Programme Area 2 - Epidemiology and Health Services Research
Using advanced epidemiological methods, Programme Area 2 investigates biological, psychosocial and health care-related factors that influence the course and outcome of rheumatic diseases in adults and children. Our research mainly builds on long-term observational studies, conducted in close cooperation with a nationwide network of more than 500 paediatric and adult rheumatology specialists. In addition, specific population-based analyses are carried out using data from health insurance companies and the ‘National Cohort’ (NAKO).
Our studies not only provide information on the prevalence and incidence of rheumatic diseases in Germany, but also enable the mapping of treatment courses and strategies, as well as insights into the safety and effectiveness of treatments under real-life conditions. In addition, they allow a deep understanding of the underlying factors that influence disease trajectories.
By identifying gaps in health care and with detailed knowledge of risk factors for unfavourable disease outcomes, the benefits and risks of different therapies in individual patient groups can be weighed against each other. In this way, we contribute to personalised, targeted treatment strategies that enhance long-term outcomes. The overarching goal is to improve the quality of life and social participation of people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.
Web page: https://www.drfz.de/en/forschung/programme-area-2/
Funding codes:- Diverse
Related items
Projects:
- RABBIT (Rheumatoid Arthritis - Observation of Biologic Therapies)
- Rhekiss (Rheuma - Kinderwunsch und Schwangerschaft)
- RABBIT-SpA: Disease Register for Axial Spondyloarthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis
- German National Database of the Regional Cooperative Arthritis Centres (NDB)
- JuMBO – Juvenile Arthritis-Methotrexate-Biologics long-term Observation
- National Pediatric Rheumatologic Database (NPRD)
Institutions: German Rheumatology Research Center
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3372-2021
Since 2007, the JuMBO registry examines the long-term effects of new rheumatological therapies in patients who developed juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in childhood. This registry is a subsequent database to the BiKeR registry (headed by Prof. Dr. Horneff of St. Augustin), and its function is to monitor the health of adults post-pediatric rheumatology treatment.The present study focuses on the safety and efficacy of new disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and the long-term prognosis ...
Programme: Programme Area 2 - Epidemiology and Health Services Research
Public web page: Not specified
Start date: 27th Jul 2007
The RABBIT-SpA disease register, established in May 2017, aims to investigate the long-term effectiveness and safety of therapies used in spondyloarthritis. Data from rheumatologists and patients on disease progression, treatment, therapy outcomes, and therapy safety are collected to gain a better understanding of the different treatment approaches. Aspects related to quality of life, mental health, and work ability are also the focus of our analyses. The web-based documentation system was developed ...
Programme: Programme Area 2 - Epidemiology and Health Services Research
Public web page: https://rabbit-spa.de/for-researchers/
Start date: 1st May 2017
RABBIT is the German register for the long-term observation of therapy with biologics, biosimilars and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The project was initiated in 2001 by the German Rheumatology Research Center (DRFZ) in coordination with the German Society for Rheumatology, the Professional Association of German Rheumatologists and the Competence Network Rheumatology. RABBIT is involved in international research and co-operates with other European ...
Programme: Programme Area 2 - Epidemiology and Health Services Research
Public web page: https://biologika-register.de/en/
Start date: 1st May 2001
The National Pediatric Rheumatologic Database (NPRD) has been conducted nationwide since 1997. The Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendrheumatologie (GKJR) recommends participation as a quality assurance measure. As part of the documentation, children and adolescents with inflammatory rheumatic diseases who visit pediatric rheumatology centers once a year, along with their treating physicians, are asked to complete standardized doctor and patient or parent questionnaires. The physicians provide ...
Programme: Programme Area 2 - Epidemiology and Health Services Research
Public web page: Not specified
Start date: 1st Jan 1998
Rhekiss is a nationwide register to record the course of disease in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases who wish to have children and are pregnant. Since 2015, in collaboration with the Rheumazentrum Rhein-Ruhr e. V., we have been prospectively collecting data on the course and outcome of the pregnancy and the development of the child up to its second birthday. The inflammatory rheumatic diseases covered by Rhekiss include rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ...
Programme: Programme Area 2 - Epidemiology and Health Services Research
Public web page: https://rhekiss.de/
This file contains all variables and respective attributes collected in the RABBIT-SpA registry.
Creator: Andreas Reich
Submitter: Adrian Richter
This file contains all variables collected in the Rhekis registry.
Creator: Yvette Meißner
Submitter: Adrian Richter
This file provides an overview of each variable used in the patient CRF with regard to the follow-up thex are collected.
Creator: Adrian Richter
Submitter: Adrian Richter
This file contains all variables collected from patient CRFs with respective labels and attributes.
Creator: Adrian Richter
Submitter: Adrian Richter
This file contains all variables collected in RABBIT and provides an oveview with regard to the respective follow-up.
Creator: Adrian Richter
Submitter: Adrian Richter
Abstract (Expand)
Authors: L. Ruegg, A. Pluma, S. Hamroun, I. Cecchi, L. F. Perez-Garcia, P. O. Anderson, L. Andreoli, S. B. Wirstrom, V. Boyadhzieva, C. Chambers, N. Costedoat-Chalumeau, R. J. E. M. Dolhain, R. Fischer-Betz, I. Giles, C. Gotestam-Skorpen, M. Hoeltzenbein, F. Marchiori, K. Mayer-Pickel, A. Molto, C. Nelson-Piercy, O. H. Nielsen, A. Tincani, M. Wallenius, A. Zbinden, Y. Meissner, A. Finckh, F. Forger
Date Published: 8th Jun 2025
Publication Type: Journal
Abstract (Expand)
Authors: C. Veltri, K. Albrecht, U. Kiltz, D. Meyer-Olson, S. Spathling, A. Strangfeld, K. Thiele, J. Callhoff
Date Published: 25th Jan 2025
Publication Type: Journal
Abstract (Expand)
Authors: R. Aymon, D. Mongin, R. Guemara, Z. Salis, J. Askling, D. Choquette, C. Codreanu, D. Di Giuseppe, I. Flouri, D. Huschek, K. L. Hyrich, F. Iannone, T. K. Kvien, B. F. Leeb, D. Nordstrom, L. Otero-Varela, K. Pavelka, M. Pombo-Suarez, A. Rodrigues, Z. Rotar, P. Sidiropoulos, S. A. Provan, A. Strangfeld, T. Nina, J. Zavada, L. Kearsley-Fleet, D. S. Courvoisier, A. Finckh, K. Lauper
Date Published: 2025
Publication Type: Journal
Abstract (Expand)
Authors: Martin Schaefer, Alina Purschke, Vera Zietemann, Tatjana Rudi, Yvette Meissner, Adrian Richter, Sylvia Berger, Karin Rockwitz, Klaus Krüger, Karl Matthias Schneider, Anne C. Regierer, Anja Strangfeld
Date Published: 2025
Publication Type: Journal
Abstract
Authors: Anne C. Regierer, Andreas Reich, Anja Weiß, Martin Feuchtenberger, Silke Zinke, Hanns-Martin Lorenz, Uta Syrbe, Peter Böhm, Julius Wiegand, Anja Strangfeld
Date Published: 2025
Publication Type: Journal
This file contains annotation to the respective data dictionaries.
Creator: Adrian Richter
Submitter: Adrian Richter
