The Robert Koch Institute (RKI): main building in Berlin. more
Germany’s Public Health institute RKI monitors the population’s health and wellbeing. more
The Robert Koch Institute is the German government's central institution for the identification, surveillance and prevention of infectious diseases in the Portfolio of the German Ministry of Health. more
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Germany, causing a total of approximately 40% of all deaths. In addition, they are associated with significant health consequences for the individual and result in high medical costs for society.
Due to their prevalence, coronary heart disease, heart attacks, and stroke have particularly high public health relevance.
The most significant modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases are cardiometabolic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, lipometabolic disorders and obesity, as well as behaviour that is detrimental to health, such as smoking, physical inactivity and an unhealthy diet.
These risk factors can be influenced by health-conscious behaviour and medicinal therapies, and provide great potential for preventing cardiovascular diseases.
Within the framework of health monitoring in children and adults, the Robert Koch Institute regularly collects data on significant cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors.
Based on this data, the prevalence and distribution of diseases and risk factors in the population and their development and influencing factors are investigated in epidemiological studies.
Further studies examine such aspects as the interaction of different risk factors, correlation with the living environment and mental health, and healthcare aspects. The search for preventative approaches is of great importance here.
