BACKGROUND: Cataract is one of the most prevalent eye diseases in Germany. According to the German Ophthalmological Society, its prevalence will increase significantly in the coming years. It has been suggested that most cataract operations are carried out in an outpatient setting. However, there still seems to be a need for inpatient cataract surgery. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to determine the total number of cataract operations carried out in German hospitals over the last 12 years and to investigate whether the proportion of cataract operations carried out as outpatient procedures has increased in recent years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The numbers of cataract operations carried out as outpatient and inpatient procedures were extracted from the quality reports published by the Federal Joint Committee between 2006 and 2016. The total number, the number of cataract operations per 1000 residents (inpatient and outpatient procedures) and the proportion of complex cataract operations carried out as inpatient procedures were calculated. The descriptive statistical analysis was carried out in R (www.r-project.org). RESULTS: Between 2006 and 2016, 1,884,506 cataract operations were carried out in German hospitals. There was an increase in the total number of cataract operations (2006: 223,070; 2016: 279,331). The proportion of outpatient procedures increased between 2006 (44%) and 2010 (48.9%) and remained stable between 2010 and 2016 (2016: 48.5%). Between 2006 and 2016, the proportion of complex cataract operations carried out as inpatient procedures ranged from 56 to 86%. DISCUSSION: A stable and significant proportion of cataract operations in Germany is still carried out in hospitals. The total number of cataract operations has increased. After increasing between 2006 and 2010, the proportion of cataract operations carried out as outpatient procedures remained stable. This sustained demand may be triggered by a group of patients who, due to medical and/or social reasons, require treatment under inpatient conditions. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.
BACKGROUND: Cataract is one of the most prevalent eye diseases in Germany. According to the German Ophthalmological Society, its prevalence will increase significantly in the coming years. It has been suggested that most cataract operations are carried out in an outpatient setting. However, there still seems to be a need for inpatient cataract surgery. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to determine the total number of cataract operations carried out in German hospitals over the last 12 years and to investigate whether the proportion of cataract operations carried out as outpatient procedures has increased in recent years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The numbers of cataract operations carried out as outpatient and inpatient procedures were extracted from the quality reports published by the Federal Joint Committee between 2006 and 2016. The total number, the number of cataract operations per 1000 residents (inpatient and outpatient procedures) and the proportion of complex cataract operations carried out as inpatient procedures were calculated. The descriptive statistical analysis was carried out in R (www.r-project.org). RESULTS: Between 2006 and 2016, 1,884,506 cataract operations were carried out in German hospitals. There was an increase in the total number of cataract operations (2006: 223,070; 2016: 279,331). The proportion of outpatient procedures increased between 2006 (44%) and 2010 (48.9%) and remained stable between 2010 and 2016 (2016: 48.5%). Between 2006 and 2016, the proportion of complex cataract operations carried out as inpatient procedures ranged from 56 to 86%. DISCUSSION: A stable and significant proportion of cataract operations in Germany is still carried out in hospitals. The total number of cataract operations has increased. After increasing between 2006 and 2010, the proportion of cataract operations carried out as outpatient procedures remained stable. This sustained demand may be triggered by a group of patients who, due to medical and/or social reasons, require treatment under inpatient conditions. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.
Authors: Jan Luebke; Daniel Boehringer; Alexandra Anton; Moritz Daniel; Thomas Reinhard; Stefan Lang Journal: Clin Epidemiol Date: 2021-07-13 Impact factor: 4.790