Obstructive sleep apnea in bariatric surgery patients: a population-based study.

Purpose: A high proportion of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains undiagnosed. The main objectives of this study were to measure the prevalence of diagnosed OSA and determine OSA predictors in patients who underwent bariatric surgery, who are predominantly female and pre-menopausal and represent an understudied population in OSA literature.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional population-based study using the Ontario Bariatric Registry (OBR) from 2010 to 2016, linked to ICES databases which include health administrative data on all encounters within a single public-payer system.

Childhood vaccinations and the risk of leukemia: A nationwide cohort study.

A protective effect of childhood vaccinations on leukemia risk, particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), has been hypothesized, though findings are inconsistent. We used a nationwide cohort of Danish children born 1997-2018 (n = 1,360,230), to examine associations between childhood vaccinations and leukemia (<20 years) using registry data (follow-up: December 31, 2018). Cox proportional hazard models with age as the underlying time estimated hazard ratios (HRs) for leukemia (any, ALL, acute myeloid [AML], and other), comparing vaccinated with unvaccinated children.

The Association Between the Onset and Ending of Volunteering on Loneliness and Perceived Social Isolation Among Older Adults: Longitudinal Evidence From the German Ageing Survey.

Background: Existing literature explores the relationship between voluntary work, loneliness, and social isolation, but there is a lack of research on how the onset and cessation of voluntary work relate to loneliness and social isolation among older adults. Many in this population may discontinue volunteering due to various life circumstances, making it important to investigate the longitudinal significance of these transitions. This study aims to assess whether engaging in volunteer work during retirement age is associated with changes in loneliness and social isolation.

Creative Aging: Unraveling the Psychosocial Benefits of Art Among Germany's Oldest Old. Findings From the Nationally Representative Study "Old Age in Germany (D80+)".

Objective: There is a dearth of studies examining the link between artistic activity and psychosocial outcomes exclusively among the oldest old. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the association between artistic activity and psychosocial outcomes among individuals aged 80 years and over in Germany.

Methods/design: Data for this analysis were taken from the "Old Age in Germany (D80+)" study, a nationwide sample encompassing both community-dwelling individuals aged 80 and above, as well as those residing in care facilities.

Good Practices for Health Technology Assessment Guideline Development: A Report of the Health Technology Assessment International, HTAsiaLink, and ISPOR Special Task Force.

Objectives: Health technology assessment (HTA) guidelines are intended to support successful implementation of HTA by enhancing consistency and transparency in concepts, methods, process, and use, thereby enhancing the legitimacy of the decision-making process. This report lays out good practices and practical recommendations for developing or updating HTA guidelines to ensure successful implementation.

Methods: The task force was established in 2022 and comprised experts and academics from various geographical regions, each with substantial experience in developing HTA guidelines for national health policymaking.

How Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases Challenge Our Understanding of Viral Infections.

The twenty-first century has witnessed a wave of severe infectious disease outbreaks, having a devastating impact on lives and healthcare systems around the globe [...

Good Practices for Health Technology Assessment Guideline Development: A Report of the Health Technology Assessment International, HTAsiaLink, and ISPOR Special Task Force.

Objectives: Health technology assessment (HTA) guidelines are intended to support the successful implementation of HTA by enhancing consistency and transparency in concepts, methods, processes, and use, thereby enhancing the legitimacy of the decision-making process. This report lays out good practices and practical recommendations for developing or updating HTA guidelines to ensure successful implementation.

Methods: The task force was established in 2022 and comprised experts and academics from various geographical regions, each with substantial experience in developing HTA guidelines for national health policy making.

Cost-effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention against cognitive decline.

Introduction: The societal costs of dementia and cognitive decline are substantial and likely to increase during the next decades due to the increasing number of people in older age groups. The aim of this multicenter cluster-randomized controlled trial was to assess the cost-effectiveness of a multi-domain intervention to prevent cognitive decline in older people who are at risk for dementia.

Methods: We used data from a multi-centric, two-armed, cluster-randomized controlled trial ( trial, ID: DRKS00013555).

"We are doing it together, don't worry" - A qualitative study on the implementation of electronic medical records in German hospitals.

Background: The ongoing implementation of electronic medical records (EMRs) in German hospitals is currently slow. Implementation science widely acknowledges the barriers and facilitators to implementation. Thus, specific preconditions are necessary to address the former and to support an effective EMR implementation.

Care for post-COVID-19 condition in Germany from the perspectives of patients, informal caregivers and general practitioners: Study protocol for a mixed methods study.

Background: A large number of individuals suffer from post-COVID-19 condition (PCC), characterised by persistent symptoms following a SARS-CoV-2 infection with an impact on daily personal and professional activities. This study aims at examining which (health) care services are used by PCC patients in the German federal state of Lower Saxony, and how these patients manage their condition. The perspectives of patients, informal caregivers and general practitioners (GPs) will be considered.

No Significant Association Between Herpes Zoster and Breast Cancer: A German Outpatient Study with over 120,000 Participants.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate a possible association between Herpes Zoster (HZ) and the subsequent diagnosis of breast cancer (BC).

Methods: Utilizing the Disease Analyzer database, anonymized medical records from German office-based practices were accessed. Longitudinal data of female patients aged 18 years and above diagnosed with HZ between 2005 and 2021 were included.

Dominant negative mutations cause ADA2 deficiency in heterozygous carriers.

Human ADA2 deficiency (DADA2) is an inborn error of immunity with a broad clinical phenotype which encompasses vasculopathy including livedo racemosa and lacunar strokes, as well as hemato-immunological features. Diagnosis is based on the combination of decreased serum ADA2 activity and the identification of biallelic deleterious alleles in the gene. DADA2 carriers harbor a single pathogenic variant in and are mostly considered healthy and asymptomatic.

Disutility associated with social isolation and loneliness in Germany: results of a population survey using the EQ-5D-5L instrument.

Background: Social isolation and loneliness are highly prevalent and may have a negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL). The EQ-5D-5L is a widely used questionnaire from which an index value for HRQL based on societal preferences (utility) can be derived. The purpose of this study was to estimate the loss in utility (i.

Multimorbidity clusters and their contribution to well-being among the oldest old: Results based on a nationally representative sample in Germany.

Aim: Our aim was to identify multimorbidity clusters and, in particular, to examine their contribution to well-being outcomes among the oldest old in Germany.

Methods: Data were taken from the large nationally representative D80+ study including community-dwelling and institutionalized individuals aged 80 years and over residing in Germany (n = 8,773). The mean age was 85.

Costs of colorectal cancer screening in Sweden: an observational, longitudinal cost description.

Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programmes have been implemented worldwide, but the evidence of the economic consequences of screening programmes relies on data from short-term trials. The aim of this paper was to describe the costs of CRC screening in a population-based screening programme, using administrative real-world data. Specifically, we aimed to estimate the annual costs of the screening programme and the total costs of the full programme over five consecutive screening rounds.

Sociodemographic, lifestyle and psychological factors associated with healthy ageing in a national longitudinal study of middle-aged and older adults in Thailand.

The aim of this study was to estimate the longitudinal associations with healthy ageing as well as its association with mortality in a national sample in Thailand. The analytic sample consisted of 2585 participants (≥45 years) in four study assessments in 2015, 2017, 2020, and 2022. The distribution of the healthy ageing components at baseline was 93.

Predicting control of cardiovascular disease risk factors in South Asia using machine learning.

A substantial share of patients at risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) fail to achieve control of CVD risk factors, but clinicians lack a structured approach to identify these patients. We applied machine learning to longitudinal data from two completed randomized controlled trials among 1502 individuals with diabetes in urban India and Pakistan. Using commonly available clinical data, we predict each individual's risk of failing to achieve CVD risk factor control goals or meaningful improvements in risk factors at one year after baseline.

Diagnosis Related Payment for Inpatient Mental Health Care: Hospital Selection and Effects on Length of Stay.

We study a policy introducing diagnosis related payment for inpatient mental health care in Germany with rates decreasing over length of stay. Using data on all hospital cases, we first examine which hospitals voluntarily opt into the new scheme. We show that specialized hospitals that treat more complicated cases and are reimbursed more highly under the new scheme select into it.

Effectiveness and safety of intense pulsed light therapy for dry eye symptoms due to meibomian gland dysfunction-A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Dry eye disease is a common ocular condition, affecting quality of life and function for many people worldwide. This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness and safety of intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy for dry eye symptoms due to meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), as they are not yet established.

Methods: Comprehensive searches were conducted in January 2024 (Cochrane Library, Embase, MEDLINE).

Associations between serum sodium level ranges with geriatric syndromes.

Purpose: To determine prevalences of common geriatric syndromes in the setting of different normal ranges of serum sodium.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 2048 older adults (aged ≥ 60) who underwent comprehesive geriatric assessment between 2016 and 2023 in one geriatric outpatient clinic were evaluated. Patient groups included moderate hyponatremia (< 130 mEq/L, n = 28, 1.

Support by telestroke networks is associated with increased intravenous thrombolysis and reduced hospital transfers: A german claims data analysis.

Background: Acute stroke treatment is time-critical. To provide qualified stroke care in areas without 24/7 availability of a stroke neurologist, the concept of teleneurology was established, which is based on remote video communication through telemedicine organized by telestroke networks. Data on the effectiveness and efficiency of stroke treatment via teleneurology is very scarce and is therefore partly questioned in the healthcare sector.

Associations between malnutrition and dehydration among older adults: A cross-sectional observational study.

Background: There is debate as to the association between dehydration and malnutrition. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the correlation between dehydration and malnutrition and their impact on geriatric syndromes.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included older adults (≥60 years) who attended one outpatient geriatric clinic.

Assessing the feasibility of an integrated collection of education modules for fall and fracture prevention (iCARE) for healthcare providers in long term care: A longitudinal study.

Falls and hip fractures are a major health concern among older adults in long term care (LTC) with almost 50% of residents experiencing a fall annually. Hip fractures are one of the most important and frequent fall-related injuries in LTC. There is moderate to strong certainty evidence that multifactorial interventions may reduce the risk of falls and fractures; however, there is little evidence to support its implementation.

Evaluating the Health and Economic Impacts of Return-to-Work Interventions: A Modeling Study.

Objectives: The rate of sickness absence in Norway is at its highest point since 2009, and policymakers need tools to make informed decisions on high-value interventions to address sick leave. Using trial-linked registry data, multi-state modeling, and decision-analytic modeling, we assessed the cost-effectiveness of 2 return-to-work (RTW) interventions for individuals with musculoskeletal and psychological disorders in Norway.

Methods: Using data from 166 individuals in a randomized trial, we developed a decision-analytic model to compare 2 multidomain RTW interventions: outpatient acceptance and commitment therapy (O-ACT) and inpatient multimodal occupational rehabilitation (I-MORE).

Increases in employment over six months following Khanya: A secondary analysis of a pilot randomized controlled trial of a peer-delivered behavioral intervention for substance use and HIV medication adherence in Cape Town, South Africa.

Introduction: Evidence suggests that brief, skills-based behavioral interventions are effective at improving clinical outcomes related to substance use and HIV, but little data exists on whether such interventions can incidentally improve employment. We examined preliminary changes in employment over six months following Khanya, a brief peer-delivered behavioral intervention to reduce substance use and improve antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence compared to enhanced treatment as usual (ETAU).

Methods: Adults living with HIV (N = 61) with at least moderate substance use and ART non-adherence were recruited from a primary care clinic in Khayelitsha, South Africa, a community with high rates of unemployment.