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Information On the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS)
Since the start of the GHS at the University Medical Center in Mainz in April 2007, the study has been of local as well as international interest. Ten years later - in April 2017 - the first phase of the GHS was completed successfully. During this period, the participants have already thoroughly been examined twice at the study center and in the meantime they have been interviewed about their health status by phone.
We are currently in the second phase of the study, in which we are now examining participants at the study center for the third time, some 10 years after the study began.
Who Is Examined?
Since 2007, over 15,000 people from Mainz and the Mainz-Bingen district between the ages of 35 and 74 have been included in the study. Presently, during the second phase of the study, our participants are between 45 and 85 years old.
We are currently in the process of expanding our target group to include younger people between the ages of 25 and 44. That way, we can detect the first asymptomatic changes in health as early as possible. We will also specifically include people between the ages of 75 and 85 in order to be able to make better statements about what keeps us physically and mentally healthy into old age. So if you receive mail from us in the next few months, we would be very happy to hear from you and have you participate in the study. However, you can only participate in the GHS if you are drawn from our random sample and contacted by us. Due to representativeness, which is the transferability of the data to the general population, participation of "volunteers" without invitation is unfortunately not possible. Further information on sampling can be found here.
What Is Examined?
The study focuses on comprehensive examinations of cardiovascular diseases, but also on cancer and eye diseases, diseases of the immune system, metabolism and psyche, and since 2017 also on examinations of the skin and hearing.
How Long Does the Examination Take?
The examination takes place on one day only and lasts between 5 and 6 hours. It is performed by medical professionals on the premises of the GHS. Click here to find more detailed information on the procedure.
Duration Of the Study
The first phase of the GHS ended in April 2017. The second phase of the study is expected to last through the end of 2027 and will include the 10-year follow-up as well as the 15-year follow-up.
Continued participation in the study is particularly important so that we can observe changes over as long a period as possible. With your continued participation, you are therefore actively contributing to improving the prevention of disease as well as the health of the population and shaping the medicine of tomorrow.
Your Advantages
If you participate, you can expect a free, comprehensive examination using the latest medical technology. Usually, you will receive your detailed report directly after your examination appointment with us, if you so wish. The report contains extensive data on your body, your health and possible risk factors and provides a good basis for discussing the results of your examination with your family doctor (or any other doctor you trust) afterwards.