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25 Publications visible to you, out of a total of 25
Psychometric evaluation of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener GAD-7, based on a large German general population sample.
LIFE Adult

Abstract (Expand)

BACKGROUND: The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scales GAD-7 and GAD-2 are instruments for the assessment of anxiety. The aims of this study are to test psychometric properties of these questionnaires, … to provide normative values, and to investigate associations with sociodemographic factors, quality of life, psychological variables, and behavioral factors. METHODS: A German community sample (n=9721) with an age range of 18-80 years was surveyed using the GAD-7 and several other questionnaires. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the unidimensionality and measurement invariance of the GAD-7 across age and gender. Females were more anxious than males (mean scores: M=4.07 vs. M=3.01; effect size: d=0.33). There was no linear age trend. A total of 5.9% fulfilled the cut-off criterion of 10 and above. Anxiety was correlated with low quality of life, fatigue, low habitual optimism, physical complaints, sleep problems, low life satisfaction, low social support, low education, unemployment, and low income. Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption were also associated with heightened anxiety, especially in women. When comparing the GAD-7 (7 items) with the ultra-short GAD-2 (2 items), the GAD-7 instrument was superior to the GAD-2 regarding several psychometric criteria. LIMITATIONS: The response rate (33%) was low. Because of the cross-sectional character of the study, causal conclusions cannot be drawn. A further limitation is the lack of a gold standard for diagnosing anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The GAD-7 can be recommended for use in clinical research and routine.

Authors: A. Hinz, A. M. Klein, E. Brahler, H. Glaesmer, T. Luck, S. G. Riedel-Heller, K. Wirkner, A. Hilbert

Date Published: 1st Mar 2017

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: generalized anxiety disorder

Age-dependency of cardiac morphology and function: results of the LIFE-Adult-Study – analysis of the echocardiographic substudy
LIFE Adult

Abstract (Expand)

In the NORRE study (EHJCVI (2014) 15, 680 – 690) normal values determined by echocardiography were published in healthy subjects (n = 734) with mean age of 46+13 years (range: 20 – 78). Left ventricular … (LV)-volumes showed good correlations to the participants' (pts') age. LV-volumes were decreased and LV ejection fraction (EF) was increased according to the increase of the pts' age. A significant correlation between age and LV-mass was only found in women. Left atrial (LA)-volumes did not significantly change with age. Parameters of diastolic function showed a strong age-dependency (decrease of E/A-ratio; increase of E/E'-ratio). In the present LIFE-Adult analysis echocardiographic parameters were compared to the NORRE data. In 773 pts (326 males and 447 females; median age: 51 years), standardised transthoracic echocardiography was performed according to the national and international recommendations. The following parameters were analysed: LV- and LA-volume analyses by M-Mode measurements and 2D-LV planimetry, maximum E-and A-velocity, E/A-ratio and E/E'-ratio. The cohort was divided in age related subcohorts between 20 – 40, 41 – 50 and 51 – 60 years. Mean LV-diameter was 54 ± 5 mm (males) and 49 ± 4 mm (females). There was no age-dependency in males, but a tendency of LV-diameter increase in females. Mean LA diameter was 39 ± 4 mm in males and 35 ± 4 mm in females. Mean LA-diameter-index was 20 ± 2 mm/m2 (males) and 20 ± 3 mm/m2 (females) showing Age-dependency of an increasing LA-diameter in males and females. LV mass-index was 100 ± 20 g/m2 (males) and 83 ± 19 g/m2 (females) showing a tendency of increasing LV mass-index with age in males and females. Subsequently, septal and posterior wall thickness slightly increases with age. No differences of LVEF with increase of the pts' age could be observed. E/A-ratio was decreased and E/E'-ratio was increased with increase of the pts' age. The analysis of the echocardiographic parameters of the LIFE-Adult trial showed differences of the age-dependency in comparison to the NORRE data.

Authors: S. Stöbe, A. Hagendorff, S. Zeynalova, S. Tautenhahn, K. Wirkner, G. Farese, D. Jurisch, D. Pfeiffer, M. Loeffler

Date Published: 18th Aug 2016

Publication Type: Journal article

Correlation of the E/E'-ratio to NT-BNP: echocardiographic subanalysis of the LIFE-Adult-Study
LIFE Adult

Abstract (Expand)

The E/E'-ratio is used as a surrogate parameter for the estimation of the left ventricular enddiastolic pressure. It is assumed that chronic systolic and diastolic heart failure is associated with … E/E'-values of more than 15 or at least with intermediate values between 9 – 5. The aim of the present retrospective analysis of the epidemiological echocardiographic cohort of the LIFE-Adult study (Leipzig Research Centre for Civilization Diseases) was to evaluate the correlation of NT-BNP (N-terminales propeptid BNP) values to the E/E'-ratio by the assessment of left ventricular diastolic function in this cohort. In 773 participants (pts) standardised transthoracic echocardiography was performed and in 748 pts NT-BNP was analysed. The E/E'-ratio was determined according to the international recommendations by measuring the maximum velocity of the early diastolic inflow by pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography and the basal septal maximum myocardial velocity by tissue Doppler echocardiography at early diastole. NT-BNP was determined using commercially available diagnostic tests. Pathological NT-BNP levels were assumed in the range > 222pg/ml. Normal E/E'-ratios as well as normal NT-BNP levels were observed in 91% of all participants. In 1.4% of the pts elevated NT-BNP levels were found in the presence of normal E/E'-ratio. In contrast in 1.1% of the pts elevated E/E'-ratios were found in the presence of normal NT-BNP levels. Most of the pts with heart failure detected by NT-BNP vales > 222pg/ml also showed intermediate E/E'-ratios between 9 and 15 (42pts). In only 0.8% of the pts (5 pts) significantly elevated E/E'-ratios > 15 and pathological NT-BNP levels could be observed (see fig). Only 4 pts with elevated NT-BNP values showed left ventricular systolic dysfunction. E/E'-ratio has to be verified to be suitable for the detection of heart failure patients. The present data show that E/E'-ratio of > 15 is not well correlated to increased NT-BNP levels.

Authors: S. Stöbe, A. Hagendorff, S. Zeynalova, S. Tautenhahn, S. Wirkner, F. Gerardo, D. Jurisch, D. Pfeiffer, M. Loeffler

Date Published: 18th Aug 2016

Publication Type: Journal article

Novel Anthropometry Based on 3D-Bodyscans Applied to a Large Population Based Cohort.
LIFE Adult, Genetical Statistics and Systems Biology

Abstract (Expand)

Three-dimensional (3D) whole body scanners are increasingly used as precise measuring tools for the rapid quantification of anthropometric measures in epidemiological studies. We analyzed 3D whole body … scanning data of nearly 10,000 participants of a cohort collected from the adult population of Leipzig, one of the largest cities in Eastern Germany. We present a novel approach for the systematic analysis of this data which aims at identifying distinguishable clusters of body shapes called body types. In the first step, our method aggregates body measures provided by the scanner into meta-measures, each representing one relevant dimension of the body shape. In a next step, we stratified the cohort into body types and assessed their stability and dependence on the size of the underlying cohort. Using self-organizing maps (SOM) we identified thirteen robust meta-measures and fifteen body types comprising between 1 and 18 percent of the total cohort size. Thirteen of them are virtually gender specific (six for women and seven for men) and thus reflect most abundant body shapes of women and men. Two body types include both women and men, and describe androgynous body shapes that lack typical gender specific features. The body types disentangle a large variability of body shapes enabling distinctions which go beyond the traditional indices such as body mass index, the waist-to-height ratio, the waist-to-hip ratio and the mortality-hazard ABSI-index. In a next step, we will link the identified body types with disease predispositions to study how size and shape of the human body impact health and disease.

Authors: H. Loffler-Wirth, E. Willscher, P. Ahnert, K. Wirkner, C. Engel, M. Loeffler, H. Binder

Date Published: 29th Jul 2016

Publication Type: Not specified

Human Diseases: obesity

The Speaking Voice in the General Population: Normative Data and Associations to Sociodemographic and Lifestyle Factors.
LIFE Adult

Abstract (Expand)

OBJECTIVES: Normative data concerning the speaking voice in the general population were gathered with the aim to establish standard values for clinical diagnostics. Associations between the speaking … voice and sociodemographic factors were examined. STUDY DESIGN: This is a prospective cross-sectional population-based study. METHODS: Speaking voice profiles were measured for 2472 (1154 male and 1318 female) participants between the ages of 40 and 79 years, using four speaking voice intensity levels: softest speaking voice (I), conversational voice (II), classroom voice (III), and shouting voice (IV). Smoking status and socioeconomic status were assessed. Data were analyzed using multivariate regression. RESULTS: The mean voice frequencies were 111.8 Hz for male and 161.3 Hz for female participants (I), 111.9 Hz for male and 168.5 Hz for female participants (II), 130.2 Hz for male and 198.0 Hz for female participants (III), and 175.5 Hz for male and 246.2 Hz for female participants (IV). Frequencies increased significantly with age for male but not for female participants. Sound pressure levels rose significantly with age at intensity levels I-III for both sexes, but decreased at intensity level IV. Frequencies and sound pressure levels were similar between nonsmokers and former smokers. Current smokers showed significantly lower frequencies as opposed to non- and former smokers. Speaking voice range and dynamics increased with higher socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: The data are suitable as age-adjusted normative values for clinical measurement of the speaking voice. The mean fundamental speaking voice frequency of female participants was six to seven semitones lower than previously described.

Authors: M. Berg, M. Fuchs, K. Wirkner, M. Loeffler, C. Engel, T. Berger

Date Published: 3rd Jul 2016

Publication Type: Journal article

Normative values of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), derived from a large German sample.
LIFE Adult

Abstract (Expand)

PURPOSE: Daytime sleepiness is associated with several medical problems. The aim of this paper is to provide normative values for one of the most often used questionnaires measuring daytime sleepiness, … the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). METHODS: A large sample of 9711 people from the German general population took part in this study. In addition to the ESS, several other questionnaires were used, and sociodemographic and behavioral factors were recorded. RESULTS: Normative values for the ESS are given. According to the generally accepted criterion ESS > 10, 23 % of the sample showed excessive daytime sleepiness. Males reported significantly more daytime sleepiness than females (effect size d = 0.19). In the age range of 40-80 years, a continuous decline of daytime sleepiness was observed. Psychometric properties of the ESS were good. Alcohol intake and nicotine consumption were marginally associated with daytime sleepiness, and obese people reported significantly more sleepiness than people of normal weight (OR = 1.39). CONCLUSIONS: The normative tables allow clinicians and researchers to assess the degree of their patients' daytime sleepiness, especially in the upper range of scores.

Authors: C. Sander, U. Hegerl, K. Wirkner, N. Walter, R. D. Kocalevent, K. Petrowski, H. Glaesmer, A. Hinz

Date Published: 29th May 2016

Publication Type: Journal article

Genome-wide association analysis of actigraphic sleep phenotypes in the LIFE Adult Study.
LIFE Adult, Genetical Statistics and Systems Biology

Abstract (Expand)

The genetic basis of sleep is still poorly understood. Despite the moderate to high heritability of sleep-related phenotypes, known genetic variants explain only a small proportion of the phenotypical … variance. However, most previous studies were based solely upon self-report measures. The present study aimed to conduct the first genome-wide association (GWA) of actigraphic sleep phenotypes. The analyses included 956 middle- to older-aged subjects (40-79 years) from the LIFE Adult Study. The SenseWear Pro 3 Armband was used to collect 11 actigraphic parameters of night- and daytime sleep and three parameters of rest (lying down). The parameters comprised measures of sleep timing, quantity and quality. A total of 7 141 204 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analysed after imputation and quality control. We identified several variants below the significance threshold of P </= 5x 10(-8) (not corrected for analysis of multiple traits). The most significant was a hit near UFL1 associated with sleep efficiency on weekdays (P = 1.39 x 10(-8) ). Further SNPs were close to significance, including an association between sleep latency and a variant in CSNK2A1 (P = 8.20 x 10(-8) ), a gene known to be involved in the regulation of circadian rhythm. In summary, our GWAS identified novel candidate genes with biological plausibility being promising candidates for replication and further follow-up studies.

Authors: J. Spada, M. Scholz, H. Kirsten, T. Hensch, K. Horn, P. Jawinski, C. Ulke, R. Burkhardt, K. Wirkner, M. Loeffler, U. Hegerl, C. Sander

Date Published: 30th Apr 2016

Publication Type: Journal article

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