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. 2019 Feb;34(2):191-209.
doi: 10.1007/s10654-018-0459-8. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

The Gothenburg H70 Birth cohort study 2014-16: design, methods and study population

Therese Rydberg Sterner  1   2 , Felicia Ahlner  3   4 , Kaj Blennow  5   6   7 , Synneve Dahlin-Ivanoff  5   8 , Hanna Falk  5   9 , Lena Havstam Johansson  5   10 , Maria Hoff  5   11 , Mathias Holm  5   12 , Helena Hörder  5   9 , Tina Jacobsson  5   9 , Boo Johansson  5   13 , Lena Johansson  5   9 , Jürgen Kern  5   9 , Silke Kern  5   9 , Alejandra Machado  14 , Madeleine Mellqvist Fässberg  5   9 , Johan Nilsson  5   9 , Mats Ribbe  5   9 , Elisabet Rothenberg  5   9   15 , Lina Rydén  5   9 , André Sadeghi  5   11 , Simona Sacuiu  5   9 , Jessica Samuelsson  5   9 , Robert Sigström  5   9 , Johan Skoog  5   13 , Valgeir Thorvaldsson  5   13 , Margda Waern  5   9 , Eric Westman  14 , Hanna Wetterberg  5   9 , Henrik Zetterberg  5   6   7   16   17 , Madeleine Zetterberg  5   18 , Anna Zettergren  5   9 , Svante Östling  5   9 , Ingmar Skoog  5   9
Affiliations

The Gothenburg H70 Birth cohort study 2014-16: design, methods and study population

Therese Rydberg Sterner et al. Eur J Epidemiol. 2019 Feb.

Abstract

To improve health care for older persons, we need to learn more about ageing, e.g. identify protective factors and early markers for diseases. The Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Studies (the H70 studies) are multidisciplinary epidemiological studies examining representative birth cohorts of older populations in Gothenburg, Sweden. So far, six birth cohorts of 70-year-olds have been examined over time, and examinations have been virtually identical between studies. This paper describes the study procedures for the baseline examination of the Birth cohort 1944, conducted in 2014-16. In this study, all men and women born 1944 on specific dates, and registered as residents in Gothenburg, were eligible for participation (n = 1839). A total of 1203 (response rate 72.2%; 559 men and 644 women; mean age 70.5 years) agreed to participate in the study. The study comprised sampling of blood and cerebrospinal fluid, psychiatric, cognitive, and physical health examinations, examinations of genetics and family history, use of medications, social factors, functional ability and disability, physical fitness and activity, body composition, lung function, audiological and ophthalmological examinations, diet, brain imaging, as well as a close informant interview, and qualitative studies. As in previous examinations, data collection serves as a basis for future longitudinal follow-up examinations. The research gained from the H70 studies has clinical relevance in relation to prevention, early diagnosis, clinical course, experience of illness, understanding pathogenesis and prognosis. Results will increase our understanding of ageing and inform service development, which may lead to enhanced quality of care for older persons.

Keywords: Ageing; Birth cohort; H70 study; Health; Population sample; Study design.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that no conflict of interest.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in the study.

Research involving human participants

The H70 study was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Gothenburg (Approval Numbers: 869-13, T076-14, T166-14, 976-13, 127-14, T936-15, 006-14, T703-14, 006-14, T201-17, T915-14, 959-15, T139-15), and by the Radiation Protection Committee (Approval Number: 13–64). Before the general and additional examinations, the study participants provided written informed consent. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Overview of birth cohorts (age inside square) and examination years in the Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Studies
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The underlying theoretical framework in the Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Studies
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Sample flow chart for the H70 study 2014–16
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Study protocol for the H70 study 2014–16
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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