Effect evaluation of outpatient long-term video EEGs for people with seizure disorders - study protocol of the ALVEEG project: a randomized controlled trial in Germany.

Background: Epilepsy and other seizure disorders account for a high disease burden in Germany. As a timely diagnosis and accurate treatment are crucial, improving the management of these disorders is important. Outside of Germany, outpatient long-term video EEGs (ALVEEGs) have demonstrated the potential to support the diagnosis and management of epilepsy and other seizure disorders.

Effects of triple therapy on disease burden in patients of GOLD groups C and D: results from the observational COPD cohort COSYCONET.

Background: Randomized controlled trials described beneficial effects of inhaled triple therapy (LABA/LAMA/ICS) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and high risk of exacerbations. We studied whether such effects were also detectable under continuous treatment in a retrospective observational setting.

Methods: Data from baseline and 18-month follow-up of the COPD cohort COSYCONET were used, including patients categorized as GOLD groups C/D at both visits (n = 258).

Protocol for an economic evaluation of a tele-neurologic intervention alongside a stepped wedge randomised controlled trial (NeTKoH).

Background: A significant and growing portion of the global burden of diseases is caused by neurological disorders. Tele-neurology has the potential to improve access to health care services and the quality of care, particularly in rural and underserved areas. The economic evaluation of the stepped wedge randomised controlled trial NeTKoH aims to ascertain the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility regarding the effects of a tele-neurologic intervention in primary care in a rural area in Germany.

Effect evaluation of a tele-neurologic intervention in primary care in a rural area in Germany-the NeTKoH study protocol of a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial.

Background: Neurological disorders account for a large and increasing proportion of the global burden of disease. Therefore, it is important to strengthen the management of neurologic care, particularly in rural areas. The use of tele-neurology in primary care in rural areas is internationally considered to have the potential to increase access to health care services and improve the quality of care in these underserved areas.

Generalizing treatment effects with incomplete covariates: Identifying assumptions and multiple imputation algorithms.

We focus on the problem of generalizing a causal effect estimated on a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to a target population described by a set of covariates from observational data. Available methods such as inverse propensity sampling weighting are not designed to handle missing values, which are however common in both data sources. In addition to coupling the assumptions for causal effect identifiability and for the missing values mechanism and to defining appropriate estimation strategies, one difficulty is to consider the specific structure of the data with two sources and treatment and outcome only available in the RCT.

Association between in-ICU red blood cells transfusion and 1-year mortality in ICU survivors.

Background: Impact of in-ICU transfusion on long-term outcomes remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess in critical-care survivors the association between in-ICU red blood cells transfusion and 1-year mortality.

Methods: FROG-ICU, a multicenter European study enrolling all-comers critical care patients was analyzed (n = 1551).