[Obesity in Austria: epidemiologic and social medicine aspects]

The importance of overweight not only for individual health and life expectancy but also for resulting health economics is stressed considering data from Austria. Epidemiology of overweight in Austria shows 8.5% of the population to be morbidly obese (Body Mass Index [BMI] higher than 30) and 14.5% overweight (BMI between 27 and 29.9). Prevalence of overweight in Austria shows a very masked decrease from eastern to the western districts of the country. As in other countries correlation of overweight with cardiovascular risk factors (cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and systolic blood pressure) was found to be highly significant also in Austrian health screening programs. As far as treatment of overweight and its prevention is concerned not only short term weight loss, but it maintenance is important. Not only a realistic change in feeding behaviour and dieting but also a change in life style including regular physical activity is recommended requiring repeated and long-term controlling by qualified persons of the health profession.

Self-reported prevalence of venous diseases in the general population of Austria--results of the SERMO (Self-Reported Morbidity) Study

Venous diseases are common in Western societies, their causes, however, have remained largely unknown. The prevalence of venous diseases in the general population of Austria was assessed, and information on the background morbidity of venous diseases obtained from the data base of the SERMO study (Self-Reported Morbidity Study). The SERMO study consists of 9 representative population surveys conducted between December 1994 and December 1995; the study aimed at describing and monitoring the characteristics of background morbidity in the Austrian population. 5.9% of the sample reported to suffer from venous diseases (vein varicosis, phlebitis, vein thrombosis) in 1995; the point prevalence was 4.1%. The prevalence rate of chronic vascular disorders of the lower extremities was 5.9%. The prevalence of venous diseases is much higher among women than men. Advanced age is as much a risk factor for venous diseases as is low education. This study has shown that persons suffering from venous diseases, especially those advanced in age, suffer more often from concomitant diseases and disorders than others. In addition to clinical and mortality data, self-reported morbidity data provide important information on the health of a general population. Persons above 60 years of age are expected to constitute one third of the entire Austrian population by the year 2030. With this anticipated demographic development in view, the need for long-term prevention plans of chronic venous diseases appears to be of particular importance.

[Health monitor (SERMO study)--concept, methodology and a paradigmatic result on subjective morbidity in headache]

In Austria, microcensus surveys on self-reported morbidity are carried out at regular intervals every ten years, generally by the Federal Statistic Centre. In the following, we describe an epidemiological observational service which could be regarded as an additional public health instrument. This service is termed "health monitor", and the SERMO (self-reported morbidity) study is the scientific project associated with it. The "health monitor" data provide information on the prevalence of various illnesses and impairment, characteristics and variables of background morbidity by repeated short-term representative surveys on self-reported morbidity. The health monitor permits continual observation of the background morbidity of an entire population, while scientific questions pertaining to the SERMO study can be investigated via the health monitor data base. Self-reported morbidity data provide important information about the health of a general population, in addition to clinical and mortality data, and help to make decisions in health policy. By collecting informations (e.g. nearly every month) on background morbidity, "health monitor" and SERMO project could complement other Austrian public health systems to measure the overall health of the population in general.