Abstract
The inclusion of biomarkers in epidemiological research provides new possibilities for exposure assessment and the study of early structural or functional changes and pre-clinical stages of diseases. At the same time issues of validity, reliability, and quality control as well as logistics require special attention. Usually epidemiological studies become more expensive with regard to time and cost.
Interdisciplinary collaboration between epidemiology, basic research, and laboratory research is crucial. A prerequisite for this collaboration are agreements on definitions, methods and procedures. The definition of "biomarker" and a description of previous uses of biomarkers in epidemiological studies are presented in the first part of this paper. The second part addresses genetic markers and markers of individual sensitivity and susceptibility. We will end with a discussion about the possible future of biomarkers in epidemiology.
Translated title of the contribution | Biological Markers in Epidemiology: Concepts, Applications, Perspectives (Part I) |
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Original language | German |
Pages (from-to) | 99-107 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Gesundheitswesen |
Volume | 64 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Feb 2002 |
Keywords
- biomarker
- biomonitoring
- genetic marker
- epidemiology
- future use
- coronary heart-disease
- environmental tobacco-smoke
- high-density lipoprotein
- intima-media thickness
- serum-cholesterol
- molecular epidemiology
- risk-factors
- Framingham
- exposure
- men