[The "Spandau Public Health" test--description of study]

In 2002 the "Spandauer Gesundheitstest" ("Spandau Public Health" Test), a prospective cohort study of the Robert Koch-Institute in Berlin has been successfully going on for two decades. Ten waves of follow-up of this study are now available, in which approximately 7 000 adults were interviewed and examined. Approximately 770 participants have taken part in all ten follow-up waves. The "Spandauer Gesundheitstest" is carried out to provide information on changes in health state at the individual level over time. The main epidemiological aim of the study is to follow up the development and course of chronic disease together with changes in health care needs and utilisation. A questionnaire, blood and urine examinations and a medical interview are parts of the study design in every wave. Since the beginning of this study more than 900 participants died. A mortality follow-up is carried out regularly to investigate the cause of death of the participants. The data are available for analysis.