Measures of Quality Control in the German Component of the EPIC Study

Abstract

Quality control is an indispensable part of quality assurance in any study, intending to ensure high standards during data acquisition. The aim of this paper is to describe the measures of quality control undertaken in the German EPIC study centers and to present selected results of these procedures (EPIC = European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition). For all data assessment tools applied in the German EPIC study, procedures were developed to monitor both the personnel as well as the technical instruments. These procedures combined quantitative and qualitative measurements of quality control. Interviewer performance was evaluated through direct observation and rated according to an evaluation score. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were both controlled through direct observation of measurement procedures as well as through periodical technical control of measurement devices. Blood sampling procedures were directly monitored and subsequent handling of the probes tightly recorded, including information on time sequence of work-up and room temperature. With these diverse control measurements and the obtained rating of assessment procedures a broad pool of information has been made available to support a critical evaluation of the data obtained in the EPIC study centers in Heidelberg and Potsdam.

Genetic variants including markers from the exome chip and metabolite traits of type 2 diabetes

“…The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Potsdam study consists of 27,548 participants recruited between 1994 and 1998 from the general population in Potsdam and surroundings 38 . The baseline examination involved a personal interview including questions on prevalent diseases, a self-administered questionnaire on socio-economic and lifestyle characteristics, interviewer-conducted anthropometric measurements and a blood sample collection 39 .…”

Alcohol Consumption, Genetic Variants in Alcohol Deydrogenases, and Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Prospective Study and Meta-Analysis

“…Baseline measurements of anthropometric parameters and blood pressure were obtained by trained personnel [25]. BMI was calculated as the ratio of body weight (kg) to height squared (m 2 ).…”

Putative association between a new polymorphism in exon 3 (Arg109Cys) of the pancreatic colipase gene and type 2 diabetes mellitus in two independent Caucasian study populations

“…This population-based, prospective study comprises 27 548 people from the area around Potsdam, Germany. Baseline examination was conducted between 1994 and 1998, and included anthropometric and blood pressure (BP) measurements, blood sampling, a self-administered food-frequency questionnaire, and a personal interview on lifestyle habits and medical history [12,13]. During the first follow-up, on average 2.3 years after recruitment, 192 incident cases of type 2 DM were identified and confirmed by the primary care physician [13].…”