Dtsch Arztebl Int
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Review Meta Analysis
Monitoring of Treatment for Arterial Hypertension—The Role of Office, Home, and 24 h Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurement.
The treatment of arterial hypertension can be monitored by office blood pressure (office BP), home blood pressure (home BP), or 24 hours ambulatory blood pressure (ABPM). In this review, we present current recommendations from Germany and from international guidelines as well as the findings of the main studies on the use of these methods to guide treatment. ⋯ Blood pressure measurement at home is recommended for treatment monitoring, using validated, automatic upper arm devices with data storage and trend analysis. Changes of treatment should be based on average values (28 home measurements) from seven days (two morning and two evening measurements per day). Office BP is mainly used for for screening purposes. There have not yet been any randomized trials comparing the three measuring methods in terms of hard cardiovascular endpoints.
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The phenomenon of declining numbers of patients presenting with myocardial infarction was reported from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic onward. It was thought that measures introduced to stem the pandemic, such as the lockdown, contributed to this development. However, the data on hospital admissions, delay times, and mortality are not consistent. ⋯ In this study, we have shown that the lockdown due to COVID-19 was associated with a marked decline in the number of hospital admissions of patients with myocardial infarction. As no significant effect on delay times or mortality was observed, it seems that timely medical care continued to be delivered.
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In terms of maternal morbidity and mortality, the puerperium is just as significant as pregnancy and childbirth. Nearly half of all maternal deaths occur in the time after delivery. ⋯ Basic familiarity with the most common and severe diseases in the puerperium is important for non-gynecologists as well, among other things because highly acute, lifethreatening complications can arise that demand urgent intervention.
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Bullous autoimmune dermatoses are a clinically and immunopatho - logically heterogeneous group of diseases, characterized clinically by blisters or erosions of the skin and/or mucous membranes. In Germany, their prevalence is approximately 40 000 cases nationwide, and their incidence approximately 20 new cases per million people per year. ⋯ The early recognition and precise diagnostic evaluation of bullous autoimmune dermatoses now enables improved, often interdisciplinary treatment, in accordance with the available guidelines. Current research projects are focused on new treatment approaches, an improved understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, and further refinements of diagnostic techniques.
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In 2019, 1.5 billion international tourist trips were counted worldwide. Germany, with 70.8 million vacations lasting ≥ 5 days, was one of the populations most willing to travel. These days, even elderly and multimorbid persons regularly travel long-distance, which can be associated with significant health risks. By advising travelers and implementing preventive measures, the risk of illness can be reduced significantly. ⋯ The health risks associated with travel can be minimized by specialist medical advice. Many recommendations are empirical in nature and require further research.