We found heightened risk of suicide following discharge from acute somatic hospitalization, even in the absence of concurrent mental disorders, self-harm, or prior suicide attempts. This was particularly true for elderly individuals and underscores the need for support for patients after discharge.  

Article in BMC Medicine

We found that patients who experienced their general practitioner (GP) retiring or moving had a short-term, moderate increase in contact with out-of-hours GPs and acute hospital services, and a small but persistent increase in daytime GP and planned hospital contacts, compared to patients whose GP remained in the same practice. There was no difference in mortality between the patients. 

Article in BMJ Quality & Safety

We have studied the effects of referrals of elderly patients from out-of-hours services to hospitals in cases where the referral indication is not obvious - cases where some doctors would have chosen not to refer the patient. The study finds that such referrals lead to slightly more use of health services, but that those who are referred have significantly lower mortality over the next six months.  

Article and editorial in BMJ Quality & Safety. 

Location of maternity services involves balancing hospital delivery volume and travel time. It is not random which women give birth in smaller and larger hospitals. We therefore used three different research designs based on different assumptions to triangulate the results for birth outcomes:  

1. We compared women who gave birth in hospitals of different sizes and with varying travel times, adjusted for known common underlying factors.  

2. We compared women with themselves, if they moved between hospital areas between births.  

3. We compared women who lived in neighboring municipalities, but in different hospital areas.  

Triangulation showed opposite conclusions. 

Article in Epidemiology

In the public debate, the focus is often on individuals with obesity and less at the population's BMI development. But what affects healthcare costs the most?  

We found that people with severe obesity have a high individual risk of healthcare use, but they are few and affect total health care costs to a lesser extent than the much larger number of people with obesity. 

This research shows that it is important to consider both the individual and population perspectives when evaluating measures against overweight and obesity, in clinical and health policy decisions, much in line with G. Rose’s discussion in Sick individuals and sick populations, in 1985. 

Article in Tidsskriftet, The Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association.