Axel Wester

About me
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Public outreach and news

About me

Assistant professor in epidemiology with a focus on liver disease and resident physician in clinical pharmacology at Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge.

Part of the Hagström group at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge:
https://ki.se/en/medh/hagstrom-group

Research

Primary interest in pharmacoepidemiology, including causal inference and estimation of safety and effectiveness of drug therapies in people with chronic liver diseases.

Teaching

Lecturing and seminars in clinical epidemiology at the master programme in public health (epidemiology track).

Supervision of master students and medical students.

Supervision of PhD students.

Articles

Article: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE. 2025;:S0953-6205(25)00055-X
Risk of hepatic decompensation or HCC is similar in patients with ALD- and MASLD-cirrhosis: A population-based cohort study.
Boeckmans J; Widman L; Shang Y; Strandberg R; Wester A; Schattenberg JM; Hagström H
Article: ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS. 2025;61(1):109-121
Timely Follow-Up After a First Diagnosis of Cirrhosis is Associated With Reduced Mortality but No Impact on Rehospitalisations: A Population-Based Cohort of 8852 Patients
Schechter MS; Widman L; Wester A; Shang Y; Stal P; Fortune B; Hagstroem H
Article: LIVER INTERNATIONAL. 2024;44(11):3050-3059
Socioeconomic factors associated with the presence of and outcomes in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Nasr P; Shang Y; Wester A; Strandberg R; Widman L; Lazarus JV; Hagstrom H
Article: LIVER INTERNATIONAL. 2024;44(10):2551-2563
Persons with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease are at increased risk of severe depression
Astrom H; Shang Y; Hagstrom H; Wester A
Article: LIVER INTERNATIONAL. 2024;44(8):2002-2010
Statin initiation after myocardial infarction in patients with alcohol-related liver disease: A nationwide population-based study
Wester A; Jepsen P; Hagstrom H
Article: JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION. 2024;13(13):e034709
Abbreviated Versus Standard Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Times After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With High Bleeding Risk With Acute Coronary Syndrome: Insights From the SWEDEHEART Registry
Hakansson A; Koul S; Omerovic E; Andersson J; James S; Agewall S; Mokhtari A; van der Pals J; Wester A; Szummer K; Jernberg T; Erlinge D; Mohammad MA
Article: LIVER INTERNATIONAL. 2024;44(7):1689-1699
Liver stiffness predicts progression to liver-related events in patients with chronic liver disease - A cohort study of 14 414 patients
Hegmar H; Wester A; Aleman S; Backman J; Degerman E; Ekvall H; Lund K; Lundgren A; Nasr P; Shahnavaz A; Vessby J; Westin J; Onnerhag K; Hagstrom H
Article: CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY. 2024;22(5):1048-1057.e2
Misclassified Alcohol-related Liver Disease is Common in Presumed Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease and Highly Increases Risk for Future Cirrhosis
Nasr P; Wester A; Ekstedt M; Strandberg R; Kechagias S; Shang Y; Widman L; Hagstrom H
Article: GUT. 2024;73(5):835-843
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and risk of major adverse liver outcomes in patients with chronic liver disease and type 2 diabetes
Wester A; Shang Y; Grip ET; Matthews AA; Hagstrom H
Article: GASTRO HEP ADVANCES. 2024;3(6):783-792
Lower Incidence of HCC and Other Major Adverse Liver Outcomes in People Living With HIV and Chronic Liver Disease
Michel M; Hagstroem H; Widman L; Nowak P; Shang Y; Schattenberg JM; Wester A
Article: CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY. 2023;21(13):3336-3345.e2
Secondary Prevention of Esophageal Variceal Bleeding Is Often Imperfect: A National, Population-Based Cohort Study of 3592 Patients
Hagstroem H; Shang Y; Tapper EB; Wester A; Widman L
Article: CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY. 2023;21(13):3346-3355.e19
Risk of Severe Infection in Patients With Biopsy-proven Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease - A Population-based Cohort Study
Ebrahimi F; Simon TG; Hagstrom H; Soderling J; Wester A; Roelstraete B; Ludvigsson JF
Journal article: EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL. 2023;44:ehad655.1371
Abbreviated versus standard dual antiplatelet therapy time after PCI in high bleeding risk patients with acute coronary syndrome - a report from the SWEDEHEART registry
Haakansson A; Koul S; Omerovic E; Andersson J; Agewall S; James S; Mokhtari A; Van der Pals J; Wester A; Szummer K; Jernberg T; Erlinge D; Mohammad MA
Article: HEPATOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS. 2023;7(11):e0238
Risk of injuries before and after a diagnosis of cirrhosis: A population-based cohort study
Shang Y; Shen Q; Tapper EB; Wester A; Hagstrom H
Article: JOURNAL OF INHERITED METABOLIC DISEASE. 2023;46(6):1186-1194
Porphyrin precursors and risk of primary liver cancer in acute intermittent porphyria: A case-control study of 188 patients
Lissing M; Wester A; Vassiliou D; Floderus Y; Harper P; Sardh E; Wahlin S
Article: UNITED EUROPEAN GASTROENTEROLOGY JOURNAL. 2023;11(9):852-860
Four-fold increased mortality rate in patients with Wilson's disease: A population-based cohort study of 151 patients
Aberg F; Shang Y; Strandberg R; Wester A; Widman L; Hagstrom H
Article: LIVER INTERNATIONAL. 2023;43(10):2142-2152
Risk of infections in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A nationwide population-based cohort study
Shang Y; Widman L; Ebrahimi F; Ludvigsson JF; Hagstrom H; Wester A
Article: HEPATOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS. 2023;7(10):e0279
Time trends in mortality and life expectancy in 22,658 patients hospitalized with alcohol-associated cirrhosis: A nationwide cohort study
Wester A; Shang Y; Stal P; Hagstrom H
Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY. 2023;58(8):931-936
Administrative coding for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is accurate in Swedish patients
Astrom H; Wester A; Hagstrom H
Article: JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE. 2023;294(2):164-177
Risk of fractures and postfracture mortality in 3980 people with primary biliary cholangitis: A population-based cohort study
Schoenau J; Wester A; Schattenberg JM; Hagstrom H
Journal article: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. 2023;78:s959-s960
Four-fold increased mortality rate in patients with Wilson's disease: a population-based cohort study of 151 patients
Aberg F; Shang Y; Strandberg R; Wester A; Widman L; Hagstrom H
Journal article: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. 2023;78:s276
Six-fold increased rate of chronic kidney disease after acute kidney injury: a population-based cohort study of 46,946 patients with cirrhosis
Cederborg A; Widman L; Haraldsson B; Lindkvist B; Shang Y; Wester A; Hagstrom H; Marschall H-U
Journal article: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. 2023;78:s960
Risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in hemochromatosis: a Swedish nationwide cohort study
Astrom H; Wester A; Widman L; Stal P; Hagstrom H
Journal article: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. 2023;78:s302-s303
Secondary prevention of variceal bleeding is often imperfect: a national, population-based cohort study of 5,018 patients
Hagstrom H; Shang Y; Tapper E; Wester A; Widman L
Journal article: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. 2023;78:s600
Risk of bacterial infections in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a nationwide population-based cohort study
Wester A; Shang Y; Widman L; Ebrahimi F
Journal article: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. 2023;78:s46
Risk of cancer and subsequent mortality in primary biliary cholangitis: a population-based cohort study of 3,052 patients
Wester A; Schoenau J; Schattenberg J; Hagstrom H
Article: CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY. 2023;21(5):1271-1280.e7
Risk of Fractures and Subsequent Mortality in Alcohol-Related Cirrhosis: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study
Wester A; Ndegwa N; Hagstrom H
Article: CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY. 2023;21(4):995-1004.e9
Three-fold Increased Risk of Death in Budd-Chiari Syndrome Compared to Matched Controls: A Population-based Cohort Study
aberg F; Rajani R; Wester A; Widman L; Hagstrom H
Article: NATURE. 2023;615(7950):134-142
FXR inhibition may protect from SARS-CoV-2 infection by reducing ACE2
Brevini T; Maes M; Webb GJ; John BV; Fuchs CD; Buescher G; Wang L; Griffiths C; Brown ML; Scott WEIII; Pereyra-Gerber P; Gelson WTH; Brown S; Dillon S; Muraro D; Sharp J; Neary M; Box H; Tatham L; Stewart J; Curley P; Pertinez H; Forrest S; Mlcochova P; Varankar SS; Darvish-Damavandi M; Mulcahy VL; Kuc RE; Williams TL; Heslop JA; Rossetti D; Tysoe OC; Galanakis V; Vila-Gonzalez M; Crozier TWM; Bargehr J; Sinha S; Upponi SS; Fear C; Swift L; Saeb-Parsy K; Davies SE; Wester A; Hagstrom H; Melum E; Clements D; Humphreys P; Herriott J; Kijak E; Cox H; Bramwell C; Valentijn A; Illingworth CJR; Dahman B; Bastaich DR; Ferreira RD; Marjot T; Barnes E; Moon AM; Barritt AS; Gupta RK; Baker S; Davenport AP; Corbett G; Gorgoulis VG; Buczacki SJA; Lee J-H; Matheson NJ; Trauner M; Fisher AJ; Gibbs P; Butler AJ; Watson CJE; Mells GF; Dougan G; Owen A; Lohse AW; Vallier L; Sampaziotis F
Article: GASTRO HEP ADVANCES. 2023;2(7):879-888
Risk of Cancer and Subsequent Mortality in Primary Biliary Cholangitis: A Population-based Cohort Study of 3052 Patients.
Schönau J; Wester A; Schattenberg JM; Hagström H
Article: LIVER INTERNATIONAL. 2022;42(12):2769-2780
Effect of common genetic variants on the risk of cirrhosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease during 20 years of follow-up
Holmer M; Ekstedt M; Nasr P; Zenlander R; Wester A; Tavaglione F; Romeo S; Kechagias S; Stal P; Hagstrom H
Article: JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE. 2022;292(3):492-500
Risk of fractures and subsequent mortality in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A nationwide population-based cohort study
Wester A; Hagstrom H
Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY. 2022;57(8):978-983
Cohort profile: decoding the epidemiology of liver disease in Sweden (DELIVER)
Hagstrom H; Shang Y; Wester A; Widman L
Journal article: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. 2022;77:s123
THU010 Risk of fractures and subsequent mortality in alcohol-related cirrhosis: a nationwide population-based cohort study
Wester A; Ndegwa N; Hagström H
Journal article: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. 2022;77:s30
OS026 Liver stiffness predicts incident severe liver disease in patients with chronic liver disease
Hegmar H; Wester A; Aleman S; Backman J; Degerman E; Ekvall H; Lund K; Lundgren Å; Nasr P; Shahnavaz A; Vessby J; Westin J; Önnerhag K; Hagström H
Journal article: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. 2022;77:s423
FRI053 The PNPLA3 (rs738409) G/G-genotype is associated with presence of NASH and increased long-term risk of cirrhosis in NAFLD
Holmer M; Zenlander R; Wester A; Ekstedt M; Nasr P; Kechagias S; Romeo S; Stal P; Hagström H
Article: JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION. 2021;10(20):e020974
Validation of the 4-Item PRECISE-DAPT Score: A SWEDEHEART Study
Wester A; Mohammad MA; Olivecrona G; Holmqvist J; Yndigegn T; Koul S
Article: OPEN HEART. 2020;7(2):e001286
Higher risk of major adverse cardiac events after acute myocardial infarction in patients with schizophrenia
Attar R; Wester A; Koul S; Eggert S; Polcwiartek C; Jernberg T; Erlinge D; Andell P
Article: CIRCULATION-CARDIOVASCULAR INTERVENTIONS. 2020;13(4):e008671
Bivalirudin Versus Heparin Monotherapy in Elderly Patients With Myocardial Infarction A Prespecified Subgroup Analysis of the VALIDATE-SWEDEHEART Trial
Wester A; Attar R; Mohammad MA; Isma N; James S; Omerovic E; Erlinge D; Koul S
Article: DIABETIC MEDICINE. 2019;36(11):1375-1383
Reduced display of conformational epitopes in the N-terminal truncated GAD65 isoform: relevance for people with stiff person syndrome or DQ8/8-positive Type 1 diabetes mellitus
Hampe CS; Radtke JR; Wester A; Carlsson A; Cedervall E; Jonsson B; Ivarsson SA; Elding Larsson H; Larsson K; Lindberg B; Neiderud J; Rolandsson O; Lernmark A
Article: JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION. 2019;8(16):e012741
Impact of Baseline Anemia in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Prespecified Analysis From the VALIDATE-SWEDEHEART Trial
Wester A; Attar R; Mohammad MA; Andell P; Hofmann R; Jensen J; Szummer K; Erlinge D; Koul S
Article: OPEN HEART. 2019;6(1):e001004
Peripheral artery disease and outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction
Attar R; Wester A; Koul S; Eggert S; Andell P
Article: RESUSCITATION. 2018;126:172-178
Coronary angiographic findings and outcomes in patients with sudden cardiac arrest without ST-elevation myocardial infarction: A SWEDEHEART study
Wester A; Mohammad MA; Andell P; Rylance R; Dankiewicz J; Friberg H; James S; Omerovic E; Erlinge D; Koul S
Article: DIABETES. 2017;66(3):735-740
An Increased Diagnostic Sensitivity of Truncated GAD65 Autoantibodies in Type I Diabetes May Be Related to I-ILA-DQ8
Wester A; Skarstrand H; Lind A; Ramelius A; Carlsson A; Cedervall E; Jonsson B; Ivarsson SA; Larsson HE; Larsson K; Lindberg B; Neiderud J; Fex M; Torn C; Lernmark A
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All other publications

Letter: CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY. 2024;22(3):670
Secondary Prevention of Esophageal Variceal Bleeding: Still a Long Way to Go Reply
Hagstrom H; Shang Y; Tapper EB; Wester A; Widman L
Conference publication: ZEITSCHRIFT FUR GASTROENTEROLOGIE. 2024;62(01):e15
Lower incidence of HCC and other major adverse liver outcomes in people living with HIV and chronic liver disease: a population-based cohort study
Michel M; Hagström H; Widman L; Nowak P; Shang Y; Schattenberg JM; Wester A
Letter: JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE. 2023;294(4):537-538
Authors reply: Risk of fractures and postfracture mortality in 3980 people with primary biliary cholangitis
Schoenau J; Wester A; Hagstrom H; Schattenberg JM
Editorial comment: CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY. 2023;21(10):2689-2691.e1
Minimal Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Noncirrhotic Budd-Chiari Syndrome: A Three-Decade Population-Based Study
Wester A; Aberg F; Rajani R; Hagstrom H
Conference publication: ZEITSCHRIFT FUR GASTROENTEROLOGIE. 2023;61(08):e472-e473
Lower incidence of HCC and other major adverse liver outcomes in people living with HIV and chronic liver disease: a population-based cohort study
Michel M; Hagström H; Widman L; Nowak P; Shang Y; Schattenberg JM; Wester A
Letter: CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY. 2023;21(6):1678
Letter on "Risk of Fractures and Subsequent Mortality in Alcohol-Related Cirrhosis: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study" Reply
Wester A; Hagstrom H
Conference publication: HEPATOLOGY. 2023;78:S1668-S1669
UPTAKE OF SECONDARY PREVENTIVE DRUGS AFTER MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOL-RELATED LIVER DISEASE IS LOW: A NATIONWIDE POPULATION-BASED STUDY
Wester A; Hagstrom H; Jepsen P
Conference publication: HEPATOLOGY. 2023;78:S395-S396
LOWER INCIDENCE OF HCC AND OTHER MAJOR ADVERSE LIVER OUTCOMES IN PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV AND CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE: A POPULATION-BASED COHORT STUDY
Michel M; Hagstrom H; Widman L; Nowak P; Shang Y; Schattenberg J; Wester A
Conference publication: HEPATOLOGY. 2022;76:S1133-S1134
RISK OF INJURY BEFORE AND AFTER DIAGNOSIS OF CIRRHOSIS: A SELF-CONTROLLED CASE SERIES STUDY
Shang Y; Shen Q; Tapper EB; Wester A; Hagstrom H
Conference publication: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. 2022;77:S423
The PNPLA3 (rs738409) G/G-genotype is associated with presence of NASH and increased long-term risk of cirrhosis in NAFLD
Holmer M; Zenlander R; Wester A; Ekstedt M; Nasr P; Kechagias S; Romeo S; Stal P; Hagstrom H
Conference publication: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. 2022;77:S30
Liver stiffness predicts incident severe liver disease in patients with chronic liver disease
Hegmar H; Wester A; Aleman S; Backman J; Degerman E; Ekvall H; Lund K; Lundgren A; Nasr P; Shahnavaz A; Vessby J; Westin J; Onnerhag K; Hagstrom H
Conference publication: HEPATOLOGY. 2022;76:S1491
RISK OF FRACTURES AND POST-FRACTURE MORTALITY IN PRIMARY BILIARY CHOLANGITIS: A POPULATION-BASED COHORT STUDY OF 3,980 PATIENTS
Wester A; Schoenau J; Schattenberg JM; Hagstroem H
Conference publication: HEPATOLOGY. 2022;76:S949
TIME TRENDS FOR MORTALITY AND LIFE EXPECTANCY IN 22,658 PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED WITH ALCOHOL-RELATED CIRRHOSIS IN SWEDEN: A NATIONWIDE COHORT STUDY
Wester A; Shang Y; Hagstrom H
Conference publication: JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY. 2022;77:S123
Risk of fractures and subsequent mortality in alcohol-related cirrhosis: a nationwide population-based cohort study
Wester A; Ndegwa N; Hagstrom H
Conference publication: EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL. 2020;41:1435
External validation of the PRECISE-DAPT score in a large nationwide population of myocardial infarction patients: a SWEDEHEART study
Wester A; Mohammad MA; Erlinge D; Koul S
Conference publication: JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY. 2017;70(18):B1
Coronary angiographic findings and outcomes in patients with sudden cardiac arrest without ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a SWEDEHEART study
Wester A; Mohammad M; Koul S; Andell P; Rylance R; Dankiewicz J; Friberg H; James S; Omerovic E; Erlinge D

Employments

Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, 2024-2029

Supervision

Paulina Flis, 2024

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