Swiss Health Study - Pilot Phase
Networks
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Datasets
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Variables
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The objectives of the pilot study are:
* To establish the technical and organizational framework for a large Swiss cohort study.
* To understand social acceptance of and potential participation in a large Swiss cohort.
* To respond to relevant health questions in Switzerland using innovative methods.
* To test the feasibility of imbedding sub-studies on selected topics of public health relevance.
The main objectives of a subsequent Swiss cohort study would be:
* To gather high quality health and exposure data by determining the effective health status of the general population and the biomarkers of exposure, and setting reference exposure values for the Swiss population.
* To correlate environmental exposure to health and disease in the Swiss population by identifying the risk factors and early markers of disease, evaluating the impact of specific exposures and promoting research and innovation.
* To support health policy by orienting and evaluating health policy actions, encouraging health promotion, disease prevention, early detection and care.
- Start Year
- 2020
- End Year
- 2021
- Supplementary Information
Visit SHeS-pp
| Investigators | Contacts |
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Design
- Study design
- Cross-sectional
- Follow Up
- All participants were invited to fill in a self-administered questionnaire. Participants from the random population-based sample and selenium sub-study convenience sample were additionally invited to a single study visit to undergo various health examinations.
- Supplementary Information
- 4 different recruitment channels were used for each respective samples: * Random sample (drawn from sampling frame of the Federal Statistical Office FSO). * Random sample-0 (pre-pandemic draw from sampling frame of FSO). * Selenium sub-study (convenience sample of vegetarians and vegans) * Self-selected sample. Recruitment was initiated in January 2020 and was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study restarted in October 2020 and ended in December 2021.
Recruitment
- Recruitment Target
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- Individuals
Number of Participants
- Number of Participants
- 1,349
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 789
- Supplementary Information
Access
Availability of data and biosamples
| Possible Access to Data | |
| Possible Access to Biosamples | |
| Other |
Supplementary Information
Timeline
Populations
The population is composed of Swiss residents aged 20 to 69 years old living in Vaud or Bern.
Selection Criteria
- Minimum age
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20
- Maximum age
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69
- Newborns
- Twins
- Countries
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- Switzerland
- Territory
- Canton of Bern, Canton of Vaud
- Ethnic Origin
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- Health Status
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- Other Criteria
- Inclusion criteria: * Primary residence within the selected study area (Vaud or Bern). * Able to fill in questionnaires in French, German or Italian. * Capable of judgment to provide informed consent. Exclusion criteria: * Unable to respond to the questions (e.g. language, psycho-cognitive or motor impairment etc.) * Institutionalized persons (e.g. in prisons, nursing homes, etc.) * Unable to participate in most examinations for medical reasons. * Unable to come to the visit in the study center for medical reasons. * Refusing to be informed in case of relevant findings that may have an impact on their health.
- Supplementary Information about selection criteria
- This population comprises two participant groups: the "Random sample-0," recruited from January 2020 to March 2020, and the "Random sample," recruited from October 2020 to December 2021.
Recruitment
- Sources of recruitment
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- Other : Random sample
- Supplementary Information
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Participants were recruited based on population registries in the cantons of Vaud and Bern and are selected by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) from the Federal population registry.
Number of Participants
- Number of Participants
- 875
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 686
- Supplementary Information about selection criteria
- Number of Participants: * Random sample-0: 69 participants * Random sample: 806 participants Number of Participants with Biological Samples: * Random sample 0: 48 participants * Random sample: 638 participants
Data Collection Event
Information on personal administrative data, attitude towards health research, environment and occupational exposures, lifestyle, medical history, quality of life, and coronavirus were collected through online questionnaire.
Participants were invited to a study visit where details on specific lifestyle and occupational exposures are assessed through face-to-face interview.
Blood and urine samples were collected.
Anthropometric and body composition measurements, blood pressure, spirometry, handgrip strength and a sample of expired air (for participants living in Vaud only) were collected.
Accelerometers were worn by participants volunteering to record their physical activity.
Optionally, food intake was self-recorded by the participants using a barcode- and picture-led phone application during 8 consecutive days.
- Start Date
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2020-01
- End Date
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2021-12
- Data sources
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- Questionnaires
- Physical measures
- Biosamples
- Other : Accelerometer, Mobile application
- Data sources - Biosamples
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- Blood
- Urine
The population is composed of individuals following a vegan or vegetarian diet for at least 12 months (pesco- or ovo-lacto- vegetarians admitted), aged between 20 and 69 and resident in the Vaud canton.
Selection Criteria
- Minimum age
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20
- Maximum age
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69
- Newborns
- Twins
- Countries
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- Switzerland
- Territory
- Canton of Vaud
- Ethnic Origin
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- Health Status
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- Other Criteria
- Inclusion criteria: * Primary residence (Vaud). * Able to fill in questionnaires in French, German or Italian. * Capable of judgment to provide informed consent. * Following a vegetarian or vegan diet for at least 12 months. Exclusion criteria: * Unable to respond to the questions (e.g. language, psycho-cognitive or motor impairment etc.). * Institutionalized persons (e.g. in prisons, nursing homes, etc.) * Unable to participate in most examinations for medical reasons. * Unable to come to the visit in the study center for medical reasons. * Refusing to be informed in case of relevant findings that may have an impact on their health.
Recruitment
- Sources of recruitment
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- General population
- General Population
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- Volunteer enrolment
- Supplementary Information
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Participants were recruited through recruitment channels such as specialized businesses, vegetarians’ associations, museums, social networks and through snowball effect within the investigators and participants networks.
Number of Participants
- Number of Participants
- 129
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 109
- Supplementary Information about selection criteria
- 15 participants of the Selenium sub-study were also part of the Random sample.
Data Collection Event
Information on personal administrative data, attitude towards health research, environment and occupational exposures, lifestyle, medical history, quality of life, and coronavirus were collected through online questionnaire. Furthermore, information on food frequency, nutritional habits and supplements consumption was assessed through a food frequency questionnaire.
Participants were invited to a study visit where details on specific lifestyle and occupational exposures are assessed through face-to-face interview.
Blood and urine samples were collected.
An extra blood sample for selenium and B12 vitamin measurements was drawn.
Anthropometric and body composition measurements, blood pressure, spirometry, handgrip strength and a sample of expired air (for participants living in Vaud only) were collected.
Accelerometers were worn by participants volunteering to record their physical activity.
Optionally, food intake was self-recorded by the participants using a barcode- and picture-led phone application during 8 consecutive days.
- Start Date
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2020-01
- End Date
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2021-12
- Data sources
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- Questionnaires
- Physical measures
- Biosamples
- Other : Accelerometer, Mobile application
- Data sources - Biosamples
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- Blood
- Urine
The population is composed of Swiss residents aged 20 to 69 years old who spontaneously fill in the study questionnaires on the study website.
Selection Criteria
- Minimum age
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20
- Maximum age
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69
- Newborns
- Twins
- Countries
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- Switzerland
- Ethnic Origin
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- Health Status
-
- Other Criteria
- Inclusion criteria : * Able to fill in questionnaires in French, German or Italian. * Capable of judgement to provide informed consent. Exclusion criteria : * Not capable of understanding the study information (e.g. language, psycho-cognitive impairment etc.) * Unable to respond to the questions (e.g. language, psycho-cognitive or motor impairment etc.) * Institutionalized persons (e.g. in prisons, nursing homes, etc.)
- Supplementary Information about selection criteria
Recruitment
- Sources of recruitment
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- General population
- General Population
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- Volunteer enrolment
- Supplementary Information
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Swiss residents aged 20 to 69 years were eligible to spontaneously fill in the study questionnaires on the study website.
Number of Participants
- Number of Participants
- 360
- Number of Participants with Biological Samples
- 9
- Supplementary Information about selection criteria
- 9 participants were invited to the study visit and provided biosamples.
Data Collection Event
Information on personal administrative data, attitude towards health research, environment and occupational exposures, lifestyle, healthmedical history, quality of life, and coronavirus were collected through questionnaire.
Blood and urine samples were also collected for a subgroup of participants.
- Start Date
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2020-01
- End Date
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2021-12
- Data sources
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- Questionnaires
- Biosamples
- Data sources - Biosamples
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- Blood
- Urine
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
- 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
Family and household structure
Education
Residence
Citizenship and immigrant status
Ethnicity, race and religion
Language
Labour force and retirement
Income, possessions, and benefits
Lifestyle and behaviours
Tobacco
Alcohol
Drugs
Nutrition
Breastfeeding
Physical activity
Transportation
Sleep
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
Fertility and sexual health
Other reproductive health-related information
Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
Perception of health
Quality of life
Use of assistive devices
Diseases
Certain infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99)
Neoplasms (C00-D48)
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 skin and subcutaneous tissue (L00-L99)
Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99)
Diseases of the genitourinary system (N00-N99)
Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (O00-O9A)
Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period (P00-P96)
Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99)
Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T98)
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 nervous and musculoskeletal systems (R25-R29)
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
Laboratory diagnosis interventions
Other and unspecified non-pharmacological interventions
Health and community care services utilization
Visits to health professionals
Hospitalizations
Physical measures and assessments
Physical characteristics
Anthropometry
Circulation and respiration
Muscles, skeleton and mobility
Other physical measures and assessments
Laboratory measures
Hematology
Biochemistry
Virology
Immunology
Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
Personality
Psychological distress and emotions
Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
Life events
Beliefs and values
Preschool, school and work life
Work life
Social environment and relationships
Social participation
Physical environment
Housing characteristics
Built environment/neighbourhood characteristics
Workplace characteristics
Radiation exposure
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
Quality of life
World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale
Nutrition
Food Frequency Questionnaire (different forms)