Cohort Profile: The Scottish Health Surveys Cohort: linkage of study participants to routinely collected records for mortality, hospital discharge, cancer and offspring birth characteristics in three nationwide studies

Although life expectancy is increasing in Scotland, 1 the nation still has the highest rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) and selected malignancies in the UK and higher rates than most countries in Western Europe. 2, The Scottish Health Surveys (SHeSs)-conducted in 1995, 1998 and 2003--were established to provide detailed, contemporary health information on a large, representative sample of the Scottish population. By capturing a range of behavioural, biological, psychological and social characteristics, their purpose was to monitor health in order to assist in policy formulation and the development of new health initiatives across the whole of Scotland.