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Previous research suggests that the use of snus, a smokeless tobacco product, is associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We aimed to evaluate the associations of snus use with biomarkers of cardiometabolic importance: high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and calculated free testosterone (cfT). We performed cross-sectional analyses within the population-based Northern Sweden MONICA-study. The study sample consisted of 6 158 never-smoking men and women (of whom 21 and 3.3% were current snus users, respectively), examined between 1990 and 2014. Harmonized analyses on biomarkers were conducted 2016 to 2018. We evaluated the relationships between snus use and biomarker concentrations using linear and logistic regression. Snus use, compared to never-use, was associated with lower hs-CRP (exp(β_ln) 0.88, 95% CI 0.81; 0.96) and 25(OH)D-concentrations (β − 1.01, 95% CI −1.70; −0.33) in mixed-sex analyses. Among men, snus use was also associated with higher cfT-concentrations (exp(β_ln) 1.04, 95% CI 1.01; 1.07). Former snus users had no significant differences in biomarker concentrations. Snus users have lower concentrations of 25(OH)D and hs-CRP, irrespective of sex, while male users have higher cfT-concentrations. These findings may in part contribute to the previously observed increased mortality among snus users.

Importance: Same-admission cholecystectomy is recommended by guidelines for mild gallstone-related acute pancreatitis, yet surgery is often deferred. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is often used as an interim strategy, but its effectiveness compared with cholecystectomy is uncertain.

Objective: To compare cholecystectomy, ERCP only, and no intervention in association with recurrent acute pancreatitis and other gallstone-related complications, accounting for death as a competing event.

Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based cohort study used nationwide Swedish registries (2006-2019). Adults with first episodes of gallstone-related acute pancreatitis and a length of hospital stay 10 days or less were included. Follow-up began on the day after discharge. Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard models were applied in prespecified time windows (≤7, 8-14, 15-30, 31-90, 91-365, and >365 days), adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic factors, and comorbidities. These data were analyzed from September 2025 through January 2026.

Exposures: Index-admission cholecystectomy, ERCP only, or no intervention; elective postdischarge cholecystectomy was modeled as a time-varying covariate.

Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was recurrent acute pancreatitis. The secondary outcome was other gallstone-related complications (acute cholecystitis and/or choledocholithiasis).

Results: Among 9593 patients (median [IQR], age 61 [44-75] years; 60.3% female and 39.7% male), 28.7% underwent cholecystectomy, 16.9% ERCP only, and 54.4% no intervention during index hospital stay. Recurrence of acute pancreatitis in the 3 groups was 3.4%, 4.9%, and 17.5%, respectively. Similar differences were seen in adjusted models (overall subdistribution hazard ratio [sHR] for ERCP only, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.02-1.92 and for no intervention, 6.06; 95% CI, 4.85-7.56 compared with cholecystectomy). The risk of recurrence peaked 8 to 14 days after discharge among patients treated with ERCP only; beyond 15 days, there was no evidence of higher recurrence after ERCP only compared with cholecystectomy. Other gallstone-related complications occurred in 1.6% in the cholecystectomy group, 19.9% in the ERCP only group, and 16.3% in the no intervention group.

Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, same-admission cholecystectomy was associated with the lowest recurrence in acute pancreatitis and the lowest rate of other gallstone-related complications. ERCP only was associated with low long-term risk of recurrence but other gallstone-related complications remained common. These findings support prioritizing same-admission cholecystectomy in all individuals with acute gallstone-related pancreatitis, provided they are fit for surgery.

IMPORTANCE: Risk stratification strategies in primary prevention of coronary events lack precision.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether prediction of first coronary events is improved by adding information on coronary atherosclerosis from coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) to a model using the pooled cohort equation (PCE) risk score tool and the coronary artery calcification score (CACS).

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Observational cohort study including individuals aged 50 to 64 years randomly recruited from the general population and examined at 6 university hospitals in Sweden from 2013 to 2018, with a median follow-up of 7.8 years. A sample of 30 154 individuals underwent cardiopulmonary imaging, physical examinations, routine laboratory tests, questionnaires, and/or functional tests. This study included 24 791 individuals without previous cardiovascular disease for whom high-quality CCTA images were available. Events were followed up via registers until September 2024.

EXPOSURES: The information used from the CCTA images was the extent of coronary atherosclerosis (segment involvement score), presence of noncalcified atherosclerosis, and presence of coronary obstructive disease (stenosis ≥50%).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The outcome was a composite of first occurrence of nonfatal myocardial infarction or death from coronary heart disease.

RESULTS: During follow-up, 304 coronary events occurred. Segment involvement scores of 3 to 4 and greater than 4 and presence of noncalcified atherosclerosis were associated with hazard ratios of 2.71 (95% CI, 1.34-5.44), 5.27 (95% CI, 2.50-11.07), and 1.66 (95% CI, 1.23-2.22), respectively. In a model based on the PCE and CACS, CCTA-derived data improved risk discrimination (C statistic improved from 0.764 to 0.779; P = .004) and risk reclassification (net reclassification improvement of 0.133 [95% CI, 0.031-0.165]), conferred a net correct upward reclassification of 14.2% in those with events and incorrectly classified 1.6% of participants not experiencing an event into a higher-risk category. Because of the low event rate in the cohort, reclassification mainly occurred in the group classified as at low risk (<5%) according to the PCE.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Information on coronary atherosclerosis from CCTA modestly improved risk prediction beyond traditional risk factors and CACS in identifying individuals at risk of coronary events and in need of primary prevention.

Background: Elevated BMI and central adiposity increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and several cancers. Obesity has risen in recent decades, with Northern Sweden exceeding the national average. Anthropometric trends in the Northern Sweden MONICA study have not been updated since 2004.

Objective: To describe overweight and obesity trends in Northern Sweden from 1986 to 2022.

Methods: Eight population-based surveys were conducted between 1986 and 2022 within the Northern Sweden MONICA study. In each survey, 2000–2500 adults aged 25–74 years were invited; 12,950 participated (mean age 49.5 [SD 13.6]; 51% women), with a 68.2% response rate. Anthropometry was assessed using standardized protocols.

Results: Obesity increased by 15.7 percentage points in men and 12.1 percentage points in women. By 2022, obesity had doubled since 1986, reaching 26.6% in men and 26.3% in women. Abdominal obesity also increased: with waist circumference ≥ 102 cm in men and ≥ 88 cm in women rising by 21.5 and 4.9 percentage points, respectively.

Conclusions: General and abdominal obesity have substantially increased in Northern Sweden over the past four decades. These findings call for urgent, coordinated, and multi-level interventions, as continued increases in obesity pose serious long-term risks to population health and healthcare sustainability.

Prostate cancer (PCa) incidence has steadily increased in Sweden, more steeply in the mid-1990s caused by increased opportunistic prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing. Tallness, normal weight, and non-smoking are associated with more PSA testing, which increases detection of low-risk and localised PCa. We investigated time trends of height, body mass index (BMI), and smoking with PCa risk in 171,889 men in Sweden aged 50–64 years at baseline, who were linked to nationwide cancer registers during follow-up. Cox regression determined the association of these factors assessed before 1980, 1980–1994, and 1995–2004 with PCa risk. During 15 follow-up years, 8,049 men were diagnosed with PCa. The association of height with PCa was weakly positive across all calendar periods. For obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) vs. normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2) and current vs. never smoking, the associations changed from null before 1980 (HR 1.03, 95% CI 0.86–1.23, and 1.11, 95% CI 0.97–1.27) to negative in 1995–2004 (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.74–0.93, and 0.86, 95% CI 0.79–0.93; pinteraction between periods = 0.05 and 0.001). In men with clinical characteristics available, height was positively associated with both aggressive and non-aggressive PCa whilst obesity and smoking showed negative associations only with non-aggressive PCa. These findings likely reflect differences in PSA testing by BMI and smoking habits and contribute important knowledge for etiological studies of PCa.

Background: It has been hypothesized but seldom tested that the winter excess in cardiovascular disease (CVD) is related to hypovitaminosis D. The present study examined the association between CVD and (i) seasonality of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and (ii) individual 25(OH)D concentrations.

Methods and findings: Harmonized 25(OH)D data were obtained from the Biomarkers for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in Europe (BiomarCaRE) project, including 79,570 participants examined between 1984 and 2010. One 25(OH)D measurement was available per participant. Primary endpoints were CVD incidence (coronary heart disease or stroke; n = 6006) and CVD mortality (n = 2985). To study (i), Poisson regression-derived rate ratios were compared according to two-month categories, ordered by baseline 25(OH)D concentrations. To study (ii), Cox regression-derived hazard ratios were compared according to quarters of baseline 25(OH)D concentrations. With respect to (i), despite a median 25(OH)D concentration ratio of 1:1.79, the trough months of 25(OH)D in March and April had a similar CVD incidence as the peak months of 25(OH)D in August and September (rate ratio: 1.07, 95% CI: 0.98–1.17). CVD mortality was slightly higher in the trough months compared to the peak months (rate ratio: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.12–1.44) but not compared to the other months (despite median 25[OH]D concentration ratios up to 1:1.62; p ≥ 0.077). The CVD mortality peak in January preceded the 25(OH)D trough, not adhering to the temporality criterion of Bradford Hill. With respect to (ii), compared to the lowest quarter, the highest quarter of 25(OH)D was associated with lower CVD incidence (hazard ratio: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.76–0.89) and CVD mortality (hazard ratio: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.57–0.72).

Conclusion: The present study does not support the hypothesis that seasonal increases in CVD are driven by short-term reductions in 25(OH)D. As in most observational studies, higher 25(OH)D concentrations were inversely associated with CVD.

Background: Acute pancreatitis is a potentially life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas, with a rising incidence in most countries. Recent studies have suggested that acute pancreatitis is associated with increased long-term mortality. However, the extent to which this association is influenced by the development of chronic pancreatitis or comorbid conditions, such as malignant disease, remains unclear.

Objective: To assess the association between acute pancreatitis and long-term all-cause mortality.

Methods: The Swedish Pancreatitis Cohort (SwePan) was used, including all individuals with a first-time episode of acute pancreatitis in Sweden between 1990 and 2019 who survived the index hospital stay and 1:10 matched pancreatitis-free individuals from the general population. Multivariable conditional Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare mortality among individuals with acute pancreatitis compared with the matched pancreatitis-free control group.

Results: In total, 89,465 individuals discharged from hospital with acute pancreatitis and 890,837 matched pancreatitis-free individuals were followed up for 10,155,039 person-years (mean 10.0 years). There were 33,764 (37.7%) deaths among individuals with acute pancreatitis and 265,403 (29.8%) deaths among controls. In multivariable adjusted models, mortality was increased in individuals with acute pancreatitis throughout the follow-up period, particularly among those with severe and non-gallstone-related acute pancreatitis as compared to the matched controls. These results remained statistically significant after censoring the follow-up time for recurrent acute pancreatitis or a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis.

Conclusions: Acute pancreatitis was associated with increased long-term mortality, even after adjusting for comorbidities, including cancer, and censoring for recurrent acute pancreatitis or chronic pancreatitis. Future research should assess causes of death and focus on understanding long-term morbidity to facilitate prevention through tailored follow-up strategies.

Background: Biliary tract cancer (BTC) often goes undetected until its advanced stages, resulting in a poor prognosis. Given the anatomical closeness of the gallbladder and bile ducts to the pancreas, the inflammatory processes triggered by acute pancreatitis might increase the risk of BTC.

Objective: To assess the association between acute pancreatitis and the risk of BTC.

Methods: Using the Swedish Pancreatitis Cohort (SwePan), we compared the BTC risk in patients with a first-time episode of acute pancreatitis during 1990–2018 to a 1:10 matched pancreatitis-free control group. Multivariable Cox regression models, stratified by follow-up duration, were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs), adjusting for socioeconomic factors, alcohol use, and comorbidities.

Results: BTC developed in 0.94% of 85,027 acute pancreatitis patients and in 0.23% of 814,993 controls. The BTC risk notably increased within 3 months of hospital discharge (HR 82.63; 95% CI: 63.07–108.26) and remained elevated beyond 10 years of follow-up (HR 1.82; 95% CI: 1.35–2.47). However, the long-term risk of BTC subtypes did not increase with anatomical proximity to the pancreas, with a null association for gallbladder and extrahepatic tumors. Importantly, patients with acute pancreatitis had a higher occurrence of early-stage BTC within 2 years of hospital discharge than controls (13.0 vs. 3.6%; p-value <0.01).

Conclusion: Our nationwide study found an elevated BTC risk in acute pancreatitis patients; however, the risk estimates for BTC subtypes were inconsistent, thereby questioning the causality of the association. Importantly, the amplified detection of early-stage BTC within 2 years after a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis underscores the necessity for proactive BTC surveillance in these patients.

Background: Nutri-Score is a scientifically validated 5-color front-of-pack nutrition label reflecting the nutrient profile of foods. It has been implemented in several European countries on a voluntary basis, pending the revision of the European labeling regulation. Hence, scientific evidence is needed regarding the ability of the nutrient profile underlying the Nutri-Score (uNS-NPS, 2023-updated version) to characterize healthier foods. Our objective was therefore to study the prospective association between the nutritional quality of diet characterized by the uNS-NPS and the risk of cardiovascular diseases in a large European population.

Methods: Our analyses included 345,533 participants from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study (EPIC, 1992–2010, 7 European countries). Food intakes were assessed at baseline using country-specific dietary questionnaires. The uNS-NPS was calculated as a continuous scale for each food, based on its 100 g content of energy, sugars, saturated fatty acids, salt, fibre, and protein and percentage content of fruit, vegetables, and pulses. A dietary index was derived at the individual level (uNS-NPS DI: energy-weighted mean of uNS-NPS scores of all foods consumed by a participant). Cardiovascular events during follow-up were retrieved using country-specific methods (self-report, registry data). Multi-adjusted Cox models were computed.

Findings: Overall, 16,214 first cardiovascular events were reported (median follow-up: 12.3 years; 4,103,133 person-years). The consumption of foods with a higher uNS-NPS score (reflecting a lower overall nutritional quality of diet) was associated with higher risks of total cardiovascular events (Hazards Ratio (HR) for an increment of 1 standard deviation: 1.03 (95% Confidence Interval 1.01–1.05)), especially myocardial infarction (HR = 1.03 (1.01–1.07)), and stroke (HR = 1.04 (1.01–1.07)).

Interpretation: In this large prospective study among European adults, a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases (total and several subtypes) was observed in individuals consuming a diet with a lower nutritional value, as graded by the uNS-NPS score. This brings new evidence on the relevance of the updated nutrient profile underlying the Nutri-Score to characterize foods with a healthier nutrient profile.