Health study UKE investigates volunteers

Participation of UKE in the largest German health study

26/11/2014

As part of Germany's largest health study to date, 10,000 volunteers at the University Hospital Eppendorf (UKE) are being medically examined and asked about their lifestyle and their social environment. The goal is, the „Causes and risk factors for major common diseases - including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, dementia and depression - to explore more closely“, so the message from the UKE.

The UKE's mass investigation is part of the National Cohort (NAKO), which aims to study 200,000 participants aged between 20 and 69 across Germany in 18 study centers nationwide over a period of 20 years to determine the causes and risk factors of common diseases. In addition, the researchers hope to identify opportunities for early detection and prevention. „The National Cohort deals intensively with the question: How do we stay healthy and what makes us ill“, explains the study director of the Institute for Medical Biometry and Epidemiology at UKE, Professor Heiko mug.

Medical examination of the volunteers
With the help of the residents' registration office, the study participants are randomly selected, according to the UKE. The first citizens of Hamburg had already received their invitation. In the next four years, a total of 10,000 volunteers will be examined in the newly established study center on the UKE site and after four years, a second investigation, according to the University Hospital. As part of the two and a half to four-hour health check, the subjects are not only questioned about the way of life and previous illnesses, but there is also a detailed medical examinations. In addition to the measurement of size and weight as well „Studies on vascular diseases (for example, pulse wave analysis) made, concentration and memory tests and lung function tests carried out and measured gripping force, sugar metabolism, blood pressure and body composition“, reports the UKE. In addition, a blood count is created in the laboratory and the cholesterol level is determined.

Voluntary commitment crucial for the success of the study
According to the statement of the second mayor and Senator for Science of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Dr. Dorothee Stapelfeldt, heavily dependent on the commitment of the population. So wear „every single participant, every single participant, helps to advance the research into common diseases.“ In the long term, the health situation in Germany will improve significantly on the basis of the findings. Prerequisite for the participation is an explicit declaration of consent of the written persons. In addition, those affected can specify, „whether they want to be informed about the results of the investigations“, reports the UKE. Adherence to ethical standards is monitored by an independent advisory board and a concept agreed with the Federal Data Protection Commissioner ensures the secure and sensitive handling of the data.

Improvement of early detection and prevention
The dean of the medical faculty and member of the board of the UKE professor dr. Dr. Uwe Koch-Gromus emphasized that the central participation in this study, which is so far unique in Germany, is a special distinction for the UKE. „We understand this as a scientific mandate to make even more intensive preventive and clinical efforts to improve the health and disease development of the population“, Gromus continues. The health study is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, 14 federal states and the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers, reports the UKE. The largest German health study to date, with an estimated cost of € 210 million, is also one of the most expensive examinations to date in Germany. However, the hoped-for results justify the enormous effort in the opinion of those responsible. Because, for example, I am giving new approaches to prevention, and with their help, the future expenses for treatment costs could be significantly reduced. (Fp)