Epidemiology of Pertussis and Pertussis-Related Complications in Adults: A German Claims Data Analysis.

Introduction: Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection. It affects people of all ages, yet evidence of the impact of pertussis in adults with underlying conditions (UCs) is scarce. This study investigated the incidence and complication rate of pertussis in adult patients with and without UC.

Subcutaneous mastectomy in female-to-male transsexuals is associated with higher risk of postoperative bleeding complications.

Introduction: Chest contouring or subcutaneous mastectomy (SCM) in female-to-male (FtM) transgender individuals is the primary surgery in the gender reassignment process. Many authors report high rates of postoperative bleeding in these patients and discuss a possible influence of preoperative hormone therapy. However, there is a lack of data on the analysis between different surgical techniques and postoperative bleeding risk.

In 'real world' patients with COPD, exacerbation history, and not blood eosinophils, is the most reliable predictor of future exacerbations.

Introduction: There is an interest in the role of blood eosinophils for predicting inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) response in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Most data are from interventional clinical studies; data from unselected real-world populations may help better inform treatment decisions. DACCORD is a non-interventional real-world study.

Effectiveness of Extrafine Single Inhaler Triple Therapy in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in Germany - The TriOptimize Study.

Purpose: Real-word evidence on the effectiveness of switching from dual therapies or triple therapies (multiple inhalers) to extrafine single-inhaler triple therapy (efSITT), which consists of the inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) beclomethasone, the long-acting β-agonist (LABA) formoterol and the long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) glycopyrronium, in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is limited. The impact of switching to efSITT on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), COPD specific symptoms, lung function and treatment adherence were assessed in routine clinical care.

Patients And Methods: Patients were recruited at 148 sites in Germany between 2017 and 2020 in this multicenter, non-interventional observational study.

Impact of switching from triple therapy to dual bronchodilation in COPD: the DACCORD 'real world' study.

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) guidelines recommend reserving triple therapy of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), long-acting β-agonist (LABA) and long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) for patients with exacerbations despite dual therapy. However, many patients receive triple therapy without a clear indication. For these patients, it would be useful to know whether ICS can be withdrawn.

Automatic oxygen titration versus constant oxygen flow rates during walking in COPD: a randomised controlled, double-blind, crossover trial.

Rationale: In patients with COPD, oxygen (O)-supplementation via a constant flow oxygen system (CFOS) can result in insufficient oxygen saturation (SpO <90%) during exercise. An automatically titrating O-system (ATOS) has been shown to be beneficial compared with an untitrated CFOS, however, it is unknown if ATOS is superior to CFOS, titrated during exercise as stipulated by guidelines. The aim was to investigate the effects of ATOS compared with titrated CFOS on walking capacity in people with hypoxaemic COPD.

Burden of Herpes Zoster in Adult Patients with Underlying Conditions: Analysis of German Claims Data, 2007-2018.

Introduction: Several chronic underlying conditions (UCs) are known to be risk factors for developing herpes zoster (HZ) and to increase the severity of HZ and its risk of recurrence. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and recurrence of HZ in adult patients with one or multiple UCs.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study based on claims data representing 13% of the statutory health insurance population from 2007 to 2018 in Germany was performed.

COPD Assessment Test Changes from Baseline Correlate with COPD Exacerbations: A Longitudinal Analysis of the DACCORD Observational Study.

Purpose: A number of analyses have shown the immediate impact of COPD exacerbations on health status. However, none evaluated the long-term correlation between health status and the occurrence of exacerbations.

Methods: DACCORD is an observational study in patients with COPD recruited across Germany following initiation or change in COPD maintenance medication.

Dual bronchodilation vs triple therapy in the "real-life" COPD DACCORD study.

Background: No observational studies have evaluated the "real-world" effectiveness of dual bronchodilation comprising a long-acting β-agonist plus a long-acting muscarinic antagonist vs that of triple therapy (long-acting β-agonist plus long-acting muscarinic antagonist plus inhaled corticosteroid) in COPD.

Materials And Methods: DACCORD is a non-interventional, observational clinical study that recruited patients following COPD maintenance therapy initiation or change in maintenance therapy between or within therapeutic class. Given the non-interventional nature of the study, the decision to initiate or change medication had to be made by the patients' physicians prior to inclusion in DACCORD.

GOLD 2017 treatment pathways in 'real life': An analysis of the DACCORD observational study.

Introduction: The 2017 update to the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) strategy document includes recommendations for treatment intensification or step-down in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), although recognises that limited supporting information is available. DACCORD is an ongoing observational, non-interventional study, recruiting patients following COPD maintenance treatment change or initiation, a subset of whom were receiving a long-acting β-agonist (LABA) plus a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) fixed-dose combination (FDC) on entry. Since there were no requirements in terms of prior medication (and no washout before commencing LABA/LAMA FDC), this provides an opportunity to generate 'real world' data to test the GOLD 2017 recommendations.

The 'real-life' COPD patient in Germany: The DACCORD study.

Introduction: DACCORD is an ongoing, longitudinal, non-interventional study within the German COPD National Prospective Registry. This manuscript describes the baseline characteristics of the first 5924 participants, recruited between November 2012 and November 2013.

Methods: The main inclusion criteria are a physician diagnosis of COPD, age ≥40 years, and initiating or changing COPD maintenance medication.

The Prospective Non-Interventional DACCORD Study in the National COPD Registry in Germany: design and methods.

Background: A variety of large randomized controlled trials (RCT's) evaluating pharmacotherapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients does exist. One of the drugs that has been tested is the new long-acting anticholinergic glycopyrronium bromide.

Methods: As the generalizability of results from RCT's is questionable we designed a longitudinal, prospective non-interventional study (DACCORD) of two years duration plus two years extension with at least 6000 participants in approximately 500 primary and secondary care practices in Germany (within the new established COPD National Prospective Registry), to assess patient reported outcomes (PRO's), lung function, adherence and drug safety.