Evaluation of skin cancer screening in Germany - a Microsimulation.

Background: Comprehensive skin cancer screening was introduced in Germany in 2008. It is unclear whether subsequently observed changes in the epidemiology of malignant melanoma (MM), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are due to the screening. Simulation models are used to compare different screening scenarios with each other and with observed incidence and mortality trends.

[Effects of high thermal stress on health-a nationwide analysis based on statutory health insurance routine data between 2012 and 2021].

Background: The extent to which statutory health insurance (SHI) data can be used to map associations between thermal stress and heat-related diseases is still unclear. The aim of this study is to analyse the association between climate variability and heat-associated diseases using insurance data.

Methods: The study is based on claims data (outpatient and stationary) from health insurance companies in Germany for the years 2012-2021, covering approximately 11 million people with statutory health insurance.

Skin cancer in Germany: Characterising screening, prevalence and mortality from a spatial perspective.

Aim of the study was to characterise the association between screening, prevalence and mortality of skin cancer in Germany considering the spatial distribution. The study included the total set of outpatient data of all statutory health insured people and cause-of-death statistics in Germany between 2011-2015 on county level. To identify regions with high/low screening, prevalence and mortality rates, probability maps were calculated.

Inpatient care for skin diseases in Germany: multi-source analysis on the current and future health care needs.

Background: In Germany, skin diseases are mainly treated in the 115 dermatological hospitals.

Methods: Health care and health economic analysis of dermatological inpatient care and prediction of future care needs based on primary and secondary data.

Results: Outpatient and inpatient care for dermatologic treatment indications is predominantly provided by dermatology specialists.

Structures and performance characteristics of dermatology hospitals in Germany. Current status and long-term development.

Background: The objective of the study was to characterize the performance of German dermatology hospitals.

Methods: A structured survey questionnaire was sent out to all dermatology hospitals in October 2019 as part of a cross-sectional analysis based on health care research.

Results: Of the 115 hospitals, 95 (82.

Status quo and perspectives of dermatology hospitals in Germany: spectra of health care and staff situation.

Background: Inpatient care in Germany has been subject to change since the introduction of the DRG-based payment system. There have been no publications on important differentiating factors such as the spectrum of care and the staffing situation in dermatology.

Methods: Health care analysis of 115 dermatology hospitals in October 2019 using a structured survey questionnaire.

Costal Cartilage Calcification: Prevalence, Amount, and Structural Pattern in the General Population and Its Association with Age: A Cadaveric Study.

Costal cartilage calcification (CCC) of the cartilage graft, commonly used in reconstruction of nasal/auricular deformities, can cause poor surgical outcome, but structural and quantitative analyses are lacking. To compare the prevalence, amount, and structural pattern of CCC from individuals by gender and age, as measured by digital contact radiography. This is a cross-sectional cadaveric study ( = 92) of the seventh rib cartilage.

The natural history of Canavan disease: 23 new cases and comparison with patients from literature.

Background: Canavan disease (CD, MIM # 271900) is a rare and devastating leukodystrophy of early childhood. To identify clinical features that could serve as endpoints for treatment trials, the clinical course of CD was studied retrospectively and prospectively in 23 CD patients. Results were compared with data of CD patients reported in three prior large series.

Brain/blood ratios of methadone and ABCB1 polymorphisms in methadone-related deaths.

Methadone is an opioid that often leads to fatalities. Interpretation of toxicological findings can be challenging if no further information about the case history is available. The aims of this study were (1) to determine whether brain/blood ratios can assist in the interpretation of methadone findings in fatalities; (2) to examine whether polymorphisms in the gene encoding the P-glycoprotein (also known as multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) or ATP-binding cassette sub-family B member 1 (ABCB1)), which functions as a multispecific efflux pump in the blood-brain barrier, affect brain/blood ratios of methadone.

Costs of routine skin cancer screening in Germany: a claims data analysis.

Background: In 2008, a routine skin cancer screening (rSCS) programme was implemented in Germany. Since then, its medical and economical effects have been evaluated and critically discussed.

Aim: To compare costs for patients diagnosed with skin cancer with preceding rSCS vs.

Long-term incidence of cancer after index treatment for symptomatic peripheral arterial disease - a health insurance claims data analysis.

: Cancer as a concomitant condition in symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) patients could have an impact on further therapy and the long-term prognosis of these patients. Aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an increased incidence of cancer in PAD patients and to quantify the corresponding effect size. : Between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2017, we analysed health insurance claims data from Germany's second-largest insurance fund, BARMER.

Cartilage calcification is associated with histological degeneration of the knee joint: a highly prevalent, age-independent systemic process.

Objectives: To investigate if cartilage calcification (CC) is a systemic process, the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and the amount of meniscal/hyaline CC of the knee joint in the general population by high-resolution imaging (DCR) and to evaluate the association between CC with cartilage degeneration and age.

Methods: Cross-sectional DCR-study of 180 knee joints of 90 donors (42 female/48 male, mean age 62.3y).

Periodontal treatment and peripheral arterial disease severity - a retrospective analysis of health insurance claims data.

: Although epidemiological data suggest an association between periodontitis (PD) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD), it is currently unclear whether treatment of PD influences the severity of PAD. : Whether periodontal treatment is associated with PAD disease severity was examined by analysing health insurance claims data of patients insured by the German health insurance fund, BARMER, between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016. The presence of PAD was determined in individuals using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10 revision codes for intermittent claudication (IC) or chronic limb threatening ischaemia (CLTI).

Editor's Choice - Comorbidity Patterns Among Patients with Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease in Germany: A Trend Analysis of Health Insurance Claims Data.

Objective: Patients suffering from peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) are a central target population for multidisciplinary vascular medicine. This study aimed to highlight trends in treatment patterns and comorbidities using up to date longitudinal patient related data from Germany.

Methods: This study is a retrospective health insurance claims data analysis of patients insured by the second largest health insurance provider in Germany, BARMER.

Quality Indicators in Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease Treatment: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to identify evidence based quality indicators for invasive revascularisation of symptomatic peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD).

Methods: A systematic search of clinical practice guidelines, consensus statements, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses reporting quality indicators in patients undergoing invasive open and percutaneous revascularisations for symptomatic PAOD (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42019116317) was performed. Furthermore, a grey literature search was conducted involving databases of professional vascular medical organisations.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 and AST-to-Platelet Ratio Index as noninvasive biomarkers predict allograft fibrosis after pediatric liver transplantation.

Background: Assessing liver fibrosis in patients after liver transplantation is still largely dependent on liver biopsy. Especially in children, noninvasive methods are of utmost importance. We evaluated tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1) and AST-to-Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) and their potential as serum biomarkers to predict liver allograft fibrosis (LAF) in a pediatric cohort.

Rationale and methods of the IDOMENEO health outcomes of the peripheral arterial disease revascularisation study in the GermanVasc registry.

Background: Atherosclerotic disease of the lower extremity arteries (PAD) remains a significant burden on global healthcare systems with increasing prevalence. Various guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with PAD are available but they often lack a sufficient evidence base for high-grade recommendations since randomized and controlled trials (RCT) remain rare or are frequently subject to conflicts of interest. This registry trial aims to evaluate the outcomes of catheter-based endovascular revascularisations vs.

Indicators of outcome quality in peripheral arterial disease revascularisations - a Delphi expert consensus.

Introduction: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects a continuously increasing number of people worldwide leading to more invasive treatments. Indication to perform invasive revascularisations usually arises from consensus-based recommendations of practice guidelines and from few randomized controlled trials where outcome measures focus mainly on risk factors associated with mortality and morbidity. To date, no broad consensual agreement of experts on valid indicators of outcome quality exists for PAD.

Calcification of the acetabular labrum of the hip: prevalence in the general population and relation to hip articular cartilage and fibrocartilage degeneration.

Background: Meniscal calcification is considered to play a relevant role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis of the knee. Little is known about the biology of acetabular labral disease and its importance in hip pathology. Here, we analyze for the first time the calcification of the acetabular labrum of the hip (ALH) and its relation to hip cartilage degeneration.

Cartilage calcification of the ankle joint is associated with osteoarthritis in the general population.

Background: Cartilage calcification (CC) is associated with osteoarthritis (OA) in weight-bearing joints, such as the hip and the knee. However, little is known about the impact of CC and degeneration on other weight-bearing joints, especially as it relates to the occurrence of OA in the ankles. The goal of this study is to analyse the prevalence of ankle joint cartilage calcification (AJ CC) and to determine its correlation with factors such as histological OA grade, age and BMI in the general population.

Free flap surgery in Europe: an interdisciplinary survey.

Free flap surgery is essential for the aesthetic and functional reconstruction of various parts of the body. The aim of this study was to compare current concepts of perioperative flap management between ENT, craniomaxillofacial, and plastic surgeons. A European survey was conducted among 570 surgical departments, covering all aspects of free flap surgery.