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Copenhagen City Heart Study. An epidemiological cohort study with repeated measurements: history, course, and results
Gorm B Jensen1, Peter Schnohr1, 1
1Copenhagen City Heart Study, Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen NV, Denmark.
Insights
The Copenhagen City Heart Study has significantly advanced the prevention of ischemic heart disease and acute myocardial infarction. This long-term epidemiological study provides crucial data for cardiovascular disease research and public health initiatives.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Rising incidence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) post-WWII necessitated research into causes and prevention.
- Limited understanding of IHD and AMI causes and treatments underscored the need for robust epidemiological data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To expand evidence for the prevention of IHD and AMI.
- To investigate the causes and risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases.
Main Methods:
- Initiated in 1976, the Copenhagen City Heart Study (CCHS) is an ongoing cohort study with repeated health examinations.
- Initial phase involved 20,000 participants aged 20+ with questionnaires and physiological measurements; subsequent phases included survivors and new participants.
- Expanded examination methods include echocardiography, extensive biochemistry, and DNA analysis for genetic research.
Main Results:
- The CCHS has largely fulfilled its mission to prevent IHD and AMI.
- The study has yielded significant findings contributing to cardiovascular disease prevention strategies.
- Research findings extend beyond cardiology to genetics, pulmonary medicine, cancer, and ophthalmology.
Conclusions:
- The CCHS is a vital, ongoing population study with substantial impact on cardiovascular disease prevention.
- The study's contributions extend to diverse fields, highlighting its broad scientific significance.
Abstract:
The Copenhagen City Heart Study (CCHS) is an ongoing epidemiological cohort study with repeated measurements. The results of the study have been published in more than 1300 papers, 96 PhD theses, and 27 doctoral dissertations.
Aims:
In the Western world, including Denmark, incidence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was increasing rapidly after the Second World War. The causes were not well known, and treatment was limited. To expand the evidence for prevention, the CCHS was initiated.
Methods:
In 1976, a random population sample including 20,000 men and women aged 20 and above, drawn from 90,000 citizens living in a defined area of Copenhagen City, was invited to a health examination that included a self-administered questionnaire and measurements of height, weight, blood pressure, lung function, cholesterol level, blood glucose concentration, and an electrocardiogram. The response rate was 75%. The study was repeated in 1981-1983, 1991-1994, 2001-2003, and 2011-2015 by inviting the survivors of the original sample augmented by new participants. The number of examination methods has expanded since its inception, and now contains standard epidemiological methods, echocardiography, and a large array of biochemistry and DNA for genetic analysis.
Results:
The mission of the study, to contribute to the prevention of IHD and AMI, has to a large extend been fulfilled. Furthermore, the study has contributed to many other fields of investigation: genetics, pulmonary medicine, cancer, ophthalmology, surgery, and others.
Conclusions:
CCHS is an ongoing population study with marked impact on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The study has also contributed to other fields of investigation.
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