Clinical Epidemiology

Our passion is using big data to create value for patients and populations.
Description of our research

Professor Johan Sundström. Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt.
Our research group is leading a national strategic research program in epidemiology funded by the Swedish government. We utilize many of Sweden’s cohorts in our observational research and have collected many of them ourselves, and we are leading a national initiative to increase the value of all Swedish cohorts. We also lead randomized clinical trials, mainly in cardiometabolic diseases and emergency care, and conduct systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Our methods and method development are focused on using big data to guide risk estimation, treatment decisions, and evaluation of treatment effects, risks and costs. In addition to traditional data sources such as clinical trials and cohorts with multiple omics data, we use emerging ones such as electronic health records and patient-generated data. We use causal inference methods such as Mendelian randomization, causal diagrams, and propensity score-based methods. We also use machine learning methods and develop new digital tools for clinical research.
Group members
Research projects
- AI-based ECG diagnosis of heart attacks
- Home-based screening for heart failure (U-SCREEN-HF)
- Improving emergency department safety, efficiency and cost effectiveness through artificial intelligence (EmergAI)
- Large-scale analysis of population studies (Cohorts.se)
- Markers of Imminent Myocardial Infarction (MIMI)
- Minforskning.se
- Personalised blood pressure treatment (PHYSIC)
- U-SCREEN - Uppsala self-screening of cardiovascular health
Publications
Impact of genetic variants linked to liver fat and liver volume on MRI-mapped body composition
Part of JHEP Reports, 2025
- DOI for Impact of genetic variants linked to liver fat and liver volume on MRI-mapped body composition
- Download full text (pdf) of Impact of genetic variants linked to liver fat and liver volume on MRI-mapped body composition
Part of Metabolism, 2025
- DOI for Plasma metabolite profiles of meat intake and their association with cardiovascular disease risk: A population-based study in Swedish cohorts
- Download full text (pdf) of Plasma metabolite profiles of meat intake and their association with cardiovascular disease risk: A population-based study in Swedish cohorts
Part of Metabolism, 2025
Part of Atherosclerosis, 2025
- DOI for Different plasma biomarker patterns associated with coronary atherosclerosis in low- versus high-risk individuals: - an observational cross-sectional study
- Download full text (pdf) of Different plasma biomarker patterns associated with coronary atherosclerosis in low- versus high-risk individuals: - an observational cross-sectional study
Part of Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 2025
Part of The Lancet, p. 43-51, 2025
- DOI for Collaboration on the optimal timing of anticoagulation after ischaemic stroke and atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and prospective individual participant data meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (CATALYST)
- Download full text (pdf) of Collaboration on the optimal timing of anticoagulation after ischaemic stroke and atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and prospective individual participant data meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (CATALYST)
Part of Heart, p. 300-305, 2025
Associations between physical activity and CVD-related metabolomic and proteomic biomarkers
Part of PLOS ONE, 2025
- DOI for Associations between physical activity and CVD-related metabolomic and proteomic biomarkers
- Download full text (pdf) of Associations between physical activity and CVD-related metabolomic and proteomic biomarkers
Part of Clinical Kidney Journal, 2025
- DOI for Causal effects of obesity on estimated glomerular filtration rate: a Mendelian randomization and image data analysis study
- Download full text (pdf) of Causal effects of obesity on estimated glomerular filtration rate: a Mendelian randomization and image data analysis study
Part of European Heart Journal - Quality of Care and Clinical Outcomes, p. 415-423, 2025
- DOI for Diverticular disease and risk of incident major adverse cardiovascular events: a nationwide matched cohort study
- Download full text (pdf) of Diverticular disease and risk of incident major adverse cardiovascular events: a nationwide matched cohort study
A genome-wide association study of imaging-defined atherosclerosis
Part of Nature Communications, 2025
- DOI for A genome-wide association study of imaging-defined atherosclerosis
- Download full text (pdf) of A genome-wide association study of imaging-defined atherosclerosis
Part of Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal, 2025
- DOI for Prevalence of atrial fibrillation among Swedish adults participating in the general population study EpiHealth
- Download full text (pdf) of Prevalence of atrial fibrillation among Swedish adults participating in the general population study EpiHealth
Part of Journal of Advanced Nursing, p. 5103-5111, 2025
- DOI for The Fundamentals of Care Framework: Application Within a Post‐Graduate Nursing Programme Facilitated by a Pedagogical Project for Educators
- Download full text (pdf) of The Fundamentals of Care Framework: Application Within a Post‐Graduate Nursing Programme Facilitated by a Pedagogical Project for Educators
Precision Omics Initiative Sweden (PROMISE) will integrate research with healthcare
Part of Nature Medicine, p. 1730-1732, 2025
Part of JOURNAL OF PATIENT EXPERIENCE, 2025
- DOI for Vaccine Knowledge and Awareness Among Patients With Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: Results From a Nordic Survey
- Download full text (pdf) of Vaccine Knowledge and Awareness Among Patients With Chronic Inflammatory Diseases: Results From a Nordic Survey
Meat intake in relation to composition and function of gut microbiota
Part of Clinical Nutrition, p. 124-133, 2025
- DOI for Meat intake in relation to composition and function of gut microbiota
- Download full text (pdf) of Meat intake in relation to composition and function of gut microbiota
The association between the gut microbiome and 24-h blood pressure measurements in the SCAPIS study
Part of Communications Medicine, 2025
- DOI for The association between the gut microbiome and 24-h blood pressure measurements in the SCAPIS study
- Download full text (pdf) of The association between the gut microbiome and 24-h blood pressure measurements in the SCAPIS study
Part of Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2025
Part of NMCD. Nutrition Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 2025
- DOI for Combinations of BMI and metabolic syndrome and the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure
- Download full text (pdf) of Combinations of BMI and metabolic syndrome and the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure
The healthcare system in Sweden
Part of European Journal of Epidemiology, p. 563-579, 2025
Global Effect of Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Lifetime Estimates
Part of New England Journal of Medicine, p. 125-138, 2025
Part of EBioMedicine, 2025
- DOI for Cardio-metabolic-related plasma proteins reveal biological links between cardiovascular diseases and fragility fractures: a cohort and Mendelian randomisation investigation
- Download full text (pdf) of Cardio-metabolic-related plasma proteins reveal biological links between cardiovascular diseases and fragility fractures: a cohort and Mendelian randomisation investigation
Part of JACC: CardioOncology, p. 609-623, 2025
- DOI for Blood Pressure Lowering and Risk of Cancer: Individual Participant-Level Data Meta-Analysis and Mendelian Randomization Studies
- Download full text (pdf) of Blood Pressure Lowering and Risk of Cancer: Individual Participant-Level Data Meta-Analysis and Mendelian Randomization Studies
Part of Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology, 2025
- DOI for Prospective observational study of tofacitinib in ulcerative colitis - analysis of clinical data, fatigue and health-related quality of life during the induction phase
- Download full text (pdf) of Prospective observational study of tofacitinib in ulcerative colitis - analysis of clinical data, fatigue and health-related quality of life during the induction phase
Part of International Journal of Environmental Health Research, p. 1156-1169, 2025
Part of The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, p. 848-862, 2025
Part of Journal of the American Heart Association, 2025
- DOI for Impact of Dapagliflozin on Cardiometabolic Outcomes After Acute Myocardial Infarction According to Baseline Glycemic Status and Body Mass Index: Subanalyses of the DAPA-MI Trial
- Download full text (pdf) of Impact of Dapagliflozin on Cardiometabolic Outcomes After Acute Myocardial Infarction According to Baseline Glycemic Status and Body Mass Index: Subanalyses of the DAPA-MI Trial
Part of European Journal of Heart Failure, p. 180-181, 2025
Part of Journal of Internal Medicine, p. 135-137, 2025
- DOI for No association between sleep apnea, nocturnal blood pressure dipping, and cognitive performance among Swedish adults aged 50-65 years
- Download full text (pdf) of No association between sleep apnea, nocturnal blood pressure dipping, and cognitive performance among Swedish adults aged 50-65 years
Part of European Heart Journal, p. 3502-3503, 2025
High Physical Activity Level and the Long-Term Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Two Swedish Cohorts
Part of Geriatrics, 2025
- DOI for High Physical Activity Level and the Long-Term Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Two Swedish Cohorts
- Download full text (pdf) of High Physical Activity Level and the Long-Term Risk of Atrial Fibrillation in Two Swedish Cohorts
The Lancet Commission on rethinking coronary artery disease: moving from ischaemia to atheroma
Part of The Lancet, p. 1264-1312, 2025
Characterising acute and chronic care needs: insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Part of Nature Communications, 2025
- DOI for Characterising acute and chronic care needs: insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
- Download full text (pdf) of Characterising acute and chronic care needs: insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Part of Circulation Heart Failure, 2024
Part of International Journal of Public Health, 2024
- DOI for The Burden of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Among Adolescents and Young Adults in 24 Western European Countries, 1990–2019: Results From the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
- Download full text (pdf) of The Burden of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Among Adolescents and Young Adults in 24 Western European Countries, 1990–2019: Results From the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019
Part of EBioMedicine, 2024
- DOI for Accelerometer-based physical activity is associated with the gut microbiota in 8416 individuals in SCAPIS
- Download full text (pdf) of Accelerometer-based physical activity is associated with the gut microbiota in 8416 individuals in SCAPIS
Part of Journal of the American Heart Association, 2024
- DOI for Self-Report Tool for Identification of Individuals With Coronary Atherosclerosis: The Swedish CardioPulmonary BioImage Study
- Download full text (pdf) of Self-Report Tool for Identification of Individuals With Coronary Atherosclerosis: The Swedish CardioPulmonary BioImage Study
Part of Annals of the American Thoracic Society, p. 1678-1687, 2024
- DOI for Chronic Airflow Limitation, Emphysema and Impaired Diffusing Capacity in Relation to Smoking Habits in a Swedish Middle-Aged Population
- Download full text (pdf) of Chronic Airflow Limitation, Emphysema and Impaired Diffusing Capacity in Relation to Smoking Habits in a Swedish Middle-Aged Population
Dietary patterns, untargeted metabolite profiles and their association with colorectal cancer risk
Part of Scientific Reports, 2024
- DOI for Dietary patterns, untargeted metabolite profiles and their association with colorectal cancer risk
- Download full text (pdf) of Dietary patterns, untargeted metabolite profiles and their association with colorectal cancer risk
Usefulness of Heart Failure Categories Based on Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction
Part of Journal of the American Heart Association, 2024
- DOI for Usefulness of Heart Failure Categories Based on Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction
- Download full text (pdf) of Usefulness of Heart Failure Categories Based on Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction
Part of BMC Health Services Research, 2024
- DOI for Factors predictive of hospital admission for children via emergency departments in Australia and Sweden: an observational cross-sectional study
- Download full text (pdf) of Factors predictive of hospital admission for children via emergency departments in Australia and Sweden: an observational cross-sectional study
Part of Circulation. Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 2024
Part of Respiratory Research, 2024
- DOI for Exertional breathlessness related to medical conditions in middle-aged people: the population-based SCAPIS study of more than 25,000 men and women
- Download full text (pdf) of Exertional breathlessness related to medical conditions in middle-aged people: the population-based SCAPIS study of more than 25,000 men and women
Part of European Journal of Epidemiology, p. 35-49, 2024
- DOI for Pulmonary function and atherosclerosis in the general population: causal associations and clinical implications
- Download full text (pdf) of Pulmonary function and atherosclerosis in the general population: causal associations and clinical implications
Part of The Lancet Public Health, 2024
- DOI for Contemporary epidemiology of hospitalised heart failure with reduced versus preserved ejection fraction in England: a retrospective, cohort study of whole-population electronic health records
- Download full text (pdf) of Contemporary epidemiology of hospitalised heart failure with reduced versus preserved ejection fraction in England: a retrospective, cohort study of whole-population electronic health records
Part of Esophagus, p. 365-373, 2024
- DOI for Eosinophilic esophagitis and risk of incident major adverse cardiovascular events: a nationwide matched cohort study
- Download full text (pdf) of Eosinophilic esophagitis and risk of incident major adverse cardiovascular events: a nationwide matched cohort study
Metabolic profiling of galectin-1 and galectin-3: a cross-sectional, multi-omics, association study
Part of International Journal of Obesity, p. 1180-1189, 2024
- DOI for Metabolic profiling of galectin-1 and galectin-3: a cross-sectional, multi-omics, association study
- Download full text (pdf) of Metabolic profiling of galectin-1 and galectin-3: a cross-sectional, multi-omics, association study
Part of Kidney international reports, p. 1849-1859, 2024
- DOI for Prioritization of Kidney Cell Types Highlights Myofibroblast Cells in Regulating Human Blood Pressure
- Download full text (pdf) of Prioritization of Kidney Cell Types Highlights Myofibroblast Cells in Regulating Human Blood Pressure
Part of Journal of Affective Disorders, p. 96-103, 2024
- DOI for Association between neighborhood socioeconomic status and healthcare utilization among individuals with a first diagnosis of major depressive disorder in primary care in the Stockholm region
- Download full text (pdf) of Association between neighborhood socioeconomic status and healthcare utilization among individuals with a first diagnosis of major depressive disorder in primary care in the Stockholm region
Analysis of plasma metabolomes from 11 309 subjects in five population-based cohorts
Part of Scientific Reports, p. 8933, 2024
- DOI for Analysis of plasma metabolomes from 11 309 subjects in five population-based cohorts
- Download full text (pdf) of Analysis of plasma metabolomes from 11 309 subjects in five population-based cohorts
The Anders Wiklöf Institute for Heart Research
The Anders Wiklöf Institute for Heart Research is a focused research initiative striving towards improved prediction and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The Institute was made possible through a donation by Åland businessman Anders Wiklöf. The Institute brings together experts in cardiovascular diseases, computer science, artificial intelligence (AI), statistics, innovation, and the administration and accessibility of medical data.
Read more about the the Anders Wiklöf Institute for Heart Research (AWI)
The Anders Wiklöf Institute for Heart Research visits Ålands Lyceum