Hyponatraemia on admission to hospital is associated with increased long-term risk of mortality in survivors of myocardial infarction.

Background: Hyponatremia is associated with an increased risk of mortality in patients with heart failure and in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The aim was to assess the impact of hyponatremia on admission on long-term mortality of patients with first ever STEMI or non-STEMI (NSTEMI).

Design: This was a longitudinal observation study

Methods: The study population consisted of 3558 patients, aged 25-74 years, with an incident acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the years 2000-2008 who survived for at least 28 days.

Effect of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors on long-term survival in patients treated with beta blockers and antiplatelet agents after acute myocardial infarction (from the MONICA/KORA Myocardial Infarction Registry).

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) have shown to decrease mortality and cardiovascular morbidity especially in high-risk patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Aim of this study was to assess the association between ACEI or ARB treatment (ACEI/ARB) at hospital discharge and long-term survival after AMI in real-life patient care. From a German population-based AMI registry, 3,544 patients (75.

[Health reporting at the community level in Germany: results of a survey].

Aim: There is a lack of empirical research on communal health reporting in Germany. The aim of the "Munich Health Reporting Study" was to provide an overview of the spread, topics and data sources of communal health reporting as well as its integration into political decision making processes.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was carried out on all German health authorities.

[Regional mortality differences in Bavaria].

Objective: In completion of a decision of the Bavarian Parliament we examined the regional mortality differences within Bavaria.

Data: The analysis was based on the number of deaths in Bavaria in the years of 2000-2002. Data on regional demographic and socioeconomic indicators were used to identify potential associations.

[Cluster of meningococcal diseases in Allgaeu -- strategies for intervention].

In spring 2004 an accumulation of cases of invasive meningococcal disease was observed in the Allgaeu/Bavaria. Investigations of the isolates showed, that four cases in neighbouring municipalities of the district Oberallgaeu were caused by an identical strain of serogroup C. The particular strain was a rare variant of the so called ET-15 clone, which had caused several outbreaks of severe meningococcal disease among young people in the past, for example in Rottal/Inn (1998), Karlsruhe (1999 - 2000) and Schwerte (2003).