Determinants of Regional Variation in Health Expenditures in Germany

Health care expenditure in Germany shows clear regional differences. Such geographic variations are often seen as an indicator for inefficiency. With its homogeneous health care system, low co‐payments and uniform prices, Germany is a particularly suited example to analyse regional variations. We use data for the year 2011 on expenditure, utilization of health services and state of health in Germany's statutory health insurance system. This data, which originate from a variety of administrative sources and cover about 90% of the population, are enriched with a wealth of socio‐economic variables, data on pollutants, prices and individual preferences. State of health and demography explains 55% of the differences as measured by the standard deviation while all control variables account for a total of 72% of the differences at county level. With other measures of variation, we can account for an even greater proportion. A higher proportion of variation than usually supposed can thus be explained. Whilst this study cannot quantify inefficiencies, our results contradict the thesis that regional variations reflect inefficiency. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

大病保险对我国中老年人家庭灾难性卫生支出影响实证分析

目的:考察大病保险对我国中老年人家庭灾难性卫生支出的影响,为完善我国大病保险制度提供建议。方法:以中国健康与养老追踪调查数据库(2011年与2015年)中45岁及以上的城乡中老年人家庭作为研究对象,利用描述性统计法和两部模型法分析大病保险对我国中老年人家庭灾难性卫生支出的影响。结果:目前的大病保险政策从总体上降低了中老年人家庭灾难性卫生支出的发生率,但没有显著降低其发生强度。结论:目前的大病保险并未达到其预期的效果,只是解决了"面"的问题,从总体上降低了灾难性卫生支出发生的可能性,但并没有解决"点"的问题,没有有效降低其大额的医疗卫生支出进而减少其医疗经济负担。建议各地各级政府相关部门应进一步完善大病保险制度,从而真正有效减轻居民重大疾病医疗经济负担。     

Energy recommendations for normal weight,overweight and obese children and adolescents: are different equations necessary?

In 2002/2005, separate energy requirement equations were generated by the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) Dietary Reference Intake process for normal weight and overweight/obese children and adolescents. The current paper questions the theoretical rationale of having two sets of equations (based solely on body-weight classification): when body weight is considered, overweight and obese children and adolescents do not seem to differ from their normal weight counterparts in energy expended for basal metabolism or physical activity tasks. However, energy needs for weight maintenance among overweight/obese girls were consistently higher when predicted using the equations for overweight/obese individuals compared with those developed for normal weight individuals. In contrast, among overweight/obese boys, they were consistently lower . Although the differences are within the variability of the estimates, even theoretical support for a higher energy intake (as occurs in girls) seems unwise because of the potential contribution to a higher body mass in children who are already at risk. It is the opinion of the authors that the IOM revisit the use of two separate equations and generate one set that is appropriate for all children and adolescents.     

The poor pay more: Health-related inequality in Thailand

This paper examines the equality of utilization for equal need and equity of out-of-pocket expenditure for health services in a large urban area in Thailand. Data from a household health interview survey were used to explore patterns of perceived morbidity, utilization of various treatment sources, and out-of-pocket payment. Financial access to health care, as reflected in medical benefit/insurance cover, appeared to influence reported illness and hospitalization rates. Gross lack of access to health care amongst lower socio-economic groups was not the main problem in this densely populated urban area because people could choose and use alternative health services according to their ability and willingness to pay. The corollary, however, was an inequitable pattern of out-of-pocket health expenditure by income quintile and per capita. The underprivileged were more likely to pay out of their own pocket for their health problems, and to pay out of proportion to their household income when compared with more privileged groups. Furthermore, the underprivileged were least likely to be covered by government health benefit schemes, in contrast in particular to civil servants, who paid less out of pocket and did not contribute to their medical benefit fund. The private health sector (private clinics and private hospitals) was the major provider of health care to urban dwellers for both outpatient and inpatient services. Policy options for the short and long term to improve the equity of payment systems for health care are discussed.     

Effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 (7–36 amide) on whole-body protein metabolism in healthy man

The incretin glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) shows glucose-dependent insulinotropic activity and may exert anabolic effects. Whole-body protein metabolism was assessed by measuring [1-¹³C]-leucine kinetics in 13 healthy volunteers during hyperglycaemic clamping with or without pancreatic clamping (somatostatin infusion) in order to differentiate between insulin-mediated and direct GLP-1 effects. During intact pancreatic secretion leucine flux and leucine oxidation rate as parameters of whole-body protein breakdown decreased markedly after 180 min of synthetic GLP-1 infusion (GLP-1 vs. placebo: P  < 0.003). Indirect calorimetry showed an increase in energy expenditure and CO₂ production during GLP-1 administration ( P  < 0.0005). Plasma insulin increased after 3 h of GLP-1 infusion to 1486 ± 145 pmol L⁻¹ vs. 185 ± 12 pmol L⁻¹ for saline ( P  < 0.0001). When plasma insulin levels were kept constant (GLP-1 vs. saline, NS) during pancreatic clamping, GLP-1 effects on both protein metabolism and energy expenditure were abolished. Thus, GLP-1 infusion in man exerts protein anticatabolic and thermic effects, which are mediated by GLP-1-induced stimulation of insulin secretion.     

静息能量消耗测定在慢性肝病中的应用

慢性肝病患者的静息能量消耗应采用开放式间接测热法测得,合理的能量代谢调整有助于肝功能改善并防止并发症发生,测定静息能量消耗可为慢性肝病患者营养支持治疗个体化提供依据。     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病呼吸驱动影响因素分析

目的:探讨慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)病人呼吸驱动与肺功能、血气及静息能量代谢之间的关系.方法:26例COPD和21例正常对照者分别测定口腔阻断压P0.1、呼吸肌功能[最大吸气压(PIMAX)、最大呼气压(P EMAX)]、肺通气功能[努力肺活量(FVC)、一秒率(FEV,%)]、残气(RV/TLC)、弥散功能(DLCO)、静息能量代谢(REE)、呼吸商(RQ)、血气分析及Borg分级等.结果:COPD组P0.1和P0.1/PIMAX高于对照组(P＜0.01).相关分析COPD组P0.1与PaO2、SaO2负相关(r分别为-0.62,-0.53,P均＜0.05),而与PaCO2相关性不明显.Borg分级与P0.1正相关(r=0.63,P＜0.05),P0.1与FVC、FEV1%、RV/TLC、DLCO以及RQ无相关性,P0.1/PIMAX与REE有正相关关系(r=0.41,P＜0.05).结论:COPD呼吸驱动增高,不仅与PaO2,SaO2相关,还与静息能量代谢及Borg分级等相关.     

解偶联蛋白3基因启动子区-55(C>T)多态与中国人静息能量消耗及体脂含量与分布的关系

目的研究解偶联蛋白3基因(UCP3)启动子区-55(C>T)多态与中国人静息能量消耗、体脂参数的关系。方法在300名中国人(正常体重91人,超重/肥胖209人)中,用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性(polymerase chain reaction-restrictionfragment length polymorphisms ,PCR-RFLP)检测UCP3基因启动子区-55(C>T)变异,并测定其静息能量消耗、体脂含量及分布。结果UCP3基因启动子区-55(C>T)多态基因型频率与肥胖及肥胖类型均无相关。正常体重组TT基因型者静息能量消耗水平显著高于CT及CC基因型者(P<0·05) ;超重/肥胖组各基因型者间比较亦有同样趋势。在超重/肥胖组,TT基因型者FM/FFM值与CT及CC基因型者差异有显著意义(P<0·01)。结论UCP3基因启动子区-55(C>T)多态与中国人静息能量消耗相关,该变异可能通过对静息能量消耗的影响调节机体的能量代谢。     

Thermogenic effect of adrenaline: interaction with insulin

Summary The contribution of insulin (3.6 pmol sd kg body mass^–1·min^–1 to adrenaline-induced (0.164 nmol · kg fat free mass^–1·min^–1) thermogenesis was studied in ten postabsorptive healthy volunteers using two sequential protocols. Variables considered were oxygen consumption as well as carbon dioxide production, heart rate, blood pressure, plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, glycerol, free fatty acids,-HO-butyrate and lactate. Adrenaline increased plasma concentrations of glucose, glycerol, free fatty acids, and-HO-butyrate, and heart rate and metabolic rate during normo-insulinaemia [61.3 (SEM 6.6) pmol·^–1]. Similar effects were observed during hyperinsulinaemia [167.9 (SEM 18.7) pmol·^–1], but the effect of adrenaline on oxygen consumption was reduced. On average, metabolic rate increased by 12.9% during normo-insulinaemia and by 8.9% during hyperinsulinaemia. We concluded that relative hyperinsulinaemia resulted in decreased adrenaline-induced thermogenesis and therefore increased whole body anabolism.     

Effects of marathon running on running economy and kinematics

The present study was designed to investigate interactions between running economy and mechanics before, during, and after an individually run marathon. Seven experienced triathletes performed a 5-min submaximal running test on a treadmill at an individual constant marathon speed. Heart rate was monitored and the expired respiratory gas was analyzed. Blood samples were drawn to analyze serum creatine kinase activity (S-CK), skeletal troponin I (sTnI), and blood lactate (B-La). A video analysis was performed (200 frames · s⁻¹) to investigate running mechanics. A kinematic arm was used to determine the external work of each subject. The results of the present study demonstrate that after the marathon, a standardized 5-min submaximal running test resulted in an increase in oxygen consumption, ventilation, and heart rate (P < 0.05), with a simultaneous decrease in the oxygen difference (%) between inspired and expired air, and respiratory exchange ratio (P < 0.05). B-La did not change during the marathon, while sTnI and S-CK values increased (P < 0.05), peaking 2 h and 2 days after the marathon, respectively. With regard to the running kinematics, a minor increase in stride frequency and a similar decrease in stride length were observed (P < 0.01). These results demonstrate clearly that weakened running economy cannot be explained by changes in running mechanics. Therefore, it is suggested that the increased physiological loading is due to several mechanisms: increased utilization of fat as an energy substrate, increased demands of body temperature regulation, and possible muscle damage. Accepted: 20 March 2000