OBJECTIVE: To describe a cohort study of women receiving a series of comprehensive health examinations over 32 years. DESIGN: Longitudinal population study based on a randomised sample of the female population from defined age cohorts. SETTING: City of Göteborg, Sweden. SUBJECTS: Subjects were 38, 46, 50, 54 or 60 years old at the start of the study in 1968. Re-examinations were performed in 1974, 1982 and 1992. Non-participants in the most recent examination, initiated in 2000, were offered home visits. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participation, anthropometric and blood pressure changes. RESULTS: At the end of the 32-year follow-up, 64% of the original participants were alive, and low participation among survivors was a problem. An acceptable participation rate (71% of those alive) was obtained after home visits were offered. Surviving non-participants already had elevated cardiovascular risk factors at onset of the study in 1968, along with lower educational level and lower socioeconomic status. Home visited subjects were similar to non-participants with regard to anthropometry and blood pressure, but did not differ from participants with regard to social indicators. Thirty-two-year longitudinal data demonstrate clear ageing effects for several important variables, which should, however, be considered in the context of documented differences with non-participants at the baseline examination. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal studies in elderly populations provide important data on changes during the ageing process. However, participation rates decline for a number of reasons and generalisations should be made with care. Moreover, including home visits in the protocol can both increase participation and reduce participation bias in elderly cohorts.
OBJECTIVE: To describe a cohort study of women receiving a series of comprehensive health examinations over 32 years. DESIGN: Longitudinal population study based on a randomised sample of the female population from defined age cohorts. SETTING: City of Göteborg, Sweden. SUBJECTS: Subjects were 38, 46, 50, 54 or 60 years old at the start of the study in 1968. Re-examinations were performed in 1974, 1982 and 1992. Non-participants in the most recent examination, initiated in 2000, were offered home visits. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participation, anthropometric and blood pressure changes. RESULTS: At the end of the 32-year follow-up, 64% of the original participants were alive, and low participation among survivors was a problem. An acceptable participation rate (71% of those alive) was obtained after home visits were offered. Surviving non-participants already had elevated cardiovascular risk factors at onset of the study in 1968, along with lower educational level and lower socioeconomic status. Home visited subjects were similar to non-participants with regard to anthropometry and blood pressure, but did not differ from participants with regard to social indicators. Thirty-two-year longitudinal data demonstrate clear ageing effects for several important variables, which should, however, be considered in the context of documented differences with non-participants at the baseline examination. CONCLUSIONS: Longitudinal studies in elderly populations provide important data on changes during the ageing process. However, participation rates decline for a number of reasons and generalisations should be made with care. Moreover, including home visits in the protocol can both increase participation and reduce participation bias in elderly cohorts.
Authors: E Billstedt; I Skoog; P Duberstein; T Marlow; T Hällström; M André; L Lissner; C Björkelund; S Ostling; M Waern Journal: Acta Psychiatr Scand Date: 2013-02-19 Impact factor: 6.392
Authors: P Gudmundsson; M Lindwall; D R Gustafson; S Östling; T Hällström; M Waern; I Skoog Journal: Acta Psychiatr Scand Date: 2015-04-11 Impact factor: 6.392
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