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Article History

Received: 1 February 2025

Accepted: 2 May 2025

First Online: 16 May 2025

Declarations

:

: The core principles of the research ethics, including giving written information about the study, and ensuring voluntary participation, as defined in the World Medical Association’s Declaration Helsinki 2004, were followed throughout the research process. The research protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) (Statement THL/1390/6.02.01/2016). A separate contract was required between THL and Statistics Finland for the use of register-based data (user license number TK-53-1418-18).Potential participants received written information about the study and the principles of voluntary participation. They were informed that the study protocol involved a register-linkage and non-response analysis. For non-respondents, their part of the study (non-response analysis) is considered as register based study where, according to the national regulations at that time of the study (Personal Data Act 523/1999), no separate consent from individuals was required. This is in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and its Article 6(1)(e) stating that processing the data is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare no competing interests.