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Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) and allergic asthma (AA) are chronic respiratory diseases that represent a global health problem. One aim of this study was to analyze the Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of the patients in order to identify statistically significant influencing factors that determine HRQoL. Another aim was to assess and analyze data on cost-of-illness from a statutory health insurance perspective., Methods:  The EQ-5D-5L was used to evaluate the patients' HRQoL. To identify the factors influencing the HRQoL, a multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted using groups based on the EQ-5D-5L index value as dependent variable. Routine data were analyzed to determine total healthcare costs., Results:  The average EQ-5D-5L index was 0.85 (SD 0.20). A high age, the amount of disease costs, low internal health-related control beliefs and high ozone exposure in the residential area were found to be statistically significant influencing factors for a low HRQoL, whereas low age, male sex and a good possibility to avoid the allergens were found to be statistically significant factors influencing a high HRQoL. On average, the study participants incurred annual costs of €3072 (SD: 3485), of which €699 (SD: 743) could be assigned to allergic respiratory diseases., Conclusions:  Overall, the patients in the VerSITA study showed a high level of HRQoL. The identified influencing factors can be used as starting points for improving the HRQoL of patients with allergic respiratory diseases. From the perspective of a statutory health insurance, per person expenditures for allergic respiratory diseases are rather low., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Internet Use Disorders (IUD) have a relevant effect on national economies. In the randomized, controlled, multicenter, prospective, and single-blinded OMPRIS study (pre-registration number DRKS00019925; Innovation Fund of the Joint Federal Committee of Germany, grant number 01VSF18043), a four-week online program to reduce media addiction symptoms, was evaluated for cost-effectiveness. The intervention group (IG) was compared to a waiting control group (WCG) from German statutory health insurance (SHI) and a societal perspective. Resource use, namely indirect and direct (non) medical costs, was assessed by a standardized questionnaire at baseline and after the intervention. Additionally, intervention costs were calculated. Determining the Reliable Change Index (RCI) based on the primary outcome, assessed by the "Scale for the Assessment of Internet and Computer Game Addiction" (AICA-S), individuals with and without reliable change (RC) were distinguished. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated using the difference-in-difference approach. There were 169 (IG n = 81, WCG n = 88) persons included in the analysis. The mean age was 31.9 (SD 12.1) years. A total of 75.1% were male, and 1.8% diverse. A total of 65% (IG) and 27% (WCG) had an RC. The cost per person with RC was about EUR 860 (SHI) and EUR 1110 (society). The intervention leads to an improvement of media addiction symptoms at moderate additional costs.

Background: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) represents the only possibility of causal therapy for allergic respiratory diseases. Although the prevailing high prevalence of allergic diseases and restrictions in the daily lives of patients, AIT is offered to a suboptimal number of patients in Germany., Methods: Insured patients with documented allergic respiratory disease of one of the largest statutory health insurances in Germany, 'DAK-Gesundheit', were contacted by postal mail and asked to participate in the study. In case of written consent, primary and secondary data of patients were collected and analysed. Patient characteristics, predictors of being offered AIT, predictors of performing AIT and guideline-compliant care were analysed., Results: 2505 subjects were included in the VerSITA study. Allergy to tree pollen and native speaking were identified as predictors, which increase the probability of being offered AIT. The probability was significantly decreased by the characteristics allergic rhinitis only, allergic asthma only, age in years, non-German citizenship, no graduation and lower secondary qualification. Significant positive predictors for an AIT to be actually performed were: Allergy to tree pollen and male sex. Predictors that decrease the likelihood that AIT is performed were: only allergic asthma, current smoker, former smoker, age and non-German citizenship. Furthermore, it was possible to identify characteristics in which guideline-compliant patients differed significantly from the rest of the study population., Conclusions: Based on statutory health insurance data and patient survey data, the VerSITA study provides a broad and in-depth overview of the care situation with regard to AIT in Germany and identifies deficits., (© 2022 The Authors. Clinical & Experimental Allergy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Autologous intraoperative transfusion employing the Haemonetics Cell Saver is reported in 725 patients from a general hospital population, of which 75% were cardiovascular patients. The remaining cases included various orthopedic procedures, splenectomy, craniotomy, ectopic pregnancies, Caesarian sections, and exploratory laparotomy. On occasion, this method was utilized in trauma and in pediatric surgery. The product of washed red blood cells gave an average yield of 573 cc per case with an average hematocrit of 55 cc/dl available for autologous infusion. In 100 consecutive open heart procedures operated prior to the Cell Saver period, an average of 1.97 units of bank blood was utilized during operation, as compared with 0.75 units in 100 consecutive cases studied employing the Cell Saver (p less than 0.0001). Homologous blood utilization during cardiac surgery declined more than 50% with the use of the Cell Saver. Quality control was monitored scrupulously and included special precautions against air embolism, abnormal coagulation, and sepsis. The overall mortality rate was 2.8%, and in no instance was mortality or morbidity ascribable to the autologous transfusion. Numerous advantages offered by autotransfusion include prevention of sensitization of the recipient to various antigens in donor erythrocytes, leucocytes, platelets, and plasma, and avoidance of transfusion-transmitted diseases, especially viral hepatitis. Additionally, autologous blood, the only perfectly compatible product, provided immediate availability while conserving blood bank resources. In circumstances in which the intraoperative blood loss exceeded 1000 cc in the adult, its use was observed to be cost-effective. In the present study, autotransfusion proved safe, efficient, and in some instances life saving.