What is known about the health and living conditions of the indigenous people of northern Scandinavia, the Sami?

Figures & data

Table 1. Health-related studies in the Swedish Sami population performed at the Southern Lapland Research Department during the last decade

Reference	Research topic	Data source/method of data collection	Year of data collection/ follow-up period	Sami cohort	Reference population	Characteristics of reference population
Hassler et al. 2004 14	Causes of death	The National Causes of Death Register	1961–2000	n=7,482 (reindeer-herding Sami) n=34,239 (non-reindeer-herding Sami	n=144,930	Non-Sami matched by age, gender, and area of living
Hassler et al. 2005 15	Risk of fatal, work-related accidents, and suicide	The National Causes of Death Register	1961–2000	n=7,482 (reindeer-herding Sami)	n=31,349	Non-Sami matched by age, gender, and area of living
Ahlm et al. 2010 17	Causes of fatal, work-related accidents, and suicide	The National Causes of Death Register, autopsy records at the National Board of Forensic Medicine, police reports, and medical records at the County Council	1961–2001	n=7,482 (reindeer-herding Sami)	None
Hassler et al. 2001 24	Cancer incidences	The National Cancer Register	1961–1997	n=2,033 (reindeer-herding Sami, 1961) n=1,988 (reindeer-herding Sami, 1980)	n=8,132 (1961) n=7,952 1980)	Non-Sami matched by age, gender, and area of living
Hassler et al. 2008 25	Cancer incidences	The National Cancer Register	1961–2003	n=4,782 (reindeer- herding Sami) n=34,239 (non-reindeer-herding Sami)	n=144,930	Non-Sami matched by age, gender, and area of living
Sjölander et al. 2008 16	Incidence of and mortality from cardiovascular diseases	The National Hospital Discharge Register and the National Cause of Death Register	1985–2002	n = 4,465 (reindeer- herding Sami) n=11,449 (non-reindeer-herding Sami)	n = 71,550	Non-Sami matched by age, gender, and area of living
Edin-Liljegren et al. 2004 32	Clinical, psychosocial, and behavioral risk factors for cardiovascular	The Regional Preventive Cardiovascular Diseases Program Register of the County of Västerbotten	1990–2001	n=170 (reindeer-herding Sami) n=441 (non-reindeer-herding Sami)	n=1,222	Non-Sami matched by age, gender, and area of living
Ross et al. 2009 39	Nutrient and food intake	The Regional Preventive Cardiovascular Diseases Program Register of the County of Västerbotten	1990–2001	n=145 (reindeer-herding Sami) n=450 (non-reindeer-herding Sami)	n=1,000	Non-Sami matched by age, gender, and area of living
Nilsson et al. 2011 31	Dietary habits and lifestyle 50–70 years ago in relation to present day	The Regional Preventive Cardiovascular Diseases Program Register of the County of Västerbotten and interviews	1990–1996, 2008 (interviews)	n=81 (reindeer-herding Sami) n=226 (non-reindeer-herding Sami) n=20 interviews (elderly Sami)	n=1,842	Non-Sami matched by age, gender, and area of living
Kaiser et al. 2011 37	Symptoms and predicting factors of depression and anxiety	Questionnaire	2007	n=319 (reindeer-herding Sami)	n=1,393	Non-Sami, from rural and urban areas of northern Sweden
Daerga et al. 2011 49	Confidence in health-care organizations	Questionnaire	2007	n=356 (reindeer-herding Sami)	n=1,441	Non-Sami, from rural and urban areas of northern Sweden
Sjölander et al. 2008 45	Prevalence and relative risk for musculoskeletal symptoms and perceived psychosocial work strain	Questionnaire	2003–2007	n = 74 (male reindeerherders)	n=53 (adult females in reindeer herding families) n=194 (non-reindeer-herding men in blue-collar occupations	Non-Sami men in construction, industry, and transportation occupations
Daerga et al. 2008 44	Quality of life	Questionnaire	2003–2007	n=99 (reindeer-herding Sami)		The general Swedish population
Daerga et al. 2004 30	Causes of musculoskeletal pain and impact of interventions	Questionnaire and medical examinations	2001–2003	n = 51 (reindeer-herding Sami)	None
Zabel et al. 2011 50	Carnivore-induced stress	Questionnaire	2009	n = 401 (reindeer-herding Sami)	None

Hassler S, Sjölander P, Johansson R, Grönberg H, Damber L. Fatal accidents and suicide among reindeer herding Sami in Sweden. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2004; 63(Suppl 2):384–8.

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Hassler S, Johansson R, Sjölander P, Grönberg H, Damber L. Causes of death in the Sami population of Sweden, 1961–2000. Int J Epidemiol. 2005; 34: 623–9.

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Ahlm K, Hassler S, Sjölander P, Eriksson A. Unnatural deaths in reindeer-herding Sami families in Sweden. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2010; 69: 129–37.

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Hassler S, Sjölander P, Barnekow-Bergkvist M, Kadesjö A. Cancer risk in the reindeer breeding Sami population of Sweden, 1961–1997. Eur J Epidemiol. 2001; 17: 969–76.

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Hassler S, Sjölander P, Johansson R, Grönberg H, Damber L. Cancer in the Swedish Sami population in relation to genetic and lifestyle factors. Eur J Epidemiol. 2008; 23: 273–80.

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Sjölander P, Hassler S, Janlert U. Stroke and acute myocardial infarction in the Swedish Sami population – incidence and mortality in relation to income and level of education. Scand J Public Health. 2008; 36: 84–91.

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Edin-Liljegren A, Hassler S, Sjölander P, Daerga L. Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among Swedish Sami – a controlled cohort study. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2004; 63(Suppl 2):292–7.

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Ross AB, Johansson Å Vavruch-Nilsson V, Hassler S, Sjölander P, Edin-Liljegren A, et al.. Adherence to a traditional lifestyle affects food and nutrient intake among modern Swedish Sami. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2009; 68: 372–85.

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Nilsson L, Dahlgren L, Johansson I, Brustad M, Sjölander P, Van Gulpen B. Diet and lifestyle of the Sami of southern Lapland in the 1930s–1950s and today. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2011; 70: 301–18.

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Kaiser N, Salander Renberg E. Suicidal expressions among the Swedish reindeer-herding Sami population. 2011. (submitted).

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Daerga L, Sjölander P, Edin-Liljegren A, Jacobsson. Confidence towards primary health care, psychiatry and social services in northern Sweden – a comparison between indigenous Sami and the general population. 2011. (submitted).

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Sjölander P, Daerga L, Edin-Liljegren A, Jacobsson L. Musculoskeletal symptoms and perceived work strain among reindeer herders in Sweden. Occup Med. 2008; 58: 572–9.

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Daerga L, Edin-Liljegren A, Sjölander P. Quality of life in relations to physical, psychosocial and socio-economic conditions among reindeer-herding Sami. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2008; 67: 10–28.

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Daerga L, Edin-Liljegren A, Sjölander P. Work-related musculoskeletal pain among reindeer herding Sami in Sweden-a pilot study on causes and prevention. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2004; 63(Suppl 2):343–8.

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Zabel A, Sjölander P, Bostedt G. Carnivore-induced stress among livestock herders (submitted).

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