title: The Consortium on Health and Ageing: Network of Cohorts in Europe and the United States (CHANCES) project--design, population and data harmonization of a large-scale, international study.
abstract: There is a public health demand to prevent health conditions which lead to increased morbidity and mortality among the rapidly-increasing elderly population. Data for the incidence of such conditions exist in cohort studies worldwide, which, however, differ in various aspects. The Consortium on Health and Ageing: Network of Cohorts in Europe and the United States (CHANCES) project aims at harmonizing data from existing major longitudinal studies for the elderly whilst focussing on cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, cancer, fractures and cognitive impairment in order to estimate their prevalence, incidence and cause-specific mortality, and identify lifestyle, socioeconomic, and genetic determinants and biomarkers for the incidence of and mortality from these conditions. A survey instrument assessing ageing-related conditions of the elderly will be also developed. Fourteen cohort studies participate in CHANCES with 683,228 elderly (and 150,210 deaths), from 23 European and three non-European countries. So far, 287 variables on health conditions and a variety of exposures, including biomarkers and genetic data have been harmonized. Different research hypotheses are investigated with meta-analyses. The results which will be produced can help international organizations, governments and policy-makers to better understand the broader implications and consequences of ageing and thus make informed decisions.
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Health Foundation, 13 Kaisareias and Alexandroupoleos Street, 115 27, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boffetta
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bobak
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borsch-Supan
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brenner
authors.forename: Sture
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: Fran
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grodstein
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Mazda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jenab
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Juerges
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kampman
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kee
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuulasmaa
authors.forename: Yikyung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tjonneland
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Duijn
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wilsgaard
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolk
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trichopoulos
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bamia
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trichopoulou
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods*; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000592:standards*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008019:Life Style; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology