Consumption of calcium antagonists: results of the German national health surveys.

Purpose: In generating firm conclusions concerning the efficacy and safety of drugs, the description of the exposed population should be one of the first steps in pharmacoepidemiological studies. The present investigation describes the frequency of usage and calcium antagonists in relation to sociodemographic data and parameters of morbidity statistics. Additionally statements are made concerning co-medication, drug tolerability and side-effects.

Differences in menopausal hormone therapy use among women in Germany between 1998 and 2003.

Background: To examine the differences in menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) use and user profiles among women in Germany before and after the communication of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) trial and other study results concerning the risks and benefits of MHT.

Methods: Current MHT use was ascertained in two periodic German national health surveys conducted in 1997-1999 and 2003-2004. MHT prevalence and user profiles were assessed within each survey.

Association of serum caffeine concentrations with serum glucose levels in caffeine-drug users and non-users - results of German National Health Surveys.

The purpose of this study was to explore the association of serum caffeine concentrations with serum glucose levels in caffeine-drug users and non-users, aiming at the chronic effects of caffeine on glucose metabolism in comparison with known acute effects of caffeine. Eight hundred and fourteen caffeine-drug users and 623 non-users were identified from German National Health Surveys. Their serum caffeine concentrations and glucose levels were measured.

Use of oral contraceptives in Germany: prevalence, determinants and use-associated health correlates. Results of National Health Surveys from 1984 to 1999.

Objectives: To describe oral contraceptive (OC) use, its determinants and use-associated health correlates from 1984 to 1999 in Germany.

Study Design: Cross-sectional comparison was performed for socioeconomic factors, personal lifestyle and use-associated health correlates between 1862 OC users and 2625 age-matched nonusers identified from five German National Health Surveys. Regression models were used to obtain the determinants of OC use.

[Drug therapy of asthma. Results of the 1998 German National Health Interview and Examination Survey].

The lifetime prevalence of bronchial asthma in adults is approximately 5%. Recommended drug therapy of this condition depends largely on its severity and varies from the on demand use of bronchodilators as a single measure up to the additional and sometimes permanent use of inhaled and/or systemic glucocorticoids. In this study, the prevalence and drug therapy of bronchial asthma were analysed in a representative sample of the resident population in Germany aged 18-79 years.

Hormone replacement therapy in Germany: determinants and possible health-related outcomes. Results of National Health Surveys from 1984 to 1999.

Objectives: To explore the determinants of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use and possible health-related outcomes in Germany.

Methods: 827 current HRT users (age range 31-78 years, who had taken HRT products in the last 7 days before the medical interview) and 2371 age-matched nonusers were identified from five population-representative National Health Surveys performed from 1984 to 1999 in Germany. Cross-sectional comparisons between HRT users and nonusers were performed for socioeconomic factors and possible health-related outcomes.

Association of serum caffeine concentrations with blood lipids in caffeine-drug users and nonusers - results of German National Health Surveys from 1984 to 1999.

Previous studies regarding effects of caffeine on lipids focused mainly on coffee consumption, the real association of serum caffeine concentrations with blood lipids is unclear. 814 caffeine-drug users who had taken any caffeine/caffeine-containing pharmaceutical products and 623 nonusers without any drug use in the last seven days before the medical interview were identified from German National Health Surveys from 1984 to 1999. Serum caffeine concentrations were measured by using EIA for caffeine-drug users and nonusers in the same laboratory.

Determination of alpha-tocopherolquinone in human serum samples by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection and on-line post-column derivatization.

A HPLC/fluorescence method with on-line post-column derivatization by a photoreactor was developed, where alpha-, beta + gamma- and delta-tocopherolquinone (TQ) are separated on a 250 mm x 4.6 mm RP-18 column. The LOD is about 250 pg for all TQs.

Reliable identification and quantification of trichothecenes and other mycotoxins by electron impact and chemical ionization-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, using an ion-trap system in the multiple mass spectrometry mode. Candidate reference method for complex matrices.

Highly toxic mycotoxins like the trichothecenes can be found as contaminants from the metabolism of fungi in food and food preparations. They can be identified and quantified with great accuracy by GC/MS-measurements. Reliable analytical methods are urgently needed because such mycotoxins are not only toxic substances occurring in nature but also are in the list of biological weapons (e.

[Self-medication with over-the-counter (OTC) preparations in Germany].

Self-medication with OTC drugs is attracting attention in developed countries. This study examines prevalence and determinants of OTC drug use in a representative sample of German adults aged 18-79 years. A total of 7099 participants of the Drug Utilisation Survey were interviewed regarding drug use including OTC use within the last 7 days prior to the interview.

[The Child and Adolescent Health Survey as a source of data for assessment of the essential aspects of health care in childhood and adolescence].

The German National Health Survey for Children and Adolescents aims at collecting representative data on the health status of the population in the 0 to 18 years age bracket. Examination of about 18.000 participants is planned.

Determination of tocopherols, tocopherolquinones and tocopherolhydroquinones by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and preseparation with lipophilic gel chromatography.

Lipophilic gel chromatography using Sephadex LH-20 helps in separating alpha-, beta- + -gamma, and delta-tocopherol and also in separation of their oxidation products e.g. the tocopherolquinones or other oxidation products.

Co- and multimedication in users of ASA and vitamin E drugs in the Federal Republic of Germany. Results of the Federal Health Surveys 1984-1999.

Objective: Because ASA- and vitamin E-drugs belong to the most used OTC-medications and adverse drug reactions are depending on the quantity and type of comedication we describe the pattern of usage for ASA- and vitamin E-drugs along with the total drug consumption in Germany. STUDY POPULATION, MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study participants (n = 22.560) were screened in five German health surveys (1984-1999).

Quantitative determination of alpha-, beta-, gamma- and delta-tocopherols in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as trimethylsilyl derivatives with a two-step sample preparation.

Using a two-step sample preparation with Extrelut and silica gel extraction in Pasteur pipettes it is possible to quantify all tocopherols in human serum samples by means of normal-phase HPLC with fluorescence detection (lambda(ex) 295 nm, lambda(em) 330 nm) or by GC-MS of their trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives. The method has been used in pharmacoepidemiological studies concerning the exposition with vitamin E-containing drugs in Germany. The recovery for all tocopherols is 98% and the limit of detection is 50 pg for alpha-tocopherol in the HPLC and 40 pg for all TMS-tocopherols in the GC-MS method using the selected ion monitoring mode with a well-tuned GCQ system.

[Social class and health].

This publication deals with the German social class and their interactions with health or illness. The analysis uses the data of the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey 1998. The results are as follows: During the last decade the proportion of inhabitants of lower social class has decreased in favour of the proportions of middle and upper social classes.

[Subjective statements regarding use of selected drug groups--initial results of the 1998 Federal Health Survey].

This publication presents data concerning the daily frequency of usage for 34 selected drug-groups. The results are based on standardized medical interviews done with a representative sample of the German resident population aged 18 to 79 years during the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey 1998. Nearly 52% of the interviewed men and women report the daily use of drugs at least from one of the above mentioned 34 groups during the last year before the interview.

Fatty acid patterns in triglycerides, diglycerides, free fatty acids, cholesteryl esters and phosphatidylcholine in serum from vegetarians and non-vegetarians.

The differences in the fatty acid spectra of serum samples obtained from vegetarians (62 females, 40 males) and non-vegetarians (70 females, 38 males) were evaluated in a matched-pair study design. This study population made it possible to examine 48 female and 31 male pairs whose age difference did not exceed 3 years. The pairs were further matched by education, social status and health-consciousness.

[Determination of the urinary metabolites hydroxyindole-acetic acid, vanillyl mandelic acid and homovanillic acid by means of lipophilic gel chromatography and gas chromatography (author's transl)].

A specific and practicable method is described for the quantitative determination of urinary phenol- and indole-carboxylic acids. High specificity is achieved by a preliminary separation of the free acids (extracted from the urine sample) with the aid of organophilic gel chromatography on Sephadex LH 20, followed by gas chromatographic analysis of the silyl derivatives of the acids. The organophilic gel chromatography of the free acids shows a high recovery rate in the micro- and submicrogram range.