Rotterdam Study
Encyclopedia
The Rotterdam Study is a prospective, population-based cohort study
. The aim of the Rotterdam Study is to investigate factors that determine the occurrence of cardiovascular
, neurological
, ophthalmological
, endocrinological
, and psychiatric
diseases in elderly people.
The study was established in 1990 by professor Albert Hofman of the department Epidemiology & Biostatistics at the Erasmus Medical Center
in Rotterdam
, the Netherlands
.
Inhabitants of Ommoord
, a suburb of Rotterdam, were invited to participate on a regular basis.
The initial cohort (RS-I) started in 1990 with 7,983 men and women aged 55 years and over.
Follow-up visits were held in 1994-1995, in 1997-1999, and in 2002-2004.
In 2000-2001 a second cohort was established (RS-II).
Another 3,011 inhabitants of Ommoord aged 55 years and over agreed to participate.
The partakers of this second cohort visited the research center for a follow-up examination in 2004-2005.
The third cohort of the Rotterdam Study (RS-III) started in 2006, this time with inhabitants aged 45 years and over. Inclusion ended in December 2008 and 3,932 participants have been included in this third cohort.
system.
Cohort study
A cohort study or panel study is a form of longitudinal study used in medicine, social science, actuarial science, and ecology. It is an analysis of risk factors and follows a group of people who do not have the disease, and uses correlations to determine the absolute risk of subject contraction...
. The aim of the Rotterdam Study is to investigate factors that determine the occurrence of cardiovascular
Cardiovascular disease
Heart disease or cardiovascular disease are the class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels . While the term technically refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system , it is usually used to refer to those related to atherosclerosis...
, neurological
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
, ophthalmological
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology is the branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the eye. An ophthalmologist is a specialist in medical and surgical eye problems...
, endocrinological
Endocrine system
In physiology, the endocrine system is a system of glands, each of which secretes a type of hormone directly into the bloodstream to regulate the body. The endocrine system is in contrast to the exocrine system, which secretes its chemicals using ducts. It derives from the Greek words "endo"...
, and psychiatric
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
diseases in elderly people.
The study was established in 1990 by professor Albert Hofman of the department Epidemiology & Biostatistics at the Erasmus Medical Center
Erasmus MC
The Erasmus MC is the academic hospital of the city of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. It is affiliated with the Erasmus University of Rotterdam, and home to its faculty of medicine...
in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, the Netherlands
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
.
Inhabitants of Ommoord
Ommoord
Ommoord is a neighbourhood in the borough Prins Alexander, part of the municipality of Rotterdam, South Holland, the Netherlands. Ommoord is surrounded by the neighbourhoods Zevenkamp, Het Lage Land and Terbregge...
, a suburb of Rotterdam, were invited to participate on a regular basis.
Cohorts of the Rotterdam Study
The Rotterdam Study comprises three cohorts.The initial cohort (RS-I) started in 1990 with 7,983 men and women aged 55 years and over.
Follow-up visits were held in 1994-1995, in 1997-1999, and in 2002-2004.
In 2000-2001 a second cohort was established (RS-II).
Another 3,011 inhabitants of Ommoord aged 55 years and over agreed to participate.
The partakers of this second cohort visited the research center for a follow-up examination in 2004-2005.
The third cohort of the Rotterdam Study (RS-III) started in 2006, this time with inhabitants aged 45 years and over. Inclusion ended in December 2008 and 3,932 participants have been included in this third cohort.
Research center
A typical examination at the Rotterdam Study includes an extensive home interview and two visits for clinical examinations. Possible risk factors are measured at the research center, which is located in the middle of the district of Ommoord.Clinical follow-up
Clinical outcomes are continuously monitored throughout the study period for all participants of the three cohorts. Data on morbidity and mortality are collected at general practitioners‘ practises and hospitals. All events are classified according to the ICD-10ICD-10
The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision is a medical classification list for the coding of diseases, signs and symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances, and external causes of injury or diseases, as maintained by the...
system.
Publications
A list of publications from the Rotterdam Study.External links
- The Rotterdam Study - official homepage