Estonia

Research paper thumbnail of Alcohol and premature death in Estonian men: a study of forensic autopsies using novel biomarkers and proxy informants

Research paper thumbnail of Childhood deaths from external causes in Estonia, 2001–2005

BMC Public Health, 2007

BackgroundIn 2000, the overall rate of injury deaths in children aged 0–14 was 28.7 per 100000 in... more BackgroundIn 2000, the overall rate of injury deaths in children aged 0–14 was 28.7 per 100000 in Estonia, which is more than 5 times higher than the corresponding rate in neighbouring Finland. This paper describes childhood injury mortality in Estonia by cause and age groups, and validates registration of these deaths in the Statistical Office of Estonia against the autopsy data.MethodsThe data on causes of all child deaths in Estonia in 2001–2005 were abstracted from the autopsy protocols at the Estonian Bureau of Forensic Medicine. Average annual mortality rates per 100,000 were calculated. Coverage (proportion of the reported injury deaths from the total number of injury deaths) and accuracy (proportion of correctly classified injury deaths) of the registration of causes of death in Statistical Office of Estonia were assessed by comparing the Statistical Office of Estonia data with the data from Estonian Bureau of Forensic Medicine.ResultsAverage annual mortality from external c...

Research paper thumbnail of The Composition of Surrogate and Illegal Alcohol Products in Estonia

Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2006

Research paper thumbnail of Age-specific cancer survival in Estonia: recent trends and data quality

Clinical Epidemiology, 2015