Abstract
The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) is a prospective population-based cohort study which recruited pregnant women in 1990-1992 and has followed these women, their partners (Generation 0; G0) and their offspring (Generation 1; G1) ever since. The study has reacted rapidly and repeatedly to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, deploying online questionnaires throughout the pandemic. In November/December 2020, a fourth questionnaire was deployed asking about physical and mental health, lifestyle and behaviours, employment and finances. G0 participants were offered an online questionnaire between 17th November 2020 and 7th February 2021, while G1 participants were offered both online and paper questionnaires between 1st December 2020 and 19th March 2021. Of 15,844 invitations, 8,643 (55%) participants returned the questionnaire (3,101 original mothers [mean age 58.6 years], 1,172 original fathers/partners [mean age 61.5 years] and 4,370 offspring [mean age 28.4 years]). Of these 8,643 participants, 2,012 (23%) had not returned a previous COVID-19 questionnaire, while 3,575 (41%) had returned all three previous questionnaires. In this questionnaire, 300 participants (3.5%) reported a previous positive COVID-19 test, 110 (1.3%) had been told by a doctor they likely had COVID-19, and 759 (8.8%) suspected that they had had COVID-19. Based on self-reported symptoms, between October 2020 and February 2021 359 participants (4.2%) were predicted COVID-19 cases. COVID data is being complemented with linkage to health records and Public Health England pillar testing results as they become available. Data has been released as an update to the previous COVID-19 datasets. It comprises: 1) a standard dataset containing all participant responses to both questionnaires with key sociodemographic factors; and 2) as a composite release coordinating data from the existing resource, thus enabling bespoke research across all areas supported by the study. This data note describes the fourth questionnaire and the data obtained from it.
Highlights
At the time of writing (May 2021), we are over a year into the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic
For G1 participants this COVID questionnaire was embedded within the wider ‘Life@28’ questionnaire as part of Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC)’s annual questionnaire strategy; this questionnaire was available to G1 participants in both online and paper formats
The need to harmonize data collection with other cohorts to facilitate co-ordinated analyses as part of the National Core Studies Longitudinal Health and Wealth work programme. We addressed this by incorporating content from a coordinated and freely available COVID-19 questionnaire co-developed by ALSPAC
Summary
Any reports and responses or comments on the article can be found at the end of the article. It comprises: 1) a standard dataset containing all participant responses to both questionnaires with key sociodemographic factors; and 2) as a composite release coordinating data from the existing resource, enabling bespoke research across all areas supported by the study. This data note describes the fourth questionnaire and the data obtained from it. Keywords ALSPAC, Children of the 90s, birth cohort study, COVID-19, coronavirus, online questionnaire, mental health. This article is included in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) gateway
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