title: Cardiovascular risk factors in primary care: methods and baseline prevalence rates--the DETECT program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  DETECT is an epidemiological study in primary care to examine (a) the prevalence rates and comorbidity of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and coronary heart disease (CHD), and associated conditions; (b) the frequency of behavioural and clinical risk factors for onset and progression; (c) the 12-month course and outcome; and (d) the met and unmet needs for these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-stage, cross-sectional clinical-epidemiological study with a prospective-longitudinal component in a nationally representative sample of N = 3795 primary care settings [response rate (RR): 60.2%] and N = 55518 patients (RR: 95.5%). Patients completed a standardized assessment, including questionnaires for patients and the physician and diagnostic screening measures (i.e. blood pressure, heart rate, body mass index and waist circumference assessments). A subsample of patients (N = 7519) also completed a standardized laboratory screening program and was followed-up after 12 months. Data were weighted to adjust for non-response, regional distribution and attrition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) Doctors and patients sample can be regarded as representative for primary care settings in Germany. (2) The clinician-rated point prevalence of hypertension is highest (35.5%), followed by hyperlipidaemia (29.1%), diabetes (14.1%) and CHD (12.1%); prevalence rates of each disorder as well as their co-incidence rates increase markedly with age. (3) The vast majority (78%) of all patients revealed multiple (3+) behavioural and clinical risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of DETECT underline the considerable burden for primary care doctors in managing a highly morbid patient population, with predominantly complex risk factor constellations, in routine care. Our data provide, in unprecedented detail, a basis for calculating age-, gender- and risk-group-adjusted risk-factor profiles in routine care.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Dresden, Germany. wittchen@psychologie.tu-dresden.de
authors.forename: H-U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Wittchen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Glaesmer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: März
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stalla
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lehnert
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zeiher
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silber
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Böhler
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pittrow
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors