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News
Welcome to the homepage of AIHTA!
AIHTA is an academic non-profit institute. At our website we wish to present our research and give support for health care decision-making. Here all of our reports are available for free. For further information please contact the AIHTA team.
In the News section you will find our most recent publications: newsletter, project-reports etc. Previous reports you might find via Research areas, Research projects and Repository.
Announcement
Further Development of the Programme on Preventive Health Check-Ups: Risk Scores for Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review
Cardiovascular diseases are among the most common causes of death and cost the EU around €282 billion annually. This research project uses a systematic review to compare various risk scores (e.g. SCORE2, ARRIBA, PROCAM) for assessing individual cardiovascular risk. Their predictive accuracy, usefulness and feasibility in Austrian preventive medical check-ups were analysed. The results show that long-term health benefits have not yet been proven. National adjustments, training and further validation studies would be necessary for their introduction.
Publication: HTA Project Report No. 170b: https://eprints.aihta.at/1577/
Contact: Lena Grabenhofer
Announcement
Further Development of the Programme on Preventive Health Check-Ups: Brief interventions for lifestyle counselling: Umbrella review and qualitative surveye Medical Check-Ups in Austria
Lifestyle-related diseases account for around 82 percent of all deaths in Austria. The Austrian preventive medical check-up was last updated in 2005, while many lifestyle-related health indicators have worsened. This research project uses an umbrella review to investigate which evidence-based brief interventions on physical activity, healthy nutrition, and reduction of alcohol consumption can be integrated into lifestyle counselling within the preventive medical check-up. Systematic reviews published between 2015 and 2025 were analysed, and Austrian physicians were surveyed regarding implementation feasibility.
Publication: HTA Project Report No. 170a: https://eprints.aihta.at/1576/
Contact: Jule Anna Pleyer
Announcement
Transition from Child and Adolescent to Adult Mental Health Services: Analysis of International Models and Recommendations for Action for Austria
Transitions from Child and Adolescent to Adult Mental Health Services are characterised by discontinuities and high dropout rates. This project reviewed international models and policies, complemented by expert consultations. Two main models of care were identified, with common principles including collaborative, developmentally appropriate, and youth-centred transitions. Implementation faces challenges due to workforce and structural constraints. In Austria, transitional psychiatry remains in its early stages; the findings provide an evidence base for system-wide, sustainable development.
Publication: HTA Project Report No. 177: https://eprints.aihta.at/1574/
Contact: Romy Schönegger
Announcement
Further Development of the Program on Preventive Health Check-Ups: Screening for Chronic Kidney Disease - a rapid review on benefits, harms and target populations
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common but often underdiagnosed condition associated with increased cardiovascular risk, premature mortality, and reduced quality of life. Early detection may prevent disease progression and complications. This rapid review summarises evidence from systematic reviews and clinical guidelines on the effectiveness and recommendations of CKD screening in different populations and places the findings in the context of the Austrian preventive medical check-up programme.
Publication: HTA Project Report No. 170c: https://eprints.aihta.at/1573/
Contact: Doris Giess
Newsletter
Inhalt
- Editorial: Wie teuer darf ein Arzneimittel sein?
- Bewertungsboard: HTA zu Lifileucel (AMTAGVI®) veröffentlicht
- Rapid Review: Digitale Tools zur Früherkennung seelischer Belastungen rund um die Geburt
- D: Wirksamkeit von digitalen Gesundheitsanwendungen (DiGAs) auf dem Prüfstand
- D: Individuelle Gesundheitsleistungen (IGeL) im Evidenz-Check: Hyaluronsäure-Injektionen schaden mehr als sie nützen
- EU: Empfehlungen zur Bewertung der Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit von Hochrisiko-Medizinprodukten
- Termine
Announcement
Digital health technologies for self-identification of the risk of perinatal mental illness
The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness and safety as primary outcomes and implementation considerations of digital health technologies for self-identification of the risk of perinatal mental ill-ness, with a focus on social, organizational, and legal aspects as secondary outcomes. Six studies and one review were included, covering mobile applications, web platforms, and text-based interventions.
Publication: HTA Project Report No. 167: https://eprints.aihta.at/1571
Contact: Yui Hidaka
Announcement
Lifileucel (AMTAGVI®) for previously treated unresectable or metastatic melanoma
Lifileucel (AMTAGVI®) is an autologous tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy in which T-cells are isolated from the patient’s tissue, expanded ex vivo, and reinfused. The goal of this treatment is to trigger an antitumor response in patients with previously treated, unresectable or metastatic melanoma. In a single-arm Phase 2 multi-cohort study, the pooled analysis of two cohorts showed a complete response rate of 5%, a partial response rate of 26%, and a stable disease rate of 46%. Additional results include an objective response rate of 31.4%, a median overall survival of 13.9 months, and a progression-free survival of 4.1 months. Regarding safety, all patients experienced at least one treatment-emergent adverse event, with thrombocytopenia (76.9%), anaemia (50.0%), and febrile neutropenia (41.7%) being the most frequently observed. Six patients died within 30 days after lifileucel infusion. However, the available evidence is limited as the efficacy of lifileucel was not directly compared with other therapies.
After publication of the HTA report, the marketing authorization application was withdrawn from the EMA by the manufacturer in July 2025 – see https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/amtagvi
Publication: Decision Support Document for the Austrian Appraisal Board No. 004: https://eprints.aihta.at/1570
Contact: Sarah Wolf
Newsletter
Inhalt
- Editorial: Priorisierung von Impfprogrammen auf Basis von Simulationen
- Traumabehandlung für geflüchtete Kinder und Jugendliche
- Sondenlose Herzschrittmacher
- Temporäre Nitinol-Implantation (TIND) bei gutartiger Prostatavergrößerung
- Inselzelltransplantation bei chronischer Pankreatitis und Typ-1-Diabetes
- Medikamentenbeschichteter Ballonkatheter zur Behandlung von Harnröhrenverengungen
- Thermoablationsverfahren zur Behandlung von Brustkrebs im Frühstadium
- Einzeitiger matrix-assistierter Knorpelersatz mit und ohne Knochenmarkaspirat im Knie
- Termine
Announcement
Evaluation of individual medical procedures - Reports 2025
We are pleased to introduce our new reports.
Decision Support Documents 2025:
- DSD 143: Islet cell transplantation for chronic pancreatitis, type 1 diabetes, with and without kidney transplantation https://eprints.aihta.at/1564
- DSD 144: Drug-coated balloon catheter for the treatment of urethral strictures https://eprints.aihta.at/1565
- DSD 145: Thermal ablation for early-stage breast cancer: cryoablation, microwave, radiofrequency, high-intensity focused ultrasound, and laser ablation https://eprints.aihta.at/1566
- DSD 146: One-stage matrix-assisted cartilage repair with and without bone marrow aspirate concentrate in the knee https://eprints.aihta.at/1567
+ 2 Updates
- DSD 97: Leadless cardiac pacemakers. 3rd Update 2025 https://eprints.aihta.at/1568
- DSD 129: Temporary nitinol implantation for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia https://eprints.aihta.at/1569
Announcement
Trauma Care: Teaching Recovery Technique (TRT) to children and adolescent refugees. Systematic Review and Evaluation of Austrian TRT-Programme at AFYA
Traumatic experiences are a predictor of ill mental health, primarily posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. The Children and War Foundation has developed a group-based trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT) – the Teaching Recovery Techniques (TRT) - for children and adolescents exposed to war, violence, and displacement. TRT is a programme designed for health promotion and prevention in low-resource settings and is facilitated by trained laypersons, often from the same cultural background as the participants. This report aims to synthesise the empirical evidence on the effectiveness of TRT programmes in other countries and to put the results of the Austrian TRT programme at AFYA in context.
Publication: HTA Project Report No. 165: https://eprints.aihta.at/1563/
Contact: Claudia Wild
