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FINRISK Study

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Datasets -
Variables -
Start Year
1972
Supplementary Information
The FINRISK study was conducted by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). The study is also known as the North Karelia Project.
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Members

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Investigators Contacts
  • Research Professor Pekka Jousilahti
    Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
  • Veikko Salomaa
    Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
  • Tuija Jääskeläinen
    Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
  • Research Professor Pekka Jousilahti
    Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare

Design

Study design
Cohort
Follow Up
The FINRISK Study cohorts have been linked to the following national administrative registers: Causes of Death Register from 1971 onwards, Care Register for Social Welfare and Health Care (HILMO) from 1969 onwards, Cancer Register from 1953 onwards, Drug Reimbursement Register from 1964 onwards, Drug Purchase Register from 1995 onwards and Finnish Registry for Kidney Diseases from 1963 onwards.
Supplementary Information
Deaths, several cardiovascular events, type 2 diabetes and cancers are followed up for the harmonized MORGAM data in survey years 1982-2007. See detailed information on follow-up procedures used for harmonized MORGAM data in the MORGAM e-publication.

Marker Paper

Borodulin K, Tolonen H, Jousilahti P et al. Cohort profile: the National FINRISK Study. Int J Epidemiol. 2018;47:696-696i. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyx239.

Peltonen M et al. Kansallinen FINRISKI 2007 -terveystutkimus - tutkimuksen toteutus ja tulokset. Publications of the National Public Health Institute, B34/2008, Helsinki 2008. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe201204193298. In Finnish, English summary.

Borodulin, K et al. Kansallinen FINRISKI 2012 -terveystutkimus - Osa I - Tutkimuksen toteutus ja menetelm?t. Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Report 22/2013, Helsinki 2013. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-302-053-5. In Finnish, English summary.

Borodulin K, Sääksjärvi K (eds.) FinHealth 2017 Study - Methods. Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Report 17/2019. Helsinki 2019. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-343-449-3.

PUBMED 29165699

Recruitment

Sources of Recruitment
  • Individuals

Number of participants

Number of participants
93,000
Number of participants with biosamples
28,000
Supplementary Information
For each survey year a new independent simple random sample of individuals is drawn from the National Population Information System. The FINRISK 1992?2012 collections were transferred to THL Biobank and the FinHealth 2017 Study collections are stored in THL Biobank.

Data Access

Availability of data and biosamples

Data
Biosamples
Other

Sector of research

Data Biosamples
Investigators from the public sector
Investigators from the private sector
Investigators from not-for-profit organization

Access can be granted to research plans that pursue high scientific quality and impact, and correspond with the research areas of THL Biobank. The research team should aim to publish the research results in peer-reviewed scientific journals shortly after the completion of the Project.

Transfer

Data Biosamples
Can leave the study facility
Can leave the country

Secure data access, such as passwords, firewalls, etc., must be in place to ensure that the shared data are kept secure.

Description of the access procedures

Biosamples and local data available for surveys in 1992-2012 and for survey 2017 are described in the THL Biobank webpage. Availability queries and application process to access THL Biobank resources are described in the application process page. The data of national health registers (e.g., mortality, cancer and other cases, health care and medicines) are available by request through Findata-process.

For access to the data collected in the study years 1972-1987 see the research use and data permits page in the webpage of the THL.

For access to the harmonized MORGAM data from many MORGAM Centres, one should seek a collaboration with any of the Centre which can submit a publication proposal to the MORGAM/BiomarCaRE Steering Group.


Availability of access information

On the study website : https://thl.fi/en/web/thl-biobank/for-researche...

By contacting the study representative

Yes
No
Not applicable
Don't know

Timeline

Populations

Selection Criteria
Minimum age
25
Maximum age
59
Countries
  • Finland
Territory
North Karelia and Kuopio
Ethnic Origin
Health Status

Recruitment

Sources of recruitment
  • General population
General Population
  • Selected sample
Supplementary Information

Number of participants

Number of participants
11,870
Number of participants with biosamples
Supplementary Information
Response rate to the survey was 88%.
Data Collection Events
# Name Description Start End
0 FINRISK 1972 baseline

Data was collected from each participant at baseline via questionnaire and health examination. The baseline data includes background information on socioeconomic status, smoking, diet, as well ...

 1972-01 1972-04
1 FINRISK 1972 Local mortality and disease outcome follow-up Local follow-up of the participants through registry linkage. The data of the Finnish national health registers (e.g., mortality, cancer, health care and medicines) can be linked for all participants. 1972
Selection Criteria
Minimum age
25
Maximum age
64
Countries
  • Finland
Territory
North Karelia and Kuopio
Ethnic Origin
Health Status

Recruitment

Sources of recruitment
  • General population
General Population
  • Selected sample
Supplementary Information

Number of participants

Number of participants
12,155
Number of participants with biosamples
Supplementary Information
Response rate to the survey was 89%.
Data Collection Events
# Name Description Start End
0 FINRISK 1977 baseline

Data was collected from each participant at baseline via questionnaire and health examination. The baseline data includes background information on socioeconomic status, smoking, diet, as well ...

 1977-01 1977-04
1 FINRISK 1977 Local mortality and disease outcome follow-up Local follow-up of the participants through registry linkage. The data of the Finnish national health registers (e.g., mortality, cancer, health care and medicines) can be linked for all participants. 1977
Selection Criteria
Minimum age
25
Maximum age
64
Countries
  • Finland
Territory
North Karelia and Kuopio Province from Eastern Finland and Turku & Loimaa from Western Finland
Ethnic Origin
Health Status

Recruitment

Sources of recruitment
  • General population
General Population
  • Selected sample
Supplementary Information

Number of participants

Number of participants
9,347
Number of participants with biosamples
Supplementary Information
Response rate to the survey was 82%.
Data Collection Events
# Name Description Start End
0 FINRISK1982 baseline

Data was collected from each participant at baseline via questionnaire and health examination. The baseline data includes background information on socioeconomic status, smoking, diet, as well ...

 1982-01 1982-04
1 FINRISK 1982 Local mortality and disease outcome follow-up Local follow-up of the participants through registry linkage. The data of the Finnish national health registers (e.g., mortality, cancer, health care and medicines) can be linked for all participants. 1982-01
2 FINRISK 1982 mortality and disease outcome follow-up in MORGAM data Follow-up for cardiovascular events, type 2 diabetes, cancers and death in the harmonized MORGAM data. See the end-points followed up in [MORGAM e-publication](https://www.thl.fi/publications/morga... 1982-01 2010-12
Selection Criteria
Minimum age
25
Maximum age
64
Countries
  • Finland
Territory
North Karelia and Kuopio Province from Eastern Finland and Turku & Loimaa from Western Finland
Ethnic Origin
Health Status

Recruitment

Sources of recruitment
  • General population
General Population
  • Selected sample
Supplementary Information

Number of participants

Number of participants
6,479
Number of participants with biosamples
Supplementary Information
Response rate to the survey was 82%.
Data Collection Events
# Name Description Start End
0 FINRISK 1987 baseline

Data was collected from each participant at baseline via questionnaire and health examination. The baseline data includes background information on socioeconomic status, smoking, diet, as well ...

 1987-01 1987-04
1 FINRISK 1987 Local mortality and disease outcome follow-up Local follow-up of the participants through registry linkage. The data of the Finnish national health registers (e.g., mortality, cancer, health care and medicines) can be linked for all participants. 1987-01
2 FINRISK 1987 mortality and disease outcome follow-up in MORGAM data Follow-up for cardiovascular events, type 2 diabetes, cancers and death in the harmonized MORGAM data, see the end-points followed up in [a MORGAM ... 1987-01 2010-12
Selection Criteria
Minimum age
25
Maximum age
64
Countries
  • Finland
Territory
North Karelia and Kuopio Province from Eastern Finland and Helsinki/Vantaa and Turku/Loimaa from Western Finland
Ethnic Origin
Health Status

Recruitment

Sources of recruitment
  • General population
General Population
  • Selected sample
Supplementary Information

Number of participants

Number of participants
6,051
Number of participants with biosamples
Supplementary Information
Response rate to the survey was 76%. The number of persons in the case-cohort set in MORGAM data (selection 37) is 1453.
Data Collection Events
# Name Description Start End
0 FINRISK 1992 baseline

Data was collected from each participant at baseline via questionnaire and health examination. The baseline data includes background information on socioeconomic status, smoking, diet, as well ...

 1992-01 1992-03
1 FINRISK 1992 Local mortality and disease outcome follow-up Local follow-up of the participants through registry linkage. The data of the Finnish national health registers (e.g., mortality, cancer, health care and medicines) can be linked for all ... 1992-01
2 FINRISK 1992 mortality and disease outcome follow-up in MORGAM data Follow-up for cardiovascular events, type 2 diabetes, cancers and death in the harmonized MORGAM data, see the end-points followed up in the [MORGAM ... 1992-01 2010-12
Selection Criteria
Minimum age
25
Maximum age
74
Countries
  • Finland
Territory
North Karelia, Kuopio Province and Oulu Province from Eastern Finland and Helsinki/Vantaa and Turku & Loimaa from Western Finland
Ethnic Origin
Health Status
Supplementary Information
Age range is 25-64 years in Kuopio Province, Turku/Loimaa and Oulu Province.

Recruitment

Sources of recruitment
  • General population
General Population
  • Selected sample
Supplementary Information

Number of participants

Number of participants
8,446
Number of participants with biosamples
8,387
Supplementary Information
Response rate to the survey was 73%. Some of the respondents of the FINRISK Surveys 1982, 1987, and 1992 have been selected for this survey by chance. Such re-examinations are identified in the MORGAM data as Rounds 04, 03 and 02 of MORGAM Cohorts 01, 02, and 03. Total number of participants in the 1997 survey is 8444. Total number of persons in the case-cohort set (selection 57) is 2754. The number of persons in the other case-cohort set (selection 38) is 1728.
Data Collection Events
# Name Description Start End
0 FINRISK 1997 baseline

Data was collected from each participant at baseline via questionnaire and health examination. The baseline data includes background information on socioeconomic status, smoking, diet, as well ...

 1997-01 1997-06
1 FINRISK 1997 Local mortality and disease outcome follow-up Local follow-up of the participants through registry linkage. The data of the Finnish national health registers (e.g., mortality, cancer, health care and medicines) can be linked for all ... 1997-01
2 FINRISK 1997 mortality and disease outcome follow-up in MORGAM data Follow-up for cardiovascular events, type 2 diabetes, cancers and death in the harmonized MORGAM data, see the end-points followed up in [a MORGAM ... 1997-01 2010-12
Selection Criteria
Minimum age
25
Maximum age
74
Countries
  • Finland
Territory
North Karelia, Kuopio Province, Oulu Province and Lapland Province from Eastern Finland and Helsinki/Vantaa and Turku & Loimaa from Western Finland
Ethnic Origin
Health Status
Supplementary Information
Age range is 25-64 years in Kuopio Province, Turku & Loimaa and Oulu Province.

Recruitment

Sources of recruitment
  • General population
General Population
  • Selected sample
Supplementary Information

Number of participants

Number of participants
9,580
Number of participants with biosamples
8,775
Supplementary Information
Response rate to the survey was 71% (65% to the health examination, n=8798). Some of the respondents of FINRISK studies in 1982, 1987, 1992, and 1997 have been selected for this survey by chance. Such re-examinations are identified in the MORGAM data as Rounds 05, 04, 03 and 02 of Cohorts 01, 02, 03, and 24.
Data Collection Events
# Name Description Start End
0 FINRISK 2002 baseline

Data was collected from each participant at baseline via questionnaire and health examination. The baseline data includes background information on socioeconomic status, smoking, diet, as well ...

 2002-01 2002-04
1 FINRISK 2002 Local mortality and disease outcome follow-up Local follow-up of the participants through registry linkage. The data of the Finnish national health registers (e.g., mortality, cancer, health care and medicines) can be linked for all ... 2002-01
2 FINRISK 2002 mortality and disease outcome follow-up in MORGAM data Follow-up for cardiovascular events, type 2 diabetes, cancers and death in the harmonized MORGAM data, see the end-points followed up in [a MORGAM ... 2002-01 2010-12
Selection Criteria
Minimum age
25
Maximum age
74
Countries
  • Finland
Territory
North Karelia, Kuopio Province, and Oulu Province from Eastern Finland and Helsinki/Vantaa and Turku & Loimaa from Western Finland
Ethnic Origin
Health Status

Recruitment

Sources of recruitment
  • General population
General Population
  • Selected sample
Supplementary Information

Number of participants

Number of participants
7,993
Number of participants with biosamples
6,219
Supplementary Information
Response rate to the survey was 67%. Some of the respondents of FINRISK Studies 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997 and 2002 have been selected for this survey by chance. Such re-examinations are identified in the MORGAM data as Rounds 06, 05, 04, 03, and 02 Cohorts 01, 02, 03, 24, and 25, respectively.
Data Collection Events
# Name Description Start End
0 FINRISK 2007 baseline

Data was collected from each participant at baseline via questionnaire and health examination. The baseline data includes background information on socioeconomic status, smoking, diet, as well ...

 2007-01 2007-07
1 FINRISK 2007 Local mortality and disease outcome follow-up Local follow-up of the participants through registry linkage. The data of the Finnish national health registers (e.g., mortality, cancer, health care and medicines) can be linked for all ... 2007-01
2 FINRISK 2007 mortality and disease outcome follow-up in MORGAM data Follow-up for cardiovascular events, type 2 diabetes, cancers and death in the harmonized MORGAM data, see the end-points followed up in [a MORGAM ... 2007-01 2017-12
Selection Criteria
Minimum age
25
Maximum age
74
Countries
  • Finland
Territory
North Karelia, North Savonia, Turku and Loimaa, Helsinki and Vantaa, Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu
Ethnic Origin
Health Status

Recruitment

Sources of recruitment
  • General population
General Population
  • Selected sample

Number of participants

Number of participants
6,424
Number of participants with biosamples
5,813
Supplementary Information
Response rate to the survey was 61.5% in men and 68.3% in women. 5827 participated in the health examination.
Data Collection Events
# Name Description Start End
0 FINRISK 2012 baseline

Data was collected from each participant at baseline via questionnaire and health examination. The baseline data includes background information on socioeconomic status, medical history, ...

 2012-01 2012-05
1 FINRISK 2012 Local mortality and disease outcome follow-up Local follow-up of the participants through registry linkage. The data of the Finnish national health registers (e.g., mortality, cancer, health care and medicines) can be linked for all ... 2012-01
Selection Criteria
Minimum age
18
Countries
  • Finland
Ethnic Origin
Health Status
Supplementary Information
The study was conducted at 50 localities in Finland. The autonomous territory of Åland and municipalities on islands not accessible by road were excluded.

Recruitment

Sources of recruitment
  • General population
General Population
  • Selected sample
Supplementary Information

Number of participants

Number of participants
7,050
Number of participants with biosamples
6,600
Supplementary Information
The proportion of those who participated in any of the study phases was 68.8%.
Data Collection Events
# Name Description Start End
0 FinHealth 2017 baseline

The data were collected by self-completed questionnaires and physical examinations. The participants were asked about sociodemographic factors, quality of life, health behaviours (smoking, ...

 2017-01 2017-06
1 FinHealth 2017 Local mortality and disease outcome follow-up Local follow-up of the participants through registry linkage. The data of the Finnish national health registers (e.g., mortality, cancer, health care and medicines) can be linked for all ... 2017-01
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