Each cohort study participating in MORGAM contributes one or several cohorts. The cohorts are mostly formed of the respondents of health examination surveys of random samples of geographically defined populations. The harmonized baseline data include classic cardiovascular risk factors and disease history. Most of the cohorts have provided frozen serum and/or plasma, from which biomarkers have been measured centrally. Some of the cohorts have also shared DNA for joint genotyping. Some cohorts have repeated measurements taken at re-examinations after the baseline. The baseline periods of the cohorts vary between 1982 and 2014

All cohorts have follow-up for mortality, and nearly all for non-fatal acute coronary events and stroke. In addition, many of the cohorts have been followed up for heart failure, atrial fibrillation, peripheral vascular disease, venous thromboembolism, diabetes, and cancers. The longest follow-up periods are about 30 years.

MORGAM has payed particular attention to the quality and comparability of the harmonized data, which are generally high. The harmonization standards, data collection procedures of the cohorts, and reports of retrospective assessment of the quality and cohort-specific characteristics of the harmonized data have been published in the series MORGAM Project e-publications.

See the descriptions of the harmonized variables, studies and cohorts included in the MORGAM Study and the harmonization status of each variable in these cohorts in the page of the harmonized dataset for MORGAM study.

Access to the data

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