IQWiG Reports
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
Chronic wounds: Do they heal better with vacuum therapy?
There is some evidence to suggest that vacuum-assisted wound closure systems could help chronic and large open wounds to heal better. More research is needed to find out whether vacuum therapy is generally better than conventional wound treatment. 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. It is not clear whether weight loss alone can protect against long-term harm from hypertension.
moreBenign 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
Dementia in Alzheimer's disease: Can Ginkgo help?
Ginkgo biloba could help some people with Alzheimer’s disease to perform daily tasks again. Adverse effects are not very common, but interactions with other medications cannot be ruled out. more
Dementia in Alzheimer's disease: How well do cholinesterase inhibitors work?
Cholinesterase inhibitors can delay the loss of brain function in people who have mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. This means that they may help people to remain independent in everyday life for longer. It is not clear whether cholinesterase inhibitors work better than other treatments do.
moreType 2 diabetes: Are long-acting insulin analogues better than regular long-acting human insulin?
Long-acting insulin analogues have not been shown to have advantages over human insulin in the treatment of people with type 2 diabetes. More research is needed on the long-term benefits and harms of long-acting insulin analogues. more
Type 2 diabetes: How do glinides compare to other medications?
There are no good-quality trials of whether glinides can prevent diabetes complications such as damage to the eyes or kidneys. It is not clear whether these blood-sugar-lowering medications have advantages for people with type 2 diabetes compared to other medications. more
Depression: Can duloxetine and venlafaxine help, and how do they compare?
The drugs duloxetine and venlafaxine can relieve the symptoms of depression. They can also reduce the risk of depression coming back and help people to cope better in everyday life. Stopping treatment because of adverse effects is less common with venlafaxine than with duloxetine.
moreLink to the Glossary
Suggest a topic
Certified by
