[Extent and structure of data in realization of lifelong epidemiologic surveillance]

The realisation of a "medical record linkage" concept to achieve a lifelong medical surveillance requires the evaluation of the size and structure of the expected data. From this point of view the accessible health documentations of 120 persons of a small town covering the life period from birth to the age of 72 were evaluated retrospectively. The "epidemiological life report" resulting from this procedure enables the compilation of data on the reasons for utilising the health care system according to diagnostic-therapeutic and preventive aspects, and on the total number of medical expertises and paraclinical examinations. The number of data per person is considerable. In the course of a persons life he or she will come to the doctor for medical consultation about 600 times and will undergo 200 paraclinical examinations. A few aspects regarding the incidence of outpatient consultations are described in some detail.