Abstracts by keywords: Screening
This white paper recommends targeted measures to improve the medical care of individuals with long-term COVID-19 and is based on the results of the ASAP study, conducted by the Dr. Becker Clinic Group (DBKG), Dr. Becker Kiliani Clinic, and Constructor University Bremen. These measures consist of the following five core aspects: 1. Use of a low-threshold, self-administered screening tool for post-/long-term COVID-19 (PACS). 2. Interdisciplinary assessment of health status. 3. Use of digital therapy services to support medical care. 4. Deployment of personal navigators to provide guidance throughout the care process. 5. Establishment of a comprehensive treatment pathway. The findings from the ASAP study provide evidence for these measures.
02.04.2024
Screening for atrial fibrillation (AF) is recommended in the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) (Hindricks et al. 2020), but is currently not implemented in the form of systematic health programs in Germany. Given demographic changes and the age-dependent occurrence of AF, it is predicted that by 2060 the number of patients aged over 65 years with AF in Europe will increase to over 14 million (Krijthe et al. 2013). Since AF is a relevant risk factor for stroke, screening for AF will become increasingly important. In order to be able to assess the possible effects of introducing guideline-based screening for AF in the German health care context - in particular to avoid long-term health and health economic consequences - a systematic literature search was carried out in 2019. No evidence could be identified from completed, prospective studies in the German health care context that report long-term clinically relevant events after screening for AF. Against this background, a Markov model was developed with which the effects of a screening for AF can be simulated. This model is intended to contribute to the professional public discussion on the detection of AF and the prevention of thromboembolic events and to enable the derivation of adequate measures for better care. For this work, on the one hand, the long-term effects of consistent implementation of the screening measures provided for in the ESC guidelines with regard to the prevention of AF-associated strokes and systemic embolism were examined. On the other hand, the direct health economic implications were considered from the perspective of statutory health insurance (SHI).
29.01.2022
The most comprehensive study on the prevalence of COPD to date is the international Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study (Buist & McBurnie, 2007). In Germany, the Hanover region took part in this work. The lung function was examined in 683 volunteers over the age of 40 and a survey was carried out as to their state of health. Overall, more than 13 percent of the study participants in the Hanover area were diagnosed with COPD, a good 7 percent had a mild, 5 percent a moderate and almost 1 percent a severe disease stage. Since the test subjects came from the Hanover metropolitan region, it cannot be said with certainty whether the numbers are representative for the whole of Germany. However, the overall evaluation of the BOLD study suggests this. According to this, every tenth of the more than 9,000 study participants in the twelve countries involved suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in stage II or higher. The current figures on the development of COPD in Germany were based on 6.8 million COPD cases in 2010. By 2030, the number of people affected is expected to rise to 7.9 million. (Geldmacher & Biller, 2008). COPD is also important from an economic perspective. One study determined the total costs of COPD by weighting the costs per level of severity. The main part of the costs is caused by hospital stays (26%), medications (23%) and early retirement (17%). (Herse & Kiljander, 2015); (Grønseth & S.-A., 2014); (Nowak & Dietrich, 2004). Early detection of COPD is of great importance, as timely cessation of exposure to the triggering noxa can at least partially prevent disease progression. (Vogelmeier & Buhl, 2018). There is also evidence that the natural course of the disease can be significantly influenced by the early onset of drug treatment. (Troosters & Celli, 2010).
04.06.2018
According to calculations by the World Health Organization (WHO), around 10% of children worldwide and around 6% of children in Europe are born prematurely (1). Births before the 37th week of pregnancy (week of pregnancy) are defined as premature births (2). In neonatal intensive care, preterm birth is still the most common cause of neonatal and early childhood morbidity and mortality and can lead to lifelong health and psychosocial impairments (3–5). The health economic consequences associated with premature birth are also considerable (6). There are many factors that can lead to premature birth. Previous abortions and premature births, the increasing age of first-time mothers and the higher incidence of multiple pregnancies due to previous fertility treatments can cause premature births (4,7,8). Maternal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis, have also been identified as a cause of premature births, although the pathophysiological connections are not yet fully understood (9,2,10,11). The early detection and treatment of bacterial vaginosis can be implemented and carried out relatively easily and therefore represents a promising possibility to prevent preterm birth and to reduce the resulting health and psychosocial consequences.