Svansdottir et al. BMC Public Health 2012, 12:42 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/42 Sigtryggsdóttir, Anne Mette Pedersen, Sigurlaug Magnúsdóttir and their staff at Landspitali-University Hospital for their generous support with acquisition of data. Author details 1CoRPS–Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic diseases, P.O. Box 90153, Tilburg University, 5000 LE Tilburg, The Netherlands. 2Icelandic Heart Association, Holtasmári 1, 201 Kópavogur, Iceland. 3Landspitali-University Hospital, Landspítali Hringbraut, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland. Authors’ contributions All authors have contributed significantly to the paper, with the following specifications. ES is the lead author of the manuscript. Her work included data analysis and interpretation, as well as drafting and revising the manuscript. HDK and ÞG lead the design and coordination of the study, and helped with drafting and reviewing the manuscript. 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