Role of imaging in primary prevention: calcium score is a robust and cost-efficient risk modifier

Subclinical atherosclerosis, assessed by imaging, is associated with outcome. Imaging has the potential to enable providers to better tailor preventive therapy towards patient risk stratification compared to traditional risk scores.

Sonographic assessment of carotid atherosclerosis: preferred risk indicator for future cardiovascular events?

Many patients reaching hospital with a first ischaemic event are classified as low-risk subjects by risk calculators. Direct visualisation of atherosclerosis may therefore be warranted in order to reclassify subjects according to their individual risk.

Cochlear implants in single-sided deafness – clinical results of a Swiss multicentre study

Single-sided deafness often has a significant impact in communication skills owing to impaired sound localisation and decreased speech understanding in noise. Hearing loss is also a general risk factor for the development of tinnitus.

Cost effectiveness of pembrolizumab vs chemotherapy as first-line treatment for metastatic NSCLC that expresses high levels of PD-L1 in Switzerland

Pembrolizumab programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor is indicated for treatment of patients with previously untreated metastatic NSCLC with a PD-L1 tumour proportion score (TPS) ≥50%. Its cost effectiveness for this indication has not previously been evaluated in Switzerland.

Duration of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis after outpatient endovenous laser ablation: a propensity score-matched analysis

Many centres in Europe, including several in Switzerland, use pharmacological thromboprophylaxis after thermal ablation of varicose veins. However, the optimal duration of pharmacological thromboprophylaxis is currently not defined.

Impact of an intra-abdominal cooling device during open kidney transplantation in pigs

Transplantation of kidneys from deceased donors is associated with a high rate of postoperative renal dysfunction. During implantation, the kidney rewarms. This second warm ischaemia time is harmful, especially if prolonged.

Characteristics of emergency department presentations requiring consultation of the national Poisons Information Centre

According to data from European hospitals, about 1% of all emergency department (ED) admissions are related to poisoning. Poison information centres (PICs) can provide valuable support to ED personnel and help to optimise patient management in such cases.

First in Switzerland: concomitant off-pump transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation and mitral valve reconstruction with the NeoChord system

Older and polymorbid patients with multivalvular heart disease exhibit high peri­operative morbidity and mortality when treated with conventional surgery. Minimally invasive concomitant procedures are, however, possible.

Glycaemic patterns in healthy elderly individuals and in those with impaired glucose metabolism – exploring the relationship with nonglycaemic variables

This study relates the glycation gap to lipid metabolism, low grade inflammation as evidenced by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and kidney function as estimated by glomerular filtration rates.

The glory of the age is the wisdom of grey hair: association of physician appearance with outcomes in hospitalised medical patients – an observational study

The physical appearance of a physician may influence patients’ perception of the physicians’ quality of care. There is a lack of studies investigating whether physician appearance is indeed associated with patient satisfaction and mortality.

The economic and public health impact of influenza vaccinations: contributions of Swiss pharmacies in the 2016/17 and 2017/18 influenza seasons and implications for vaccination policy

The economic and public health impact of prescriptionless vaccination against influenza in healthy adults in Switzerland has not been studied yet.

The capacity of baseline patient, injury, treatment and outcome data to predict reduced capacity to work and accident insurer costs – a Swiss prospective 4-year longitudinal trauma centre evaluation

Return to work after an injury is an important longer-term outcome measure, ­albeit a complicated issue. Information on the relation between baseline patient, injury and treatment data and the longer-term outcomes for the survivors of significant trauma is lacking.

Current prevalence of self-reported interpersonal violence among adult patients seen at a university hospital emergency department in Switzerland

The emergency department is the usual place of care for victims of violence. Nonetheless, the prevalence of violence remains underestimated in the emergency department, especially as patients do not spontaneously mention that they are victims. Often this is considered shameful, even taboo.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease burden – Switzerland 2018–2030

As a result of epidemic levels of obesity and diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) will contribute to increases in the liver-related disease burden in Switzerland.

Pain management policies and reported practices in Swiss emergency departments: a national survey

Acute pain is the most common complaint of patients presenting to emergency departments. Effective pain management is a core ED mission, but numerous studies have pointed to insufficient pain treatment or oligoanalgesia.