Acute respiratory tract infections during the first six years of life - results from the German birth cohort study LoewenKIDS.

Objectives: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) often occur in early childhood and are mostly self-limited. However, they impose a high socioeconomic burden and can be associated with chronic diseases later in life. To date, data on self-reported ARI beyond infancy are limited.

Diurnal timing of physical activity in relation to obesity and diabetes in the German National Cohort (NAKO).

Background: Physical activity supports weight regulation and metabolic health, but its timing in relation to obesity and diabetes remains unclear. We aimed to assess the diurnal timing of physical activity and its association with obesity and diabetes.

Methods: We cross-sectionally analyzed hip-worn accelerometry data from 61,116 participants aged 20-75 in the German National Cohort between 2015 and 2019.

University students' health-related quality of life and its determinants. Results from a cross-sectional survey during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Being a university student is a vulnerable period marked by transitions and uncertainties which can impair their physical and mental well-being as well as overall quality of life. The existing literature suggests that certain groups of students might be particularly affected by that. In addition, quality of life might have been further affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Low income, being without employment, and living alone: how they are associated with cognitive functioning-Results from the German national cohort (NAKO).

Aim was to investigate to what extent cognitive functioning differs by three socioeconomic conditions: low income, being without employment, and living alone. A total of N = 158,144 participants of the population-based German National Cohort (NAKO) provided data on socioeconomic conditions and completed cognitive tests. Multivariable confounder-adjusted regression analyses indicated that cognitive functioning was lower in those with low income (b = -0.

Novel travel time aware metapopulation models and multi-layer waning immunity for late-phase epidemic and endemic scenarios.

In the realm of infectious disease control, accurate modeling of the transmission dynamics is pivotal. As human mobility and commuting patterns are key components of communicable disease spread, we introduce a novel travel time aware metapopulation model. Our model aims to enhance estimations of disease transmission.

A unified framework for diagnostic test development and evaluation during outbreaks of emerging infections.

Evaluating diagnostic test accuracy during epidemics is difficult due to an urgent need for test availability, changing disease prevalence and pathogen characteristics, and constantly evolving testing aims and applications. Based on lessons learned during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, we introduce a framework for rapid diagnostic test development, evaluation, and validation during outbreaks of emerging infections. The framework is based on the feedback loop between test accuracy evaluation, modelling studies for public health decision-making, and impact of public health interventions.

Prophylactic use of inotropic agents for the prevention of low cardiac output syndrome and mortality in adults undergoing cardiac surgery.

Background: As the burden of cardiovascular disease grows, so does the number of cardiac surgeries. Surgery is increasingly performed on older people with comorbidities who are at higher risk of developing perioperative complications such as low cardiac output state (LCOS). Surgery-associated LCOS represents a serious pathology responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality.

Bypassing Emergency Service: Decoding the Drivers of Self-Referral During Acute Myocardial Infarction on Rural Areas in Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany.

the timely and effective management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is crucial to improve patient outcomes. 'Self-Referral' is defined as instances either where patients arrive at the hospital by their own means or are transported by someone else, rather than through professional emergency medical services. This approach can lead to treatment delays and potentially worsen outcomes.

Utilisation of blood glucose test strips in insulin-requiring people with diabetes mellitus using continuous glucose monitoring in Saxony-Anhalt - Analysis of health insurance data.

Aims: Continuous glucose measurement (CGM) systems are increasingly utilised by people with diabetes mellitus (DM) and less is known about usage behaviour. Therefore, this study aims to analyse additionally utilisation of blood glucose measurement (BGM) for insurants who are using CGM.

Methods: The study used secondary data, health claims data from the AOK Saxony-Anhalt (Germany), from 2016 to 2021, analysing a sample of 52,296 individuals with insulin-requiring DM.

Post-COVID recovery is faster after an infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant: a population-based cohort study.

Purpose: Post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) poses a substantial burden to affected individuals, health care systems, and society as a whole. We examined factors associated with recovery from PCC, focusing on the vaccination status prior to infection and the virus variant.

Methods: Our analyses are based on the population-based cohort study for digital health research in Germany (DigiHero).

Web-based telemedicine approach for treatment of post-COVID-19 in Thuringia (WATCH).

Objective: After infection with SARS-CoV-2, a substantial proportion of patients develop long-lasting sequelae. These sequelae include fatigue (potentially as severe as that seen in ME/CFS cases), cognitive dysfunction, and psychiatric symptoms. Because the pathophysiology of these sequelae remains unclear, existing therapeutic concepts address the symptoms through pacing strategies, cognitive training, and psychological therapy.

Tranexamic Acid for reduction of intra- and postoperative TRansfusion requirements in elective Abdominal surgery (TATRA): study protocol for an investigator-initiated, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized superiority trial with two parallel groups.

Background: Intra- and postoperative hemorrhage is a relevant problem in major abdominal surgery, leading to acute anemia and necessitating transfusion of packed red blood cells. It is estimated that in 30% of abdominal surgeries, intra- or postoperative transfusion is required. Transfusion potentially has detrimental health effects and poses a considerable socioeconomic burden.

Telemedicine-based antibiotic stewardship program in pediatrics: study protocol of a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial-the TeleKasper study.

Background: Overuse and misuse of antibiotics is one of the driving factors of antimicrobial resistance, a growing global health threat. The use of antibiotics is particularly high in children. Even though the implementation of antibiotic stewardship programs (ASP) in pediatrics has been shown to reduce antibiotic use, this implementation has been limited to large university hospitals in Germany.

Influenza-Associated Excess Mortality and Hospitalization in Germany from 1996 to 2018.

Introduction: Influenza-associated excess mortality and morbidity is commonly estimated using statistical methods. In Germany, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) uses the relative mortality distribution method (RMDM) to estimate influenza-associated excess mortality without reporting age-specific values. In order to better differentiate the distribution of the disease burden, a distinction by age is of high relevance.

User profiles in digitalized healthcare: active, potential, and rejecting - a cross-sectional study using latent class analysis.

Background: There is evidence of different use by different groups of people for general health-related applications. Yet, these findings are lacking for digitalized healthcare services. It is also unclear whether typical use patterns can be found and how user types can be characterized.

Differential associations between SARS-CoV-2 infection, perceived burden of the pandemic and mental health in the German population-based cohort for digital health research.

Understanding the potential adverse effects of the COVID-19-pandemic on mental health remains a challenge for public health. Differentiation between potential consequences of actual infection with SARS-CoV-2 and the subjective burden of the pandemic due to measures and restrictions to daily life still remains elusive. Therefore, we investigated the differential association between infection with SARS-Cov-2 and subjective burden of the pandemic in a study cohort of 7601 participants from the German population-based cohort for digital health research (DigiHero), who were recruited between March 4th and April 25th 2022.

Physicians' Attitudes Towards Artificial Intelligence: Results of the PEAK Project.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the medical field. This study aimed to investigate the attitudes of physicians towards AI in medical care using focus groups. Most participants seemed to be open to the use of AI in medicine if transparency in AI systems is ensured, regulatory barriers are addressed and personal contact to the patient is maintained.

Household transmission of Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 under conditions of hybrid immunity-a prospective study in Germany.

Purpose: We investigated the protection offered by vaccinations and previous infections for the household transmission of Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: 34,666 participants of the German DigiHero cohort study with two or more household members were invited to a prospective household transmission study between June and December 2022. In case of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test in a household, symptom diaries were completed for at least 14 days.

Likelihood of Post-COVID Condition in people with hybrid immunity; data from the German National Cohort (NAKO).

Objectives: The risk of Post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) under hybrid immunity remains unclear.

Methods: Using data from the German National Cohort (NAKO Gesundheitsstudie), we investigated risk factors for self-reported post-infection symptoms (any PCC is defined as having at least one symptom, and high symptom burden PCC as having nine or more symptoms).

Results: Sixty percent of 109,707 participants reported at least one previous SARS-CoV-2 infection; 35% reported having had any symptoms 4-12 months after infection; among them 23% reported nine or more symptoms.

Impact of QRS misclassifications on heart-rate-variability parameters (results from the CARLA cohort study).

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV), an important marker of autonomic nervous system activity, is usually determined from electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings corrected for extrasystoles and artifacts. Especially in large population-based studies, computer-based algorithms are used to determine RR intervals. The Modular ECG Analysis System MEANS is a widely used tool, especially in large studies.

The association between the child's age and mothers' physical activity: results from the population-based German National Cohort study.

Background: Since physical activity is an important determinant of physical and mental health, lower levels of physical activity among mothers reported in previous research are concerning. The aim of this study was to examine whether physical activity levels differ among mothers depending on the age of the youngest child.

Methods: Cross-sectional data from the German National Cohort study, comprising 3959 mothers aged 22-72 years with offspring aged 0-54 years (grouped into 0-5, 6-11, 12-17, 18-29 and > 30 years) was used.

University Students' Financial Situation During COVID-19 and Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms: Results of the COVID-19 German Student Well-Being Study (C19 GSWS).

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on students' financial situation as well as on their mental health.

Aim: To examine the reported change in the financial situation of German university students before and across two time points of the COVID-19 pandemic and to evaluate its associations with anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Methods: We used data from the cross-sectional COVID-19 German Student Well-being Study conducted at five German universities (N = 7203).