Cohort Profile: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP)

Abstract

Epidemiological studies on ageing have tended to focus on women, a phenomenon recognized by sociologists as the feminization of ageing. However, a large percentage of older people are men. For example, in Australia, 44% of those aged 65 and over are male, as are 39% of those aged 75 years and over. Furthermore, the 5–7 year shorter life expectancy for men than women and higher death rates at all ages, including older ages, suggest that more detailed study of the health of older men is essential. Probably the best known study of the health of ageing in men is the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. However, at baseline, men in the Massachusetts Male Aging Study were relatively young, with a mean age of 58 years (range: 40–70 years). The recently established European Male Ageing Study also involves mostly younger men (range: 45–79 years). The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project (CHAMP) was established to investigate health in old men, defined as age 70 years and over. There is no upper age limit for recruitment into CHAMP. CHAMP is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. Current funding is for baseline assessments and a two-year followup assessment. Additional funding will be sought to allow biennial assessments for at least 10 years. Recruitment of study subjects mainly occurred during 2005 and 2006, with the first follow-up assessments in early 2007. What does it cover?