The J1 adolescent health check-up: analysis of data from the German KiGGS survey.

BACKGROUND We analyzed data from the Robert Koch Institute's KiGGS survey regarding the J1 adolescent health check-up in order to determine what information this check-up provides. METHODS Descriptive statistical analysis of J1 participation with respect to social, demographic, medical and psychological factors, with logistic regression analysis of the risk associated with non-participation. RESULTS 32.9% of all adolescents in Germany aged 14 to 17 had a J1 check-up. Thus, the J1 participation rate has remained low since the introduction of the J1 in Germany. The main conditions that were more commonly found in adolescents who had a J1 check-up were thyroid disorders (4.1% vs. 2.9%), and scoliosis (14.8% vs. 10.5%). Adolescents were only half as likely to have a J1 check-up if they were under the care of a general practitioner, rather than a pediatrician (odds ratio [OR] 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36-0.60). Foreign adolescents were only half as likely to have a J1 check-up as German ones (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.31-0.84). CONCLUSION There is compelling evidence that scoliosis and thyroid disorders, in particular, are underdiagnosed if a J1 check-up is not performed. Thus, elevating the J1 participation rate should be a priority. If a J1-check up were performed in the nearly two-thirds of all adolescents who currently do not undergo one, many latent health problems could be recognized and treated in timely fashion.