The Gothenburg H70 Birth cohort study
Short description
In the H70 studies, the health of older people is examined including risk- and protective factors, and the health of 70- and 85-year-olds born different years. The studies contain information on all parts of our lives such as social networks, physical, mental and emotional health, functional and cognitive ability, personality, dietary habits, physical activity and working life.
Through our research, we can find conceivable risk - and protective factors for various diseases, which can lead to an increased understanding of underlying mechanisms, improved preventive measures, and recommendations for how we can live our lives to influence our opportunities for a healthy ageing. Our research can also examine how the health of 70-year-olds and 85-year-olds has changed over time.
About
We work with large epidemiological studies which mean that we study health factors and the incidence and prevalence of illnesses and risk factors in the population. In epidemiological population studies people from the general population are recruited and followed continuously as long as the study goes on.
The intent is to obtain a representative sample of the population and to follow the participants over a long period of time. This provides unique opportunities to study the frequency of diseases in the population, as well as to investigate relationships between the diseases and other health factors.
Our research is entirely dependent on the willingness of the population to participate in the examinations.
Our research is entirely dependent on the willingness of the population to participate in the examinations. The people who have participated in the studies over the course of many years have greatly helped us increase our understanding of health and well-being among the elderly, which we could not have obtained without the population studies.
Population studies
Health 70 (H70)
Started in1971 with the recruitment of 392 70-year-olds born in 1901-02. The participants were followed for 30 years. A new study of 70-year-olds born in 1930 started in 2000. These participants were followed-up when they reached 75 years, and will be examined again when they are 79 years old.
The H85 study
Started in 1985 with the recruitment of 494 85-year-olds born in 1901-02. The participants were followed for 20 years. A new study of 85-year-olds born in 1923-24 started in 2009.
95+
Started in 1996, and by 2008, a total of 900 participants had been recruited. To the best of our knowledge this study is the largest epidemiological study in the world of elderly above the age of 95 years.
Sahlgrenska suicide studies
Started in 2000. Study of the risk factors for suicide and attempted suicide.
Women's study in Gothenburg
Started in 1968 with the recruitment of 1,462 women between the ages of 38 and 60 years. The most recent follow-up was done in 2005-06; 37 years after the study was initiated. A new follow-up will begin in 2009.
