Why the study?
The cohort was established to investigate the causes of major chronic diseases, their sub-clinical stages, and related functional health impairments to help identify strategies for early detection, prediction, and primary prevention.
The German National Cohort is a major epidemiological resource designed to identify new strategies for early detection, prediction, and primary prevention of major chronic diseases.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Large cohort enables long-term chronic disease studies; leaves open new prevention strategies until follow-up data accrue.
The German National Cohort (GNC) is a joint interdisciplinary endeavour of the Helmholtz and the Leibniz Association, universities, and other research institutes. It focuses on the causes of major chronic diseases, i.e. cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative/psychiatric diseases, musculoskeletal diseases, respiratory and infectious diseases, and their sub-clinical stages or related functional health impairments. Less frequent disorders may be investigated by pooling studies. Random samples of regional populations were drawn by 18 study centres, including a total of 200,000 women/men aged 20-69 years. Starting in 2014, the baseline assessments included an extensive interview and self-completion questionnaires, a wide range of medical examinations and the collection of blood, urine, stool and nasal swabs stored in a central biorepository. A random subgroup of ≥ 40,000 participants participated in an intensified examination (’’Level 2’’) programme. Also, about 30,000 participants, who were in addition invited to Level 2, participated in a magnetic resonance imaging examination programme. In 2018 we began to invite all participants for a re-assessment that will be completed in 2023. Information about chronic disease endpoints is obtained through a combination of active follow-up (mailed questionnaires every 2-3 years) and record linkages with cancer registries, healthcare databases, the statutory pension fund and other social insurance data. The examination and questionnaire modules are partly harmonised with those of other large European cohorts to facilitate collaboration. Data access requires a formal application by researchers and will be granted according to the use-and-access regulation of the GNC. The GNC is planned for an overall duration of at least 25-30 years. It will provide a major epidemiological resource, and will help to identify new and tailored strategies for early detection, prediction, and primary prevention of major diseases.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Wolfgang Ahrens (2019) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: