5.7.1: In Real Life- A Cohort Study
A classic example of a cohort study is the Framingham Heart Study, which began in 1948 with just over 5,000 participants, and is now gathering data on its 3rd generation of participants. The initial cohort was recruited from the town of Framingham in Massachusetts. These participants received medical exams, lab tests, and provided information on their health history and behaviors at regular intervals over the decades. The researchers then investigated whether any of these measurements or behaviors were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This prospective cohort study provided evidence that cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and physical inactivity are all risk factors for cardiovascular disease - knowledge that has become so mainstream that we often take it for granted now. Over time, new cohorts and metrics were added to the study, to help identify genetic risk factors for cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and dementia (National Institutes of Health Office of Science Policy, 2018).