Mental disorders and hypertension: factors associated with awareness and treatment of hypertension in the general population of Germany.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify the association between mental disorders and awareness and treatment of hypertension in a large representative community sample.

Methods: The analysis was based on data from 4149 respondents, ages 18 to 65 years, from the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey, a nationally representative multistage probability survey conducted from 1997 to 1999. Mental disorders were assessed by a modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview.

The effect of environmental tobacco smoke exposure on allergic sensitization and allergic rhinitis in adults.

Background: There is only little and furthermore conflicting knowledge about the relationship between passive smoking and allergy in adults. In this work, we assess the association between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) at home or at work, and allergic sensitization and allergic rhinitis in 4093 German adults.

Methods: Our study population comes from the German National Health Survey 1998 of which we analyzed 4093 adults (17-79 years) being non-smokers and having complete information on passive smoking and allergy.

Traffic at residential address, respiratory health, and atopy in adults: the National German Health Survey 1998.

Motor vehicle traffic contributes to more than 50% of PM10 in Europe and might have far reaching impacts on human health. We investigated the relationship between residential street type as a surrogate for traffic intensity and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, atopic diseases, and allergic sensitization in adults. Data from 6896 subjects of the German Health Survey 1998 with complete information on residential street type were used.

Risk and potential risk reduction in diabetes type 2 patients in Germany.

Avoiding serious complications such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and amputations in diabetes patients is the main interest of long-term treatment. Given the considerable prevalence of diabetes type 2 in industrialized countries this is a major public health concern as well as a burden to health care systems. The present study estimated the current risk of major complications occurring in the German diabetes type 2 population and explored the potential for further risk reduction.

Margarine consumption, asthma, and allergy in young adults: results of the German National Health Survey 1998.

Purpose: To examine whether frequent intake of margarine is associated with allergy prevalence in adults using data of a representative national health survey.

Methods: Data on 7124 subjects aged 18 to 79 years were obtained from the German National Health Survey 1998. Confounder-adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by multiple logistic regression, using the frequency of intake of low-fat butter, regular and low-fat margarine as explanatory variable in relation to frequent intake of regular butter as reference group.

Patterns of alcohol consumption and Helicobacter pylori infection: results of a population-based study from Germany among 6545 adults.

Background: Moderate alcohol consumption has been suggested to facilitate elimination of Helicobacter pylori infection.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and infection with H. pylori, with particular consideration of the role of age, different alcoholic beverages and specific drinking habits.

Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis A virus infections and the cardiovascular risk profile in patients with diabetes mellitus: results of a population-based study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the associations of sero-positivity for Helicobacter pylori (HP) and hepatitis A virus infection (HAV) with prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and CVD-risk markers in a large population-based sample of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), who are at high risk of developing CVD.

Background: Several studies have suggested that chronic infections are associated with the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart diseases (CHD).

Methods: This analysis is based on the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey which was conducted in 1998.

Mental disorders and asthma in the community.

Objective: To determine the association between asthma and mental disorders among adults in the community.

Setting: Germany.

Participants: Representative sample of the general population aged 18 to 65 years.

[Pilot study of The Child and Adolescent Health Survey: methodological aspects and procedure].

In the pilot study of the National Health Survey for Children and Adolescents which has been conducted under the responsibility of the Robert Koch Institute from March 12th 2001 to March 15th 2002, 1,630 children and adolescents from 0 to 17 years as well as their parents have been included. Methodological issues have been very prominent. Questionnaires regarding properties, indicators (for example for psychic well-being) were developed and evaluated, different methods of access to the study participants as well as methods to increase the motivation to participate in the study were tested, and the property for generalisation or validity of the obtained information was investigated.

[The Child and Adolescent Health Survey--a foundation for prevention, health promotion and health goals].

At the beginning of the 21st century, the German Health Interview and Examination Survey of Children and Adolescents will for the first time provide the data essential for programmes of disease prevention and health promotion as well as for the development of health targets. This it will create key information for an evidence-based health policy. The results of the study can be projected to the general population of children and adolescents in Germany.

[The Child and Adolescent Health Survey: collection of health behavior data from parents and children].

The first German Health Survey for Children and Adolescents will start in 2003. During three years, a representative sample of children and adolescents between 0 and 18 years of age shall be examined and will, together with their parents, be interviewed on health-relevant issues. With this survey, health information on about 18,000 children will be gathered.

[Laboratory tests in The Child and Adolescent Health Survey].

Laboratory tests will be performed as part of the National Health Survey for Children and Adolescents to identify health risks and to determine the seroprevalence of disease markers. The parameters were selected from haematology, clinical chemistry, allergology, endocrinology and serology of infectious diseases as indicators of individual health risks, to validate information collected by means of the questionnaires and to identify age specific immunity gaps of vaccine-preventable diseases.

[The National Child and Adolescent Health Survey. The complete concept].

The German National Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents aims at obtaining generalisable and practically convertible data and knowledge of the health situation of children and adolescents aged between 0 and 18 and living in Germany. After an extensive preparatory period of conceptional work by the Robert Koch Institute the beginning of this study is planned for spring 2003. Over a period of three years a representative sample of 18,000 young people will be medically examined and will be interviewed together with their parents.

On the association between diabetes and mental disorders in a community sample: results from the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey.

Objective: To determine the relationship between mental disorders and diabetes in a representative community sample.

Research Design And Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Data on diabetes and HbA(1c) values were obtained by structured questionnaires and by laboratory assessments.

A comparison of serum total cholesterol levels and their determinants between the Federal Republic of Germany and the United States.

Mean serum total cholesterol levels appear to be higher in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) than in the United States (US) while coronary heart disease death rates are lower. The study examined possible factors for the difference including possible differences in laboratory methodology. Cross-sectional data from the first two waves of the German National Health Surveys (1984-1986 and 1987-1989; n = 9709) and from the Second National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1976-1980; n = 7832) were compared for men and women 25-69 years of age.

[Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the adult German population].

In the German National Health Interview and Examination Survey 7,124 subjects of a representative sample of the 18 to 79 year old population having their residence in Germany were interviewed and medically examined. Using a self-administered questionnaire as well as a subsequent personal interview by a physician, the participants were questioned regarding past and present diseases. Based on the data of the physicians' interviews, the prevalence rate for diabetes was 4.

[The Federal Health Survey: response, composition of participants and non-responder analysis].

The first German Health Survey was carried out from October 1997 to March 1999. In the survey, 7,124 subjects of a representative sample of the residential population aged between 18 and 79 years were interviewed and medically examined. The response rate was 61.

[The German Health Survey. 1997/98].

The first German Health Survey, a representative study of the health status of the population in unified Germany, was started in October 1997. In this project which is being carried out by the Robert Koch Institute on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health about 7,200 study participants aged between 18 and 79 are going through a medical check-up and are interviewed as to health-relevant issues. The German National Health Survey consists of a core survey and supplementary modules.

Enhancement of the effect of methotrexate on collagen II induced arthritis in mice by nicotinamide.

Treatment with a combination of 10 mg/kg i.p. methotrexate and 100 mg/kg i.

Increased prevalence of sensitization against aeroallergens in adults in West compared with East Germany.

Background: An increased prevalence of allergic diseases and atopic sensitization as assessed by skin-prick testing in children in West compared with East Germany has been reported.

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate whether such a difference is also present in adults, and if this can be shown when using a serological test for allergic sensitization.

Methods: Two large samples representative for all adults between 25 and 69 years of age were drawn in West (1991, n = 5313) and East Germany (1992, n = 2617).

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.