Occurrence and Risk Factors for New Dependency on Chronic Care, Respiratory Support, Dialysis and Mortality in the First Year After Sepsis

Sepsis survival is associated with adverse outcomes. Knowledge about risk factors for adverse outcomes is lacking. We performed a population-based cohort study of 116,507 survivors of hospital-treated sepsis identified in health claims data of a German health insurance provider. We determined the development and risk factors for long-term adverse events: new dependency on chronic care, chronic dialysis, long-term respiratory support, and 12-month mortality. At-risk patients were defined by absence of these conditions prior to sepsis. Risk factors were identified using simple and multivariable logistic regression analyses. In the first year post-sepsis, 48.9% (56,957) of survivors had one or more adverse outcome, including new dependency on chronic care (31.9%), dialysis (2.8%) or respiratory support (1.6%), and death (30.7%). While pre-existing comorbidities adversely affected all studied outcomes (>4 comorbidities: OR 3.2 for chronic care, OR 4.9 for dialysis, OR 2.7 for respiratory support, OR 4.7 for 12-month mortality), increased age increased the odds for chronic care dependency and 12-month mortality, but not for dialysis or respiratory support. Hospital-acquired and multi-resistant infections were associated with increased risk of chronic care dependency, dialysis, and 12-month mortality. Multi-resistant infections also increased the odds of respiratory support. Urinary or respiratory infections or organ dysfunction increased the odds of new dialysis or respiratory support, respectively. Central nervous system infection and organ dysfunction had the highest OR for chronic care dependency among all infections and organ dysfunctions. Our results imply that patient- and infection-related factors have a differential impact on adverse life changing outcomes after sepsis. There is an urgent need for targeted interventions to reduce the risk

German general practitioners' self-reported management of patients with chronic depression

Background: Patients with chronic depression (persisting symptoms for >= 2 years) are a clinically relevant group with extensive (co) morbidity, high functional impairment and associated costs in primary care. The General Practitioner (GP) is the main health professional attending to these patients. The aim of this study was to examine the GPs' perception on managing patients with chronic depression. Methods: We performed an explorative cross-sectional study with a systematic sample of GPs in central Germany. Source of data was a written questionnaire (46 items). Descriptive analysis was carried out. Results: Two hundred twenty (out of 1000;22%) GPs participated. 93% of the GPs distinguish between care for patients with chronic depression and acute depressive episode. 92% would recommend psychotherapeutic co-treatment to the chronically depressed patient. 52% of GPs would favour a general restraint on antidepressants (ADs) in older chronically depressed patients (>= 75 years) whereas 40% suggest long-term pharmacotherapy. If severe physical comorbidity is present GPs would be restrictive in prescribing ADs (65%) or would urgently refer to specialist psychiatric services (40%). In case of a comorbid anxiety disorder 66% of the GPs would suggest a combined psycho- und pharmacotherapy. If a substance use disorder coexists 84% would prefer urgent referrals to specialist services. Conclusions: Participating GPs report awareness towards chronic depression in their patients. Physical and mental comorbidity seem to play an important role in GPs' treatment decisions

The effect of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in the elderly on health service utilisation and costs: a claims data-based cohort study

Background: To date, cost-effectiveness of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations was assumed in several health economic modelling studies, but confirmation by real-world data is sparse. The aim of this study is to assess the effects on health care utilisation and costs in the elderly using real-world data on both, outpatient and inpatient care. Methods: Retrospective community-based cohort study with 138,877 individuals aged ≥ 60 years, insured in a large health insurance fund in Thuringia (Germany). We assessed health care utilisation and costs due to influenza- or pneumococcal-associated diseases, respiratory infections, and sepsis in 2015 and 2016. Individuals were classified into four groups according to their vaccination status from 2008 to 2016 (none, both, or either only influenza or pneumococcal vaccination). Inverse probability weighting based on 236 pre-treatment covariates was used to adjust for potential indication and healthy vaccinee bias. Results: Influenza vaccination appeared as cost-saving in 2016, with lower disease-related health care costs of − €178.87 [95% CI − €240.03;− €117.17] per individual (2015: − €50.02 [95% CI − €115.48;€15.44]). Cost-savings mainly resulted from hospital inpatient care, whereas higher costs occurred for outpatient care. Overall cost savings of pneumococcal vaccination were not statistically significant in both years, but disease-related outpatient care costs were lower in pneumococci-vaccinated individuals in 2015 [− €9.43; 95% CI − €17.56;− €1.30] and 2016 [− €12.93; 95% CI − €25.37;− €0.48]. Although we used complex adjustment, residual bias cannot be completely ruled out. Conclusion: Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in the elderly can be cost-saving in selective seasons and health care divisions. As cost effects vary, interpretation of findings is partly challenging.Peer Reviewe

Date of Service Provision and Date of Payment in Claims Data: Dealing with Time Differences

Aim The paper quantifies discrepancies between date of payment and date of service provision when doing analyses in relation to date of death and also in relation to the end of a calendar year. In analyses of this type, time differences between service provision and payment can lead to both under- and overestimation of service use. We aim to capture these phenomena in claims data from different sectors (primary care, medication prescription, prescription of remedies and medical aids, hospital care). Method We have used pre-structured claims data from a scientific data warehouse of a large German statutory health insurance covering people that died in 2016. We investigated the discrepancies in time between date of service provision and date of payment for different outpatient and inpatient services based on data from 2015 to 2017. An exact date (dd/mm/yyyy) was only available for data covering prescriptions of remedies and medical aids. Data covering medication prescriptions were only exact to the month of payment (mm/yyyy), whereas data covering outpatient physician care were only exact to the quarter of payment (q/yyyy). Results For both outpatient physician care and hospital care, less than 1% had a payment date after the date of death. The share is considerably higher (28-31%) for prescriptions of remedies and medical aids. The majority of payments occurred within 3 months after death (93% for prescriptions of remedies and medical aids, 67% for primary care services). Less than 1% of outpatient physician care and about 18% of remedies had been paid after the end of the calender year 2015. Here too, the majority of payments were made within the first 3 months of 2016 (100% of prescriptions of remedies and medical aids, 65% of primary care services). Conclusions Discrepancies in time between date of service provision and date of payment pose a challenge and are a potential source of under-/overestimation of health service utilization when doing analyses in relation to date of death or the end of a calendar year. This needs to be taken into account when requesting the data, but also in preparing and analysing them. The primary recommendation is to ensure that services with a payment date after death are included explicitly

Resource utilisation and costs of depressive patients in Germany : results from the primary care monitoring for depressive patients trial

Background. Depression is the most common type of mental disorder in Germany. It is associated with a high level of suffering for individuals and imposes a significant burden on society. The aim of this study was to estimate the depression related costs in Germany taking a societal perspective. Materials and Methods. Data were collected from the primary care monitoring for depressive patients trial (PRoMPT) of patients with major depressive disorder who were treated in a primary care setting. Resource utilisation and days of sick leave were observed and analysed over a 1-year period. Results. Average depression related costs of €3813 were calculated. Significant differences in total costs due to sex were demonstrated. Male patients had considerable higher total costs than female patients, whereas single cost categories did not differ significantly. Further, differences in costs according to severity of disease and age were observed. The economic burden to society was estimated at €15.6 billion per year. Conclusion. The study results show that depression poses a significant economic burden to society. There is a high potential for prevention, treatment, and patient management innovations to identify and treat patients at an early stage

Evaluation of a multimodal intervention to promote rational antibiotic use in primary care

Background!#!Increasing antimicrobial resistance is a serious societal challenge affecting outpatient, inpatient and veterinary care. The German One-Health project, RAI (Rational use of Antibiotics via Information and Communication) addresses all three sectors. In the outpatient sector, General Practitioners (GPs) are the main prescribers of antibiotics and were therefore, targeted for this study. A multimodal intervention focusing on Acute Respiratory Tract infections (ARI) was designed and implemented. The aim of this study was to evaluate acceptance, rating and the self-reported impact of the intervention among GPs.!##!Methods!#!The intervention offered six tools: a GP training on rational antibiotic use, an app for self-monitoring, a leaflet and a set of posters (both for use as information materials in waiting rooms) and both digital and printed information prescriptions (material for 'prescribing' information instead of an antibiotic to the patient). The tools could be used according to individual preferences. The intervention was conducted between August 2016 and July 2017. Following the intervention, a three pages anonymous questionnaire was sent to all 271 participants. Items covered socio-demographic and professional background, use and judgement of the intervention tools (6 point Likert scale), impact of the intervention tools (4 point Likert scale).!##!Results!#!The response rate was 39% (n = 107). On average, respondents used 3.1 of the six available tools, with printed information prescriptions used most frequently (79%). Digital information prescriptions were used more frequently by men than by women (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.16-7.24; p = 0.02). Eighty-seven percent of respondents stated that information prescriptions supported doctor-patient communication. In a comparison of the overall impression of the different intervention tools the GP training on rational antibiotic use was rated best (1.67 on a 6 point scale with 1 = highest, 6 = lowest) and most often noted as having had a 'strong' or 'very strong' impact on personal antibiotic prescribing behavior.!##!Conclusions!#!The multimodal intervention addressing education and communication was well accepted among GPs and could help in fostering rational use of antibiotics in primary care

Palliativversorgung am Lebensende in Deutschland: Inanspruchnahme und regionale Verteilung

Background!#!Palliative care supply increased in Germany in recent years. But how many people use which forms of palliative care and how does this differ between regions?!##!Method!#!Retrospective cohort study with claims data from insured persons who died in 2016: Based on services billed at least once in the last six months of life, we determined the use of primary palliative care (PPC), specialized palliative homecare (SPHC), as well as inpatient palliative and hospice care, using regional billing codes for PPC and SPHC services for the first time.!##!Results!#!Of the 95,962 deceased in the study population, 32.7% received palliative care nationwide, with variations from 26.4% in Bremen to 40.8% in Bavaria. PPC services were billed at 24.4% (16.9% in Brandenburg to 34.1% in Bavaria). SPHC services received 13.1% (6.3% in Rhineland-Palatinate to 18.9% in Brandenburg and 22.9% in Westphalia-Lippe with different SPHC practices). Inpatient palliative care was received by 8.1% (6.7% in Schleswig-Holstein/Hesse to 13.0% in Thuringia); 3.3% (1.6% in Bremen to 5.6% in Berlin) with hospice services.!##!Conclusion!#!SPHC is used more frequently than previously reported, while PPC is declining. Utilization seems to be based less on objective needs than on region-specific framework conditions. Besides needs criteria, further development of palliative care should be oriented more towards outcomes and relevant framework conditions