Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on incidence of coronary heart disease in Bavaria, Germany: an analysis of health claims data.

Background: Inconsistent findings about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiovascular disease diagnosis and consultations have been reported internationally. The objective of this study was to analyse the impact of the pandemic period (2020-2021) on the incidence rate of coronary heart disease (CHD) compared with the pre-pandemic period (2012-2019) in Bavaria, Germany.

Methods: We used health claims data of around 9 million statutorily insured residents (≥20 years) of Bavaria, Germany.

Global parental acceptance, attitudes, and knowledge regarding human papillomavirus vaccinations for their children: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Background: This systematic literature review aims to summarize global research on parental acceptance, attitudes, and knowledge regarding human papillomavirus vaccinations.

Methods: The literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus, and included publications from 2006 to 2023. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Analysis of health claims data on vaccination coverage in older adults in Bavaria, Germany: Influenza, pneumococcus and herpes zoster.

Background: Vaccination is essential, especially in older adults whose immune system function declines with age. The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated lockdowns temporarily disrupted routine vaccination services. We aimed to assess vaccination coverage for Influenza, Pneumococcus, and Herpes zoster among older adults in Bavaria over time and investigate potential pandemic effects on these rates.

Random forests for the analysis of matched case-control studies.

Background: Conditional logistic regression trees have been proposed as a flexible alternative to the standard method of conditional logistic regression for the analysis of matched case-control studies. While they allow to avoid the strict assumption of linearity and automatically incorporate interactions, conditional logistic regression trees may suffer from a relatively high variability. Further machine learning methods for the analysis of matched case-control studies are missing because conventional machine learning methods cannot handle the matched structure of the data.

Association Between the Postprandial Response to an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test and Anthropometric Changes After an 8-Week Low-Calorie Formula Diet - Results From the Lifestyle Intervention (LION) Study.

Scope: Interindividual variations in postprandial metabolism and weight loss outcomes have been reported. The literature suggests links between postprandial metabolism and weight regulation. Therefore, the study aims to evaluate if postprandial glucose metabolism after a glucose load predicts anthropometric outcomes of a weight loss intervention.

Clusters of longitudinal risk profile trajectories are associated with cardiometabolic diseases: Results from the population-based KORA cohort.

Background: Multiple risk factors contribute jointly to the development and progression of cardiometabolic diseases. Therefore, joint longitudinal trajectories of multiple risk factors might represent different degrees of cardiometabolic risk.

Methods: We analyzed population-based data comprising three examinations (Exam 1: 1999-2001, Exam 2: 2006-2008, Exam 3: 2013-2014) of 976 male and 1004 female participants of the KORA cohort (Southern Germany).

Incidence trend of type 2 diabetes from 2012 to 2021 in Germany: an analysis of health claims data of 11 million statutorily insured people.

Aims/hypothesis: The aim of the study is to describe the time trend of type 2 diabetes incidence in the largest state of Germany, Bavaria, from 2012 to 2021, and to compare the incidence rates during the pandemic period (2020-2021) to the pre-pandemic period (2012-2019).

Methods: This secondary data analysis uses health claims data provided by the Bavarian Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KVB), covering approximately 11 million insurees, accounting for 85% of the total population of Bavaria, Germany. Newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes cases in adults (≥20 years) coded as E11 (Diabetes mellitus, Type 2) or E14 (Unspecified diabetes mellitus) under ICD-10, German modification (ICD-10-GM) for the study period 2012 to 2021 were included.

An audit of 1632 routinely collected cervical cancer screening smears from 398 women in Germany: Results from the TeQaZ Study.

Objective: There is evidence in Germany that half of the cervical cancer (CC) cases had undergone screening frequently in the decade preceding their diagnosis, signaling cytology quality issues. This study investigates routine smear assessment accuracy in Germany.

Methods: Within a population-based case-control study in 9 German states, we recruited cases (women with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of CC) and population controls (women with no history of CC or hysterectomy).

A systematic review of clinical health conditions predicted by machine learning diagnostic and prognostic models trained or validated using real-world primary health care data.

With the advances in technology and data science, machine learning (ML) is being rapidly adopted by the health care sector. However, there is a lack of literature addressing the health conditions targeted by the ML prediction models within primary health care (PHC) to date. To fill this gap in knowledge, we conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines to identify health conditions targeted by ML in PHC.

A tree-based modeling approach for matched case-control studies.

Conditional logistic regression (CLR) is the indisputable standard method for the analysis of matched case-control studies. However, CLR is strongly restricted with respect to the inclusion of non-linear effects and interactions of confounding variables. A novel tree-based modeling method is proposed which accounts for this issue and provides a flexible framework allowing for a more complex confounding structure.

Ammonia emissions from agriculture and their contribution to fine particulate matter: A review of implications for human health.

Atmospheric ammonia (NH) released from agriculture is contributing significantly to acidification and atmospheric NH may have on human health is much less readily available. The potential direct impact of NH on the health of the general public is under-represented in scientific literature, though there have been several studies which indicate that NH has a direct effect on the respiratory health of those who handle livestock. These health impacts can include a reduced lung function, irritation to the throat and eyes, and increased coughing and phlegm expulsion.

Colposcopy non-attendance following an abnormal cervical cancer screening result: a prospective population-based cohort study.

Background: A considerable proportion of cervical cancer diagnoses in high-income countries are due to lack of timely follow-up of an abnormal screening result. We estimated colposcopy non-attendance, examined the potential factors associated and described non-attendance reasons in a population-based screening study.

Methods: Data from the MARZY prospective cohort study were analysed.

Breast Cancer Among Female Flight Attendants and the Role of the Occupational Exposures: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Objective: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate occupational exposures and their role in breast cancer (BC) risk among female flight attendants (FFAs).

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed and EMBASE and included all observational studies reporting on the outcome BC incidence among FFAs. The exposures of interest were cosmic radiation and circadian rhythm disruption.

Association between Habitual Diet and the Postprandial Glucose Response-An Enable Study.

Scope: It is inconclusive which factors influence inter-individual variations of postprandial glucose response (PPGR). This study investigates whether the habitual diet is associated with PPGR.

Methods And Results: Data from healthy adults (young adults with 18-25 years, middle-aged adults with 40-65 years, and older adults with 75-85 years) is collected at baseline and during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) collected.

Tracking Devices for Pets: Health Risk Assessment for Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields.

Every year, approximately 3% of cats and dogs are lost. In addition to passive methods for identifying pets, radiofrequency tracking devices (TDs) are available. These TDs can track a pet's geographic position, which is transmitted by radio frequencies.

Impact of opportunistic screening on squamous cell and adenocarcinoma of the cervix in Germany: A population-based case-control study.

Background: We investigated the uptake of opportunistic cervical cancer screening (CCS) and other risk factors and their association with cervical cancer in Germany in a case-control study.

Methods And Findings: We recruited incident cases of cervical cancer (ICD-10 C53) diagnosed between 2012 and 2016 and matched with three population-based controls, based on age and region of residence. Cases and controls reported their CCS participation during the past ten years (frequent: every three years; no or infrequent: less than every three years) and other relevant variables.

Effect of legroom proportions and individual factors for sitting with crossed legs: implications on the interior design of automated driving vehicles.

Sitting with crossed legs is a commonly adopted sitting posture in everyday situations. Yet, little is known about suitable design criteria to facilitate such a position inside a vehicle. This study is aimed at determining how much space is necessary for crossing the legs while considering legroom restrictions, anthropometric measures, and individual flexibility.

Exogenous creatinine clearence indexed to body surface area allows estimation of GFR and across species comparison.

The assessment of renal function in birds is difficult because sensitive biomarkers are lacking. Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of measuring the exogenous creatinine clearance in pigeons, indicating the potential use of this technique for the assessment of renal function in birds. The aim of the study was to index the exogenous creatinine elimination rate by body surface area, enabling comparison between different species.

Cervical Cancer Screening: Comparison of Conventional Pap Smear Test, Liquid-Based Cytology, and Human Papillomavirus Testing as Stand-alone or Cotesting Strategies.

Background: Some countries have implemented stand-alone human papillomavirus (HPV) testing while others consider cotesting for cervical cancer screening. We compared both strategies within a population-based study.

Methods: The MARZY cohort study was conducted in Germany.

Knowledge, opinions and expectations of adults concerning personalised genotype-based dietary recommendations: a German survey.

Objective: To assess the knowledge, opinions and expectations of persons with and without obesity concerning personalised genotype-based nutrition.

Design: Questions about nutrition, weight management and personalised genotype-based dietary recommendations were asked via standardised telephone-based interviews. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data were collected.

Odour impact assessment by considering short-term ambient concentrations: A multi-model and two-site comparison.

Short-term events are one of the specific aspects that differentiate odour nuisance problems from conventional air quality pollutants. Atmospheric dispersion modelling has been considered the gold standard to realise odour impact assessments and to calculate separation distances. Most of these models provide predictions of concentrations of a pollutant in ambient air on an hourly basis.

Uncertainty in Latent Trait Models.

A model that extends the Rasch model and the Partial Credit Model to account for subject-specific uncertainty when responding to items is proposed. It is demonstrated that ignoring the subject-specific uncertainty may yield biased estimates of model parameters. In the extended version of the model, uncertainty and the underlying trait are linked to explanatory variables.

Responsibility of Individuals and Stakeholders for Obesity and a Healthy Diet: Results From a German Survey.

Introduction: Overweight and obesity are thought to be mainly caused by an energy-rich diet and a sedentary lifestyle. The opinions of those with and without obesity about an individual´s and stakeholder´s responsibility for overweight and obesity as well as a healthy diet is rather unclear. Therefore, a survey was conducted to assess the thoughts of persons with and without obesity about the responsibilities for a high body weight and healthy diet.