title: Follow-up of the Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA 2) 1991-2003: methods and characterization of participants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA) was designed to investigate the health effects from long-term exposure to air pollution.
  
  
  METHODS
  The health assessment at recruitment (1991) and at the first reassessment (2001-3) consisted of an interview about respiratory health, occupational and other exposures, spirometry, a methacholine bronchial challenge test, end-expiratory carbon monoxide (CO) measurement and measurement for atopy. A bio bank for DNA and blood markers was established. Heart rate variability was measured using a 24-hour ECG (Holter) in a random sample of participants aged 50 years and older. Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3) and particulates in ambient air have been monitored in all study areas since 1991. Residential histories collected over the 11 year follow-up period coupled with GIS modelling will provide individual long-term air pollutant exposure estimates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 9651 participants examined in 1991, 8715 could be traced for the cohort study and 283 died. Basic information about health status was obtained for 8047 individuals (86% of alive persons), 6 528 individuals (70%) agreed to the health examination and 5 973 subjects (62%) completed the entire protocol. Non-participants in the reassessment were on average younger than participants and more likely to have been smokers and to have reported respiratory symptoms in the first assessment. Average weight had increased by 5.5 kg in 11 years and 28% of smokers in 1991 had quit by the time of the reassessment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Basel, Switzerland. ursula.ackermann-liebrich@unibas.ch
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ackermann-Liebrich
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kuna-Dibbert
authors.forename: Nicole M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Probst-Hensch
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Felber Dietrich
authors.forename: Elisabeth Zemp
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Stutz
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bayer-Oglesby
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baum
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Brändli
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brutsche
authors.forename: Sara H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Downs
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keidel
authors.forename: Margaret W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Gerbase
authors.forename: Medea
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imboden
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Knöpfli
authors.forename: Nino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Künzli
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nicod
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pons
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Staedele
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tschopp
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zellweger
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leuenberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013557:Switzerland; D019371:Topography, Medical
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D016210:Methacholine Chloride