Abstracts by keywords: AOK Northeast
Back pain is one of the most frequently diagnosed diagnoses both nationally and internationally. Around 85% of the population are affected by back pain at least once in their life (Schmidt et al. 2007). Among those insured by the AOK, Barmer and DAK, back pain is the diagnosis with the most days of incapacity for work (WIdO 2011; Ed. 2010; Research 2011; Raspe 2012). Back pain incurs considerable costs in the healthcare system, estimated at around 49 billion euros per year (Kuntz et al. 2017; Wenig et al. 2009). Due to the frequency of back pain, it is the most significant cause of years of life lost in Germany (Plass et al. 2014). Depending on the respective data base, a prevalence of 32 – 49% is assumed in Germany (Raspe 2012). The demographic, socioeconomic and biological influencing factors of back pain are now well researched. Both national and international studies have shown that, overall, back pain occurs more frequently in women, older people and population groups with low socioeconomic status (Kuntz et al. 2017). Regional differences in the frequency of operations for various indications such as osteoarthritis and intervertebral disc damage have also now been well studied. The result shows that in regions with a high density of orthopedists, treatment tends to be conservative, while in regions with a low density of orthopedists, operations tend to be performed more quickly (Schäfer, Pritzkuleit, Hannemann et al. 2013; Schäfer, Pritzkuleit, Jeszenszky et al. 2013; Pollmanns, Wesermann, and Drösler 2018).
08.10.2020
Depression is one of the most frequently diagnosed mental illnesses both among the general population in Germany and among those insured by AOK Nordost. Previous studies estimate the prevalence of depression in Germany at 8.1% to 10.2%, depending on the respective study design and the underlying data source (Busch et al. 2013; Erhart and von Stillfried 2012). A continuous increase in the prevalence of depression has been observed for years (Thom et al. 2017). Even though treatment rates are constantly increasing, it is estimated that between 35% and 80% of all patients with mental disorders do not receive treatment (Larisch et al. 2013). It can be assumed that this also applies to the treatment of depression to a similar extent. In addition to individual factors as well as social and natural factors, the treatment rate also depends on the availability of service providers (Rommel et al. 2017; Helbich et al. 2018). Accordingly, the current needs planning of psychotherapists is also the subject of controversial discussion (IGES 2016; Peikert et al. 2011).
04.04.2019
Early detection, the so-called skin cancer screening, has been a service since 2008 that legally insured people aged 35 and over can use every two years free of charge. Dermatologists and doctors from certain specialist groups with appropriate training examine the skin for suspicious changes that should be removed. The analyzes carried out here describe the status quo and development trends in utilization. The basis of the analyzes is the anonymized research database of AOK Nordost with its approximately 1.75 million insured persons. The results presented capture the development between 2008 - the year skin cancer screening was introduced as an insurance benefit - and the year 2015. All AOK Nordost insured persons aged 35 and over who were fully insured within the year under consideration and in the three federal states of Berlin , Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are part of the study population. In 2008, the study population comprised approximately 1.23 million insured people. By 2015, it had fallen to around 1.19 million insured people (see Table 1). For some analyses, nationalities were examined. Nationality can be viewed as an indicator of differences in individual risk factors – such as skin type.
04.06.2018
Pollen-related allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is one of the most common allergic diseases in children and adolescents (Schmitz et al. 2017). In Germany, the 12-month prevalence of medically diagnosed hay fever among 3 to 17 year olds is 9.9% (Poethko-Müller et al. 2018). This results in an allergic reaction of the nasal mucosa and the conjunctiva to certain pollen, for example that of birch, which leads, among other things, to increased secretion, sneezing, restrictions in nasal breathing and itching. Although the symptoms of a pollen allergy can be very stressful and severely limit the quality of life and academic success, they are often trivialized (Greiner et al. 2011). In addition, high direct and indirect economic costs are attributed to allergic rhinitis and its secondary diseases, for example bronchial asthma and later COPD (Pfaar et al. 2014).
04.06.2018
As part of the 1st Northeast Children's Report of the Northeast Health Sciences Institute of the AOK Nordost, the development of antibiotic use in the pediatric setting was also examined (Witte et al. 2017). In general usage and also in the clinical context, antibiotics refer to active ingredients that inhibit the growth of bacteria or kill them. Due to decades of excessive and untargeted use of antibiotics, the increase in insensitivity of bacterial pathogens has developed into a significant public health problem worldwide. Patients and doctors are increasingly confronted with bacterial strains that are resistant to many common antibiotic agents (WHO 2011). As a result of the increase in so-called multi-resistant pathogens, the duration of treatment, the severity of the disease and the risk of death from serious infections are increasing. The same applies to the resulting costs of appropriate medical care (Aloush et al. 2006; Maragakis et al. 2008; Song et al. 2003; Qavi et al. 2005).
06.12.2017
Psychogenic eating disorders include various types of eating disorders that differ in their symptoms. Psychogenic eating disorders include anorexia nervosa (AN), also known as “anorexia”. In addition to bulimia nervosa (BN), also known as “bulimia” or “eating addiction”, and binge eating disorder (BES, also “eating addiction”), AN is one of the most researched forms of eating disorders. Depending on the type of eating disorder, different symptoms are characteristic of psychogenic eating disorders (DGPM/DKPM 2010). The risk of chronicity in eating disorders is high. Those affected usually have to struggle with the disease for several years, require several treatment attempts and the symptoms sometimes persist even after successful therapy. In addition, it is assumed that most of those affected do not attract attention in the healthcare system and that only a fraction of those who do seek treatment (Hoek 2006; DGPM/DKPM 2010; Smink 2016). In addition, eating disorders are accompanied by numerous physical sequelae. The earlier the disease breaks out, the higher the risk of chronic damage (Holtkamp/Herpertz-Dahlmann 2005). In addition, deaths due to an eating disorder are often due to the physical consequences. Overall, mortality in eating disorders is significantly higher: in bulimia by a factor of 1.9 and in anorexia by a factor of 5.9 (Smink 2016).
06.12.2017
In Germany, an estimated 250,000 people with diabetes currently have a foot lesion and around 1 million diabetics are at increased risk of suffering a foot injury. This makes diabetic foot syndrome (DFS) one of the main complications of patients with diabetes mellitus, with the most significant consequences of diabetic foot problems being ulcers (deep substance defects, commonly ulcers - often in the form of chronic wounds) as well as small (minor) and high (major) Amputations are [1]. Although the DMP diabetes mellitus type 2 has been in existence since 2003 and the DMP diabetes mellitus type 1 since 2005, in which over four million diabetics now take part [2] and thus outpatient care for diabetics has improved overall, they appear to have increased complication rates microangiopathy, especially that of diabetic foot syndrome, does not have a positive effect. When checking the level of target achievement of the fund's own DMP Diabetes, the AOK Nordost noticed that the once-a-year foot examination specified here was not carried out without interruption for all diabetics, and that if an abnormal foot status was detected, there was not always a referral or a late referral to a specialist The treatment and further treatment of the abnormal foot was only initiated with a long delay and amputations occurred, although only low levels of severity were consistently stated in the DMP documentation. In 2011, the “Gesundheitskasse” took this as an opportunity to conclude a contract with doctors who are particularly qualified to care for DFS patients in accordance with Section 73c SGB V, which is intended to improve diabetologically qualified outpatient care for insured persons with DFS. This article presents the first evaluations of the DFS contract, with which AOK Nordost was able to meet its self-imposed goal of reducing amputations among its insured persons with diabetic foot syndrome.