Health-Monitoring-Units (GME) in Bavaria: standardized and repeated data collection of children’s health status and influential factors

Abstract

Introduction Supported by the Bavarian State Ministry of health, in 2004 health monitoring units (GME) were established by the Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority. The aim is to collect health data of children. Methods: During school entrance examinations, the parents of preschool children complete GME provided questionnaires regarding different health topics. This data is analyzed as 1) cross-sectional studies and 2) cohort studies, in which the parents and the children are repeatedly questioned. These surveys are conducted in three urban (Munich, Ingolstadt, Bamberg city) and three rural regions (Schwandorf, Günzburg, Bamberg rural district) within Bavaria. Main topics of the GME are widespread diseases like asthma and allergies and influencing factors. Results Recent analyses of the GME data indicate that the prevalence of asthma and allergies and the symptoms of preschool children were fairly stable from 2004 to 2012. Furthermore no differences between city and rural prevalence were present. After the introduction of the smoking ban in public areas in Bavaria, the passive smoke exposure of children at home decreased from 14,3% (2004) to 7,2% (2012). Respiratory diseases showed no clear association with exposure to passive smoking at home, except in 2012, were asthma was associated with the general smoking behavior (includes smoking outside) of parents (OR=1.6; 95% KI [1.1-2.3]). Conclusion The GME provide standardized and repeated cross-sectional as well as longitudinal data that allow monitoring the health status of children and influencing factors. In the past, prevention programs regarding obesity and ultraviolet radiation exposure have already been evaluated using GME. Furthermore with the GME it is possible to monitor potential health effects of relevant changes in legislation, such as the smoking ban. The potential of GME data is underlined by its current use in the analysis of associations between pollen records and children’s allergic sensitization.