Cohort profile: Swiss personalized health network cohort consortium

Swiss cohort studies provide high-quality longitudinal data, but finding and comparing relevant studies across cohorts has historically been challenging. The Swiss Personalized Health Network Cohort Consortium (SPHN-CC) was established to address these limitations by creating the first coordinated network of Swiss cohort studies within the internationally recognized Maelstrom Research catalogue. Participating cohorts were invited in 2021-2022, including longitudinal and cross-sectional studies with 1010-21,993 participants. Data collected include questionnaires, physical and cognitive assessments, administrative records, and biological samples. Variables were classified into 18 domains and 134 subdomains, and an online metadata catalogue was implemented to document study designs, explore variable content, and assess harmonization potential. The catalogue enables researchers to identify study-specific and harmonized variables for co-analysis. Core variables, such as age, sex/gender, anthropometrics, and medication use, are widely available, while other variables vary across cohorts. Harmonization assessments demonstrate that several key variables can be co-analyzed across multiple studies, supporting collaborative research with over 37,000 participants. A use case illustrates the potential for harmonizing and co-analyzing data across studies. The SPHN-CC strengthens Swiss cohort research by enhancing data discoverability, supporting harmonization, and facilitating cross-cohort and international research, providing a model for more efficient use of high-value longitudinal data.