Decongestants, proton pump inhibitors, and systemic antibiotics are associated with an increased occurrence of dysbiosis.

BACKGROUND: Dysbiosis (also called dysbacteriosis) is characterized by a disruption of the microbiome, resulting in an imbalance in the microbiota, changes in their functional composition and metabolic activities, and a shift in their local distribution. Dysbiosis is most commonly reported as a condition affecting the gastrointestinal tract, for example with bacterial or fungal overgrowth in the small intestine. Known causes of dysbiosis include antibiotic use, liver disease, and alcohol misuse. AIMS: To determine those variables associated with the diagnosis of dysbiosis using a national database containing data supplied by general practitioners in Germany. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patient data for the period January 2005 to December 2018 were obtained from the Disease Analyzer database (IQVIA) based on data from 1,193 general practices in Germany. Inclusion criteria were all adult patients (≥ 18 years) with an initial diagnosis of dysbiosis documented anonymously. Data for variables such as drug treatment, other diseases etc. associated with the diagnosis were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 4,013 patients diagnosed with dysbiosis and a comparative control cohort of 4,013 patients without such a dysbiosis were included in the study. The mean age in both groups was ~ 50 years where 65.2% of subjects were women. Decongestants and other nasal preparations for topical use (OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.14 - 1.85), proton pump inhibitors (OR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.21 - 1.61), and systemic antibiotics (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.13 - 1.47) were significantly associated with an increased occurrence of dysbiosis, whereas non-steroidal antirheumatic drugs (OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.69 - 0.87), lipid-lowering drugs (OR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.63 - 0.93), and ACE inhibitors (OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.53 - 0.77) were associated with a decreased occurrence of dysbiosis. CONCLUSION: The study provides evidence that treatment with decongestants and other nasal preparations is strongly associated with an increased occurrence of dysbiosis. Although the pathophysiology of dysbiosis is multifactorial and confounding factors cannot be ruled out, the close correlation seen may have clinical significance.

Persistence with first-line antihypertensive therapy in Germany: A retrospective cohort study with 2,801,469 patients.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate 3-year persistence with antihypertensive drug therapy and the association between antihypertensive drug classes and therapy discontinuation risk in Germany. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present retrospective cohort study was based on the IQVIA longitudinal prescription database (LRx) and included adult outpatients (≥ 18 years) with an initial prescription of antihypertensive monotherapy alone including diuretics (DIU), ß-blockers (BB), calcium channel blockers (CCB), ACE inhibitors (ACEi), and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB) in Germany between January 2017 and December 2019 (index date). A Cox proportional hazards regression model was also used to assess the relationship between antihypertensive drug classes and non-persistence adjusted for age and sex. RESULTS: This study included 2,801,469 patients. Patients on ARB monotherapy exhibited the highest persistence within 1 year (39.4%) and 3 years (21.7%) after the index date. Patients on DIU monotherapy showed the lowest persistence (16.5% after 1 year, 6.2% 3 years after the index date). In the overall population, initial monotherapy with DIU (HR: 1.48) was positively associated with monotherapy discontinuation, whereas ARB monotherapy was (HR = 0.74) negatively associated with monotherapy discontinuation compared to BB. However, in the age group > 80, there was a slight negative association between DIU intake and monotherapy discontinuation (HR = 0.91). CONCLUSION: This large cohort study reveals significant differences in 3-year persistence with antihypertensives, which were strongest for ARB and weakest for DIU. However, the differences also depended on age, with much better DIU persistence in the elderly.

Fewer non-COVID-19 respiratory tract infections and gastrointestinal infections during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For preventing the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, measures like wearing masks, social distancing, and hand hygiene played crucial roles. These measures may also have affected the expansion of other infectious diseases like respiratory tract infections (RTI) and gastro-intestinal infections (GII). Therefore, we aimed to investigate non-COVID-19 related RTI and GII during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with a diagnosis of an acute RTI (different locations) or acute GII documented anonymously in 994 general practitioner (GP) or 192 pediatrician practices in Germany were included. We compared the prevalence of acute RTI and GII between April 2019-March 2020 and April 2020-March 2021. In GP practices, 715,440 patients were diagnosed with RTI or GII in the nonpandemic period versus 468,753 in the pandemic period; the same trend was observed by pediatricians (275,033 vs. 165,127). By GPs, the strongest decrease was observed for the diagnosis of influenza (-71%, p < 0.001), followed by acute laryngitis (-64%, p < 0.001), acute lower respiratory infections (bronchitis) (-62%, p < 0.001), and intestinal infections (-40%, p < 0.001). In contrast, the relatively rare viral pneumonia strongly increased by 229% (p < 0.001). In pediatrician practices, there was a strong decrease in infection diagnoses, especially influenza (-90%, p < 0.001), pneumonia (-73%, p < 0.001 viral; -76%, p < 0.001 other pneumonias), and acute sinusitis (-66%, p < 0.001). No increase was observed for viral pneumonia in children. The considerable limitations concerning social life implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to combat the spread of SARS-CoV-2 also resulted in an inadvertent but welcome reduction in other non-Covid-19 respiratory tract and gastro-intestinal infections.

Obesity and lipid metabolism disorders determine the risk for development of long COVID syndrome: a cross-sectional study from 50,402 COVID-19 patients.

PURPOSE: Metabolic disorders have been identified as major risk factors for severe acute courses of COVID-19. With decreasing numbers of infections in many countries, the long COVID syndrome (LCS) represents the next major challenge in pandemic management, warranting the precise definition of risk factors for LCS development. METHODS: We identified 50,402 COVID-19 patients in the Disease Analyzer database (IQVIA) featuring data from 1056 general practices in Germany. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for the development of LCS. RESULTS: Of the 50,402 COVID-19 patients included into this analysis, 1,708 (3.4%) were diagnosed with LCS. In a multivariate regression analysis, we identified lipid metabolism disorders (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.28-1.65, p < 0.001) and obesity (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.08-1.44, p = 0.003) as strong risk factors for the development of LCS. Besides these metabolic factors, patients' age between 46 and 60 years (compared to age ≤ 30, (OR 1.81 95% CI 1.54-2.13, p < 0.001), female sex (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.20-1.47, p < 0.001) as well as pre-existing asthma (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.39-2.00, p < 0.001) and depression (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.09-1.47, p = < 0.002) in women, and cancer (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.09-1.95, p = < 0.012) in men were associated with an increased likelihood of developing LCS. CONCLUSION: Lipid metabolism disorders and obesity represent age-independent risk factors for the development of LCS, suggesting that metabolic alterations determine the risk for unfavorable disease courses along all phases of COVID-19.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of primary care patients vaccinated against COVID-19 in spring 2021.

AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the age distribution and comorbidities of individuals vaccinated in primary care practices in April and May 2021. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The analysis was based on data from the IQVIA Disease Analyzer database and included 245,948 patients who received their first COVID-19 vaccination from one of 820 family medicine practices in April or May 2021. RESULTS: 93.6% of individuals received a vaccination based on general indication, 6.2% based on occupational indication, and 0.2% were nursing home residents. Men were 3.5 years younger on average than women (59.2 vs. 62.7 years). 54% of women and 52% of men younger than 60 years had at least one diagnosis from the priority list. Hypertension was the most common diagnosis (23.6% of men and 20.7% of women). In men, chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD or asthma were the second most common diagnosis (11.0%), while in women, depression (17.0%) was the second most common diagnosis. CONCLUSION: In the first 2 months of vaccination in general practices, most patients vaccinated were either elderly or chronically ill. Further studies comparing the characteristics of vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals would also be of great epidemiological relevance.

Consultations Decline for Stroke, Transient Ischemic Attack, and Myocardial Infarction during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic raises the concern that other non-COVID conditions will be affected by a decline in care. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the decline in ambulatory presentations for vascular events (stroke, transient ischemic attack [TIA], and myocardial infarction [MI]) during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Patients with a diagnosis of ischemic stroke, TIA, or MI documented anonymously in 1,262 general practices in Germany were included. We studied the differences between 2019 and 2020 (between April and June) in terms of rates and baseline characteristics by comparing monthly absolute frequencies. RESULTS: A total of 3,496 patients with stroke (mean age: 72.2 years), 1,608 patients with TIA (mean age: 71.5 years), and 2,385 patients with MI (mean age: 66.8 years) were identified between April and June 2020, indicating a decrease of 10% (stroke), 16% (TIA), and 9% (MI) compared to 2019. For patients with stroke, the decrease in men was 13% (women: -6%) but reached 17% in the age category 51-60 years. For MI, the decrease was only obvious in males (14%). The largest decrease in stroke (-17%) and MI (-19%) was noted in April, while that for TIA occurred in May (-22%). In June for all 3 conditions, the previous year's level was achieved. Only in TIA, the age differs between 2019 and 2020 (mean age: 69.9 vs. 71.5 years; p < 0.05). In patients with stroke and MI, the proportions of men were lower in 2019 than in 2020 (stroke: 54.8-50.5%, p < 0.05 and MI: 64-60.2%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Although the decline in the number of patients presenting with stroke, TIA, and MI was not as noticeable in the ambulatory sector as it was in the area of emergency hospital-based care, our data indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic affected all sectors within the medical care system.

Increased Incidence of Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis in Germany.

BACKGROUND: As chronic inflammatory diseases may be associated with an increased risk of vascular events, the aim of the present study was to assess the incidence of stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: Patients diagnosed with RA and AS in 1,262 general practices in Germany between 2000 and 2015 were selected. RA and AS patients were matched to patients without RA or AS using propensity scores based on age, sex, physician, co-diagnoses, and co-therapies. The Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models were used to study the incidence of stroke and TIA as a function of RA and AS. RESULTS: In the study population (N = 29,106; mean age 54.8 years; 65% women), 24,580 patients had RA and 4,526 had AS. RA was significantly associated with the stroke (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.42, confidence interval [CI]: 1.25-1.60) and TIA (HR = 1.69, CI: 1.46-1.95). The association between RA and stroke was strongest in the age group 18-40 years (HR = 3.45, CI: 1.30-9.18). The HR for stroke in AS was 1.41 (CI: 0.99-2.00) and for TIA 1.62 (1.08-2.44). CONCLUSION: RA was significantly associated with stroke and TIA, with young patients being at a particularly increased risk. AS was tendentially associated with stroke and TIA.

Multiple Sclerosis and Incidence of Urinary and Fecal Incontinence in Almost 9,000 Patients Followed Up for up to 10 Years in Germany.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of large studies on urinary (UI) and fecal incontinence (FI) following multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis. Thus, our goal was to investigate the association between MS and the incidence of UI and FI in patients followed up for up to 10 years in Germany. METHODS: This study included patients who received an initial documentation of MS diagnosis in general practices in Germany during 2005-2018 (index date). Patients without MS were matched (1:1) to those with MS using propensity scores based on sex, age, index year, follow-up time (in years), general practice, and the Charlson Comorbidity Index score (index date: a randomly selected visit date). RESULTS: This retrospective study included 4,461 patients with MS and 4,461 patients without MS (69.9% women; mean [SD] age 44.2 [12.7] years). Within 10 years of index date, a higher proportion of patients with MS were diagnosed with UI (11.7 vs. 3.2%) and FI (2.3 vs. 0.5%; p values <0.001) than those without MS. MS was further found to be associated with both UI (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.85) and FI (HR = 5.38; p values <0.001) in the Cox regressions. CONCLUSIONS: UI and FI are frequent complications of MS, and the presence of these complications should be regularly assessed in primary care practices.

Predicting the Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Patients Treated with Novel Oral Anticoagulants: A Machine Learning Approach.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this cohort study was to estimate the predictors of ischemic stroke in patients treated with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in a large database containing data from general practitioners in Germany using machine learning methods. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 39,652 patients with a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) and an initial prescription of NOAC in 1,278 general practices in Germany between January 2011 and December 2018. Of 39,652 patients, 2,310 (5.8%) receive the first stroke or TIA diagnosis during the follow-up time (average follow-up time 2.5 [SD: 1.8] years). Sub-Population Optimization and Modeling Solutions (SOMS) tool was used to identify subgroups at a higher risk of stroke compared to the overall population receiving NOAC based on 37 different variables. RESULTS: Using SOMS, a total of 9 variables were considered important for the stroke prediction. Age had 59.1% of prediction importance, following by ischemic heart diseases (10.6%), urinary tract infections (4.6%), dementia (3.5%), and male sex (3.5%). Further variables with less importance were dizziness (2.2%), dorsalgia (1.5%), shoulder lesions (1.1%), and diabetes mellitus (1.1%). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: The stroke risk in AF patients treated with NOAC could be predicted based on comorbidities like ischemic heart diseases, urinary tract infections, and dementia additionally to age and male sex. Knowing and addressing these factors may help reduce the risk of stroke in this patient population.

(Absence of) Association Between Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant Therapy and Urinary Tract Infection in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study is to identify a potential association of urinary tract infections (UTI) in a large population of patients receiving oral anticoagulation therapy treated in general practices in Germany. This study contains patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation who received at least one prescription of either non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulation (NOAC) or vitamin K antagonists (VKA) within January 2015 and December 2018. The incidence of UTI was examined cumulatively on the basis of Kaplan-Meier methods and was complemented by incidence rates measured in cases per 1000 patient years. Sex-stratified Cox regressions were conducted to examine possible associations in specific sex groups. The study comprised 26,934 patients receiving NOAC therapy and 8121 patients treated with VKA agents. Within a period of 5 years, slightly more NOAC than VKA users were diagnosed with UTI (20.3% vs. 19.3%), whereas the incidence rate was slightly higher in patients receiving NOAC therapy than in those under VKA treatment (50.8 cases vs. 50.5 cases in 1000 patient years). There was no significant association between direct oral anticoagulants versus vitamin K antagonists and infections of the urinary tract. Our study did not identify any significant association between therapy with direct oral anticoagulants versus vitamin K anticoagulants and UTI in patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in general practices in Germany. Because current findings regarding the risk of UTI in patients receiving oral anticoagulation therapy remain limited and contradictory, further investigations including a broad patient population are necessary to determine patients at risk for UTI and reconcile conflicting evidence.

Predicting the risk of stroke in patients with late-onset epilepsy: A machine learning approach.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this cohort study was to estimate the predictors for ischemic stroke in patients with epilepsy in a large database containing data from general practitioners in Germany using machine learning methods. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 11,466 patients aged ≥ 60 years with an initial diagnosis of epilepsy in 1182 general practices in Germany between January 2010 and December 2018 from the IQVIA Disease Analyzer database. The Sub-Population Optimization and Modeling Solutions (SOMS) tool was used to identify subgroups at a higher risk of stroke than the overall population with epilepsy based on 37 different variables. RESULTS: A total of seven variables were considered important. Four co-diagnoses (diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, and alcohol dependence) were by far the strongest predictors with a combined predictive ability of more than 90%, whereby diabetes (41.4%) was the strongest predictor, followed by hypertension (35.0%) and heart failure (11.8%). The predictive importance of male gender was only 1.5%, and age was not recognized as an important predictor. Finally, the prescribed AEDs levetiracetam, with a predictive importance of 5.0%, and valproate, with 2.7%, were found to be weak predictors. CONCLUSION: The stroke risk in patients with epilepsy was relatively high and could be predicted based on comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart failure, and alcohol dependence. Knowing and addressing these factors may help reduce the risk of stroke in patients with epilepsy.

Increased pharmacy purchases of cardiovascular drugs from wholesalers prior to the first and second COVID-19 lockdowns.

AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the development of drug purchases over the course of the coronavirus crisis in Germany in 2020. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The evaluations in this retrospective cross-sectional study are based on the IMS RPM (Regional Pharmaceutical Market) weekly database, which shows weekly purchases by public pharmacies from full-service wholesalers at the time the pharmacy purchase is made in Germany. The outcome of this investigation was the development of cardiovascular drug sales by packing unit over all 52 weeks of 2020. RESULTS: We found an increase of 68% in week 12 compared to the average sales for weeks 2 - 11, 2020 (vs. -2% in week 12, 2019), while the increase in week 51 was 61%, compared to the average sales for weeks 13 - 50, 2020 (vs. 35% in week 51, 2019). The largest increases in week 12 were for calcium channel blockers (64%), and the largest increases in week 51 were for lipid-lowering drugs (67%). CONCLUSION: The results of this retrospective cross-sectional study suggest that the COVID-19 lockdown in Germany was associated with a significant surge in pharmacy purchases of cardiovascular drugs, indicating panic buying. Although there were no drug shortages during the first lockdown, this panic buying recurred shortly before the second lockdown, albeit to a lesser extent.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease as a Precondition for Stroke or TIA: A Matter of Crohn's Disease Rather than Ulcerative Colitis.

BACKGROUND: As a chronic systemic inflammation may be associated with an increased risk of vascular events, the aim of the present study was to assess the incidence of stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease over a period of 15 years. METHODS: This cohort study included patients for whom the initial diagnosis of an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (Crohn's disease: CD and ulcerative colitis: UC) was documented anonymously between 2000 and 2015 in 1,262 general practices in Germany. IBD patients were matched to patients without IBD using propensity scores based on age, sex, physician, co-diagnoses and co-therapies. Cox regression models were used to study the incidence of stroke and TIA as a function of CD and UC. RESULTS: Each of the matched groups included 11,947 participants. In the IBD group, 43.5% had CD and 56.5% UC respectively. Higher incidences of both stroke and TIA were detected for IBD (stroke: 279.0 versus 222.6 cases per 100,000 patient years, HR 1.30, p=0.011; TIA: 203.1 versus 141.1 cases per 100,000 patient years, HR 1.42, p=0.006). Stroke and TIA incidences (cases per 100,000 patient years) were higher than in controls (stroke: 314.7 versus 204.5, HR: 1.50, p=0.013; TIA: 183.8 versus 95.3, HR: 1.93, p=0.004) in CD patients only. No relevant differences in incidences were found for patients with UC. CONCLUSION: While CD turned out to be a relevant precondition for stroke or TIA, this was not the case for UC.

Venous access closure using a purse-string suture without heparin antagonism or additional compression after MitraClip implantation.

OBJECTIVES: This observational study was designed to analyze the safety and feasibility of percutaneous skin closure using a purse-string suture (PSS) after MitraClip procedures. METHODS: Forty-one consecutive patients with severe mitral regurgitation who underwent MitraClip implantation from February 2018 to January 2019 at our institution received a PSS after percutaneous mitral valve repair before withdrawal of the 24-French (Fr) sheath. Protamine was not administered after venous closure at procedure end. No compression therapy (e.g., compression bandage or pneumatic compression device) was used. Patients were on bed rest for 6 hrs prior to suture removal, which was accomplished 18-24 hrs after MitraClip implantation. We analyzed the occurrence of any vascular or thromboembolic complications during the hospital stay and until the 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: The primary endpoint-any access-related major complication-did not occur in any patients. None of the patients revealed a pseudoaneurysm or an arteriovenous fistula, a thromboembolic complication, or local stenosis related to the PSS closure. The secondary endpoint- minor access-site vascular complications (hematoma)- was documented in six (14.6%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: Venous access-site closure with a PSS without the need for protamine administration or compression therapy appears to be safe and feasible in patients undergoing MitraClip implantation with access via a 24-Fr sheath.

Impaired Cerebrovascular Autoregulation in Large Vessel Occlusive Stroke after Successful Mechanical Thrombectomy: A Prospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: Successful thrombectomy improves morbidity and mortality after stroke. The present prospective, observational cohort study investigated a potential correlation between the successful restoration of tissue perfusion by mechanical thrombectomy and intact cerebrovascular autoregulation (CA). OBJECTIVE: Status of CA in patients with large vessel occlusive stroke after thrombectomy. METHODS: After thrombectomy CA was measured using transcranial Doppler ultrasound. For this purpose a moving correlation index (Mxa) based on spontaneous arterial blood pressure fluctuations and corresponding cerebral blood flow velocity changes was calculated. CA impairment was defined by Mxa values more than .3. RESULTS: Twenty patients with an acute occlusion of the middle cerebral artery or distal internal carotid artery were included. A successful recanalization of the occluded vessel via interventional thrombectomy was achieved in 10 of these patients (successful recanalization group), while in 10 patients mechanical recanalization failed or could not be applied (no recanalization group). Mean Mxa at stroke side was .58 ± .21 Table 2a in patients with successful intervention. At the unaffected hemisphere Mxa was .50 ± .20 Table 2a in successful recanalization group and .45 ± .24 Table 2b in no recanalization group without statistically significant differences. Based on the previously defined Mxa cut off more than .3, CA impairment was observable in all successful recanalized patients and in 8 of 10 patients with unsuccessful interventional treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that brain perfusion may be affected due to impaired CA even after successful mechanical thrombectomy. Therefore, a tight blood pressure management is of great importance in post-thrombectomy stroke treatment to avoid cerebral hypo- and hyperperfusion.

Adjustment of oral diet based on flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) in acute stroke patients: a cross-sectional hospital-based registry study.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosing dysphagia in acute stroke patients is crucial, as this comorbidity determines morbidity and mortality; we therefore investigated the impact of flexible nasolaryngeal endoscopy (FEES) in acute stroke patients. METHODS: The FEES investigation as performed in acute stroke patients treated at a large university hospital, allocated as a standard procedure for all patients suspected of dysphagia. We correlated our findings with baseline data, disability status, pneumonia, duration of hospitalisation, necessity for mechanical ventilation and treatment on the intensive care unit. The study was designed as a cross-sectional hospital-based registry. RESULTS: We investigated 152 patients. The median age was 73; 94 were male. Ischemic stroke was diagnosed in 125 patients (82.2%); 27 (17.8%) suffered intracerebral haemorrhage. Oropharyngeal dysphagia was diagnosed in 72.4% of the patients, and was associated with higher stroke severity on admission (median NIHSS 11 [IQR 6-17] vs. 7 [4-12], p = .013; median mRS 5 [IQR 4-5] vs. 4 [IQR 3-5], p = .012). Short-term mortality was higher among patients diagnosed with dysphagia (7.2% vs. 0%, p = .107). FEES examinations revealed that only 30.9% of the patients had an oral diet appropriate for their swallowing abilities. A change of oral diet was associated with a better outcome at discharge (mRS; p = .006), less need of mechanical ventilation (p = .028), shorter period of hospitalisation (p = .044), and lower rates of pneumonia (p = .007) and mortality (p = .011). CONCLUSION: Due to the inability of clinical assessments to detect silent aspiration, FEES might be better suited to identify stroke patients at risk and may contribute to a better functional outcome and lower rates of pneumonia and mortality. Our findings also point to a low awareness of dysphagia, even in a specialised stroke centre. FEES in acute stroke patients helps to adjust the oral diet for the vast majority of stroke patients (69.1%) based on their swallowing abilities, potentially avoiding severe complications.

The association between antihypertensive therapy and the incidence of Parkinson's disease in patients followed in general practices in Germany
.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential association between antihypertensive therapy and the incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD) in patients followed in general practices in Germany. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included patients aged ≥ 40 who had received initial diagnoses of PD in 1,203 general practices in Germany between January 2013 and December 2017 (index date). After applying similar inclusion criteria, PD cases were matched to non-PD controls using propensity scores based on age, sex, and treating physician. The primary outcome of the study was the incidence of PD as a function of the use of antihypertensive drugs (diuretics, ß-blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and angiotensin II receptor blockers). Logistic regression models were conducted to study the association between the use of antihypertensive drugs and the incidence of PD after adjusting for codiagnoses and antihypertensive cotherapy. RESULTS: The present study included 9,127 patients with PD and 9,127 patients without PD (mean age: 75.8 years; 48.4% women). The at-least-once use of diuretics (44.8% versus 38.4%; odds ratio (OR) = 1.23 (1.15-1.32)) was associated with an increased incidence of PD. However, this effect was not maintained for a therapy duration of at least 3 years, and no association was observed between the diuretic therapy duration and PD incidence. For all other antihypertensive drug classes, we found no significant associations with PD incidence. CONCLUSION: No association was found between antihypertensive therapy duration and PD incidence. Further epidemiological studies are needed to compare the effects of subclasses of antihypertensives on PD.

Late Detection of Atrial Fibrillation after Stroke: Implications for the Secondary Prevention.

BACKGROUND: This study is aimed at investigating the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) within 5 years after an acute cerebrovascular event in AF-naive patients and its relevance for secondary prevention. METHODS: The current case-control study sample included patients who had received an initial ischemic stroke diagnosis documented in the Disease Analyzer database (IQVIA), which compiles data such as risk factors, drug prescriptions, and diagnoses obtained from 1,262 general practices in Germany. RESULTS: After the selection procedure, the stroke and non-stroke groups each included 22,774 patients. In both groups, the mean age of the population was 68.0 years (SD ±12 years), and the proportion of male participants was 51.1%. Within 5 years of follow-up, we calculated a higher probability for detecting AF in stroke patients than in controls (hazard ratio 4.95; 95% CI 1.93-2.09, p < 0.001). In the stroke group, AF was detected in 2,369 individuals (10.4%), whereas AF was only evident in 1,101 patients (4.8%) in the non-stroke group. In 1,741 (73.5%) patients (out of 2,369), oral anticoagulants had been prescribed after the AF diagnosis. In stroke patients, factors like diabetes mellitus and ischemic heart disease were associated with restraint in prescribing oral anticoagulants; age did not influence the decision for or against oral anticoagulants (mean age 72.9 vs. 72.7 years). CONCLUSION: A recent stroke is a strong preconditioning factor for detecting AF within 5 years after an acute event. The majority of these patients are treated with oral anticoagulants, regardless of their age.

Inhibition of Protein Prenylation of GTPases Alters Endothelial Barrier Function.

The members of Rho family of GTPases, RhoA and Rac1 regulate endothelial cytoskeleton dynamics and hence barrier integrity. The spatial activities of these GTPases are regulated by post-translational prenylation. In the present study, we investigated the effect of prenylation inhibition on the endothelial cytoskeleton and barrier properties. The study was carried out in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and protein prenylation is manipulated with various pharmacological inhibitors. Inhibition of either complete prenylation using statins or specifically geranylgeranylation but not farnesylation has a biphasic effect on HUVEC cytoskeleton and permeability. Short-term treatment inhibits the spatial activity of RhoA/Rho kinase (Rock) to actin cytoskeleton resulting in adherens junctions (AJ) stabilization and ameliorates thrombin-induced barrier disruption whereas long-term inhibition results in collapse of endothelial cytoskeleton leading to increased basal permeability. These effects are reversed by supplementing the cells with geranylgeranyl but not farnesyl pyrophosphate. Moreover, long-term inhibition of protein prenylation results in basal hyper activation of RhoA/Rock signaling that is antagonized by a specific Rock inhibitor or an activation of cAMP signaling. In conclusion, inhibition of geranylgeranylation in endothelial cells (ECs) exerts biphasic effect on endothelial barrier properties. Short-term inhibition stabilizes AJs and hence barrier function whereas long-term treatment results in disruption of barrier properties.