Whilst the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux is increasing, most people are unaware of its possible consequences. Therefore, in Autumn 2000 a nationwide information campaign was launched on the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux and its possible treatments. One part of the information campaign was a telephone hotline which was followed by an interview by phone or a mailed questionnaire. The objective of this was to find out more about the people concerned and their complaints. The subjects of both data sets were on average 53 respectively 57 years old, half of them were female and over 60 % had had heartburn for more than two years. The interview showed that 53 % took notice of the hotline by a press release. The interviewed persons gathered information in general about health-related issues primarily from newspapers and TV reports and from their physician. 81.7 % of the questionnaire sample had already at least one gastroscopy. Another 9.5 % made use of medical services because of their complaints in the last year. 8.8 % used exclusively over-the-counter medication for relief from their complaints. These three groups of different degrees of utilisation differed in respect of age, intensity and duration of the symptom heartburn and lifestyle-factors such as smoking. Those who had a gastroscopy were older, symptoms were more prolonged, more severe, more often and comprised a wider range of symptoms and less cigarette consumption. The analysis of both samples showed that the telephone hotline was used mainly by people who had had their symptoms for a long time and had already been in medical care. The chosen means of information stated by the sample indicate that media are prominently involved in disseminating information and educating the public.

Improved survival rates of patients with multiple injuries have increased general interest in the quality of rehabilitation status after polytrauma. Due to the complex nature of multiple injuries, a special score is needed to evaluate the outcome after polytrauma. The aim of this study was to validate the Hannover Score for Polytrauma Outcome (HASPOC). One hundred seventy patients who had sustained multiple injuries were re-examined using the HASPOC 2 years after trauma. Results were correlated with the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), a validated and established scoring system. The HASPOC was also correlated with clinical parameters predictive of poor outcome. Two control groups consisting of either patients after single injuries or healthy controls were also evaluated using the HASPOC. In the group of patients after multiple injuries, the HASPOC correlated with the SF-12 in injury severity and polytrauma scores, intubation period, hospital stay, and occurrence of injuries below the knee. Differences between healthy controls,patients after single injuries, and patients after multiple injuries were statistically significant when evaluated with the HASPOC. This statistical significance was not achieved using the SF-12. The HASPOC is a valid scoring system and useful for evaluating the rehabilitation status after polytrauma.

In the present population with typical and frequent GERD symptoms the BMI showed no impact on the frequency of reflux symptoms. A high BMI does not appear to be a risk indicator for GERD. Interventional studies are needed to assess whether a high BMI is also no risk factor for GERD.