Cohort Profile: The Northeast China Biobank (NEC-Biobank).

Abstract

There have been drastic lifestyle changes in the past decades. Following these, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular disease and cancer, have become the commonest cause of death worldwide. The Global Burden study1 reported that people in Northeast China have the highest risks for stroke and ischaemic heart disease. Moreover, the study reported that the prevalence of respiratory cancers in China is highest in Heilongjiang and Liaoning provinces. The leading causes of NCDs are exposure to air pollutants, smoking and dietary risks.1 Weather conditions in Northeast China (37°N–55°N, 118°E–135°E), including Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, and the southern part of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region are different from those in other places in China. For example, the cold season (from 1 November 1 to 1 April) is longer in those provinces than in other places in China. Thus, the magnitude of outdoor and indoor air pollution caused by heating conditions in Northeast China is greater than that in other places in China.2 The dietary habits in Northeast China are characterized by a high intake of salt and fat, for example pickled cabbage and roasted meat are popular foods in Northeast China. However, there are only few large, prospective cohort studies in Northeast China focused on cause-causal and gene-environment interaction between dietary and environmental exposures and NCDs. Therefore, investigating the regional factors (i.e. dietary and environmental factors) that are associated with the onset and prognosis of NCDs, and identifying new disease prevention strategies in Northeast China, are necessary.