Canadian Health Measures Survey: rationale, background and overview.

The Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) was developed to address important data gaps and limitations in existing health information by collecting directly measured indicators of health and wellness on a representative sample of approximately 5,000 Canadians aged 6 to 79 years. The survey entails an in-home general health interview followed by a visit to a mobile clinic, where direct physical measures of health are taken (anthropometry, spirometry, blood pressure, fitness, physical activity, oral health examination, blood and urine specimens). Reference laboratories analyze biological specimens for indicators of general health, chronic disease, infectious disease and environmental biomarkers. This important and ambitious survey provides comprehensive and robust health information to advance health surveillance and research in Canada, while providing training opportunities to enhance research capacity.