Publications by authors named "Ulrich Keil"
Aims: To estimate the 10-year risk of fatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the 40 to 69 year old general population in Germany stratified by sex and to analyze differences between socio-economic status (SES), region and community size in individuals without CVD. The analysis is based on the newly recalibrated SCORE Deutschland risk charts and considered other comorbidities for the classification of the high CVD risk group according to the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology.
Methods And Results: In 3,498 participants (40-69 years) from the German Health Examination Survey for Adults 2008-2011 (DEGS1) without a history of CVD (myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke) we estimated the proportion with a low (SCORE <1%), moderate (SCORE 1-<5%) and high 10-year CVD mortality risk (SCORE ≥5% or diabetes, renal insufficiency, SBP/DPB ≥180/110 mmHg or cholesterol >8 mmol/l).
Objectives: To investigate the practice of post-marketing studies in Germany during a three year period and to evaluate whether these trials meet the aims specified in the German Medicinal Products Act.
Design: Survey of notifications submitted to German regulatory agencies before post-marketing studies were carried out, 2008-10.
Setting: Notifications obtained through freedom of information requests to the three authorities responsible for registering post-marketing studies in Germany.
Estimation of absolute risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), preferably with population-specific risk charts, has become a cornerstone of CVD primary prevention. Regular recalibration of risk charts may be necessary due to decreasing CVD rates and CVD risk factor levels. The SCORE risk charts for fatal CVD risk assessment were first calibrated for Germany with 1998 risk factor level data and 1999 mortality statistics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Regular exercise lowers the risk of cardiovascular death in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. We aimed to investigate regular exercise behaviour and intention in relation to symptoms of anxiety and depression in CHD patients across Europe.
Design: This study was based on a multicentre cross-sectional survey.
Background: Changes of life expectancy over time serve as an interesting public health indicator for medical, social and economic developments within populations. The aim of this study was to quantify changes of life expectancy between 1950 and 2010 and relate these to main causes of death.
Methods: Pollard's actuarial method of decomposing life expectancy was applied to compare the contributions of different age- and disease-groups on life expectancy in 5-year intervals.
Background: Readiness for smoking cessation is an important predictor of quit attempts and cessation success. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and correlates of readiness for smoking cessation in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients.
Design: The EUROpean Action on Secondary and Primary Prevention by Intervention to Reduce Events III (EUROASPIRE III) survey is a cross-sectional study conducted in 2006-2007 among CHD patients <80 years of age from 22 European regions.
Background: Previous cross-sectional surveys in different European countries within the EUROASPIRE programme demonstrated a high prevalence of modifiable risk factors, unhealthy lifestyles and inadequate drug treatment in coronary heart disease patients. Comparable data for ischaemic stroke patients is lacking.
Methods: A stroke-specific study module was added to the EUROASPIRE III core survey.
Aims: Recent guidelines on acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are based on randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and registries with selected patients, and may therefore not represent 'real-life'. This analysis shows for the first time nationwide trends in AMI from Germany.
Methods And Results: We were provided with data on all in-patient hospitalizations by the Federal Statistical Office.
Aims: Passive smoking is the inhalation of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and is a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). We aimed to describe the frequency of passive smoking among patients with CHD and to investigate the association between ETS exposure and smoking cessation.
Methods And Results: The EUROASPIRE III survey was conducted in 2006-07 among CHD patients up to 80 years of age from 22 European regions.
Extended cancer mortality follow-up of a German rubber industry cohort.
J Occup Environ Med
August 2013
Objective: We extended follow-up of a cohort of German rubber industry workers (active or retired in 1981) by 9 years (1992 to 2000) to reassess previously observed cancer mortality risks.
Methods: We calculated standardized mortality ratios and stratified results by work area, duration of employment, and year of hire.
Results: The cohort includes 11,632 men and 1863 women from five tire or general rubber goods producing factories.
Background: The effects of smoking on central aortic pressures and the age-related increase in left ventricular mass (LVM) are largely unknown. We studied the relationship between smoking, arterial distensibility, central aortic pressures and left ventricular mass in two population-based studies.
Methods: Data was obtained from two German population-based studies (KORA and SHIP, participants' ages 25-84 years).
Background: Certain foods may increase or decrease the risk of developing asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema. We explored the impact of the intake of types of food on these diseases in Phase Three of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood.
Methods: Written questionnaires on the symptom prevalence of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema and types and frequency of food intake over the past 12 months were completed by 13-14-year-old adolescents and by the parents/guardians of 6-7-year-old children.
Background: The EUROASPIRE I, II and III surveys revealed high prevalences of modifiable risk factors in the high priority group of coronary patients all over Europe. The potential to further reduce coronary heart disease (CHD) morbidity and mortality rates is still considerable. We report here on the relative risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) death associated with common modifiable risk factor levels based on the mortality follow-up of patients participating in the first two EUROASPIRE surveys.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Exposure to parental smoking is associated with wheeze in early childhood, but in 2006 the US Surgeon General stated that the evidence is insufficient to infer a causal relationship between exposure and asthma in childhood and adolescents.
Aims: To examine the association between maternal and paternal smoking and symptoms of asthma, eczema and rhinoconjunctivitis.
Methods: Parents or guardians of children aged 6-7 years completed written questionnaires about symptoms of asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and eczema, and several risk factors, including maternal smoking in the child's first year of life, current maternal smoking (and amount) and paternal smoking.
Background: Target values for cardiovascular risk factors in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) are stated in guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. We studied secular trends in risk factors over a 12-year period among CHD patients in the region of Münster, Germany.
Methods: The cross-sectional EUROASPIRE I, II and III surveys were performed in multiple centers across Europe.
Background: Blood pressure management is a key issue among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). The present study aimed to identify particular patient groups that may need to be specifically targeted in secondary prevention of CHD.
Methods: EUROASPIRE III is a cross-sectional study conducted in 2006-2007 among patients up to 80 years of age hospitalized for CHD.