Gutenberg Health Study (GHS)

• Coordinating Principal Investigator:
  Univ.-Prof. Dr. med Philipp Wild, M.Sc.

Brief Summary

With its focus on cardiovascular diseases, the Gutenberg Health Study is one of the largest population-based and representative prospective cohort studies in the world. Since 2007, the study has been conducted as an interdisciplinary project of the 2nd Medical Clinic and Polyclinic and with other clinics and institutes of the University Medicine of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.

The study investigates multifactorial influences that are potentially involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, eye diseases, metabolic diseases and diseases of the immune system and the psyche. The goal of the study is to improve risk prediction for individuals for those diseases. For this purpose, the study takes into account classical risk factors, lifestyle, psychosocial factors, environmental influences, laboratory diagnostics as well as the extent of subclinical diseases. An extensive biomaterial bank allows for molecular-biological investigations, including a systems biology approach. As part of the work program of the "Clinical Epidemiology" of the CTH, the GHS investigates questions on diseases in the field of thrombosis and hemostasis.

During a baseline visit, a total of 15,000 participants between the ages of 35 and 74 years underwent a 5-hour screening program. After 2.5 years, the study team conducted a computer-assisted standardized telephone interview (CATI) as well as an endpoint research. Another comprehensive follow-up examination at the study center comparable to the initial examination at study inclusion follows after 5 years, as well as a computer-assisted standardized telephone interview after 7.5 years. Further follow-up examinations of the participants are planned.

The Gutenberg Health Study is supported by the State of Rhineland-Palatinate, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK).

Sponsor: University Medicine of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (research programs "Wissen schafft Zukunft" and "Schwerpunkt Vaskuläre Prävention"), the state of Rhineland-Palatinate ("Stiftung Rheinland Pfalz für Innovationen", AZ 961-386261/733), Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH and Philips GmbH

For more information about the GHS, please visit www.gutenberg-gesundheitsstudie.de.