[Factors Influencing Results of Mortality Measurement in the Corona Pandemic: Analyses of Mortality in Germany in 2020]. / Einflussfaktoren auf Ergebnisse der Sterblichkeitsmessung in der Corona-Pandemie: Auswertungen zur Sterblichkeit in Deutschland im Jahr 2020.

INTRODUCTION: (Excess) mortality and years of life lost are important measures of health risks from the Corona pandemic. The aim of this paper was to identify methodological factors that affect the calculation of mortality and further to point out possible misinterpretations of years of life lost. METHODOLOGY: Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) can be used to compare mortalities (e. g., an SMR of 1.015 means excess mortality of 1.5%, an SMR of 0.990 means that mortality is reduced by 1.0%). In this study, SMRs as a measure of association for mortality in Germany were calculated for 2020 using different methods. In particular, the influence of different data sources and reference periods was examined. Furthermore, its influence on the calculated mortality was also examined to take into account increasing life expectancy. In addition, published results on years of life lost were critically analyzed. RESULTS: Using January 2022 data from the Federal Statistical Office on mortality for 5-year age groups resulted in higher SMR values than using preliminary data from February 2021 with 20-year age groups (SMR=0.997, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.995-0.999 versus SMR=0.976 (95% CI: 0.974-0.978)). The choice of the reference period had a large impact on calculated mortality (for men, SMR=1.024 (95% CI: 1.022-1.027) with 2019 as the reference year versus SMR=0.998 (95% CI: 0.996-1.001) with 2016 to 2019 as the reference period). Analyses in which declining mortality in 2016 to 2019 was carried forward into 2020 when calculating expected deaths resulted in significantly higher SMR values (for men SMR=1.024 (95% CI: 1.021-1.026) with, and SMR=0.998 (95% CI: 0.996-1.001) without carrying forward declining mortality). Figures for pandemic-related years of life lost per person who died from COVID-19 should be interpreted with caution: Calculation from remaining life reported in mortality tables can lead to misleading results. CONCLUSION: When calculating mortality and years of life lost during the pandemic, a number of methodological assumptions must be made that have a significant impact on the results and must be considered when interpreting the results.

Prediction of future cardiovascular events by Framingham, SCORE and asCVD risk scores is less accurate in HIV-positive individuals from the HIV-HEART Study compared with the general population.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) occur more often in people living with HIV (PLWH) than in the general population. It has been reported that CVD risk scores developed for the general population underestimate the CVD risk in PLWH. Performances of the Framingham Risk Score (FRS), the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) and the atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (asCVD) risk score in PLWH were compared with the general population to quantify score-specific differences in risk prediction. METHODS: HIV-positive outpatients from the HIV-HEART (HIVH) study (n = 567) were compared with participants from the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall (HNR) study (n ~ 4440) both recruited from the German Ruhr area. During a follow-up time of around 5 years, the associations between the FRS and incident CVD and peripheral artery disease (CVD_pAD), SCORE and coronary heart disease (CHD), and asCVD and incident CVD were examined using logistic regression. Score performances were assessed by comparing the areas under the curve (AUCs). RESULTS: The mean ages were 52.9 ± 6.7 and 59.1 ± 7.7 years in the HIVH and HNR studies, respectively. There were fewer incident CVD events in the HNR study than in the HIVH study (CVD_pAD: 3.9% vs. 12.1%; CHD: 2.1% vs. 7.8%; CVD: 3.5% vs. 9.9%). Age- and sex-adjusted CVD risk was greater with increasing FRS, SCORE and asCVD in both cohorts, but the scores performed more accurately in the HNR than in HIVH study (AUCs FRS: 0.71 vs. 0.65; SCORE: 0.70 vs. 0.62; asCVD: 0.74 vs. 0.62). CONCLUSIONS: Associations between risk scores and future CVD were observed in both cohorts, but the score performances were less reliable in PLWH than in the general population.

Fertility preservation and fulfillment of parenthood after treatment of hematological malignancies: results from the 'Aftercare in Blood Cancer Survivors' (ABC) study.

PURPOSE: Treatment of hematological malignancies carries the risk of lasting sterility. We aimed to identify fertility-related unmet needs. METHODS: The 'Aftercare in Blood Cancer Survivors' study is a cohort study of hematological patients who were in treatment-free remission for ≥ 3 years or stable under continuous oral medication. Female patients age 18-45 years and male patients age 18-65 years without a history of pre-treatment infertility were asked to answer a structured questionnaire including questions addressing fertility issues. Multivariable analyses were performed to detect risk factors. RESULTS: Of 1562 study participants, 1031 met the inclusion criteria for the fertility sub-study. A high proportion of patients (72.4%) received information about the risk of losing fertility, but only a minority (15%) took steps to preserve it. Female and older patients were less likely to be informed. A post-treatment wish for parenthood was expressed by 19.3% of patients. It was strongly associated with childlessness at time of diagnosis and could be fulfilled by 29.4%. Fulfillment of desired parenthood increased with increasing time from diagnosis and was low after allogeneic transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Female and older hematological patients are less likely to be informed about fertility-related issues than other patients. With societal changes towards first parenthood at higher age, the proportion of patients desiring a child after treatment is likely to increase. Fulfillment of desired parenthood remains challenging, especially after allogeneic transplantation. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: In patients likely to express a wish for post-treatment parenthood, fertility-related issues should routinely be addressed before gonadotoxic treatment is started.

Associations of metabolically healthy obesity with prevalence and progression of coronary artery calcification: Results from the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There is controversy on the potentially benign nature of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), i.e., obese persons with few or no metabolic abnormalities. So far, associations between MHO and coronary artery calcification (CAC), a measure of subclinical atherosclerosis, have mainly been studied cross-sectionally in Asian populations. We assessed cross-sectional and longitudinal MHO CAC associations in a Caucasian population. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study, a population-based cohort study in Germany, CAC was assessed by electron-beam tomography at baseline and at 5-year follow-up. For cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, we included 1585 participants free of coronary heart disease at baseline, with CAC measurements at baseline and at follow-up, and with either normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) or obesity (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m2) at baseline. We used four definitions of MHO. In our main analysis, we defined obese persons as metabolically healthy if they met ≤1 of the NCEP ATP III criteria for the definition of the metabolic syndrome - waist circumference was not taken into account because of collinearity with BMI. Persons with MHO had a higher prevalence of CAC than metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW) persons (prevalence ratio = 1.59 (95% confidence interval 1.38-1.84) for the main analysis). Persons with MHO had slightly larger odds of CAC progression than persons with MHNW (odds ratios ranged from 1.17 (0.69-1.99) to 1.48 (1.02-2.13) depending on MHO definition and statistical approach). CONCLUSION: Our analyses on MHO CAC associations add to the evidence that MHO is not a purely benign health condition.

Association of dietary patterns with five-year degree and progression of coronary artery calcification in the Heinz Nixdorf Recall study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: As a modifiable lifestyle factor, diet is hypothesized to play an important role in the progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to explore associations of comprehensive dietary patterns derived by cluster analysis with degree and progression of coronary artery calcification (CAC) over five years of follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study, 3718 participants (45-75 years; 47.6% men) without coronary heart disease completed a food frequency questionnaire at baseline. Five distinct dietary patterns were identified using cluster analysis: "Health-conscious", "Traditional German/Less alcohol", "Mediterranean-like", "Western" and "Animal fat/Alcohol" (used as reference). CAC was measured using electron-beam computed tomography at baseline and five years later. CAC after five years was predicted based on sex- and age-specific baseline percentiles. After comparing observed and predicted CAC Scores, CAC progression was classified as slow, expected, or rapid. Compared to "Animal fat/Alcohol" diet, a "Mediterranean-like" diet was associated with a relative risk (RR) for a rapid CAC progression in both sexes (men: 0.61; 95%-confidence interval [95%-CI]: 0.41; 0.90; women: 0.59; 95%-CI: 0.45; 0.78). Furthermore, reduced RRs were observed in women with a "Health-conscious" and a "Traditional German/Less alcohol" diet (0.63; 95%-CI: 0.47; 0.84, respectively 0.69; 95%-CI: 0.52; 0.90). No association was observed for a "Western" diet for both sexes. Similar results were revealed for degree of CAC. CONCLUSION: The study results support the hypothesis that a "Mediterranean-like" diet is associated with a lower CAC-progression and lower degree of CAC in men and women.

[Current Practice of Pre- and Postnatal Screening and Future Developments for Evidence Based Guidelines]. / Aktueller Stand und zukünftige Entwicklung der prä- und postnatalen Vorsorge- bzw. Screeninguntersuchungen ­ Evidenz tut Not.

Objectives: In this selective review we provide an overview of the current pre- and postnatal screenings up to 18 years established in Germany to inform physicians of different medical fields (gynecologists, pediatricians, general practitioners, other medical specialists who treat children, adolescents or pregnant females). Current State: Research on screening for different types of cancer has frequently failed to show any benefit. Thus, there is a need to broaden the evidence basis related to medical screenings especially for children and adolescents. Outlook: Potential future developments of pre- and postnatal screenings are illustrated including their social impact. The lack of an early detection of mental health problems is pointed out. An interdisciplinary collaboration and research is required to accumulate evidence with regard to medical screenings and to consider health economic and ethical aspects.

Association of neighbourhood unemployment rate with incident Type 2 diabetes mellitus in five German regions.

AIM: To analyse the association of neighbourhood unemployment with incident self-reported physician-diagnosed Type 2 diabetes in a population aged 45-74 years from five German regions. METHODS: Study participants were linked via their addresses at baseline to particular neighbourhoods. Individual-level data from five population-based studies were pooled and combined with contextual data on neighbourhood unemployment. Type 2 diabetes was assessed according to a self-reported physician diagnosis of diabetes. We estimated proportional hazard models (Weibull distribution) in order to obtain hazard ratios and 95% CIs of Type 2 diabetes mellitus, taking into account interval-censoring and clustering. RESULTS: We included 7250 participants residing in 228 inner city neighbourhoods in five German regions in our analysis. The incidence rate was 12.6 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 11.4-13.8). The risk of Type 2 diabetes mellitus was higher in men [hazard ratio 1.79 (95% CI 1.47-2.18)] than in women and higher in people with a low education level [hazard ratio 1.55 (95% CI 1.18-2.02)] than in those with a high education level. Independently of individual-level characteristics, we found a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes mellitus in neighbourhoods with high levels of unemployment [quintile 5; hazard ratio 1.72 (95% CI 1.23-2.42)] than in neighbourhoods with low unemployment (quintile 1). CONCLUSIONS: Low education level and high neighbourhood unemployment were independently associated with an elevated risk of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Studies examining the impact of the residential environment on Type 2 diabetes mellitus will provide knowledge that is essential for the identification of high-risk populations.

Genome-wide analysis of rare copy number variations reveals PARK2 as a candidate gene for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, highly heritable neurodevelopmental disorder. Genetic loci have not yet been identified by genome-wide association studies. Rare copy number variations (CNVs), such as chromosomal deletions or duplications, have been implicated in ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders. To identify rare (frequency ≤1%) CNVs that increase the risk of ADHD, we performed a whole-genome CNV analysis based on 489 young ADHD patients and 1285 adult population-based controls and identified one significantly associated CNV region. In tests for a global burden of large (>500 kb) rare CNVs, we observed a nonsignificant (P=0.271) 1.126-fold enriched rate of subjects carrying at least one such CNV in the group of ADHD cases. Locus-specific tests of association were used to assess if there were more rare CNVs in cases compared with controls. Detected CNVs, which were significantly enriched in the ADHD group, were validated by quantitative (q)PCR. Findings were replicated in an independent sample of 386 young patients with ADHD and 781 young population-based healthy controls. We identified rare CNVs within the parkinson protein 2 gene (PARK2) with a significantly higher prevalence in ADHD patients than in controls (P=2.8 × 10(-4) after empirical correction for genome-wide testing). In total, the PARK2 locus (chr 6: 162 659 756-162 767 019) harboured three deletions and nine duplications in the ADHD patients and two deletions and two duplications in the controls. By qPCR analysis, we validated 11 of the 12 CNVs in ADHD patients (P=1.2 × 10(-3) after empirical correction for genome-wide testing). In the replication sample, CNVs at the PARK2 locus were found in four additional ADHD patients and one additional control (P=4.3 × 10(-2)). Our results suggest that copy number variants at the PARK2 locus contribute to the genetic susceptibility of ADHD. Mutations and CNVs in PARK2 are known to be associated with Parkinson disease.

Association of Venous Disorders with Leg Symptoms: Results from the Bonn Vein Study 1.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to study the association between venous disorders and leg symptoms in the population based cross sectional Bonn Vein Study 1 (BVS1). METHODS: A total of 1,350 men and 1,722 women aged 18-79 years were enrolled into BVS1. Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), varicose veins (VVs), and clinical classes (C-classes/CEAP [Clinical, Etiological, Anatomical, and Pathophysiological]) were determined by clinical and duplex investigation. Leg symptoms (heaviness, tightness, swelling, pain after standing or sitting, pain while walking, muscle cramps, itching, and restless legs) were assessed in a standardized interview. For 2,624 subjects (48.7% male) with complete information on venous disorders, relevant characteristics and information on at least one leg symptom, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: More women (929/63.0%) reported at least one leg symptom within the last 4 weeks than men (560/48.7%). Prevalence of reported symptoms increased with age (45.4% of the 18-29 year olds, 73.9% of the 70-79 year olds). Leg symptoms were more frequent in obese and underweight subjects. As confirmed by clinical and duplex examination 22.6% had VV and 15.8% had CVI. VV (OR: 1.4; CI: 1.1-1.7) and CVI (OR: 1.8; CI: 1.3-2.3) were significantly associated with reporting at least one leg symptom. In particular, there was a positive association of VV and CVI with itching, feeling of heaviness, tightness, swelling, and pain after standing or sitting. C2-C6 showed a statistically significant association with feeling of heaviness, tightness, swelling, and itching, while for pain on walking and muscle cramps this was shifted towards C classes C3-C6 and C3-C4, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Venous disorders show significant associations with several leg symptoms. Itching, feeling of heaviness, or tightness seem to be more closely related than other symptoms. The associations between C classes and symptoms seem to be restricted to classes C2 or higher.

[The benefit of large-scale cohort studies for health research: the example of the German National Cohort]. / Der Nutzen großer Kohortenstudien für die Gesundheitsforschung am Beispiel der Nationalen Kohorte.

The prospective nature of large-scale epidemiological multi-purpose cohort studies with long observation periods facilitates the search for complex causes of diseases, the analysis of the natural history of diseases and the identification of novel pre-clinical markers of disease. The German National Cohort (GNC) is a population-based, highly standardised and in-depth phenotyped cohort. It shall create the basis for new strategies for risk assessment and identification, early diagnosis and prevention of multifactorial diseases. The GNC is the largest population-based cohort study in Germany to date. In the year 2014 the examination of 200,000 women and men aged 20-69 years started in 18 study centers. The study facilitates the investigation of the etiology of chronic diseases in relation to lifestyle, genetic, socioeconomic, psychosocial and environmental factors. By this the GNC creates the basis for the development of methods for early diagnosis and prevention of these diseases. Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative/-psychiatric diseases, musculoskeletal and infectious diseases are in focus of this study. Due to its mere size, the study could be characterized as a Big Data project. We deduce that this is not the case.

B-type natriuretic peptide predicts stroke of presumable cardioembolic origin in addition to coronary artery calcification.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: B-type natriuretric peptide (BNP) is a marker of cardiac dysfunction that is released from myocytes in response to ventricular wall stress. Previous studies suggested that BNP predicts stroke events in addition to classical risk factors. It was suggested that the BNP-associated risk results from coronary atherosclerosis or atrial fibrillation. METHODS: Three thousand six hundred and seventy five subjects from the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study (45-75 years; 47.6% men) without previous stroke, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarcts, open cardiac valve surgery, pacemakers and defibrillators were followed up over 110.1 ± 23.1 months. Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to examine BNP as a stroke predictor in addition to vascular risk factors (age, gender, systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, diabetes, smoking), renal insufficiency, atrial fibrillation/known heart failure and coronary artery calcification. RESULTS: Eighty-nine incident strokes occurred (80 ischaemic, 9 hemorrhagic). Subjects suffering stroke had significantly higher BNP values at baseline than the remaining subjects [26.3 (Q1; Q3 = 12.9; 51.0) vs. 17.4 (9.4; 31.4); P < 0.001]. In a multivariable regression, log10 BNP was an independent stroke predictor [hazard ratio 1.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-3.41; P = 0.017] in addition to age (1.24 per 5 years, CI 1.04-1.49; P = 0.016), systolic blood pressure (1.25 per 10 mmHg, CI 1.14-1.38; P < 0.001), smoking (2.05, CI 1.24-3.39; P = 0.005), atrial fibrillation/heart failure (2.25, CI 1.05-4.83; P = 0.037) and computed-tomography-based log10 (coronary artery calcification + 1) (1.47, CI 1.15-1.88; P = 0.002). Log10 BNP predicted stroke in men but not women, both in subjects ≤65 and >65 years. In subsequent analyses, BNP discriminated the incidence of cardioembolic stroke (P for trend = 0.001), but not stroke of macroangiopathic (P = 0.555), microangiopathic (P = 0.809) or unknown (P = 0.367) origin. CONCLUSIONS: BNP predicts presumable cardioembolic stroke independent of coronary calcification.

Diabetes incidence does not differ between subjects with and without high depressive symptoms--5-year follow-up results of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study.

AIMS: Cross-sectional studies have consistently reported evidence for an association between diabetes and depressive disorders. However, only limited prospective studies have examined this association, reporting conflicting results. In a population-based cohort study, we compared cumulative incidences of diabetes between participants with and without high depressive symptoms. METHOD: We analysed the 5-year follow-up data from the German Heinz Nixdorf Recall study of 3547 participants without diabetes at baseline [mean age 58.8 (sd 7.6) years, 47.5% male]. Depressive symptoms were defined using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (cut point ≥ 17). Diabetes (diagnosed or previously undetected) was identified by self-reported physician-diagnosed diabetes, medication and high blood glucose levels. We estimated 5-year cumulative incidences with 95% confidence intervals and fitted multiple logistic regression models to calculate the odds ratios, adjusted for age, sex, physical activity, smoking, living with or without partner, and educational level. RESULTS: The cumulative incidence of diabetes was 9.2% (95% CI 6.3-12.8) in participants with high depressive symptoms at baseline and 9.0% (95% CI 8.0-10.0) in participants without these symptoms. The age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio of diabetes in participants with depressive symptoms compared with those without was 1.13 [95% CI 0.77-1.68; fully adjusted 1.11 (95% CI 0.74-1.65)]. These results did not substantially change in several additional sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION: Our study did not show a significantly increased risk of developing diabetes in individuals with high depressive symptoms compared with those without high depressive symptoms during a 5-year follow-up period.

Bipolar disorder risk alleles in children with ADHD.

Bipolar disorder (BD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may share common genetic risk factors as indicated by the high co-morbidity of BD and ADHD, their phenotypic overlap especially in pediatric populations, the high heritability of both disorders, and the co-occurrence in families. We therefore examined whether known polygenic BD risk alleles are associated with ADHD. We chose the eight best SNPs of the recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) of BD patients of German ancestry and the nine SNPs from international GWAS meeting a 'genome-wide significance' level of α = 5 × 10(-8). A GWAS was performed in 495 ADHD children and 1,300 population-based controls using HumanHap550v3 and Human660 W-Quadv1 BeadArrays. We found no significant association of childhood ADHD with single BD risk alleles surviving adjustment for multiple testing. Yet, risk alleles for BD and ADHD were directionally consistent at eight of nine loci with the strongest support for three SNPs in or near NCAN, BRE, and LMAN2L. The polygene analysis for the BP risk alleles at all 14 loci indicated a higher probability of being a BD risk allele carrier in the ADHD cases as compared to the controls. At a moderate power to detect association with ADHD, if true effects were close to estimates from GWAS for BD, our results suggest that the possible contribution of BD risk variants to childhood ADHD risk is considerably lower than for BD. Yet, our findings should encourage researchers to search for common genetic risk factors in BD and childhood ADHD in future studies.

[Distribution of carotid intima media thickness in men and women with and without coronary heart disease. Cross-sectional data of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study]. / Verteilung der karotidalen Intima-Media-Dicke bei Männern und Frauen mit und ohne koronare Herzerkrankung : Querschnittsdaten aus der Heinz Nixdorf Recall Studie.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to introduce population-based sex and age-stratified distributions of carotid intima media thickness (CIMT), to compare fixed cut-off and percentile values for subjects with and without known coronary heart disease (CHD) and to describe CIMT percentiles. METHODS: Between 2000 and 2003, a total of 4,814 subjects aged 45-75 years were recruited into the Heinz Nixdorf recall study (HNR). Ultrasound examination of extracranial arteries was performed and the CIMT was measured manually over a distance of 1 cm proximal to the bulb in the common carotid artery (CCA). Both sides were measured and the average of the right and left artery were calculated (mean CIMT). RESULTS: The CIMT was measured for 1,749 men and 1,802 women without prevalent CHD and 177 men and 50 women with prevalent CHD. Mean CIMT values were higher in men compared to women (men 0.71 ± 0.14 mm vs. women 0.65 ± 0.11 mm, p ≤ 0.0001) and in subjects with CHD compared to those without (men with and without CHD: 0.76 ± 0.14 mm and 0.70 ± 0.14 mm, p ≤ 0.0001, respectively; women with and without CHD: 0.73 ± 0.15 mm and 0.64 ± 0.11 mm, p ≤ 0.0001, respectively). In men the mean CIMT increased from 0.62 ± 0.10 mm in the youngest (45-49 years old) up to 0.79 ± 0.13 mm in the highest age group (≥ 70 years) (0.57 ± 0.08 mm up to 0.71 ± 0.12 mm in women, p ≤ 0.0001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to international studies similar CIMT distributions were found in this study using both continuous and percentile distributions. However, lower CIMT values were observed in older participants, which can be explained by exclusion of carotid plaque formation in CIMT measurements.

Job strain in relation to body mass index: pooled analysis of 160 000 adults from 13 cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: Evidence of an association between job strain and obesity is inconsistent, mostly limited to small-scale studies, and does not distinguish between categories of underweight or obesity subclasses. OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between job strain and body mass index (BMI) in a large adult population. METHODS: We performed a pooled cross-sectional analysis based on individual-level data from 13 European studies resulting in a total of 161 746 participants (49% men, mean age, 43.7 years). Longitudinal analysis with a median follow-up of 4 years was possible for four cohort studies (n = 42 222). RESULTS: A total of 86 429 participants were of normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9 kg m(-2) ), 2149 were underweight (BMI < 18.5 kg m(-2) ), 56 572 overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg m(-2) ) and 13 523 class I (BMI 30-34.9 kg m(-2) ) and 3073 classes II/III (BMI ≥ 35 kg m(-2) ) obese. In addition, 27 010 (17%) participants reported job strain. In cross-sectional analyses, we found increased odds of job strain amongst underweight [odds ratio 1.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-1.25], obese class I (odds ratio 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.12) and obese classes II/III participants (odds ratio 1.14, 95% CI 1.01-1.28) as compared with participants of normal weight. In longitudinal analysis, both weight gain and weight loss were related to the onset of job strain during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In an analysis of European data, we found both weight gain and weight loss to be associated with the onset of job strain, consistent with a 'U'-shaped cross-sectional association between job strain and BMI. These associations were relatively modest; therefore, it is unlikely that intervention to reduce job strain would be effective in combating obesity at a population level.

Does a screening questionnaire for familial and hereditary colorectal cancer risk work in a health insurance population?

The aim of our study was to evaluate actual prevalence, uptake and first experiences with a questionnaire developed for early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) in persons with familial/hereditary risk. A cross sectional study in an insurance population aged 30-54 years was conducted. Subjects with ICD-10 codes C00 to C97 and D37 to D48 were excluded. A standardised questionnaire was sent to 12,139 subjects. Three months later, subjects with a reported family history were followed by a second questionnaire. An additional telephone survey was performed to validate responses. Nineteen per cent met the inclusion criteria (mean age 45 ± 7 years, 38% men). Three hundred and seventy-three subjects (16%) were followed by a second questionnaire. Of these, 248 (66%) returned. Forty-four per cent were already aware of their increased risk of developing CRC. Awareness was associated with knowledge of CRC. One hundred subjects (41%) reported that they had informed their general practitioner (GP) or gastroenterologist. A colonoscopy or stool test was recommended to 92. Subjects who found out about their increased risk for the first time, reported significantly less frequent physician contact (GP: 20% vs. 34%, gastroenterologist: 8% vs. 21%). Results indicate that there is a need for a structured, person at risk-adapted, statutory early detection program.

[Prevalence of arterial hypertension in the population of Western Germany: Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study]. / Prävalenz der arteriellen Hypertonie in der westdeutschen Bevölkerung: Heinz Nixdorf Recall Studie.

Regional disparities in the prevalence of arterial hypertension in Germany have been reported in population-based surveys. An analysis comparing the SHIP study in the north-eastern region of Germany (1997-2001) with the MONICA/KORA-S4 study (1999-2001) in the south-west of Germany showed a significantly higher age-adjusted prevalence in the north-eastern population. The Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study is a population based prospective cohort study designed to assess cross-sectional and longitudinal data of risk factors, subclinical signs of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular endpoints in the Ruhr area of Germany. A total of 4,443 subjects without coronary artery disease aged 45-75 years could be included between 2000 und 2003 and the prevalence of hypertension, defined by JNC-7, was 63% in men and 52% in women. Low rates of hypertension awareness, treatment and control rates in population-based surveys as well as in recently published high risk cohorts with known coronary artery disease in Germany elucidate the need to optimize the strategies of screening, treatment and follow-up in primary and secondary prevention. Coronary artery calcification was demonstrated to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular endpoints even in the stage of prehypertension. The risk-benefit ratio for an early treatment of these patients could be improved by advanced risk stratification, assessing the level of coronary artery calcification.

[Neurological complex treatment: impact on mortality in the first year and costs for statutory health insurance]. / Neurologische Komplexbehandlung - Auswirkungen auf die Sterblichkeit im ersten Jahr und die Kosten der gesetzlichen Krankenkassen.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare standard treatment of strokes with a complex form, defined by the German procedure classification. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 3827 patients in 2005 were compared with 4315 patients in 2007 concerning mortality within hospital and 30, 90 and 360 days after hospital admission. Furthermore, the costs for the statutory health insurances were linked to the mortality rates. 2005 was set as proxy for the standard treatment and 2007 as proxy for the neurological complex treatment. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the 1-year mortality with a 3.11 percentage point reduction (p < 0.0373). For the other periods, there were no significant deviations. The cost for the statutory health insurance per case rose with an average of 0.4809 cost weights. CONCLUSION: There are hints of an improvement in the long-term mortality after the introduction of complex neurological treatment. For the health insurance significant additional costs ensue, which are in an international published range. On the other hand, savings by improving the morbidity must be taken into account.

[The German National Cohort]. / Die Nationale Kohorte.

The German National Cohort (GNC) is a joint interdisciplinary endeavour of scientists from the Helmholtz Association, universities and other German research institutes. Its aim is to investigate the development of major chronic diseases (cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative psychiatric diseases, pulmonary and infectious diseases), the subclinical stages and functional changes. In 18 study centres across Germany, a representative sample of the general population will be drawn to recruit in total 200,000 men and women aged 20-69 years. In addition to interviews and questionnaires, the baseline assessment includes a series of medical examinations and the collection of a diverse range of biomaterials. In 20% of the participants, an intensified assessment programme is foreseen. Also in 40,000 participants, magnetic resonance imaging of the whole body, heart and brain will be performed. After 5 years, a follow-up examination will be performed in all subjects and active follow-up by postal questionnaires is planned every 2-3 years. The GNC will provide an excellent basis for future population-based epidemiology in Germany and results will help identify new and tailored strategies for prevention, prediction and early detection of major diseases.

[Concept for a German national birth cohort for environmental health research]. / Konzept für eine umweltepidemiologische Geburtskohorte des Bundes.

The German Federal Environment Agency has commissioned the conceptual work for a birth cohort study to investigate environmental health problems in children. The recruitment is intended to start as early as possible in pregnancy and to take place in several regions of Germany. To detect health risks for exposures and outcomes with low prevalence as well as gene-environment interactions, a cohort size of 100,000-200,000 parent-child pairs is needed. The concept focuses on five health issues: neurodevelopment; reproductive development; pregnancy and birth outcomes; asthma, allergies and respiratory disease; obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes. The examination of additional health conditions will be possible. The exposure assessment will cover chemical, biological and physical exposures; psychosocial factors and genetics will be assessed as well. Biological and environmental samples will be stored in a repository for future analyses. The birth cohort study will contribute to the detection of associations between environmental exposures and health conditions over the course of life, which in turn will have an impact on environmental and health policies.