title: The Norwegian Institute of Public Health Twin Panel: a description of the sample and program of research.
abstract: The Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo has an ongoing program of twin research using population-based cohorts of twins. The current database includes information on twins identified through the Medical Birth Registry of Norway and born from 1967-1979, altogether 15,370 twins. This is a longitudinal study with a cohort sequential design whereby new cohorts are recruited into the study at 5-6 year intervals. Sub-samples of these twins have participated in questionnaire studies and clinical assessment sub-projects. These projects include national and international collaborations. Our primary areas of interest include mental health and psychological well-being, obesity, asthma and allergies, health behaviors and health perceptions, comorbidity, and perinatal influences on health outcomes. This paper provides a brief overview of the data, sample, and the various research projects associated with this twin program of research.
authors.affiliation: The Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology, Oslo. jennifer.harris@fhi.no
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Magnus
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tambs
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D015723:Gene Library; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D010551:Personality; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011634:Public Health; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012107:Research Design; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014427:Twins / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data