@article{AlbertLeziusStoerketal.2021, author = {Albert, Judith and Lezius, Susanne and St{\"o}rk, Stefan and Morbach, Caroline and G{\"u}der, G{\"u}lmisal and Frantz, Stefan and Wegscheider, Karl and Ertl, Georg and Angermann, Christiane E.}, title = {Trajectories of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction After Acute Decompensation for Systolic Heart Failure: Concomitant Echocardiographic and Systemic Changes, Predictors, and Impact on Clinical Outcomes}, series = {Journal of the American Heart Association}, volume = {10}, journal = {Journal of the American Heart Association}, doi = {10.1161/JAHA.120.017822}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-230210}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Prospective longitudinal follow-up of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) trajectories after acute cardiac decompensation of heart failure is lacking. We investigated changes in LVEF and covariates at 6-months' follow-up in patients with a predischarge LVEF ≤40\%, and determined predictors and prognostic implications of LVEF changes through 18-months' follow-up. Methods and Results Interdisciplinary Network Heart Failure program participants (n=633) were categorized into subgroups based on LVEF at 6-months' follow-up: normalized LVEF (>50\%; heart failure with normalized ejection fraction, n=147); midrange LVEF (41\%-50\%; heart failure with midrange ejection fraction, n=195), or persistently reduced LVEF (≤40\%; heart failure with persistently reduced LVEF , n=291). All received guideline-directed medical therapies. At 6-months' follow-up, compared with patients with heart failure with persistently reduced LVEF, heart failure with normalized LVEF or heart failure with midrange LVEF subgroups showed greater reductions in LV end-diastolic/end-systolic diameters (both P<0.001), and left atrial systolic diameter (P=0.002), more increased septal/posterior end-diastolic wall-thickness (both P<0.001), and significantly greater improvement in diastolic function, biomarkers, symptoms, and health status. Heart failure duration <1 year, female sex, higher predischarge blood pressure, and baseline LVEF were independent predictors of LVEF improvement. Mortality and event-free survival rates were lower in patients with heart failure with normalized LVEF (P=0.002). Overall, LVEF increased further at 18-months' follow-up (P<0.001), while LV end-diastolic diameter decreased (P=0.048). However, LVEF worsened (P=0.002) and LV end-diastolic diameter increased (P=0.047) in patients with heart failure with normalized LVEF hospitalized between 6-months' follow-up and 18-months' follow-up. Conclusions Six-month survivors of acute cardiac decompensation for systolic heart failure showed variable LVEF trajectories, with >50\% showing improvements by ≥1 LVEF category. LVEF changes correlated with various parameters, suggesting multilevel reverse remodeling, were predictable from several baseline characteristics, and were associated with clinical outcomes at 18-months' follow-up. Repeat hospitalizations were associated with attenuation of reverse remodeling."}, language = {en} } @article{EsserMehnert‐TheuerkaufFriedrichetal.2020, author = {Esser, Peter and Mehnert-Theuerkauf, Anja and Friedrich, Michael and Johansen, Christoffer and Br{\"a}hler, Elmar and Faller, Hermann and H{\"a}rter, Martin and Koch, Uwe and Schulz, Holger and Wegscheider, Karl and Weis, Joachim and Kuba, Katharina and Hinz, Andreas and Hartung, Tim}, title = {Risk and associated factors of depression and anxiety in men with prostate cancer: Results from a German multicenter study}, series = {Psycho-Oncology}, volume = {29}, journal = {Psycho-Oncology}, number = {10}, doi = {10.1002/pon.5471}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-218277}, pages = {1604 -- 1612}, year = {2020}, abstract = {Objective In order to optimize psycho-oncological care, studies that quantify the extent of distress and identify certain risk groups are needed. Among patients with prostate cancer (PCa), findings on depression and anxiety are limited. Methods We analyzed data of PCa patients selected from a German multi-center study. Depression and anxiety were assessed with the PHQ-9 and the GAD-7 (cut-off ≥7). We provided physical symptom burden, calculated absolute and relative risk (AR and RR) of depression and anxiety across patient subsets and between patients and the general population (GP) and tested age as a moderator within the relationship of disease-specific symptoms with depression and anxiety. Results Among 636 participants, the majority reported disease-specific problems (sexuality: 60\%; urination: 52\%). AR for depression and anxiety was 23\% and 22\%, respectively. Significant RR were small, with higher risks of distress in patients who are younger (eg, RR\(_{depression}\) = 1.15; 95\%-CI: 1.06-1.26), treated with chemotherapy (RR\(_{depression}\)n = 1.46; 95\%-CI: 1.09-1.96) or having metastases (RR\(_{depression}\) = 1.30; 95\%-CI: 1.02-1.65). Risk of distress was slightly elevated compared to GP (eg, RR\(_{depression}\) = 1.13; 95\%-CI: 1.07-1.19). Age moderated the relationship between symptoms and anxiety (B\(_{urination}\) = -0.10, P = .02; B\(_{sexuality}\) = -0.11, P = .01). Conclusions Younger patients, those with metastases or treatment with chemotherapy seem to be at elevated risk for distress and should be closely monitored. Many patients suffer from disease-specific symptom burden, by which younger patients seem to be particularly distressed. Support of coping mechanisms associated with disease-specific symptom burden seems warranted.}, language = {en} } @article{HofmannVoellerNagelsetal.2015, author = {Hofmann, Reiner and V{\"o}ller, Heinz and Nagels, Klaus and Bindl, Dominik and Vettorazzi, Eik and Dittmar, Ronny and Wohlgemuth, Walter and Neumann, Till and St{\"o}rk, Stefan and Bruder, Oliver and Wegscheider, Karl and Nagel, Eckhard and Fleck, Eckart}, title = {First outline and baseline data of a randomized, controlled multicenter trial to evaluate the health economic impact of home telemonitoring in chronic heart failure - CardioBBEAT}, series = {Trials}, volume = {16}, journal = {Trials}, number = {343}, doi = {10.1186/s13063-015-0886-8}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-151429}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Background: Evidence that home telemonitoring for patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) offers clinical benefit over usual care is controversial as is evidence of a health economic advantage. Methods: Between January 2010 and June 2013, patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CHF were enrolled and randomly assigned to 2 study groups comprising usual care with and without an interactive bi-directional remote monitoring system (Motiva\(^{®}\)). The primary endpoint in CardioBBEAT is the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) established by the groups' difference in total cost and in the combined clinical endpoint "days alive and not in hospital nor inpatient care per potential days in study" within the follow-up of 12 months. Results: A total of 621 predominantly male patients were enrolled, whereof 302 patients were assigned to the intervention group and 319 to the control group. Ischemic cardiomyopathy was the leading cause of heart failure. Despite randomization, subjects of the control group were more often in NYHA functional class III-IV, and exhibited peripheral edema and renal dysfunction more often. Additionally, the control and intervention groups differed in heart rhythm disorders. No differences existed regarding risk factor profile, comorbidities, echocardiographic parameters, especially left ventricular and diastolic diameter and ejection fraction, as well as functional test results, medication and quality of life. While the observed baseline differences may well be a play of chance, they are of clinical relevance. Therefore, the statistical analysis plan was extended to include adjusted analyses with respect to the baseline imbalances. Conclusions: CardioBBEAT provides prospective outcome data on both, clinical and health economic impact of home telemonitoring in CHF. The study differs by the use of a high evidence level randomized controlled trial (RCT) design along with actual cost data obtained from health insurance companies. Its results are conducive to informed political and economic decision-making with regard to home telemonitoring solutions as an option for health care. Overall, it contributes to developing advanced health economic evaluation instruments to be deployed within the specific context of the German Health Care System.}, language = {en} } @article{MehnertKochSchulzetal.2012, author = {Mehnert, Anja and Koch, Uwe and Schulz, Holger and Wegscheider, Karl and Weis, Joachim and Faller, Hermann and Keller, Monika and Br{\"a}hler, Elmar and H{\"a}rter, Martin}, title = {Prevalence of mental disorders, psychosocial distress and need for psychosocial support in cancer patients - study protocol of an epidemiological multi-center study}, volume = {12}, number = {70}, doi = {10.1186/1471-244X-12-70}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-153296}, year = {2012}, abstract = {Background Empirical studies investigating the prevalence of mental disorders and psychological distress in cancer patients have gained increasing importance during recent years, particularly with the objective to develop and implement psychosocial interventions within the cancer care system. Primary purpose of this epidemiological cross-sectional multi-center study is to detect the 4-week-, 12-month-, and lifetime prevalence rates of comorbid mental disorders and to further assess psychological distress and psychosocial support needs in cancer patients across all major tumor entities within the in- and outpatient oncological health care and rehabilitation settings in Germany. Methods/Design In this multicenter, epidemiological cross-sectional study, cancer patients across all major tumor entities will be enrolled from acute care hospitals, outpatient cancer care facilities, and rehabilitation centers in five major study centers in Germany: Freiburg, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Leipzig and W{\"u}rzburg. A proportional stratified random sample based on the nationwide incidence of all cancer diagnoses in Germany is used. Patients are consecutively recruited in all centers. On the basis of a depression screener (PHQ-9) 50\% of the participants that score below the cutoff point of 9 and all patients scoring above are assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview for Oncology (CIDI-O). In addition, all patients complete validated questionnaires measuring emotional distress, information and psychosocial support needs as well as quality of life. Discussion Epidemiological data on the prevalence of mental disorders and distress provide detailed and valid information for the estimation of the demands for the type and extent of psychosocial support interventions. The data will provide information about specific demographic, functional, cancer- and treatment-related risk factors for mental comorbidity and psychosocial distress, specific supportive care needs and use of psychosocial support offers.}, language = {en} }