Publications by authors named "Konstantinides Stavros"

This study investigates the association between self-reported birth weight (BW) and the frequency of cataract and pseudophakia in a large population-based cohort in Germany, as part of the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS). Slit lamp examination and Scheimpflug imaging of 8205 participants, aged 35 to 74, were assessed and signs of cataract or pseudophakia analyzed. The research aimed to explore the correlation between fetal growth restriction and/or prematurity indicated by BW and the frequency of cataract and pseudophakia.

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Introduction: Achieving an early diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in pulmonary embolism (PE) survivors results in better quality of life and survival. Importantly, dedicated follow-up strategies to achieve an earlier CTEPH diagnosis involve costs that were not explicitly incorporated in the models assessing their cost-effectiveness. We performed an economic evaluation of 11 distinct PE follow-up algorithms to determine which should be preferred.

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Background: Data on the epidemiological burden of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in Switzerland is unavailable. Knowledge gaps remain on trends in PE-related comorbidities, PE severity, and length of in-hospital stay (LOS) at a nationwide level.

Methods: We used nationwide, patient-level data including all patients aged 15 years or older hospitalized for PE in Switzerland from 2003 to 2022, amounting to N=180,600.

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Background: Loneliness has become a major public health issue of the recent decades due to its severe impact on health and mortality. Little is known about the relation between loneliness and social anxiety. This study aimed (1) to explore levels of loneliness and social anxiety in the general population, and (2) to assess whether and how loneliness affects symptoms of social anxiety and vice versa over a period of five years.

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Article Synopsis
  • In-hospital case-fatality rates for acute pulmonary embolism (PE) have been decreasing, but the annual incidence is rising, leading to more survivors requiring long-term care and treatment.
  • Hospital costs for acute PE are generally lower in Europe than in the US, but they can significantly increase for patients with additional health issues and need for urgent treatments.
  • The use of catheter-directed treatment (CDT) for PE is growing rapidly, with ongoing trials assessing their effectiveness and cost benefits, while structured outpatient programs could help alleviate the long-term socio-economic impact of PE on patients.
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Introduction: Patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) experience impaired functional ability and reduced quality of life long after discharge from the hospital. However, there are no structured follow-up programmes in Denmark for these patients, and there is considerable variation in practice patterns of post-PE management. No studies have investigated the effectiveness of structured follow-up care models in patients with PE.

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  • This study aimed to explore how changes in systemic medication relate to intraocular pressure (IOP) in a large population in Germany.
  • Researchers analyzed data from the Gutenberg Health Study, measuring IOP and recording medication changes over a five-year period in thousands of participants.
  • Results showed that starting selective beta-blockers reduced IOP, while stopping them increased it; other medications' effects on IOP appeared linked to accompanying drugs or blood pressure changes.
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  • * There were five in-hospital deaths among ICU patients (3.5% fatality rate) compared to three in non-ICU patients (0.1%), indicating significantly higher risks for those admitted to ICUs.
  • * Significant factors leading to ICU admission included obesity, diabetes, pneumonia, ARDS, and other comorbidities, highlighting the importance of existing health conditions in pediatric COVID-19 cases.
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Background: Many research investigations for pulmonary embolism (PE) rely on the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes for analyses of electronic databases. The validity of ICD-10 codes in identifying PE remains uncertain.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to validate an algorithm to efficiently identify pulmonary embolism using ICD-10 codes.

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Background & Aims: Elevated liver stiffness has been associated with atrial fibrillation (AFib) in the general population. The mechanism underlying this association is unclear.

Methods: Participants were recruited from the general population and prospectively enrolled with follow-up for 5 years.

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Background: Dissecting trends and contributing risk factors for intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in patients treated for acute pulmonary embolism (PE) may allow for a better patient selection for existing and emerging treatment options.

Methods: The German nationwide inpatient sample was screened for patients admitted due to PE 2005-2020. Hospitalizations were stratified for the occurrence of ICH; risk factors for ICH and temporal trends were investigated.

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  • The study explores the prevalence and prognostic implications of pulmonary hypertension associated with left heart disease (PH-LHD) using data from the 2018 US Nationwide Inpatient Sample, focusing on various cardiac conditions.
  • Among over 6 million hospitalizations for left heart disease, about 12.8% had a diagnosis of PH, with varying prevalence rates depending on the specific heart condition.
  • The presence of PH was linked to increased in-hospital mortality in most types of left heart disease, indicating a need for greater awareness and recognition of PH-LHD in clinical settings.
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Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially life-threatening condition. Admission and treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) is an important element in critically ill PE patients.

Objectives: We aimed to identify risk factors for ICU admission and differences in patient profiles regarding risk factors and comorbidities between PE patients who had to be admitted to an ICU and those who were treated in a normal ward without ICU.

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Background: A considerable number of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) lack a history of venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Objectives: We aimed to examine the annual incidence and prevalence of CTEPH in Denmark and to compare the rates of VTE, bleeding, and mortality between CTEPH patients with and without a history of VTE.

Methods: The Danish National Patient Registry covering all Danish hospitals was used to identify all CTEPH cases between 2009 and 2018, based on combinations of discharge diagnoses using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes for CTEPH and relevant diagnostic and/or therapeutic interventions.

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Recent advances in therapy and the promulgation of multidisciplinary pulmonary embolism teams show great promise to improve management and outcomes of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). However, the absence of randomized evidence and lack of consensus leads to tremendous variations in treatment and compromises the wide implementation of new innovations. Moreover, the changing landscape of health care, where quality, cost, and accountability are increasingly relevant, dictates that a broad spectrum of outcomes of care must be routinely monitored to fully capture the impact of modern PE treatment.

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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers started looking into using a special medicine called thrombolytic therapy to treat a serious condition called pulmonary embolism (PE) a few years after doctors first used a specific imaging test to diagnose it.
  • In 1992, a doctor named Guy Meyer showed that using a medicine called alteplase helped patients with PE quickly feel better, but it also came with risks like serious bleeding.
  • Now, ongoing studies like the PEITHO-3 trial are testing safer ways to use thrombolytics and other treatments for PE, focusing not just on saving lives, but also on how patients feel after recovery.
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  • Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a significant health issue globally, affecting many patients across various medical fields such as general medicine and public health.
  • The text reviews the epidemiology of DVT, covering its incidence rates and associated risk factors.
  • It also examines the impact of DVT on healthcare systems, highlighting the importance of prevention and awareness of population risk changes.
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Background: Although pulmonary embolism (PE) and sarcopenia are common diseases, only a few studies have assessed the impact of sarcopenia in PE on usage of reperfusion treatments in PE.

Methods: All hospitalizations of PE patients aged ≥75 years 2005-2020 in Germany were included in this study and stratified for sarcopenia. Impact of sarcopenia on treatment procedures and adverse in-hospital events were investigated.

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