Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging
Networks
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Datasets
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Variables
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The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) is a large, national, long-term study that will follow approximately 50,000 men and women between the ages of 45 and 85 for at least 20 years. The study aims to collect information on the changing biological, medical, psychological, social, lifestyle and economic aspects of people’s lives. These factors will be studied in order to understand aging as a dynamic process and the interrelationship among intrinsic and extrinsic factors from mid life to older age.
- Start Year
- 2011
- Supplementary Information
- Raina P, Wolfson C., Kirkland S, Griffith L.E., et al. (2019) Cohort profile: The Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). International Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 48, Issue 6, 1752-1753j https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyz173
Visit CLSA
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Design
- Study design
- Cohort
- Follow Up
- First-follow-up was in 2015-2018 and the second one in 2018-2021. Each participant is re-contacted every 3 years and will be followed for at least 20 years or until death.
- Supplementary Information
Marker Paper
Raina PS, Wolfson C, Kirkland SA, et al. The Canadian longitudinal study on aging (CLSA). Can J Aging, 2009. 28(3): p. 221-9.
PUBMED 19860977
Recruitment
- Recruitment Target
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- Individuals
Number of Participants
- Number of Participants
- 51,338
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 30,000
Access
Availability of data and biosamples
| Possible Access to Data | |
| Possible Access to Biosamples | |
| Other |
Availability of access information
By contacting the study representative
Supplementary Information
General inquiries: info@clsa-elcv.ca
Timeline
Populations
This population is composed of a representative sample of Canadians aged 45 to 85 years who consented to a telephone interview.
Selection Criteria
- Minimum age
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45
- Maximum age
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85
- Newborns
- Twins
- Countries
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- Canada
- Territory
- Ethnic Origin
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- Health Status
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- Other Criteria
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Inclusion: Individuals who are able to respond in either French or English, and able to give consent.
Exclusion (same exclusion criteria as the Statistics Canada Canadian Community Health Survey – Healthy Aging):- Residents of the three territories
- Full-time members of the Canadian Forces
- Individuals living in long-term care institutions (i.e., those providing 24-hour nursing care). However, those living in households and transitional housing arrangements (e.g., seniors’ residences, in which only minimal care is provided) will be included. CLSA cohort participants who become institutionalized during the course of the study will continue to be followed either through personal or proxy interview.
- Persons living on reserves and other Indigenous settlements. However, individuals who are of First Nations, Metis and Inuit descent who live outside reserves are included in the study.
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- Supplementary Information about selection criteria
Recruitment
- Sources of recruitment
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- General population
- Specific population
- Participants from existing studies
- General Population
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- Random digit dialing
- Specific Population
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- Other specific population : Provincial registries
- Supplementary Information
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The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) cycle 4.2 was used as the recruitment vehicle for the telephone interview cohort.
- Participants from Existing Studies
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- Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) - Healthy Aging
Number of Participants
- Number of Participants
- 21,241
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- Supplementary Information about selection criteria
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Description | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 |
CLSA - Tracking - Baseline
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Information about health, medical history, work or retirement activities and social support was collected by telephone interview. Cognitive tests were administered to assess memory and ... | 2011 | 2014 |
| 1 |
CLSA - Tracking - Follow-up 1
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Information about health, medical history, work or retirement activities and social support was collected by telephone interview. Additional information on physical, medical and emotional health, ... | 2015 | 2018 |
| 2 |
CLSA - Tracking - Follow-up 2
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Information about health, medical history, work or retirement activities and social support was collected by telephone interview. Additional information on physical, medical and emotional health, ... | 2018 | |
| 3 |
CLSA - Tracking - COVID-19 Antibody
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Blood samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies and other markers of immunity. | 2020 | 2021 |
| 4 |
CLSA - Tracking - COVID-19 Questionnaire
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Information on COVID symptoms and status, risk factors, healthcare use, health behaviors, psychosocial and economic consequences of the pandemic was collected. Anxiety and depression were measured ... | 2020 | 2020 |
This population is composed of a random sample of Canadians aged 45 to 85 years who consented to an in-home interview and a physical examination component.
Selection Criteria
- Minimum age
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45
- Maximum age
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85
- Newborns
- Twins
- Countries
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- Canada
- Territory
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Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey, Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montréal, Sherbrooke, Halifax, and St. John’s
- Ethnic Origin
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- Health Status
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- Other Criteria
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Inclusion: Individuals who are able to respond in either French or English, and able to give consent.
Exclusion (same exclusion criteria as the Statistics Canada Canadian Community Health Survey – Healthy Aging):- Residents of the three territories
- Full-time members of the Canadian Forces
- Individuals living in long-term care institutions (i.e., those providing 24-hour nursing care). However, those living in households and transitional housing arrangements (e.g., seniors’ residences, in which only minimal care is provided) will be included. CLSA cohort participants who become institutionalized during the course of the study will continue to be followed either through personal or proxy interview.
- Persons living on reserves and other Indigenous settlements. However, individuals who are of First Nations, Metis and Inuit descent who live outside reserves are included in the study.
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- Supplementary Information about selection criteria
Recruitment
- Sources of recruitment
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- General population
- Specific population
- General Population
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- Selected sample
- Random digit dialing
- Specific Population
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- Other specific population : Provincial registries
- Supplementary Information
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Provincial health registration databases were used for recruitment of the comprehensive cohort. Individuals residing within a 25-50 kilometer radius of the 11 Data collection sites (Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey, Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal, Sherbrooke, Halifax, and St. John’s) were also recruited.
Number of Participants
- Number of Participants
- 30,097
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 30,000
Data Collection Events
| # | Name | Description | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 |
CLSA - Comprehensive - Baseline
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There are two main ways data is collected in CLSA Comprehensive: first, through an at-home interview and then by having participants visit one of the study's 11 Data Collection Sites. The ... | 2012 | 2015 |
| 1 |
CLSA - Comprehensive - Follow-up 1
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There are two main ways data is collected in CLSA Comprehensive: first, through an at-home interview and then by having participants visit one of the study's 11 Data Collection Sites. The ... | 2015 | 2018 |
| 2 |
CLSA - Comprehensive - Follow-up 2
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There are two main ways data is collected in CLSA Comprehensive: first, through an at-home interview and then by having participants visit one of the study's 11 Data Collection Sites. The ... | 2018 | |
| 3 |
CLSA - Comprehensive - COVID-19 Antibody
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Blood samples were collected and analyzed for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies and other markers of immunity. | 2020 | 2021 |
| 4 |
CLSA - Comprehensive - COVID-19 Questionnaire
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Information on COVID symptoms and status, risk factors, healthcare use, health behaviors, psychosocial and economic consequences of the pandemic was collected. Anxiety and depression were measured ... | 2020 | 2020 |
| 5 |
CLSA - Comprehensive - COVID-19 Brain health
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Repeated cognitive testing and brain scans were performed in order to measure possible impact of COVID-19 on cognitive function, brain structure, and brain function in adults aged 55 to 80 years. | 2021 | 2021 |
Classifications
- Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
- Lifestyle and behaviours
- Birth, pregnancy and reproductive health history
- Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
- Diseases
- Symptoms and signs
- Medication and supplements
- Non-pharmacological interventions
- Health and community care services utilization
- Death
- Physical measures and assessments
- Laboratory measures
- Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
- Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
- Preschool, school and work life
- Social environment and relationships
- Physical environment
- Administrative information
- Cognitive functioning
- Personality
- Psychological distress and emotions
- Other psychological measures and assessments
- Life events
- Beliefs and values
- Perception of health
- Quality of life
- Life course development
- Functional limitations
- Other perception of health, quality of life and functional limitation-related information
- Tobacco
- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Nutrition
- Breastfeeding
- Physical activity
- Sleep
- Sexual behaviours and orientation
- Technological devices
- Misbehaviour and criminality
- Other and unspecified lifestyle information
Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
Age/birthdate
Sex/gender
Marital/partner status
Family and household structure
Education
Residence
Birthplace
Citizenship and immigrant status
Ethnicity, race and religion
Language
Labour force and retirement
Income, possessions, and benefits
Other socio-demographic and economic characteristics
Lifestyle and behaviours
Tobacco
Alcohol
Drugs
Nutrition
Physical activity
Transportation
Personal hygiene
Sleep
Sexual behaviours and orientation
Leisure activities
Technological devices
Other and unspecified lifestyle information
Birth, pregnancy and reproductive health history
Puberty, menstruation, menopause and andropause
Contraception
Pregnancy, delivery and birth
Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
Perception of health
Quality of life
Functional limitations
Use of assistive devices
Other perception of health, quality of life and functional limitation-related information
Diseases
Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
Neoplasms (C00-D48)
Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism (D50-D89)
Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases (E00-E90)
Mental and behavioural disorders (F00-F99)
Diseases of the nervous system (G00-G99)
Diseases of the eye and adnexa (H00-H59)
Diseases of the ear and mastoid process (H60-H95)
Diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99)
Diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99)
Diseases of the digestive system (K00-K93)
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99)
Diseases of the genitourinary system (N00-N99)
Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T98)
External causes of morbidity and mortality (V01-Y98)
Diseases without precise specification or falling into multiple categories
Symptoms and signs
Symptoms and signs involving the circulatory and respiratory systems (R00-R09)
Symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen (R10-R19)
Symptoms and signs involving the skin and subcutaneous tissue (R20-R23)
Symptoms and signs involving nervous and musculoskeletal systems (R25-R29)
Symptoms and signs involving the urinary system (R30-R39)
Symptoms and signs involving cognition, perception, emotional state and behaviour (R40-R46)
Symptoms and signs involving speech and voice (R47-R49)
General symptoms and signs (R50-R69)
Symptoms related to multiple categories
Medication and supplements
Medication and supplement intake
Posology and protocol of administration
Non-pharmacological interventions
Surgical interventions
Radiological interventions
Physical therapy interventions
Cognitive, psychological and sensory interventions
Laboratory diagnosis interventions
Other and unspecified non-pharmacological interventions
Health and community care services utilization
Visits to health professionals
Hospitalizations
Community and social care
Other health and community care
Physical measures and assessments
Physical characteristics
Anthropometry
Circulation and respiration
Muscles, skeleton and mobility
Sensory and pain
Skin and subcutaneous tissue
Other physical measures and assessments
Laboratory measures
Hematology
Biochemistry
Genomics
Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
Cognitive functioning
Personality
Psychological distress and emotions
Other psychological measures and assessments
Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
Life events
Life plans
Beliefs and values
Preschool, school and work life
Work life
Social environment and relationships
Social network
Social participation
Social support
Other social environment characteristics
Physical environment
Housing characteristics
Built environment/neighbourhood characteristics
Chemical exposure
Biological exposure
Other physical environment characteristics
Administrative information
Identifiers
Date and time-related information
Questionnaire and interview-related information
Physical and cognitive measure and biosample-related information
Data and sample collection center-related information
Other administrative information
Cognitive functioning
Controlled Oral Word Association Test
Choice Reaction Time Task
Category Fluency Test
Multifactorial Memory Questionnaire (Ability)
Miami Prospective Memory Test
Mental Alternation Test
Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test
Stroop Color and Word Test
Personality
Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale
Ten-Item Personality Inventory
Psychological distress and emotions
Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale
Goldberg Anxiety and Depression Scales (Anxiety)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale
Kessler Psychological Distress Scale
Primary Care PTDS Screen for DSM-5
Life events
Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire
Quality of life
Mental Health Continuum - Short Form
Satisfaction with Life Scale
Functional limitations
Activities of Daily Living
Functional Status Scale
Life Space Questionnaire
Older Americans Resources and Services Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire
Other perception of health, quality of life and functional limitation-related information
Work Limitations Questionnaire
Nutrition
Seniors in the Community: Risk Evaluation for Eating and Nutrition
Short Diet Questionnaire
Physical activity
Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly