Background morbidity of headache in an adult general population. Results of the Austrian SERMO (Self-Reported Morbidity) study.

Study Objective: To assess period and point prevalence of headache in Austria and the influence of sociodemographic factors and seasonal variations.

Design: Data for the prevalence of headache were drawn from the database of seven representative surveys in the SERMO study (Self-Reported Morbidity Study). The aims of the SERMO study are to describe and monitor the characteristics of background morbidity in the Austrian population.

[Obesity in Austria: epidemiologic and social medicine aspects].

The importance of overweight not only for individual health and life expectancy but also for resulting health economics is stressed considering data from Austria. Epidemiology of overweight in Austria shows 8.5% of the population to be morbidly obese (Body Mass Index [BMI] higher than 30) and 14.

Self-reported prevalence of venous diseases in the general population of Austria--results of the SERMO (Self-Reported Morbidity) Study.

Venous diseases are common in Western societies, their causes, however, have remained largely unknown. The prevalence of venous diseases in the general population of Austria was assessed, and information on the background morbidity of venous diseases obtained from the data base of the SERMO study (Self-Reported Morbidity Study). The SERMO study consists of 9 representative population surveys conducted between December 1994 and December 1995; the study aimed at describing and monitoring the characteristics of background morbidity in the Austrian population.

[Health monitor (SERMO study)--concept, methodology and a paradigmatic result on subjective morbidity in headache].

In Austria, microcensus surveys on self-reported morbidity are carried out at regular intervals every ten years, generally by the Federal Statistic Centre. In the following, we describe an epidemiological observational service which could be regarded as an additional public health instrument. This service is termed "health monitor", and the SERMO (self-reported morbidity) study is the scientific project associated with it.