Klaus Weckbecker

Relative Impact of Multimorbid Chronic Conditions on Health-Related Quality of Life – Results from the MultiCare Cohort Study

Background Multimorbidity has a negative impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL). Previous studies included only a limited number of conditions. In this study, we analyse the impact of a large number of conditions on HRQL in multimorbid patients without preselecting particular diseases. We also explore the effects of these conditions on the specific dimensions of HRQL. Materials and Methods This analysis is based on a multicenter, prospective cohort study of 3189 multimorbid primary care patients aged 65 to 85. The impact of 45 conditions on HRQL was analysed. The severity of the conditions was rated. The EQ-5D, consisting of 5 dimensions and a visual-analogue-scale (EQ VAS), was employed. Data were analysed using multiple ordinary least squares and multiple logistic regressions. Multimorbidity measured by a weighted count score was significantly associated with lower overall HRQL (EQ VAS), b = −1.02 (SE: 0.06). Parkinson’s disease had the most pronounced negative effect on overall HRQL (EQ VAS), b = −12.29 (SE: 2.18), followed by rheumatism, depression, and obesity. With regard to the individual EQ-5D dimensions, depression (OR = 1.39 to 3.3) and obesity (OR = 1.44 to 1.95) affected all five dimensions of the EQ-5D negatively except for the dimension anxiety/depression. Obesity had a positive effect on this dimension, OR = 0.78 (SE: 0.07). The dimensions “self-care”, OR = 4.52 (SE: 1.37) and “usual activities”, OR = 3.59 (SE: 1.0), were most strongly affected by Parkinson’s disease. As a limitation our sample may only represent patients with at most moderate disease severity. Conclusions The overall HRQL of multimorbid patients decreases with an increasing count and severity of conditions. Parkinson’s disease, depression and obesity have the strongest impact on HRQL. Further studies should address the impact of disease combinations which require very large sample sizes as well as advanced statistical methods.

The impact of long-term maintenance treatment with buprenorphine on complex psychomotor and cognitive function

INTRODUCTION Despite the fact that buprenorphine is effective, well tolerated and due to its pharmacological profile a very safe drug, the impact of long-term buprenorphine substitution therapy on complex psychomotor and cognitive function predicting driving ability is not yet clear. Therefore, a prospective comparison between patients receiving sublingual buprenorphine and a control group of untreated, healthy volunteers was performed. METHODS Treated and untreated subjects were matched for age and sex, with three control subjects selected for every buprenorphine patient. Patients using unreported drugs were included in the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis; the remaining patients were analysed as the per-protocol (PP) group. The test battery comprised the assessment of: performance during stress, visual orientation, concentration, attention, vigilance and reaction time. The primary endpoint was defined as the sum of the relevant scores of the tests after z-transformation of the individual scores. RESULTS 30 patients with sublingual buprenorphine treatment (7.7±3.9 mg per day) were matched to 90 controls. 19 patients were excluded from the PP-analysis because of additional unreported drug intake. Significant non-inferiority could be demonstrated for the PP-group (p<0.05) as well as for the ITT-group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION Patients receiving a stable dose of sublingual buprenorphine showed no significant impairment of complex psychomotor or cognitive performance as compared to healthy controls. However intake of illicit drugs as well as the lack of social reliability are major problems in this specific patients group. Despite of the absence of a relevant impact of the drug on driving ability, those patients do not seem to be qualified for getting their driving license.

Regular Benzodiazepine and Z-Substance Use and Risk of Dementia: An Analysis of German Claims Data

BACKGROUND While acute detrimental effects of benzodiazepine (BDZ), and BDZ and related z-substance (BDZR) use on cognition and memory are known, the association of BDZR use and risk of dementia in the elderly is controversially discussed. Previous studies on cohort or claims data mostly show an increased risk for dementia with the use of BDZs or BDZRs. For Germany, analyses on large population-based data sets are missing. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between regular BDZR use and incident any dementia in a large German claims data set. METHODS Using longitudinal German public health insurance data from 2004 to 2011 we analyzed the association between regular BDZR use (versus no BDZR use) and incident dementia in a case-control design. We examined patient samples aged≥60 years that were free of dementia at baseline. To address potential protopathic bias we introduced a lag time between BDZR prescription and dementia diagnosis. Odds ratios were calculated applying conditional logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounding factors such as comorbidities and polypharmacy. RESULTS The regular use of BDZRs was associated with a significant increased risk of incident dementia for patients aged≥60 years (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-1.29). The association was slightly stronger for long-acting substances than for short-acting ones. A trend for increased risk for dementia with higher exposure was observed. CONCLUSION The restricted use of BDZRs may contribute to dementia prevention in the elderly.

Which types of mental work demands may be associated with reduced risk of dementia

Previous studies have demonstrated that an overall high level of mental work demands decreased dementia risk. In our study, we investigated whether this effect is driven by specific mental work demands and whether it is exposure dependent.

Dringende Hausbesuche in Altenheimen – ein Status Quo aus hausärztlicher Sicht

AIM OF THE STUDY Due to demographic changes, home visits to nursing care facilities are increasing. Urgent home visits represent a challenge for general practitioners. There are no recommendations for the implementation of urgent home visits. Therefore, in this study, we investigated how GP practices deal with urgent home visits and what improvements can be made to the medical emergency care. METHODS A total of 15 teaching doctors of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Bonn were interviewed using semi-structured interviews on the subject. We evaluated the interviews with the qualitative content analysis according to Mayring. RESULTS Urgent house visits were requested by telephone or fax. The home visits were carried out usually after the consultation hours during the lunch break of the doctors. General practitioners consider forwarding the request for a house visit to the rescue service as an absolute exception. At the nursing home, there were waiting times until the responsible nursing staff could do a joint emergency visit. In addition, there were clear differences in the qualifications of nurses and in dealing with emergencies. The physicians therefore saw improvements in their ability to provide further training to the nursing staff, to preventive house visits, and to assess the urgency of home visits. CONCLUSION To improve emergency care in elderly homes, the suggestions for improvement proposed by the family doctors should be tested in controlled studies. In addition, the cooperation between general practitioners and nursing homes could be strengthened by joint training in geriatric emergency care.

Treatment Options for Gout

BACKGROUND 1-2% of adults in Germany suffer from gout. Gout is one of the few rheumatological diseases that can be cured. It arises through the deposition of uric acid crystals in joints as a result of hyperuricemia. Painful redness and swelling of the affected joints are typical findings. Multiple pertinent guidelines and treatment recommendations have been published, but there is reason to believe that patients with gout are not always treated accordingly. METHODS This review is based on relevant publications from the years 2000-2016 that were retrieved by a selective search in the Cochrane and PubMed databases. RESULTS In a person with normal renal function, asymptomatic hyperuricemia is not an indication for treatment to lower the serum uric acid level. The drugs of first choice for acute gouty arthritis are nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID), corticosteroids, and colchicine. Treatment with xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOI) or uricosuric drugs is indicated for patients with a recurrent or severe course; the target uric acid value is <6 mg/dL. Long-term treatment should be initiated only after resolution of the acute attack. For patients with refractory gout, lesinurad (approved in February 2016) in combination with XOI is a new treatment option that can be considered. Comprehensive patient education and counseling is an important component of the treatment of patients with gout. Regular laboratory follow-up is necessary as well. CONCLUSION The prevalence of gout is rising around the world. Patients with gout could benefit greatly from consistent implementation of the existing treatment guidelines and recommendations. In the future, controlled trials should be conducted to determine the best time to start treatment and the optimal target level for the serum uric acid concentration in terms of a risk/benefit analysis.

Hinterfragen Sie regelmäßig Indikation und Wirkung

Zusammenfassung„Und dann brauche ich noch ein neues Rezept für mein Schlaftablettchen!“ Sehr viele Patienten nehmen Schlaftabletten vom Benzodiazepintyp kritiklos, sozusagen aus Gewohnheit, über Jahre ein. Ob sie überhaupt noch wirken und ob eine eher kontraproduktive Abhängigkeit besteht — das wird viel zu selten überprüft.

Fieber bei Reiserückkehrern

Treten nach Reisen in die Tropen oder Subtropen Krankheitssymptome auf, sind die Betroffenen meist beunruhigt. Eine ausfuhrliche Anamnese zu Reisezeit, Symptombeginn und Expositionsverhalten kann im Abgleich mit Inkubationszeiten die Differenzialdiagnosen rasch einschranken. Dabei sollten Sie auch sexuell ubertragbare Erkrankungen im Auge behalten.

Misuse of Substitution Drugs in the Substitution-Based Therapy.

Background: The reasons for, and the extent of, misuse of prescribed substitution medication as well as parallel consumption of other drugs during substitution-based therapy have still not been adequately researched in Germany. Methods: This study examines the use of substitution medication in German substitution clinics utilizing a nationwide survey with anonymised questionnaires. Results: The analysis of the 605 questionnaires showed a 30-day consumption prevalence of 8.8% with regard to misuse of substitution substances. The lack of available heroin (38%) and the lack of open spots in treatment programs (21%) were quoted as being the main reasons for the misuse of substitution medication. Conclusion: Although the misuse of substitution medications is considered an important problem, our study showed that the current misuse was prevalent only among a minority of the patients. German regulations focused on the avoidance of misuse might be partially contributing to the problem.

Rasche Schmerzfreiheit ist eine gefährliche Utopie

In der Akutsprechstunde stellt sich eine 47-jährige Frau mit chronischen Rückenschmerzen vor. Bisher konnte ihr niemand helfen. Sie habe „alle Pillen durch“, Hausärzte, Schmerzspezialisten und Orthopäden hätten sie aufgegeben. Bei der Akupunktursitzung sei sie kollabiert, und die Narbe nach der Wirbelsäulen-Op. vor fünf Jahren spüre sie immer noch.