Dr. Kathrin Krüger, MPH

Research associate

Research focus Health Economics and Health Policy

Telephone: +49 (0)511-532-5416

Fax: +49 (0)511-532-5376

Job profile

Routine data analyses
Health economic analyses
Health-related quality of life
Cost-effectiveness studies in the field of hepatitis C
Evaluation of health interventions

Scientific career

2018 - 2024
Doctorate in Public Health (Dr. PH) at Hannover Medical School
Title of the thesis: "Effects and correlations of early disease detection in children and adolescents with special consideration of social background"

2015 - ongoing
Research associate at Hannover Medical School, Institute of Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Public Health Research

2011 - 2014
Supplementary degree program in Population Medicine and Public Health at Hannover Medical School with a focus on epidemiology
Master's thesis: "Implementation of the therapy guidelines for colorectal cancer and influencing factors for non-adherence."

2008 - 2011
Studied health sciences at the University of Bremen, majoring in health planning and health management
Bachelor's thesis: "Inpatient pain management - the introduction of a pain therapy standard for postoperative orthopaedic patients."

Projects

OPTI-NASH
MMS-RFP
MS-PoV
SIGMO

Teaching

Seminar "Social Medicine and Health Economics" in the module Public Health II in the model study program HannibaL at Hannover Medical School

Publications

Schmetsdorf J, Krüger K, Posselt J, Runde W, Zechel H-G, Kohlmann T, Krauth C (2025). Evaluating relapse prophylaxis in addition to interdisciplinary multimodal pain therapy for back pain: A randomized controlled trial. J Rehabil Med 57, 2025. doi.org/10.2340/jrm.v57.42088

Fricke LM, Krüger K, Trebst C, Brütt AL, Dilger E-M, Eichstädt K, Flachenecker P, Grau A, Hemmerling M, Hoekstra D, Schaubert K, Stahmann A, Stahmeyer JT, Thiele A, Zettl UK, Heidenreich F and Krauth C (2024). Subgroup analyses and patterns of multiple sclerosis health service utilization: A cluster analysis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal - Experimental, Translational and Clinical. DOI: 10.1177/20552173241260151

Krüger K, Lapstich AM, Reber KC, Sehlen S, Liersch S, Krauth C (2023). Determinants for participation in a prevention and early detection program for children and adolescents in Germany: does social background play a role? Archives of Public Health, 81(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-023-01173-5

Krüger K, Lapstich AM, Reber KC, Sehlen S, Liersch S & Krauth C (2023). The effectiveness of additional screening examinations for children and adolescents in Germany: a longitudinal retrospective cohort study. BMC pediatrics, 23:164. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-023-03988-1

Krüger K, Oedingen C, Kautz A, Langenbacher D, Rossol S, Stahmeyer JT, Krauth C (2023). Lifestyle interventions for patients with non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis-Design, rationale and protocol of the study "target group-specific optimization of lifestyle interventions for behavior change in non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (OPTI-NASH)". PLoS ONE 18(7): e0288905. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288905

Krüger K, Schmetsdorf J, Pavlovic M, Runde W, Zechel G, Hemken N, Krauth C (2023). Evaluation of a multimodal pain therapy approach with relapse prophylaxis for back pain (MMSRFP study): a study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial. BMJ Open 2023;13:e067412. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067412

Lander J, Altawil H, Dilger E-M, Bruett AL, Fricke LM, Hoekstra D, John C, Krauth C, Krüger K, Schaubert K, von Sommoggy J, Thiele A, Dierks M-L (2023). Synchronous online focus groups in health research: application and further development of methodology based on experiences from two mixed-methods research projects. BMC Research Notes (2023) 16:18 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-023-06288-0

Krüger K, Rossol S, Krauth C, Buggisch P, Mauss S, Stoehr A, Klinker H, Böker K, Teuber G, Stahmeyer J (2022). Real-world experience for the outcomes and costs of treating hepatitis C patients: Results from the German Hepatitis C Registry (DHC-R). Z Gastroenterol 2022. DOI: 10.1055/a-1852-5713.

Krüger K, Fricke LM, Dilger E-M, Thiele A, Schaubert K, Hoekstra D, et al. How is and how should healthcare for people with multiple sclerosis in Germany be designed? - The rationale and protocol for the mixed-methods study Multiple Sclerosis-Patient-Oriented Care in Lower Saxony (MS-PoV). PLoS ONE 2021, 16(11): e0259855. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259855.

Dreier M, Krüger K, Walter U, Hagen A. Smoking ban in publicly accessible spaces. Publication series Health Technology Assessment, VOL: 138, 1st edition 2021. ISSN: 1864-9645, DOI: 10.3205/hta000138L.

Kula A, Strech D, Mertz M, Krüger K, Liersch S, Walter U, Hagen A. Obesity prevention programs in schools. Publication series Health Technology Assessment, VOL: 140, 1st edition 2021. ISSN: 1864-9645, DOI: 10.3205/hta000140L.

Liersch S, Krüger K, Oedingen C, Spreenberg A, Bergemann T, & Krauth C. Evaluation of the pediatric-centered integrated care AOK Junior: protocol for a mixed-method study. BMC Health Services Research 2020, 20(1), 1-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05088-7.

Krauth C, Rossol S, Ortsäter G, Kautz A, Krüger K, Herder B, Stahmeyer JT. Elimination of hepatitis C virus in Germany: modeling the cost-effectiveness of HCV screening strategies. BMC Infectious Diseases 2019; 19: 1019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-019-4524-z.

Krüger K, Krauth C, Rossol S, Mauss S, Boeker KH, Müller T, ... & Stahmeyer JT. Outcomes and costs of treating hepatitis C patients with second-generation direct-acting antivirals: results from the German Hepatitis C-registry. European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology 2019, 31 (2), 230-240. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MEG.0000000000001283.

Dreier M, Krüger K, Walter U. Patient-rated importance of key information on screening colonoscopy in Germany: a survey of statutory health insurance members. BMJ Open 2018; 8:e019127. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019127.

Book contributions

Dreier M, Krüger K, Walter U. Colonoscopy for the early detection of colorectal cancer - experiences and information needs of insured persons. Health Monitor 2016, published by the Bertelsmann Stiftung 2016; pp. 222-252.

Lectures & poster presentations

Krüger K, Oedingen C, Kautz A, Langenbacher D, Rossol S, Stahmeyer JT, Krauth C. Target group-specific optimization of lifestyle interventions for behavior change in non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis - Rationale and design of the OPTI-NASH project. Healthcare 2023; 85(08/09): 826.
(Poster presentation - Annual Conference of the DGSMP - Hannover 2023)

Krüger K, Lapstich AM, Reber KC, Sehlen S, Liersch S, Krauth C. The effectiveness of the additional screening examinations U10, U11 and J2 for children and adolescents: a retrospective cohort study.
(Presentation - 21st German Congress for Health Services Research - Potsdam 2022)

Krüger K, Liersch S, Lapstich AM, Krauth C. Evaluation of a health program for early disease detection in children and adolescents: Determinants of participation, satisfaction, barriers and potential for improvement.
(Presentation - 20th German Congress for Health Services Research - online 2021)

Lapstich AM, Liersch S, Krüger K, Krauth C. Evaluation of an integrated care program with the aim of early disease detection in children and adolescents based on SHI billing data
(Science Pitch - 20th German Congress for Health Services Research - online 2021)

Krüger K, Lapstich AM, Liersch S, Krauth C. Evaluation of an integrated care contract with the aim of early disease detection in children and adolescents from the perspective of physicians.
(Presentation - 19th German Congress for Health Services Research - online 2020)

Krüger K, Stahmeyer JT, Rossol S, Ortsäter G, Kautz A, Herder B, Krauth C. Elimination of hepatitis C virus in Germany: modeling the cost-effectiveness of HCV screening strategies.
(Poster presentation - DGGÖ annual conference - Augsburg 2019)

Krüger K, Krauth C, Rossol S, Mauss S, Boeker KH, Müller T, ... & Stahmeyer JT. Results of the German Hepatitis C Registry: Outcomes and Costs of Hepatitis C Treatment with Direct Acting Antivirals.
(Poster presentation - DGGÖ Annual Meeting - Hamburg 2018)

Krüger K, Blase L, Schmiemann G, Lingner H. ManRück: Manual therapy & functional capacity in acute non-specific back pain.
(Poster presentation - 50th Congress for General Practice and Family Medicine - Frankfurt 2016)

Krüger K, Walter U, Dreier M. Risk groups for secondhand smoke exposure in Germany - analysis of the GEDA 2012 telephone survey. Das Gesundheitswesen 2016. 78: A123.
(Lecture - Annual Conference of the DGSMP - Essen 2016)

Krüger K, Walter U, Dreier M. The role of GP recommendation in the utilization of screening colonoscopy. Healthcare 2016. 78: A187.
(Poster presentation - Annual Conference of the DGSMP - Essen 2016)

Krüger K, Walter U, Dreier M. State-specific implementation of the Non-Smoker Protection Act. Das Gesundheitswesen 2015. 77: A58.
(Lecture - Joint Congress DGSMP, DGMS and LGL - Regensburg 2015)

Krüger K, Walter U, Dreier M. Instruments for the evaluation of decision making in the context of cancer screening - a systematic review. Healthcare 2015. 77: A350.
(Poster presentation - Joint Congress DGSMP, DGMS and LGL - Regensburg 2015)

Abstracts

Fricke LM, Krüger K, Trebst C, Stahmeyer JT, Hemmerling M, Burger B, Krauth C (2025). Thinking outside the box – data linking in research into the care situation of people with multiple sclerosis. German Congress for Health Services Research (DKVF), Hamburg. doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16919352

Krüger K, Amelung V, Breitner M, Damm K, Heitland I, Herr A, Kahl K, Quis JS, Reichert A, Zeidler J, Krauth C (2025). Health equity in the context of migration and diversity: A data-driven analysis of medical, nursing and preventive care in Lower Saxony (HUMAN-LS). German Congress for Health Services Research (DKVF), Hamburg. doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16902861

Fricke LM, Krüger K, Krauth C (2024). Quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis vs general population: differences increase by age. Meeting Abstract at the 17th European Public Health Conference, Lisbon (Portugal), 13.11.-15.11.2024. DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckae144.1251.

Fricke LM, Krüger K, Eichstädt K, Stahmann A, Krauth C (2024). Mental impairment in people with multiple sclerosis is high from disease onset - subgroup analyses of the MSIS-29. Health - together. Cooperation conference of the German Society for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology (GMDS), German Society for Social Medicine and Prevention (DGSMP), German Society for Epidemiology (DGEpi), German Society for Medical Sociology (DGMS) and the German Society for Public Health (DGPH). Dresden, 08-13.09.2024. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2024. docAbstr. 554. doi: 10.3205/24gmds751

Krüger K, Hemmerling M, Schaubert K, Brinkmann M, Rossol S, Stahmeyer J, Dreier M, Krauth C (2024). The costs of colorectal cancer in Germany: an excess cost analysis from the perspective of statutory health insurance (SHI). Health - together. Cooperation conference of the German Society for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology (GMDS), German Society for Social Medicine and Prevention (DGSMP), German Society for Epidemiology (DGEpi), German Society for Medical Sociology (DGMS) and the German Society for Public Health (DGPH). Dresden, 08-13.09.2024. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2024. docAbstr. 586. doi: 10.3205/24gmds509

Krüger K, Schaubert K, Brinkmann M, Schramm W, Dreier M, Krauth C (2024). Decision-analytic modeling of costs & benefits of adding sigmoidoscopy to CRC screening in Germany. European Journal of Public Health 2024; 34 (Supplement_3), ckae144-934.

Schmetsdorf J, Krüger K, Posselt J, Runde W, Zechel HG, Krauth C (2024). Investigating the role of psychosocial stress factors in back pain patients. European Journal of Public Health 2024; 34 (Supplement_3), ckae144-2236.

Schmetsdorf J, Krüger K, Posselt J, Runde W, Zechel HG, Krauth C (2024). Cost-effectiveness analysis of multimodal pain therapy with relapse prophylaxis for back pain patients using routine SHI data. Health - together. Cooperation conference of the German Society for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology (GMDS), German Society for Social Medicine and Prevention (DGSMP), German Society for Epidemiology (DGEpi), German Society for Medical Sociology (DGMS) and the German Society for Public Health (DGPH). Dresden, 08-13.09.2024. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2024. docAbstr. 592. doi: 10.3205/24gmds707

Dilger E-M, Reeck N, Hoekstra D, Fricke L, Schaubert K, Krüger K, Eichstädt K, Stahmann A, Hemmerling M, Stahmeyer JT, Grau A, Heidenreich F, Krauth C, Thiele A, Brütt AL (2023). Investigation of the aid provision process in people with multiple sclerosis and the relationship with perceived social participation. 3rd Congress of Participation Research - 22.09.2023 in Cologne

Fricke LM, Krüger K, Heidenreich F, Stahmann A, Brütt AL, Dilger E-M, Eichstädt K, Flachenecker P, Frahm N, Grau A, Hemmerling M, Hoekstra D, Schaubert K, Stahmeyer JT, Thiele A, Trebst C, Zettl UK, Krauth C (2023). Real-world data analyses: Does health services utilization meet needs in multiple sclerosis health care? Meeting Abstract at the 9th Joint ECTRIMS-ACTRIMS Meeting, Milan (Italy), 11.10.-13.10.2023. DOI: 10.1177/13524585231196195.

Fricke LM, Krüger K, Schaubert K, Brütt, AL, Dilger E-M, Eichstädt K, Grau A, Heidenreich F, Hemmerling M, Hoekstra D, Stahmann A, Stahmeyer JT, Thiele A, Krauth C (2023). Non-responder analysis of the characteristics of participants in an online survey among multiple sclerosis patients of the AOK Lower Saxony. Healthcare 2023; 85(08/09): 814 - 814. doi:10.1055/s-0043-1770614

Fricke LM, Krüger K, Schaubert K, Brütt AL, Dilger E-M, Eichstädt K, Grau A, Heidenreich F, Hemmerling M, Hoekstra D, Stahmann A, Stahmeyer JT, Thiele A, Trebst C, Krauth C (2023). Non-responder analysis based on the service areas defined in routine data of participants in an online survey on the care situation of multiple sclerosis in Lower Saxony. Meeting abstract at the 22nd German Congress for Health Services Research, Berlin, 04.10.-06.10.2023. DOI: 10.3205/23dkvf285

Schmetsdorf J, Pavlovic M, Runde W, Zechel G, Krauth C, Krüger K (2023). Multimodal pain therapy with relapse prophylaxis. Healthcare 2023; 85(08/09): 788 - 788. doi:10.1055/s-0043-1770526

Lander J, Dilger EM, Fricke LM, Hoekstra D, Krüger K, Schaubert K, Sommoggy Jv, Brütt AL, Krauth C, Thiele A, Dierks ML (2020). Challenges and solutions for the digital implementation of focus groups in health-related research. 20th German Congress for Health Services Research (DKVF). Digital, 06.-08.10.2020. Website: https://www.egms.de/static/en/meetings/dkvf2021/21dkvf286.shtml

Fricke LM, Dilger EM, Thiele A, Schaubert K, Krüger K, Hoekstra D, Heidenreich F, Brütt AL, Stahmeyer JT, Stahmann A, Röper AL, Kubiak KP, Hemmerling M, Grau A, Eichstädt K, Behrens S, Krauth C (2020). Multiple sclerosis - patient-oriented care in Lower Saxony (MS-PoV). 20th German Congress for Health Services Research (DKVF). Digital, 06.-08.10.2020. Website: https://www.egms.de/static/en/meetings/dkvf2021/21dkvf072.shtml

Krüger K, Liersch S, Lapstich AM, Krauth C (2020). Determinants of participation in an integrated care contract with the aim of early disease detection in children and adolescents. 12th Annual Conference of the German Society for Health Economics (DGGÖ) "Competition and Medical Innovation". Wuppertal, March 23-24, 2020. Proceedings: 208 (planned poster presentation - canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

Krüger K, Lapstich AM, Liersch S, Krauth C. Evaluation of a contract for integrated care with the aim of early disease detection in children and adolescents from the perspective of physicians (2020). 12th Annual Conference of the German Society for Health Economics (DGGÖ) "Competition and Medical Innovation". Wuppertal, March 23-24, 2020. Proceedings: 77 (planned presentation - canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

Liersch S, Krüger K, Gorenoi V, Lapstich AM, Oedingen C, Sehlen S, Krauth C (2019). Evaluation of the pediatric-centered integrated care AOK-Junior - study protocol. 11th Annual Conference of the German Society for Health Economics (DGGÖ) "Health Behavior and Prevention". Augsburg, March 18-19, 2019. conference proceedings: 94-95.

Kula A, Liersch S, Krüger K, Walter U, Hagen A (2019). Obesity prevention - is school an effective place? A systematic review. European Journal of Public Health 2019, Volume 29, Issue Supplement_4, ckz187.049, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckz187.049

Kula A, Liersch S, Krüger K, Walter U, Hagen A (2018). Single article: Obesity prevention - is school an effective place? - A systematic review. Public Health 2018, 80(08/09), WS-05.

Krauth C, Krüger K, Rossol S, Mauss S, Boeker KH, Schott E, ... & Stahmeyer JT (2017). Outcomes And Costs Of Treating Hepatitis C With Direct-Acting Antivirals: Results From The German Hepatitis C Registry. Value in Health 2017. 20(9): A786.