Dr. Wiebke Schäfer

• Pharmacoepidemiology
• Utilization of antidepressants, especially in the elderly people
• Drug and vaccine safety
• Neuropsychiatric disorders
• Secondary Data
• Cancer Epidemiology

• German Society for Epidemiology (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Epidemiologie / DGEpi)
• German Society for Medical Informatics, Biometrics and Epidemiology (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie / GMDS)

• Cross-departmental Center B: Data Science
• Cross-departmental Center A: Research Data Infrastructure
• PAS-study for Brodalumab
• PAS-study for Entresto® (sacubitril/valsartan)
• PAS-study for solriamfetol
• PAS-study for upadacitinib
• Utilization of drugs containing testosterone in Germany

Selected BIPS-Publications

• Articles with peer review

• Garbe E, Hoti F, Schink T, Svendsen K, Al-Eid HM, Arkhammer P, Carlholm M, Fjällbrant H, Franzén S, Hedlund C, Kollhorst B, Kumar A, Lobier M, Mushnikov V, Persson T, Qiao X, Salosensaari A, Schäfer W, Sicignano NM, Johansson G, Dareng EO. Long-term safety of roflumilast in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a multinational observational database cohort study. International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. 2024;19:1879-1892.
  https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S465517
• Pajouheshnia R, Gini R, Gutierrez L, Swertz M, Hyde E, Sturkenboom MCJM, Arana A, Franzoni C, Ehrenstein V, Roberto G, Gil M, Maciá MA, Schäfer W, Haug U, Thurin NH, Lassalle R, Droz-Perroteau C, Zaccagnino S, Busto MP, Middelkoop B, Gembert K, Sanchez-Saez F, Rodriguez-Bernal C, Sanfélix-Gimeno G, Hurtado I, Barreiro-de-Acosta M, Poblador-Plou B, Carmona-Pírez J, Gimeno-Miguel A, Prados-Torres A, Schultze A, Jansen E, Herings R, Kuiper J, Locatelli I, Jazbar J, Zerovnik S, Kos M, Smit S, Lind S, Metspalu A, Simou S, Hedenmalm K, Cochino A, Alcini P, Kurz X, Perez-Gutthan S. Metadata for data discoverability and study replicability in observational studies (MINERVA): Development and pilot of a metadata list and catalogue definition and recommendations of use from the MINERVA project in Europe. Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety. 2024;33(8):e5871.
  https://doi.org/10.1002/pds.5871
• Heinig M, Schäfer W, Langner I, Zeeb H, Haug U. German mammography screening program: Adherence, characteristics of (non-)participants and utilization of non-screening mammography - A longitudinal analysis. BMC Public Health. 2023;23:1678.
  https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16589-5
• Reilev M, Jensen PB, Ranch LS, Egenberg A, Furu K, Gembert K, Hägg D, Haug U, Karlstad Ø, Reutfors J, Schäfer W, Schwarz S, Smits E, Holthuis E, Herings R, Trifirò G, Kirchmayer U, Cesare Rosa A, Belleudi V, Gini R, Støvring Henrik, Hallas J. Methodology of the brodalumab assessment of hazards: A multicentre observational safety (BRAHMS) study. BMJ Open. 2023;13:e066057.
  https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-066057
• Platzbecker K, Schäfer W, Haug U. Does the socioeconomic status differ between users of potentially NDMA-contaminated generic valsartan and users of brand-name valsartan in Germany. GMS Medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie. 2022;18(1):Doc3.
  https://doi.org/10.3205/mibe000236
• Schäfer W, Reinders T, Schink T. Second dose of measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine (MMRV) and the risk of febrile convulsions. Vaccine. 2022;40(14):2168-2172.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.02.072
  https://repository.publisso.de/resource/frl:6432144
• Schäfer W, Reinders T, Riedel O, Haug U. How often are antidepressants prescribed off-label among older adults in Germany? A claims data analysis. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2021;87(4):1778-1789.
  https://doi.org/10.1111/bcp.14564
• Schäfer W, Wentzell N, Schink T, Haug U. Characterization of pregnancies exposed to St. John's wort and their outcomes: A claims data analysis. Reproductive Toxicology. 2021;102:90-97.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reprotox.2021.04.005
  https://repository.publisso.de/resource/frl%3A6428346
• Schwarz S, Schäfer W, Horenkamp-Sonntag D, Liebentraut J, Haug U. Follow-up of 3 million persons undergoing colonoscopy in Germany: Utilization of repeat colonoscopies and polypectomies within 10 years. Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology. 2021;12(1):e00279.
  https://doi.org/10.14309/ctg.0000000000000279
• Reinold J, Schäfer W, Christianson L, Barone-Adesi F, Riedel O, Pisa F. Anticholinergic burden and fractures: A systematic review with methodological appraisal. Drugs & Aging. 2020;37(12):885-897.
  https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-020-00806-6
• Reinold J, Schäfer W, Christianson L, Barone-Adesi F, Riedel O, Pisa F. Anticholinergic burden and fractures: A protocol for a methodological systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2019;9:e030205.
  https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030205
• Schäfer W, Princk C, Kollhorst B, Schink T. Antidepressants and the risk of hemorrhagic stroke in the elderly: A nested case-control study. Drug Safety. 2019;42(9):1081-1089.
  https://doi.org/10.1007/s40264-019-00837-y
  https://repository.publisso.de/resource/frl%3A6416489

• Commentaries

• Gini R, Pajouheshnia R, Gutierrez L, Swertz M, Hyde E, Sturkenboom MCJM, Arana A, Franzoni C, Ehrenstein V, Roberto G, Gil M, Maciá MA, Schäfer W, Haug U, Thurin NH, Lassalle R, Droz-Perroteau C, Zaccagnino S, Busto MP, Middelkoop B, Gembert K, Sanchez-Saez F, Rodriguez-Bernal C, Sanfélix-Gimeno G, Hurtado I, Barreiro-de-Acosta M, Poblador-Plou B, Carmona-Pírez J, Gimeno-Miguel A, Prados-Torres A, Schultze A, Jansen E, Herings R, Kuiper J, Locatelli I, Jazbar J, Zerovnik S, Kos M, Smit S, Lind S, Metspalu A, Simou S, Hedenmalm K, Cochino A, Alcini P, Kurz X, Perez-Gutthan S. Metadata for data discoverability and study replicability in observational studies (MINERVA): Lessons learnt from the MINERVA project in Europe. 2024.
  https://doi.org/10.1002/pds.5884

• Articles without peer review

• Schäfer W, Scholle O, Viebrock J, Haug U. Verordnung von testosteronhaltigen Arzneimitteln in Deutschland. Bulletin zur Arzneimittelsicherheit - Informationen aus BfArM und PEI. 2025;3:4-8.
  https://www.bfarm.de/DE/Aktuelles/Publikationen/Bulletin/Ausgaben/_node.html

• Guidelines and reports

• Stallmann C, Brandes B, Goldhahn L, Wulf T, Reineke A, Swart E, Ahrens W, Pigeot I, Schäfer W. Daten der gesetzlichen und privaten Krankenversicherung in der NAKO Gesundheitsstudie: Nutzermanual. Bonn. 2025.
  https://doi.org/10.4126/FRL01-006510711

• PhD-Theses

• Schäfer W. Utilization of antidepressants in vulnerable groups of patients: Investigations using data from the German Pharmacoepidemiological Research Database (GePaRD). Bremen: Universität Bremen; 2022.
  https://doi.org/10.26092/elib/1974

• Presentations at scientific meetings/conferences

• Colas S, Bonnet H, Fraticelli L, Bignon E, Jové J, Ehrenstein V, Giner-Soriano M, Reinold J, Schäfer W, Tolpa, Tolppanen A-M, Cesta CE, Cohen JM, Pajouheshnia R, Kuiper J, Houben E, Kürzinger M-L, Longin J, Carcaillon-Bentata L. Studying paternal drug exposures and offspring outcomes: Feasibility assessment of large European databases. Washington, D.C., USA. 2025.
• DeJong H, Houben E, Baak B, Lemmens L, Verburg I, Pedersen L, Schäfer W, Haug U, Meier C, Egger P, Rauch M, Marconi E, Bianchini E, Gini R, Paoletti O, Elhussein L, Prieto-Alhambra D, Lem J, Behr S, Penning-van Beest F, Overbeek J, Sturkenboom MCJM. Assessing the risk of angioedema in adult sacubitril/valsartan users with heart failure: Results from a post-authorization safety study in seven European electronic healthcare databases. Washington, D.C., USA. 2025.
• Meyer I, March S, Stallmann C, Ihle P, Swart E, Gothe H, Peschke D, Schäfer W, Nimptsch U, Hoffmann F, Epping J. Lehrbuch Auswertung Routinedaten: Konzept, Stand, Aufruf zur Mitarbeit. Jena. 2025.
• Börnhorst C, Haug U, Kollhorst B, Viebrock J, Didelez V, Schäfer W. Breast cancer recurrence due to avoidable drug-drug interactions? Development of a protocol for emulating a target trial in women with breast cancer that concurrently use tamoxifen and antidepressants. Bremen. 2023.
• Schäfer W, Wentzell N, Kollhorst B, Haug U. Antidepressant use in early pregnancy: Prevalence and pregnancy outcomes. Bremen. 2023.
• Schäfer W, Oppelt KA, Haug U. Nutzung von Sekundärdaten zur Charakterisierung von "Extremen" in der Versorgung: Beispiel Koloskopie. Bremen. 2018.
• Schäfer W, Kollhorst B, Reinders T, Riedel O. Off-label antidepressant use. Montreal, Canada. 2017.
• Schäfer W, Princk C, Schlie N, Kollhorst B, Schink T. Antidepressants and the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Montreal, Canada. 2017.

• Posters at scientific meetings/conferences

• DeJong H, Houben E, Baak B, Lemmens L, Verburg I, Pedersen L, Schäfer W, Haug U, Meier C, Egger P, Rauch M, Marconi E, Bianchini E, Gini R, Paoletti O, Elhussein L, Prieto-Alhambra D, Ayodele O, Behr S, Penning-van Beest F, Overbeek J, Sturkenboom MCJM. Investigating potential drug-drug-interactions between sacubitril/valsartan and statins and the risk of myotoxicity, hepatotoxicity or acute pancreatitis: a post-authorisation safety study in 7 European healthcare databases. Washington, D.C., USA. 2025.
• Schäfer W, Scholle O, Viebrock J, Haug U. Use of testosterone-containing drugs in Germany: Time trends and potential off-label use. Uppsala, Sweden. 2025.
• Schäfer W, Wentzell N, Kollhorst B, Haug U. Trends in antidepressant use during early pregnancy in Germany between 2005 and 2020. Berlin. 2024.
• Pajouheshnia R, Gini R, Hyde E, Swertz M, Sturkenboom MCJM, Margulis A, Franzoni C, Arana A, Ehrenstein V, Gembert K, Jansen E, Herings R, Thurin N, Locatelli I, Jazbar J, Zerovnik S, Kos M, Smit S, Lind S, Metspalu A, Zaccagnino S, Busto MP, Middelkoop B, Barreiro-de-Acosta M, Sanchez-Saez F, Rodriguez-Bernal C, Sanfélix-Gimeno G, Poblador-Plou B, Carmona-Pírez J, Gimeno-Miguel A, Gil M, Schäfer W, Haug U, Simou S, Hedenmalm K, Cochino A, Alcini P, Kurz X, Gutierrez L, Perez-Gutthan S, on behalf of the MINERVA project consortium. MINERVA: Metadata for data dIscoverability aNd study rEplicability in obseRVAtional studies. Copenhagen, Denmark. 2022.
• Reilev M, Bjødstrup Jensen P, Støvring H, Skov Ranch L, Gini R, Bartolini C, Trifirò G, Kirchmayer U, Cesare Rosa A, Belleudi V, Haug U, Schwarz S, Schäfer W, Herings R, Smits E, Overbeek J, Holthuis E, Furu K, Gembert K, Hägg D, Tari M, Ientile V, Ingrasciotta Y, Egenberg A, Hallas J, on behalf of the BRAHMS study group. BRodalumab Assessment of Hazards: A Multinational Safety (BRAHMS) study of a biological anti-psoriatic drug across six European countries. Copenhagen, Denmark. 2022.
• Schäfer W, Heinig M, Haug U. Time trends in antidepressant use among women aged 50-75 years in Germany. Copenhagen, Denmark. 2022.
• Reinold J, Schäfer W, Christianson L, Barone-Adesi F, Riedel O, Pisa F. Anticholinergic burden and fractures in older adults: Results from a methodological systematic review. online poster. 2020.
• Schäfer W, Wentzell N, Haug U. St. John's Wort: Utilization during pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes. online poster. 2020.
• Reinold J, Schäfer W, Christianson L, Barone-Adesi F, Riedel O, Pisa F. Anticholinergic burden and fractures in older adults: Preliminary results from a methodological systematic review and meta-analysis. Krakow, Poland. 2019.
• Schäfer W, Princk C, Schlie N, Kollhorst B, Schink T. Antidepressants and the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Bremen. 2018.

• Further Publications

• ICPE All Access Scholarship
  International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (2020)
  Aktive Teilnahme an der ICPE All Access
• ICPE Scholarship 2017
  International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (2017)
  Aktive Teilnahme an der 33. International Conference on Pharmacoepidemiology and Therapeutic Risk Management in Montréal, Kanada als Jungwissenschaftlerin

• Secondary data for health research
  University of Mainz
  MSc Epidemiology
  
  • Wintersemester 2018/19
  • Since Wintersemester 2020/21
• Pharmacoepidemiology
  University of Technology Dresden
  MPH Health Sciences - Public Health
  • WiSe 2023/2024