[Satellite center of human milk: Analysis of cost reduction]. / Centro satélite de donación y recepción de leche materna como alternativa a la creación de un banco de leche independiente. Análisis de reducción de costes.

INTRODUCTION: Donor milk is the second best alternative for a newborn after the mother's own milk, especially when the baby is a premature or a sick child since this milk has the advantage of protecting against necrotizing enterocolitis. There are currently 13 milk banks in Spain, however this is not sufficient to supply all Spanish neonatal units with donor milk. In order to bring donor milk to the babies in Neonatal Unit of the Regional University Hospital of Malaga, a Satellite Centre (CS) was created in 2012, depending on the Milk Bank of Virgen de las Nieves Hospital in Granada. AIM: Assessing the efficiency of a SC compared to an independent milk bank. METHOD: A study of cost minimization is used for the analysis. The cost of the implementation of the SC is calculated and compared to the cost of the implementation of the Milk Bank of Virgen de las Nieves of Granada. Additionally, the maintenance cost per year of the 2 models is compared, taking into account the running phase from June, 2012 through August 2015 in the SC. RESULTS: A SC implies savings of 88,852 Euro in equipment, and 24,572 Euro per year in maintenance compared to an independent milk bank. CONCLUSIONS: The efficiency of the SC is due to a better use of resources. A distribution network model of donor human milk, consisting of milk banks and SC, makes it possible to equally supply human milk to premature infants with a reduced cost.

Prevalence of gestational diabetes and risk of complications before and after initiation of a general systematic two-step screening strategy in Germany (2012-2014).

AIMS: Information on the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus is scarce on national and international level. On July 1st, 2013, a general two-step screening was implemented in Germany harmonizing gestational diabetes diagnoses. We aim to provide prevalence estimates for gestational diabetes and pregnancy-related complications for the large region of North Rhine for the 12 months before and after introduction of the general screening. METHODS: Routine care data covering all outpatient diagnoses of more than 150,000 pregnancies per 12-month period in women aged 15-55 years was used to determine cases of gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes diagnosis and pregnancy-related complications were assessed according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10). Relative Risks for pregnancy-related complications were calculated in pregnancies with and without gestational diabetes. RESULTS: Before the screening, diagnosis of gestational diabetes was made in 6.02% of pregnancies and in 6.81% after this date (other types of diabetes mellitus: 1.67% and 1.76% respectively). The prevalence of GDM increased with age and was highest at age 36-40 years (8.45%). The relative increase in prevalence after introduction of the screening was highest in the age group≤25 years (24.9%). The frequency of pregnancy-related complications such as hypertension, pre-eclampsia, cesarean section was increased in pregnancies with gestational diabetes in comparison to those without independent of observation period. CONCLUSIONS: We found a high prevalence of gestational diabetes, which has relatively increased by 13.12% after the introduction of the general screening.

Health-related quality of life in women and men with type 2 diabetes: a comparison across treatment groups.

AIM: This study compares health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) across treatment groups and explores gender differences. METHODS: Four regional surveys (KORA, CARLA, SHIP, DHS) and a national survey (GNHIES98) were pooled at individual level. HRQL was assessed with the SF-12/-36v1. Linear regression models were used to assess the effect of T2DM by treatment type (no medication; oral; oral/insulin combination; insulin) on the physical (PCS-12) and mental summary score (MCS-12) and the SF-6D, controlling for age, sex, study and covariates. We also performed an explanatory analysis of single items. RESULTS: PCS-12 scores and treatment type were associated (P-value 0.006), with lowest values for insulin treatment (-4.44 vs. oral; -4.41 vs. combination). MCS-12 scores were associated with treatment type and gender (P-value <0.012), with lower scores for women undergoing oral (-4.25 vs. men) and combination treatment (-6.99 vs. men). Similar results were observed for SF-6D utilities and single items, related to mental health, social functioning, vitality and role limitation (emotional). Comorbidities were predictors of lower PCS-12 and SF-6D scores. CONCLUSIONS: T2DM treatment impacts differently on physical and mental HRQL and on women and men. Further studies of gender-specific perceptions of T2DM treatment regimens are needed.

Association of neighbourhood unemployment rate with incident Type 2 diabetes mellitus in five German regions.

AIM: To analyse the association of neighbourhood unemployment with incident self-reported physician-diagnosed Type 2 diabetes in a population aged 45-74 years from five German regions. METHODS: Study participants were linked via their addresses at baseline to particular neighbourhoods. Individual-level data from five population-based studies were pooled and combined with contextual data on neighbourhood unemployment. Type 2 diabetes was assessed according to a self-reported physician diagnosis of diabetes. We estimated proportional hazard models (Weibull distribution) in order to obtain hazard ratios and 95% CIs of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, taking into account interval-censoring and clustering. RESULTS: We included 7250 participants residing in 228 inner city neighbourhoods in five German regions in our analysis. The incidence rate was 12.6 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 11.4-13.8). The risk of Type 2 diabetes mellitus was higher in men [hazard ratio 1.79 (95% CI 1.47-2.18)] than in women and higher in people with a low education level [hazard ratio 1.55 (95% CI 1.18-2.02)] than in those with a high education level. Independently of individual-level characteristics, we found a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes mellitus in neighbourhoods with high levels of unemployment [quintile 5; hazard ratio 1.72 (95% CI 1.23-2.42)] than in neighbourhoods with low unemployment (quintile 1). CONCLUSIONS: Low education level and high neighbourhood unemployment were independently associated with an elevated risk of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Studies examining the impact of the residential environment on Type 2 diabetes mellitus will provide knowledge that is essential for the identification of high-risk populations.

Diabetes in Europe: an update.

Diabetes is among the leading causes of death in the IDF Europe Region (EUR), continues to increase in prevalence with diabetic macro- and microvascular complications resulting in increased disability and enormous healthcare costs. In 2013, the number of people with diabetes is estimated to be 56 million in EUR with an overall estimated prevalence of 8.5%. However, estimates of diabetes prevalence in 2013 vary widely in the 56 diverse countries in EUR from 2.4% in Moldova to 14.9% in Turkey. Trends in diabetes prevalence also vary between countries with stable prevalence since 2002 for many countries but a doubling of diabetes prevalence in Turkey. For 2035, a further increase of nearly 10 million people with diabetes is projected for the EUR. Prevalence of type 1 has also increased over the past 20 years in EUR and there was estimated to be 129,350 cases in children aged 0-14 years in 2013. Registries provide valid information on incidence of type 1 diabetes with more complete data available for children than for adults. There are large differences in distribution of risk factors for diabetes at the population level in EUR. Modifiable risk factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, smoking behaviour (including secondhand smoking), environmental pollutants, psychosocial factors and socioeconomic deprivation could be tackled to reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in Europe. In addition, diabetes management is a major challenge to health services in the European countries. Improved networking practices of health professionals and other stakeholders in combination with empowerment of people with diabetes and continuous quality monitoring need to be further developed in Europe.

The impact of regional deprivation and individual socio-economic status on the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in Germany. A pooled analysis of five population-based studies.

AIM: Our objective was to test the hypothesis that the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes increases with increasing regional deprivation even after controlling for individual socio-economic status. METHODS: We pooled cross-sectional data from five German population-based studies. The data set contained information on n = 11,688 study participants (men 50.1%) aged 45-74 years, of whom 1008 people had prevalent Type 2 diabetes (men 56.2%). Logistic multilevel regression was performed to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for diabetes prevalence. We controlled for sex, age and lifestyle risk factors, individual socio-economic status and regional deprivation, based on a new small-area deprivation measure, the German Index of Multiple Deprivation. RESULTS: Adjusted for sex, age, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, smoking status and alcohol consumption, the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes showed a stepwise increase in risk with increasing area deprivation [OR 1.88 (95% CI 1.16-3.04) in quintile 4 and OR 2.14 (95% CI 1.29-3.55) in quintile 5 compared with the least deprived quintile 1], even after controlling for individual socio-economic status. Focusing on individual socio-economic status alone, the risk of having diabetes was significantly higher for low compared with medium or high educational level [OR 1.46 (95% CI 1.24-1.71)] and for the lowest compared with the highest income group [OR 1.53 (95% CI 1.18-1.99)]. CONCLUSION: Regional deprivation plays a significant part in the explanation of diabetes prevalence in Germany independently of individual socio-economic status. The results of the present study could help to target public health measures in deprived regions.

Regional differences in the prevalence of known Type 2 diabetes mellitus in 45-74 years old individuals: results from six population-based studies in Germany (DIAB-CORE Consortium).

AIM: In Germany, regional data on the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus are lacking for health-care planning and detection of risk factors associated with this disease. We analysed regional variations in the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and treatment with antidiabetic agents. METHODS: Data of subjects aged 45-74 years from five regional population-based studies and one nationwide study conducted between 1997 and 2006 were analysed. Information on self-reported diabetes, treatment, and diagnosis of diabetes were compared. Type 2 diabetes prevalence estimates (95% confidence interval) from regional studies were directly standardized to the German population (31 December 2007). RESULTS: Of the 11,688 participants of the regional studies, 1008 had known Type 2 diabetes, corresponding to a prevalence of 8.6% (8.1-9.1%). For the nationwide study, a prevalence of 8.2% (7.3-9.2%) was estimated. Prevalence was higher in men (9.7%; 8.9-10.4%) than in women (7.6%; 6.9-8.3%). The regional standardized prevalence was highest in the east with 12.0% (10.3-13.7%) and lowest in the south with 5.8% (4.9-6.7%). Among persons with Type 2 diabetes, treatment with oral antidiabetic agents was more frequently reported in the south (56.9%) and less in the northeast (46.0%), whereas treatment with insulin alone was more frequently reported in the northeast (21.6%) than in the south (16.4%). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of known Type 2 diabetes showed a southwest-to-northeast gradient within Germany, which is in accord with regional differences in the distribution of risk factors for Type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, the treatment with antidiabetic agents showed regional differences.

Health-related quality of life in subjects with and without Type 2 diabetes: pooled analysis of five population-based surveys in Germany.

AIMS: To estimate population values of health-related quality of life (HRQL) in subjects with and without Type 2 diabetes mellitus across several large population-based survey studies in Germany. Systematic differences in relation to age and sex were of particular interest. METHODS: Individual data from four population-based studies from different regions throughout Germany and the nationwide German National Health Interview and Examination Survey (GNHIES98) were included in a pooled analysis of primary data (N = 9579). HRQL was assessed using the generic index instrument SF-36 (36-item Short Form Health Survey) or its shorter version, the SF-12 (12 items). Regression analysis was carried out to examine the association between Type 2 diabetes and the two component scores derived from the SF-36/SF-12, the physical component summary score (PCS-12) and the mental component summary score (MCS-12), as well as interaction effects with age and sex. RESULTS: The PCS-12 differed significantly by -4.1 points in subjects with Type 2 diabetes in comparison with subjects without Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes was associated with significantly lower MCS-12 in women only. Higher age was associated with lower PCS-12, but with an increase in MCS-12, for subjects with and without Type 2 diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Pooled analysis of population-based primary data offers HRQL values for subjects with Type 2 diabetes in Germany, stratified by age and sex. Type 2 diabetes has negative consequences for HRQL, particularly for women. This underlines the burden of disease and the importance of diabetes prevention. Factors that disadvantage women with Type 2 diabetes need to be researched more thoroughly.

Factors influencing the health related quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: long-term results (2001--2005) of patients in the German Lupus Erythematosus Self-Help Organization (LULA Study).

The aim of this longitudinal study was to determine disease-specific and individual factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) organized in the German Lupus Erythematosus Self-Help Organization. Three hundred and seventeen patients aged between 11 and 77 years participated annually in five surveys carried out between 2001 and 2005. Regression analyses were carried out for physical and mental HRQOL as dependent variables. Factors influencing HRQOL were the respective HRQOL scores of the previous year, SLE activity as measured by the Systemic Lupus Activity Questionnaire (SLAQ), and impairments in everyday life. Social support indicated by living in marriage or in a marriage-like partnership had a positive influence on both mental and physical HRQOL, whereas individual factors such as education seemed to be of minor importance.

Quality of life and psychological well-being in Spanish long-term survivors of Hodgkin's disease: results of a controlled pilot study.

Nowadays, the chemoradiotherapeutic protocols for Hodgkin's disease (HD) achieve high curability rates. Hemato-oncologists focus on both avoiding medical and psychological sequelae of the treatment and returning patients to a normal life. The quality of life and psychological well-being of Spanish patients who are long-term survivors of HD were studied and compared to the results obtained from healthy controls. Questionnaires on quality of life [European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ30] and psychological status [hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) scale] were mailed to HD patients without active disease and free of second malignancies and were also given to healthy controls. Of 67 selected patients (68.6%), 46 were included in this study. The median follow-up for these 46 patients was of 7.6 years (0.8-22.1) after being diagnosed. Although there were no differences between patients and controls with regard to their global state of health and quality of life (72.9+/-22.7 vs 79.3+/-18.7; p=0.22), patients presented a lower physical function (88.2+/-18.1 vs 96.5+/-9.7; p=0.05) and a worse social operation scale (81.5+/-25.4 vs 96.3+/-13.1; p= 0.0015) together with higher symptoms of dyspnea (8.6+/-14.7 vs 0+/-0; p=0.03) and higher economic difficulties (23.1+/-38.3 vs 0.7+/-4.9; p=0.017) when compared with healthy controls. However, we did not find differences in the scores and the proportion of cases of anxiety and depression between the two groups. The quality of life questionnaire disclosed differences between patients and controls in some functional and symptomatic scales. These differences can be read as a consequence of either the disease itself or the treatment received. However, the results of this controlled pilot study should be confirmed in a larger series of Spanish HD survivors. In the future, these results could be a reference when new therapeutic protocols are designed to reduce the impact on the quality of life of the patients. Socioeconomic support to the patients should also be provided in order to improve their medical care.