title: The Rotterdam Study: objectives and design update.
abstract: The Rotterdam Study is a prospective cohort study ongoing since 1990 in the city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The study targets cardiovascular, neurological, ophthalmological and endocrine diseases. As of 2008 about 15,000 subjects aged 45 years or over comprise the Rotterdam Study cohort. The findings of the Rotterdam Study have been presented in some 600 research articles and reports (see http://www.epib.nl/rotterdamstudy). This article gives the reasons for the study and its design. It also presents a summary of the major findings and an update of the objectives and methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. a.hofman@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Monique M B
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Breteler
authors.forename: Cornelia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van Duijn
authors.forename: Gabriel P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Krestin
authors.forename: Huibert A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Pols
authors.forename: Bruno H Ch
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Stricker
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tiemeier
authors.forename: André G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Uitterlinden
authors.forename: Johannes R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Vingerling
authors.forename: Jacqueline C M
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Witteman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D036281:Genetic Research; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology