IQWiG Reports

The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) receives commissions from the Federal Joint Committee of Self-Administration of the Health Care Services or from the Federal Ministry of Health to conduct evidence assessments. The Institute can also undertake research and other projects under its own initiative.

You can read more about the commissions completed and in progress at IQWiG at the IQWiG website (soon available in English). Summaries of these evidence assessments will be available on Informed Health Online from the middle of 2006.

IQWiG has evaluated the effects of statins for people with diabetes and particular heart conditions:

Heart disease and diabetes: Which statins have been well-investigated?

All of the five different statins that are licensed for use in Germany can lower the cholesterol level in the blood. But the deciding factor for patients is how well the medicine can prevent heart attacks and other coronary artery problems. From this point of view, simvastatin (marketed under various brand names) is the best tested. It has been shown to lengthen life expectancy of people with diabetes and particular heart diseases. more

Minimum surgery volumes in hospitals: Are the outcomes better in hospitals that do more operations?

There may be advantages to having surgery for a total knee replacement, for example, in a hospital with a higher volume of this operation. However, setting specific minimum volumes for operations in German hospitals is not simple. more

Nursing workload in hospitals: Does it have an impact on the health of patients?

In German hospitals the number of patients each nurse needs to care for has noticeably increased. It is not yet possible to conclude whether or not this has had an effect on the quality of patient care in Germany. more

Evaluation of international guidelines: Recommendations for people with coronary heart disease

German disease management programmes for people with coronary heart disease are essentially in line with recommendations made in international guidelines. A few additions could be made, for example, about weight reduction and flu vaccination. more

Hypertension: Does losing weight reduce high blood pressure?

Losing weight by dieting (with or without exercise) or by using the drug orlistat can lower high blood pressure in the short term. The weight-loss drug sibutramine reduces weight, but might not reduce blood pressure. It is not clear whether weight loss alone can protect against long-term harm from hypertension. more

Benign prostatic hyperplasia: How do newer procedures compare with standard surgery?

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), the standard surgical procedure for the treatment of benign enlarged prostates, has the best proven effect in relieving the associated symptoms. However, some other procedures might work just as well and cause fewer adverse effects. more

Preterm birth and very low birthweight: Do hospitals that treat more preterm babies provide them with better care?

Preterm babies seem to be more likely to survive if they are cared for in large neonatal units, but it is not clear why. more

Evaluation of international guidelines: Breast cancer

New developments in breast cancer treatment for women, including a special kind of antibody therapy, could play a role in the upcoming revision of the German disease management programme for breast cancer. more

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