Advance in Large-Scale Prospective Cohort Studies of Chinese Adults

Abstract

AbstractA cohort study is one of the fundamental study designs in observational epidemiology and plays an irreplaceable role in the etiological research of disease. With the deepening of research on the etiology of complex diseases, increased investment in scientific research, and the development of modern information technology, an increasing number of large-scale population-based prospective cohorts have been established around the world. In China, prospective cohort studies are characterized by the more recent establishment, the limited number, the small scale, the lack of long-term and stable funding, and the short follow-up. This chapter reviews large-scale cohort studies and their applications, with a special emphasis on cohort studies in China. We will review the significance of large-scale cohort studies and research progress abroad, as well as the history, current status, and characteristics of prospective cohort studies in China. Challenges of cohort studies in the era of “multi-omics” will be discussed. We will also review the current situations of large cohorts in China including the basic information and research progress of the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB), which is one of the few large prospective cohorts worldwide with a biobank. The CKB study has laid the evidence base for environmental and lifestyle factors and diseases (e.g., hemorrhagic stroke) unique to the Chinese population.KeywordsCohort studyChineseChina Kadoorie Biobank