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Biomedical subjects

A Rieder

Publications and source records attributed to A Rieder.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Effects of socio-demographic variables on health-related quality of life determined by the quality of life index--German version.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine subjective health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a sample of the Austrian population over 14 years of age in order to evaluate the effect of socio-demographic variables on HRQoL. DESIGN/SETTING: HRQoL was determined by means of the quality of life index-German version (QLI-Ge). The influence of socio-demographic variables on HRQoL was assessed by statistical analysis using the Kruskal-Wallis test and an analysis of variance. PARTICIPANTS: A random-quota procedure was used to get balanced representation from regions and demographic groups of the Austrian population. The sample consisted of 1049 participants, 493 men and 556 women. MAIN RESULTS: Age was found to influence the QLI-Ge total score (index score) and most individual items, with increasing age resulting in a decrease in HRQoL. Differences between the sexes were observed in three dimensions: males scored higher in 'physical well-being', 'psychological well-being' and 'occupational functioning'. Marital status impacted most items with married persons showing better values than divorced persons or singles. Profession had only a minor effect on HRQoL, the level of education showed no influence at all. CONCLUSIONS: The socio-demographic variables age, sex and objective living conditions had a major influence on subjectively rated HRQoL, whereas profession and education were found to play a minor role in this context. It is recommended that in the interpretation of studies assessing HRQoL the above-mentioned objective factors be considered. This will be of particular importance when determining the effect of a pharmacotherapy on HRQoL in patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Work-site hypertension prevalence and control in three Central European Countries.

Compared to Austria, cerebrovascular stroke (CVS) mortality is three times higher in Hungary, and twice as high in Slovakia. We hypothesized that this is due to better treatment and control of hypertension in Austria. To test this hypothesis, we carried out a cross-sectional survey of 'blue collar' employees on work sites in each of these countries. Blood pressure screening was carried out at three work sites in Austria, one in Hungary and one in Slovakia. A standardized protocol was followed in each of these countries. The Bp-TRU(TM) measuring instrument was used to provide accurate reproducible readings and eliminate interobserver error. After the exclusion of missing data and women, the study population included 323 males screened in Austria, 600 in Hungary, and 751 in Slovakia. The mean ages of the respondents ranged from 35 to 42 years. The prevalence of hypertension was 29% in Austria, 28% in Hungary and 40% in Slovakia. Of those identified as hypertensive, 73% in Austria, 45% in Hungary and 67% in Slovakia were newly diagnosed as a result of this screening. Of those treated for hypertension, 10% in Austria, 15% in Hungary and 5% in Slovakia were controlled. The differences in CVS mortality cannot be explained by better control of hypertension in Austria but indicate the involvement of other determinants.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

N-CPAP rejecters--a specific group of noncompliant patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

A large number of studies have been focused on patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) being non-compliant with N-CPAP therapy, but data concerning patients who reject N-CPAP therapy from the very start, without a day of N-CPAP home therapy, do not exist. The purpose of the study was to determine differences, if any, in the quality of life (QoL) between patients rejecting N-CPAP therapy from the start, untreated patients with severe OSAS waiting for N-CPAP titration, and controls. Qol was measured in terms of life satisfaction on the basis of the Munich life quality dimension list (MLDL), an instrument for cognitive assessment of elementary components (physical condition, psyche, social life, everyday life) of QoL. Untreated patients (n = 16) with severe OSAS have a significantly worse QoL in the dimension of psyche (p = 0.00022), social life (p = 0.00582) and everyday life (p = 0.01633) than do rejecters of therapy (n = 19). In the dimension of physical condition, no significant difference was seen (p = 0.47138). Compared with controls (n = 113), rejecters of therapy have a significantly lower QoL score in regard of physical condition (p = 0.00014) but not in terms of psyche, social life and everyday life. We conclude that a good QoL and the absence of the stress of suffering is one reason why patients with severe OSAS reject N-CPAP therapy in spite of physical impairment.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

[Treatment of coronary risk factors by general practitioners in Austria].

Aim of the study was to investigate attitudes and practice of coronary prevention in offices of general practitioners and internists. 67 Austrian physicians took part in a mail survey focussing on hyperlipidemia. 96.6% of participating physicians recommend dietary intervention at least at total cholesterol levels of 250 mg/dl, 98.0% prescribe lipid-lowering drugs at least at total cholesterol levels of 300 mg/dl. At corresponding levels of total/HDL cholesterol ratios and especially at corresponding levels of LDL-cholesterol the proportion was lower. On average 37.9% of physicians spend up to 5 minutes for patients with hyperlipidemia, 10.3% spend more than 15 minutes. The time frame is similar in overweight patients, and bigger in patients with hypertension and diabetes. Dietary therapy is estimated similarly successful in patients with hyperlipidemia and overweight, but estimated more successful in patients with hypertension and diabetes. Drug therapy of hyperlipidemia is estimated more successful than in overweight and diabetes, and worse compared with hypertension. Main measures for improving prevention are more time and specific postgraduate education. The majority of physicians feel that within the last five years quality has improved both in the outpatient and the inpatient care.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2001

Nocturnal sleep-disturbing nicotine craving: a newly described symptom of extreme nicotine dependence.

In our research on smoking and nicotine dependence we have noticed a sleep disturbance, which is a further symptom of extreme nicotine dependence. We call this symptom "nocturnal sleep-disturbing nicotine craving" (NSDNC). NSDNC is characterised by craving for cigarettes during the individual sleep times. The smoker awakes (one or several times per week) during his regular sleep time, and has to smoke a cigarette before he/she continues sleeping. This symptom can be explained by the decreasing nicotine levels during the sleep time, which results in nicotine craving. However, NSDNC should be carefully separated from other sleep disturbances, or sleep disturbing events (nycturia, medication side effects), when nicotine craving is not the main reason for awakening.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Classification of endocardial electrograms using adapted wavelet packets and neural networks.

The discrimination of ventricular tachycardias with 1:1 retrograde conduction from sinus tachycardia still remains a challenge for rate based algorithms commonly used in dual-chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillators. Morphology based analysis techniques for a classification of antegrade and retrograde atrial activation patterns can be used to cope with this problem. Here time-domain template matching techniques are known approaches. However, a time-domain representation of endocardial electrograms is not optimal for classification tasks as the dimensionality of the underlying signal space is high and features being irrelevant for a signal characterization are involved in the analysis. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop an enhanced morphological analysis tool for a classification of antegrade and retrograde atrial activation by using a transform domain representation of endocardial electrograms. For this, we applied an adapted wavelet-packet decomposition to extract discriminating features in endocardial electrograms representing antegrade and retrograde activation patterns. Further, a feed-forward neural network was utilized to produce a classification based on the extracted information. In using our hybrid method, no false classification of the physiological and pathological cardiac state was made. It is concluded that the proposed classification scheme represents a highly efficient approach for a classification of antegrade and retrograde atrial activation.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2001

[Primary prevention from the viewpoint of social medicine--examples of prevention projects].

Life style factors play an essential role in etiology and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases; therefore, from a public health point of view, primary preventive measures are of especial importance. Health reports in the form of specific health reports (such as the Viennese Men's Health Report, the Lower Austrian Public Health Report) represent an important foundation for the matter of health promoting projects. In Austria, various preventive projects were suggested and successfully carried out because of these reports. Furthermore, the introduction of the WEBS organisation (scientific dietary counselling service) has shown that professional dietary counselling can indeed induce a change for the better in dietary behaviour and selection of foodstuffs. By the establishment of the first Austrian Institute for the Treatment of Tobacco and Nicotine Addiction (Nicotine Institute Vienna) not only is the diagnosis and treatment of tobacco addiction ensured, but it also provides information for the populace and those active in the health sector. These social public projects provide a valuable contribution to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Academies and Institutes↗
PubMed2001

[Social medicine aspects of the aging man].

The potential for good health is largely dependent on the prevention and reduction of early onset of fatal disease and death. The male population, in particular, is at risk from early onset of fatal disease and death. Prevention strategies must be developed in order to reduce the risk factors leading to the currently most common causes of death (heart disease, cancer, accidents). Due to the increase in life expectancy, however, other illnesses generally affecting the elderly population (osteoporosis, dementia, cancer, heart attack, incontinence etc.) are gaining in significance. The above average reduction in life expectancy in men can be counteracted particularly through preventative measures and the active promotion of good health. In particular risk factors, such as, smoking, overweight, high blood pressure and metabolic disease, are responsible for the high mortality rate in men. New research areas must be defined for the male population, which particularLy focus on the ageing male. In the field of age related illness, gender specific investigations are definitely required. The main focus has to be on therapy and prevention of those diseases and their subsequent debilitating effects, that commonly effect the elderly. Particularly with men there is still a deficit of information with regards the role of hormones and their relationship with andropause and ageing.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Body weight: the male and female perception.

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between actual body weight, characterization of one's weight, and satisfaction with it. 246 students of medicine in the third (clinical) stage of their studies at the University of Vienna responded to a questionnaire asking about their weight and attitudes regarding their personal body weight. The results indicate that many young women and men are either unable to characterize their weight (as normal, underweight, overweight, or obese) or guess incorrectly. The results point to the fact that a lot of women and men do not estimate their body weight in correspondence to the valid definition of the BMI. Women in particular seem to model themselves more on the current beauty ideal than men. Women seem to be more influenced by the current ideal of slenderness than their male counterparts. Women are more frequently dissatisfied with their weight, and see themselves as considerably heavier than they actually are. Because of this perception, women attempt to reduce weight more often than men. This type of dissatisfaction with one's body weight and excessive attention paid to body image, particularly weight, are considered as risk factors for the development of eating disorders. Not surprisingly, women are significantly more prone to these conditions than are men.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Sleep apnea as a risk factor].

Sleep apnea and snoring are widely discussed as risk factors for internal and neurological diseases. The prevalence of snoring in an Austrian population survey is about 27.2% (males 36.5%, females 18.9%), and that of apnea (respectively irregularity and/or cessation of breathing) about 8.5% (31% of all snorers). Clinical symptoms like naps, daytime sleepiness, unquiet sleep, hypertonia, headache in the morning and psychological symptoms may be characteristics of sleep apnea. They should lead to further diagnosis and removal of this risk factor for ischemic heart disease and stroke.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Factors delaying treatment of acute myocardial infarction.

The study was set up to investigate factors delaying treatment of acute myocardial infarction. Nine hundred and sixty-seven Austrian physicians submitted data on their most recent case of myocardial infarction in a cross-sectional study. Mean time for seeking medical care was 111 min from onset; mean admission time to the hospital was 136 min. The degree of anxiety and fear perceived by the patient was positively associated with an earlier decision. Adjusted means of decision time according to degree of fear ranged from 29 to 133 min, adjusted means of admission time from 77 to 153 min. Decision time and admission time were negatively associated with the presence of typical symptoms and a history of myocardial infarction. Adjusted means of decision time according to symptom-history category ranged from 75 to 134 min, adjusted means of admission time from 110 to 151 min. Admission time was also higher in men when patients lived alone, and if the journey to the hospital was a 40 min or more car drive (i.e. 90th percentile). We conclude that measures that increase awareness in patients at risk are vital to reduce delays in seeking medical care and hospital admission, and thus to improve the prognosis of acute myocardial infarction.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

[Epidemiology of sleep disorders in Austria].

UNLABELLED: Epidemiologic data on sleep disturbances in Austria were collected for the first time in March/April 1993 in a representative inquiry ( SAMPLE: n = 1000, 471 males, 529 females). 26% of the subjects reported sleep disturbances which were mostly chronic (21% had suffered from sleep disturbance for more than one year). The incidence of sleep disturbances increased with age, namely 13% in 14-30 year-old subjects, 22% in 31-50 year-old ones and 41% in subjects over 50. 7% suffered from disturbances in sleep initiation, i.e., they had a sleep latency of over 30 minutes. 19% of them had difficulties in getting to sleep at least once a week. Disturbances in maintaining sleep were reported by 28% of subjects, 56% of them needing longer than one hour to get back to sleep. 30% suffered from daytime sleepiness, 43% of the subjects were impaired by their sleep disturbances in some way, but only 34% had consulted their doctor.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Primary diffuse leptomeningeal gliomatosis (PDLG): a neoplastic cause of chronic meningitis.

Cancerous 'chronic meningitis' may be related to subarachnoid space involvement by solid tumors, hematologic malignancies or rarely intraparenchymatous gliomas. Primary leptomeningeal gliomatosis is a rare condition that is attributed to malignant transformation of heterotopic neuroglial tissue. We discuss the clinical and biological features of a patient who died with the diffuse form of primary leptomeningeal gliomatosis (PDLG). A literature search shows that a one to two months long non-specific prodromal phase followed by a fluctuating neurologic downhill course is suggestive of this disease. Cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) cytology has been diagnostic in only 1 of 8 reported cases. Recent technical progress, including the use of GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) directed antibody, may enhance the sensitivity of CSF cytologies. Diagnosis may require repeated cerebral biopsies, because the hemispheric lesions are often separated by normal tissue. PDLG must be added to the large differential diagnosis of 'chronic meningitis'.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1993

[Factors delaying therapy in myocardial infarct].

The timelag from onset of myocardial infarction to beginning of treatment is significantly correlated with prognosis, especially since introduction of thrombolytic therapy. Based on the last case of 967 Austrian physicians (general practitioners and internists, working in an office or in a hospital) we investigated possible factors delaying the beginning of treatment. On the average it took 111 minutes from onset of symptoms until the patient contacted physicians working in offices. The overall mean from onset of symptoms to hospital admission was 136 minutes. Within the hospital almost no delay was reported. Main factors for delay were repression or suppression and misinterpretation of symptoms. Thus, the biggest potential for an early onset of treatment lies within the patients response to onset of symptoms. Measures improving knowledge about mechanisms of the disease of known or possible coronary heart disease patients are most important. Side-effects, such as over-critical or demanding patients should be avoided. In any case they should not distract from the importance of measures improving patients response.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

[Osteoporosis. Attitude and opinion of Austrian physicians].

251 participants of a representative sample of Austrian physicians (general practitoners, gynecologists, internists) stated their attitudes towards osteoporosis risk factors and methods of prevention. About half of the doctors believe that osteoporosis has less influence on public health than coronary heart disease, stroke or diabetes. Concerning osteoporosis they estimate prevention as most important. For the doctors the most effective preventive strategies, for pre- as well as for postmenopausal women, are physical activity, high calcium intake, and postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy. Some of the risk factors are very close to the individual lifestyle (e.g. physical activity, nutrition and smoking), 83% of the physicians think that lack of exercise has a great influence on osteoporosis risk, 64% think the same about low calcium intake, 95% about lack of estrogen and 80% about positive family history. Within the physicians as well as the general population osteoporosis awareness is most important concerning growing life expectancy and demographic aspects. Due to this fact it is essential that more than two thirds of the doctors estimate preventive measures as successful.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[An alternative to alcohol at the work site. General practice test of an electrolyte beverage in hot work environments].

A survey was performed in 1989 by the Institute of Social Medicine and the Austrian Workers Compensation Board(AUVA) to investigated the alcohol problem in 277 factories in which the workers were exposed to hot and dusty atmospheres. As a result of the findings, a further study was undertaken by the same research team to investigate one possible solution to the problem of alcohol consumption at work in a paper-producing factory, predominantly under hot and dusty conditions. The study was well prepared by many activities in the field of health promotion. In this trial, an electrolyte drink especially suited for heat-burdened work places, was introduced for three months as alternative drink to alcohol. Before and after this period the employees answered a questionnaire regarding their alcohol consumption and any changes in consumption habits. One of the main results of the study was the significant increase in electrolyte drink consumption and decrease in wine consumption although that of beer remained practically unchanged. The offered electrolyte drink was accepted as alternative drink by many workers and represents a practical example of health promotion at the place of work. This study should encourage other factories and businesses to experiment with electrolyte drinks especially suited to their particular conditions in an attempt to overcome the problem of alcohol consumption during working hours.

Accidents, Occupational↗