Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
-
Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Apr 2010
[Health economic impact of heart failure: An analysis of the nationwide German database].
Patients with congestive heart failure represent a significant amount of the total annual cost of the health care system. Because of a lack of studies on the economic health cost of the related health care, including all cost generating factors, we analysed in detail characteristics of these patients and the costs created by their care. ⋯ This analysis clearly demonstrates the increased costs incurred for patients with congestive heart failure. It should serve as a reference base for better assessing future innovations, such as telemedicine, for their effects in different sectors of health care.
-
Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Apr 2010
Review[Atrial fibrillation - Links between principles of pathophysiology and treatment].
Atrial fibrillation is the most common supraventricular arrhythmia in humans, basic and clinical sciences are still developing. This present review aims to inform non-cardiologists respectively non-electrophysiologists about the most important pathophysiological concepts and their influence on therapeutical principles of atrial fibrillation. ⋯ Impact of these pathophysiological concepts is discussed within the context of medicamentous, surgical and interventional therapy. Concomitantly, limitations of these therapies due to pathophysiological considerations are delineated.
-
Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Apr 2010
[Determinants of health care expenses during cardiac rehabilitation].
Diagnosis-related systems (ICD-10, OPS, PCCL) are used in acute medical care as part of the multidisciplinary classification of overall care and related costs. In contrast, such systems, reflecting therapeutic requirements and distinguishing between patients according to the level of effort and costs incurred, are still not available for use in clinical rehabilitation units. ⋯ Prolonged acute hospitalization, anxiety and diabetes mellitus were associated with increased nursing/medical/phyisiotherapeutic care during CR. These factors should be taken into account in any cost classification system that needs to be developed for use in rehabilitation clinics so as to provide better transparency in cost assessment.