Rates of clinical remission and inadequate response to advanced therapies among patients with ulcerative colitis in Germany.

Purpose: Many patients treated for ulcerative colitis (UC) do not achieve clinical remission. This real-world study assessed clinical remission and inadequate response rates among patients with UC in Germany treated with advanced therapies.

Methods: This retrospective chart review included patients with UC newly initiating advanced (index) therapy (anti-TNFα agents, vedolizumab, tofacitinib) from January 2017-September 2019 (index date).

Management of patients with atrial fibrillation by primary-care physicians in Germany: 1-year results of the ATRIUM registry.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in Germany are often managed jointly by primary-care physicians in cooperation with cardiologists. We aimed to investigate the management and 1-year outcomes of AF patients in this setting.

Hypothesis: We set out to describe the current management of AF patients in primary care settings in Germany.

Improved detection of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation utilizing a software-assisted electrocardiogram approach.

Background: Automated complexity-based statistical stroke risk analysis (SRA) of electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings can be used to estimate the risk of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF). We investigated whether this method could improve the reliability of detection of patients at risk for pAF.

Methods And Results: Data from 12-lead ECGs, 24-h Holter ECGs, and SRA based on separate 1-hour Holter ECG snips were collected from three groups: 70 patients with a history of pAF but who showed no AF episode in the 12-lead ECG at study entry; 19 patients with chronic AF (at study entry); and 100 young healthy individuals.

Improved detection of silent atrial fibrillation using 72-hour Holter ECG in patients with ischemic stroke: a prospective multicenter cohort study.

Background And Purpose: Adequate diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF), including paroxysmal AF, is an important part of stroke workup. Prolonged ECG monitoring may improve the detection of paroxysmal, previously undiagnosed AF (unknown AF). Therefore, we evaluated systematic 72-hour Holter ECG monitoring to detect unknown AF for the workup of patients with stroke.

Microalbuminuria indicates long-term vascular risk in patients after acute stroke undergoing in-patient rehabilitation.

Background: Patients in neurologic in-patient rehabilitation are at risk of cardio- and cerebrovascular events. Microalbuminuria (MAU) is frequent and an important risk predictor but has not been validated in in-patient rehabilitation. We therefore aimed to examine MAU as an indicator of risk and predictor of vascular events in a prospective study.

Vascular risk prediction in ischemic stroke patients undergoing in-patient rehabilitation - insights from the investigation of patients with ischemic stroke in neurologic rehabilitation (INSIGHT) registry.

Background: In-patient rehabilitation following ischemic stroke offers a unique opportunity for risk factor and lifestyle modification. Quantification of risk in this setting may help to tailor therapy, increase physician awareness and patient compliance and thus to reduce recurrent vascular events.

Aims: To validate the predictive value of established secondary stroke risk scores.

Comprehensive risk reduction in patients with atrial fibrillation: emerging diagnostic and therapeutic options--a report from the 3rd Atrial Fibrillation Competence NETwork/European Heart Rhythm Association consensus conference.

While management of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients is improved by guideline-conform application of anticoagulant therapy, rate control, rhythm control, and therapy of accompanying heart disease, the morbidity and mortality associated with AF remain unacceptably high. This paper describes the proceedings of the 3rd Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET)/European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) consensus conference that convened over 60 scientists and representatives from industry to jointly discuss emerging therapeutic and diagnostic improvements to achieve better management of AF patients. The paper covers four chapters: (i) risk factors and risk markers for AF; (ii) pathophysiological classification of AF; (iii) relevance of monitored AF duration for AF-related outcomes; and (iv) perspectives and needs for implementing better antithrombotic therapy.

Management of atrial fibrillation by primary care physicians in Germany: baseline results of the ATRIUM registry.

Background: In contrast to surveys in cardiologist settings, presentation and management of atrial fibrillation (AF) in primary care patients is less well studied.

Methods And Results: The prospective ATRIUM (Outpatient Registry Upon Morbidity of Atrial Fibrillation) collected data from patients with AF seen by 730 physicians representing a random sample of all primary care physicians in Germany. ATRIUM enrolled 3,667 patients (mean age, 72 ± 9 years; 58% male, mean CHADS(2) score 2.

Presentation of atrial fibrillation and its management by cardiologists in the ambulatory and hospital setting: MOVE cross-sectional study.

Objective: The aim of the study was to collect comprehensive data on atrial fibrillation (AF) in ambulatory and hospital-based management in Germany.

Methods: Consecutive patients with ECG-confirmed AF in the previous 12 months were documented in a non-interventional study in 638 physician offices (78.0%) or hospitals (12.

Blood pressure management in a cohort of hypertensive patients in Germany treated by cardiologists.

Background: In Germany, an estimated 20-25 million patients suffer from hypertension. Blood pressure control rates are, however, lower than in many other European countries and the USA. The present analysis reports blood pressure treatment and control rates in Germany in patients with hypertension treated by cardiologists.

Contrast-Enhanced Transcranial and Extracranial Duplex Sonography: Preliminary Results of a Multicenter Phase II/III Study with SonoVuetrade mark.

Transcranial sonography is an ultrasonographic application with real problems of insufficient signal to noise ratio, which make it a primary candidate for applying ultrasonographic contrast enhancing agents. Within an international randomized multicenter phase II/III study, we investigated ten patients with insufficient Doppler signal retrieval using transcranial and extracranial color-coded duplex sonography to define safety, toxicity, optimal dosing, and the potential of the new ultrasound contrast agent SonoVue(trade mark). Patients were studied with standard color duplex systems.