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[How frequent are diabetes-related amputations of the lower limbs in Germany? An analysis on the basis of routine data].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The total number of lower limb amputations in Germany as well as the frequency of lower limb amputations attributable to diabetes is unknown. Currently available estimates are based on regional studies resulting in different totals. The aim of this study was to perform a census of all lower limb amputations in Germany in order to obtain valid estimates of the number of amputations attributable to diabetes mellitus in Germany. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Hospital performance and expenditure statistics were used to obtain a comprehensive count of lower limb amputations. The number of amputations in diabetic patients as well as the number of diabetes-related amputations were assessed by calculating the proportion of diabetes among amputees as well as attributable amputations standardized to the age and gender distribution in Germany in 2001, using routine data from the Local Health Insurance Funds (AOK) as well as previous analyses from Germany. RESULTS: In 2001, 43,544 lower limb amputations and additional 3,981 revisions of amputations were performed in Germany. Among these almost 29,000 lower limb amputations were estimated to be performed in diabetic patients. More than 26,000 lower limb amputations per year were estimated to have been attributable to pre-existing diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSIONS: Lower limb amputations as a complication of diabetes mellitus are more frequent in Germany than previously estimated. Intensified prevention and therapy--as intended in disease management programs--are urgently needed to decrease the complications of diabetes and ultimately to reduce diabetes mellitus-related costs.

Adult↗

Physicians' perspectives on caring for patients in the United States, Canada, and West Germany.

BACKGROUND: The United States is considering enacting a national health plan and global health care budget similar to those in other countries. There are few data on the effects of such policies on physicians and patients. METHODS: We conducted a telephone survey of 602 physicians in the United States, 507 physicians in Canada, and 519 physicians in the former West Germany from February through May 1991; the response rates were 44 percent, 49 percent, and 41 percent, respectively. Among other topics, the questionnaire included measures of satisfaction with the health care system and with medical practice. RESULTS: In the United States, 23 percent of the physicians surveyed thought the health care system worked well, as compared with 33 percent in Canada and 48 percent in West Germany. Seventy-three percent of U.S. physicians reported that patients' inability to afford necessary treatment was a serious problem, as compared with 25 percent in Canada and 15 percent in West Germany. Seventy-seven percent of West Germany physicians, 56 percent of Canadian physicians, and 54 percent of U.S. physicians said the shortage of competent nurses was a serious problem. In Canada, 50 percent of the respondents cited the lack of well-equipped medical facilities as a problem, as compared with 14 percent in the United States and 20 percent in West Germany. CONCLUSIONS: Programs of universal coverage and cost containment necessitate important trade-offs. In Canada and West Germany, physicians do not report serious problems of access to care for the poor and uninsured. In the United States, doctors do not face the limited access to sophisticated forms of medical technology that was reported in Canada or the diminished quality of some services reported in West Germany.

Adult↗

The economic value of childhood varicella vaccination in France and Germany.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the economic impact of childhood varicella vaccination in France and Germany. METHODS: A common methodology based on the use of a varicella transmission model was used for the two countries. Cost data (2002 per thousand) were derived from two previous studies. The analysis focused on a routine vaccination program for which three different coverage rates (CRs) were considered (90%, 70%, and 45%). Catch-up strategies were also analyzed. A societal perspective including both direct and indirect costs and a third-party payer perspective were considered (Social Security in France and Sickness Funds in Germany). RESULTS: A routine vaccination program has a clear positive impact on varicella-related morbidity in both countries. With a 90% CR, the number of varicella-related deaths was reduced by 87% in Germany and by 84% in France. In addition, with a CR of 90%, routine varicella vaccination induces savings in both countries from both societal (Germany 61%, France 60%) and third-party payer perspectives (Germany 51%, France 6.7%). For lower CRs, routine vaccination remains cost saving from a third-party payer perspective in Germany but not in France, where it is nevertheless cost-effective (cost per life-year gained of 6521 per thousand in the base case with a 45% CR). CONCLUSION: Considering the impact of vaccination on varicella morbidity and costs, a routine varicella vaccination program appears to be cost saving in Germany and France from both a societal and a third-party payer perspective. For France, routine varicella vaccination remains cost-effective in worst cases when a third-party payer perspective is adopted. Catch-up programs provide additional savings.

Age Distribution↗

Neonatal and postneonatal mortality in Germany since unification.

BACKGROUND: After unification, the gap in infant mortality rates between the two parts of Germany widened until 1996 before converging. The reasons for these changes have not, so far, been apparent. OBJECTIVES: To investigate trends in neonatal and postneonatal mortality in the eastern (the new Länder) and western (the old Länder) part of Germany after unification in 1990 and to identify the scope for further improvement. DESIGN: Examination of trends in birth weights, birth weight specific neonatal mortality and cause specific postneonatal mortality in the two parts of Germany from 1990 to 1996 and 1997 by analysing routinely available vital statistics data. RESULTS: In both parts of Germany, neonatal mortality fell considerably, by 33 per cent in the east and 17 per cent in the west, from 4.5 and 3.5 per thousand live births in 1990 to 3.0 and 2.9 in 1997, respectively. This was attributable to an improvement in survival of infants at all birth weights but especially among those with very low birth weights, accounting for an estimated 83 to 85 per cent of the overall improvement. The birth weight distribution showed a slight worsening in the new and the old Länder with an increase in the proportion of those under 1500 g and, in the east, a 24 per cent increase in the proportion of high birth-weight infants of 4000 and more grams. Trends in postneonatal mortality revealed a worsening of about 32 per cent in the east from 1990 to 1991 followed by a decline of over 50 per cent up to 1997, leading to comparable mortality rates of 1.8 per thousand live births in the east and 2.0 in the west. While both parts experienced a decrease of 40 to 48 per cent in deaths from all diseases, the decline in deaths because of accidents and injuries was markedly higher in the new Länder although they are still exceeding the western rate by 3.7 per 100,000 live births in 1997. CONCLUSIONS: Since unification, the two parts of Germany underwent a complex process that has led finally to convergence of parameters of infant health that are most likely to have been because of improvements in the quality of perinatal care. To improve infant mortality in Germany, policy measures should focus on preventive rather than curative measures as the proportion of very low birthweight babies is increasing in both parts of Germany.

Birth Weight↗

Regional trends in cerebrovascular mortality in Germany after unification (1990-1999).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: After the unification in 1990 two different health and political systems merged in Germany. Our aim was to analyze trends in mortality from cerebrovascular diseases in the formerly divided western and eastern parts of Germany since the unification. METHODS: Trends in mortality were determined by analyzing age-adjusted vital statistics data obtained from the Federal Statistics Office. ICD-9 was used from 1990 to 1997 and ICD-10 in 1998 and 1999. RESULTS: Cerebrovascular mortality declined in Germany between 1991 and 1999 from 104.4 to 72.3 per 100000 men and from 82.2 to 55.5 per 100000 women. Mortality rates from cerebrovascular diseases in East Germany were continuously above West German rates: in 1991 the overall rate ratio in East compared to West Germany was 1.6 and in 1999 it was 1.5 in both men and women. This regional variation is mainly due to a higher rate of cerebrovascular diseases being defined as 'Other' (ICD-9 437, now ICD-10 I67) in East compared to West Germany. CONCLUSION: Nearly 10 years after the unification, cerebrovascular mortality is still markedly higher in East compared to the West Germany. Further investigation is needed to determine the causes for the regional variation in cerebrovascular mortality and to improve preventive strategies.

Cerebrovascular Disorders↗

Cost effectiveness of using carboxymethylcellulose dressing compared with gauze in the management of exuding venous leg ulcers in Germany and the USA.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the cost effectiveness of using carboxymethylcellulose dressing (CMCD; Aquacel Hydrofiber) compared to gauze in the management of exuding venous leg ulcers in Germany and the USA. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a modelling study performed from the perspective of payers (i.e. the sickness funds in Germany and the community sector in the USA). METHODS: Clinical outcomes attributable to managing exuding venous leg ulcers were obtained from the published literature in the English language. These data were combined with resource utilisation estimates derived from a panel of clinicians enabling us to construct two decision models depicting the management of venous leg ulcers with CMCD or gauze over 18 weeks in Germany and the USA. The models were used to estimate the cost effectiveness of CMCD compared to gauze in the management of exuding venous leg ulcers in both countries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS: Starting treatment with CMCD instead of gauze in both Germany and the USA is expected to heal 30% of ulcers within 18 weeks compared to 13% with gauze (p = 0.003). The healthcare cost of starting treatment with CMCD or gauze in Germany is expected to be Euro2020 and Euro 2654 respectively at 18 weeks. Additionally, the healthcare cost of starting treatment with CMCD or gauze in the USA is expected to be $3797 and $5288 respectively at 18 weeks. Hence, using CMCD instead of gauze is expected to increase the probability of healing within 18 weeks by 130% and reduce healthcare costs by at least 24%. The healthcare cost of managing CMCD-treated patients was less than that of gauze-treated patients in both countries due to decreased nursing and physician costs associated with a lower frequency of CMCD dressing changes compared to gauze dressing changes. If it were assumed that treatment with gauze in both countries heals 30% of ulcers within 18 weeks (i.e. is identical to CMCD), then the expected healthcare cost of using gauze would be reduced by only 3% (from Euro2654 to Euro2562 in Germany and from $5288 to $5148 in the USA). CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of our model, starting management of an exuding venous leg ulcer with CMCD instead of gauze is the cost effective strategy in both Germany and the USA. Moreover, the purchase price of a leg ulcer dressing should not be used as an indication of the cost effectiveness of a given method of care.

Bandages↗

Factors for changes of caries prevalence among adolescents in Germany.

Data on caries prevalence among adolescents in East and West Germany before and after unification (1990) were compared with changes in etiologic and preventive parameters. The postwar increase of total sugar consumption resulted in an increase of caries prevalence among adolescents in both East and West Germany until 1970. Parallel to the introduction of preventive measures, especially systemic fluoridation, the national caries level in East Germany stabilized at 4-5 DMFT (in 13-14-year-olds) with significant regional differences. The introduction of fluoridated toothpaste after 1973 in West Germany was followed by a caries decline in children (1970s) and in adolescents (1980s) from very high caries levels (8.8 DMFT in 13-14-year-olds in 1983) to moderate levels (5.1 DMFT in 1989). The sudden increase from 10% to 90% fluoridated toothpaste in East Germany in 1990 was also accompanied by a caries decline in adolescents. Group prevention, which included fluoride varnish programs and the introduction of free prevention (brushing instructions, fluoridations, sealants) at private dentists for 6-19-year-olds since 1983, seems to be responsible for the latest caries reductions all over Germany.

Adolescent↗

Hip fracture incidence in east and west germany: reassessement ten years after unification.

The rising incidence of hip fractures is of world wide concern. In addition to the demographically aging populations world wide a secular trend of hip fracture incidence has been reported for various populations. The objective of the current study was to reassess hip fracture incidence ten years following German reunification and compare incidence rates in former East and West Germany. Data from the German hospital discharge diagnosis registry were used to compare rates in former East and West Germany. A reassessment of a secular trend was done with directly age-standardized rates of the population 60 years old and over. Significant differences were found between incidence rates in the East and West German states with higher rates in the West. Compared to earlier studies for East Germany, rate in East Germany have increased by on average annually 6% since reunification. This is a steep increase compared to the annual rise by about 3% between 1974 and 1989. Hip fracture incidence in East Germany thereby has doubled during the 25-year period from 1971 to 1996. Although the observed acceleration of a secular trend in East Germany probably has multiple causes, evidence suggests a significant influence of Western life style on hip fracture incidence.

Age Distribution↗

Social inequities in cardiovascular disease risk factors in East and West Germany.

Social class related differences in prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in Germany were investigated with special emphasis on comparisons between East and West Germany and on time trends. Databases for West Germany are the first and second National Health Survey (survey 1: N = 4794, survey 2: N = 5315), carried out in the framework of the German Cardiovascular Prevention Study, and for East Germany the first GDR-MONICA project (N = 6125). Different social class indices were applied to evaluate social inequities for hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cigarette smoking, obesity and predicted cardiovascular disease mortality. As a main result, it was found that very similar patterns in the relation between social class characteristics and cardiovascular disease risk factor prevalence occurred for both parts of Germany. Social class gradients were strongest for obesity and weakest for hypercholesterolemia. Analysis of time trends for the period from 1984 to 1988 (for West Germany only) revealed an increase in social inequalities for hypertension in males and cigarette smoking in females. These findings point to the need to focus more on social disadvantaged segments in the population when community based health promotion and disease prevention programs are brought into action.

Adult↗

Trends in mortality attributable to current alcohol consumption in east and west Germany.

There is emerging awareness of alcohol as a cause of the persisting health divide between east and west Germany. This study quantifies the burden of alcohol attributable mortality in the two parts of Germany in the 1990s, taking account of both adverse and beneficial effects of alcohol. We used an epidemiological approach that applies cause-specific alcohol attributable fractions derived from published relative risks and data on the distribution of alcohol consumption in east and west Germany in 1990/1992 and 1998 to mortality data for the two regions in 1992 and 1997, thus producing an estimate of the number of alcohol attributable deaths 'caused' or 'prevented'. Including the cardio-protective effect of alcohol, there were about 1.4% more deaths among men aged 20+ in 1992 in Germany than would have been expected in a non-drinking population, while there were 0.1% fewer deaths among women. By 1997, this had increased to 1.8% excess male deaths and 0.1% excess female deaths. In 1997, alcohol 'caused' 9.0% of all deaths in east German men compared with 5.6% in the west (women east: 2.5%; women west: 2.2%). At the same time, alcohol 'prevented' 5.2% deaths in east German men compared with 4.3% in the west, while there were 2.9% and 2.0% fewer deaths in women. This resulted in a net excess of deaths due to alcohol, except east German women, where 0.3% deaths were estimated to have been averted by alcohol. Although by 1997 net deaths 'caused' by alcohol had increased in the west and declined in the east, the burden of mortality due to alcohol among men remained highest in the east whereas in women the order had reversed.Mortality attributable to alcohol contributes considerably to overall mortality and to the east-west gap in Germany. This study points to the need for comprehensive policies on alcohol in Germany to close the persisting east-west health gap.

Accidents, Traffic↗

Poverty, health, and nutrition in Germany.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation between poverty and several variables describing health and nutrition behavior in East Germany and West Germany. METHODS: Data are from the third National Health Survey in West Germany and the first Health Survey for the new federal states of Germany (1991/92). Both health surveys included a self-administered questionnaire ascertaining sociodemographic variables, smoking history, nutritional behavior (using a food-frequency list), physical activity, and a medical examination comprising measurements of height, weight, blood pressure, and blood sampling for serum cholesterol determination. Participants included 4958 subjects in the West Survey and 2186 subjects in the East Survey aged 25-69 years, with a respective net response rate of 69.0% and 70.2%. Poverty was defined as a household equivalence income of 62.5% or less of the median income of the general population. RESULTS: The lowest income group (poverty or near poverty) comprised 11.6% of East German versus 15.9% of West German males and 14.8% of East German versus 19.3% of West German females. For most but not all health and nutrition parameters, less favorable results were obtained for subjects with an equivalence income below or near poverty. The most striking poverty-related differences regarding cardiovascular disease risk factors were found for lack of regular exercise for both genders and obesity in females. No poverty-related differences were found for the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, despite a much higher prevalence of obesity in persons with an income below the poverty line. Current nutritional behavior and changes in nutritional behavior during the last three years was strongly related to income status, with a more unhealthy status for low-income population groups in both East and West Germany. CONCLUSIONS: In Germany, poverty has strong effects on individual health status and nutritional behavior. Because of rising unemployment rates and reductions in social security payments for low-income groups, it is likely that the negative consequences of poverty on health are increasing.

Adult↗

Cross-sectional study on influenza vaccination, Germany, 1999-2000.

To assess influenza vaccination coverage in Germany, we conducted a nationwide telephone survey in November 1999 in adults (>18 yrs) using random-digit dialing. Overall, 23% of 1,190 survey participants reported having been vaccinated (adjusted 18%) with 16% (adjusted 15%) in former West Germany versus 35% (adjusted 32%) in former East Germany. Immunization rates for vaccination target groups were lower in West Germany (21%) than in East Germany (40%). Seven percent of health-care workers were immunized. Previous influenza vaccination, positive attitudes towards immunization, and having a family physician increased the rate of vaccination; fear of adverse effects lowered the rate. Family physicians performed 93% of the vaccinations, which suggests their key role in improving low vaccination coverage in Germany. The fact that >71% (850/1,190) of participants belonged to at least one of the vaccination target groups recommended by the German Standing Commission on Immunization emphasizes the need to focus the definition of target groups.

Adult↗

[Selected aspects of the life situation of elderly women and men in West and East Germany].

The current and future expected aging process of the population in Germany affects women more than men. This is equally true for West and East Germany. The demographic development in Germany will cause a confrontation with the problems of aging persons in our society to be ever more essential. This also includes the analysis of the living situation of older women and men. In this contribution two significant aspects of the living situation of older persons in West- and East Germany are being discussed; the income situation and household- and marital status structures. A German-German comparison shows that older women in the new federal states already have higher pension qualifying periods than women in the old federal states. Decisive causes for this are different personal labour force biographies. In total, the income situation of the elderly in East Germany is less favourable as a result of formerly no or at best, minimal possibilities for investments. In addition, it is evident (and this applies to all of Germany) that women have poorer financial starting positions for arranging their life situation in old age than do men. Additionally, there are more women than men who live alone in old age. One-person households of the aged are predominantly female households. Differences according to sex which are analyzed in the article result in different consequences for life in old age. Precisely what this might look like in the final analysis depends not only on the old people themselves, but also on the opportunities that the society in which they live provides for them.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

[Changes in suicide mortality in Germany].

OBJECTIVE: About one third of the total number of life lost in the period between 1 and 65 years in consequence of "external causes" (E-classification by WHO) in East and in West Germany account alone for "suicide" as a cause of death. Suicide alone produces, e.g. among the male population, a loss in years of life which corresponds to 53% (in East Germany) and to 40% (in West Germany), respectively, of the total number of years of life lost due to cancer of all organic localizations. METHODS: The analysis is based on the official mortality data from 1961 to 1989. The data are analysed by age and sex. SMR, average age of death and PYLL are calculated. RESULTS: A comparative survey of suicide mortality over the period from 1961 to 1989 has shown that there are differences in suicide frequencies between East and West Germany. If related to the whole period, the lowest suicide rates both in the East and in the West have been observed at the end of that period. The suicide mortality rate in the East, however, remained higher than in the West, by 79.9% (male population) and by 70.2% (female population), respectively. The long-term trend is characterised by a slight increase of the suicide gap between East and West among the male population, whereas the difference has diminished in respect of the female population. Sex-related differences are even more distinct than differences between East and West in suicide mortality. Thus, in 1989, the standardized suicide rates among the male population amounted to 2.7 times (West Germany) and 2.8 times (East Germany) of that of the female population, these differences having increased continually during the period from 1961 to 1989. CONCLUSIONS: The results cast justifiable doubts on whether the actual distribution of research capacities and of financial and personnel resources are adequate to cope with the problems raised by the phenomenon of "suicide".

Adolescent↗

Increased prevalence of sensitization against aeroallergens in adults in West compared with East Germany.

BACKGROUND: An increased prevalence of allergic diseases and atopic sensitization as assessed by skin-prick testing in children in West compared with East Germany has been reported. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to evaluate whether such a difference is also present in adults, and if this can be shown when using a serological test for allergic sensitization. METHODS: Two large samples representative for all adults between 25 and 69 years of age were drawn in West (1991, n = 5313) and East Germany (1992, n = 2617). A serological test screening for IgE-antibodies to common aeroallergens (SX1) was performed. A questionnaire was used to assess the presence of clinical respiratory allergy, known possible risk factors for allergies and confounding variables. RESULTS: Allergic sensitization decreased with age. Significantly more subjects < 45 years of age had a positive allergy test in West as compared to East Germany. The prevalence of clinical allergy was also higher in West Germany. This difference was significant in younger adults and was independent of other risk factors identified. These additional risk factors encompassed younger age, higher educational level, male sex, and living in a community with more than 100,000 inhabitants. CONCLUSION: Sensitization to common aeroallergens as determined by a multiple allergen RAST test in adults below 45 years of age living in West Germany is increased compared to East Germany. This increase cannot be explained by genetic differences and is similar to the West to East decreasing gradient in allergies reported from studies in children employing skin-prick tests.

Adult↗

[Development of mortality in western and eastern Germany since 1991].

At the beginning of the 1990s, life expectancy was clearly higher in the western part of Germany than in the eastern part (life table 1991/93, difference in life expectancy of newborn boys 3.25 years, girls 2.3 years). Since then the life expectancy has increased in western and eastern Germany differently. Despite a harmonization, differences still exist (life table 1997/99: boys 1.8 years, girls 0.8 years). Based on age-specific mortality rates, the decrease of mortality between 1991 and 1999 was particularly strong in the group of 25- to 35-year-old persons in eastern Germany as well as in the group of 30- to 35-year-old persons in western Germany. The largest differences in mortality - based on the probabilities of death in 1997/99 - are evident in the group of 18-year-old men and women as well as in the group of men between 35 and 44 years. At present women in eastern Germany show a lower mortality in some age groups than in western Germany.

Adolescent↗

Prevalence of risk factors of coronary heart disease in Turks living in Germany: The Giessen Study.

Turkish people represent the majority of immigrants in Germany. Even though a high proportion of Turks has been living in Germany since about 20 years, little is known about risk factors of coronary heart disease (CHD) in this population. In this study a sample of 325 male and 155 female Turks are investigated, who voluntarily underwent a health check-up in Germany. Data about the presence of CHD, risk factors and blood parameters were collected. Mean residence time was 21 and 17 years (males/females). A low percentage of female participants was observed compared to the general Turkish population in Germany. Age adjusted prevalence of CHD reached 9.5% in males and 6.7% in females, respectively. Dyslipoproteinemia (DLP) showed the highest prevalence of all risk factors investigated in both genders. Total cholesterol (TC) levels were comparable to those of other western countries and remarkably higher than reported for the population in Turkey. Besides this, low high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) levels could be found in the majority of the sample. The highest odds ratios for CHD were estimated for stress and hypertension in males and obesity in females. It is concluded that Turkish immigrants in Germany showed an assimilation of lipid pattern to western populations. However, reasons for low HDL-C levels remain unclear. Changes in the lipid metabolism chiefly seem to contribute to the risk factor pattern of Turkish immigrants in Germany.

Adolescent↗

Socioeconomic status and health among the aged in the United States and Germany: a comparative cross-sectional study.

This study investigates socioeconomic status (SES) differences in health among the aged in Germany and the United States. Intra-elderly age differences in the SES-health gradient are also examined. The study uses data from two national telephone surveys conducted in Germany (N=682) and the United States (N=608) using probability samples of non-institutionalised persons 60 years or older. In addition to the traditional indicators of SES (education, income and occupational status), two alternative indicators (assets and home ownership) are utilised. Self-rated health, depression (CES-D) and functional limitations are introduced as health indicators. Results of multiple logistic regression analyses show that income is the best SES predictor of the three health measures among the aged in Germany, whereas education, occupational prestige, assets, and home ownership are not consistently related to health. Respective analyses of the US data demonstrate weaker and less consistent associations of health measures with SES indicators. Consequently, there is a higher percentage of explained variance in health by SES among the aged in Germany compared to the United States. The data also show that social inequalities in health tend to diminish at older ages in the United States, but such disparities vary only slightly by age in Germany. In conclusion, although SES health differences are observed among the elderly in both countries, they are more pronounced in Germany than in the United States where effects are restricted to younger old age. One interpretation of this finding points to higher selective mortality of middle and early old age groups with a low SES in the United States due to stronger health-related deprivation.

Aged↗