The association between critical life events, sociodemographic data and physical activity in the development of myocardial infarction in smokers and ex-smokers

Background: Psychosocial factors attract interest in investigating the occurrence of cardiovascular disease. Design This study aimed to examine the impact of critical life events on the development of myocardial infarction in smokers and ex-smokers. We hypothesized that critical life events increase the risk of the disease. Methods: Data were taken from the Cologne Smoking Study (CoSmoS), a retrospective multicentre case-control study that examines which psychosocial factors may lead to a higher risk for smokers and ex-smokers of suffering from a myocardial infarction. Our sample consisted of n = 278 myocardial infarction participants and control participants. Both groups had a history of smoking. Logistic regression was used in the analysis. Results: The study results of the smoking and ex-smoking participants showed that sociodemographic data like gender and age have an effect on the development of myocardial infarction. Physical activity seems to offer protection aganist myocardial infarction. Final, the unexpected result that the experience of at least one critical life event seems to have a positive effect on health and so lowers the risk of myocardial infarction. Conclusions: Socio-demographic data and physical activity have an effect on the development of myocardial infarction. Participants with experience of critical life events appear to be strengthened after the events and possess adequate resources to protect their health.

德国老年人对替代医学疗法、针刺、顺势疗法及人智学疗法的使用情况(英文)

目的:很多有关补充替代医学(complementary and alternative medicine,CAM)的研究表明,CAM的使用情况与患者的社会文化背景、性别、年龄及基础疾病等因素有关。本研究旨在调查分析拥有医疗保险的德国老年人对特定的CAM疗法的使用情况。方法:在一次匿名的德国保险受益人的横断面调查中,对5 830名老年人过去5年里通过医生或非医疗工作者使用CAM的情况的调查数据进行分析。结果:德国老年人最广泛使用的CAM疗法分别为针刺/中医(21%)、顺势疗法(21%)、运动疗法/锻炼(19%)、整骨疗法/脊椎指压疗法(12%)、草药/植物疗法(7%)、节食/特殊食谱(6%)及足底反射疗法(5%)。人智学疗法只被很少数的人使用。针刺与顺势疗法的使用者倾向于同时使用多种CAM疗法,特别是同时使用针刺与顺势疗法。男性患者与女性患者在CAM疗法的使用上有显著的不同。结论:针刺与顺势疗法的使用人数近似,而顺势疗法是源于西欧的一种CAM疗法,这说明针刺这一来自东方的疗法在德国也有其立足之地。很多患者同时使用多种CAM疗法,特别是针刺与顺势疗法同时使用者居多。此外,对于一些将并非CAM疗法的治疗方法纳入其研究之中而得出的结论,应该持谨慎态度。

A systematic literature review on the effectiveness of eurythmy therapy

BACKGROUND：Eurythmy therapy is a movement therapy of anthroposophic medicine that can have effects on a person’s physical body,spirit,and soul.OBJECTIVE：The aim of this publication was to update and summarize the relevant literature on the effectiveness of eurythmy in a therapeutic context since 2008.SEARCH STRATEGY：Different databases like Pub Med,MEDPILOT,Research Gate,The Cochrane Library,DIMDI,Arthe and also the journal databases Der Merkurstab and the European Journal of Integrative Medicine were searched for prospective and retrospective clinical trials in German or English language.INCLUSION CRITERIA：There were no limitations for indication,considered outcome or age of participants.DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS：Studies were evaluated with regard to their description of the assembly process and treatment,adequate reporting of follow-ups,and equality of comparison groups in controlled trials.RESULTS：Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria.These included two single-arm,non-controlled pilot studies,two publications on the same non-randomized controlled trial and one case study;six further studies referred to a prospective cohort study,the Anthroposophic Medicine Outcome Study.Most of these studies described positives treatment effects with varying effect sizes.The studies were heterogynous according to the indications,age groups,study design and measured outcome.The methodological quality of the studies varied considerably.There were no clear improvements since 2008,when the recommendations were published in the fi rst review.CONCLUSION：Eurythmy seems to be a benefi cial add-on in a therapeutic context that can improve the health conditions of affected persons.More methodologically sound studies are needed to substantiate this positive impression.