Abstract
BackgroundThe Passo Fundo Cohort Study (PFS) is a population-based longitudinal observational study of pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal women that has been ongoing since 1995 in Passo Fundo, a city in southern Brazil. This paper describes the rationale and design of the PFS and summarizes objectives and procedures that have been updated during follow-up.Methods/DesignWomen in the PFS have been followed for a variety of diseases that are frequent in menopause. Sampling was conducted in 154 randomly selected census divisions (geographical subdivisions of the city as defined by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics). One block in each census division was chosen by lot and two women were randomly selected for interview in each block. The first cycle, conducted between 1995 and 1997, included a representative sample of 298 women aged 35 to 55 years. In the second cycle, conducted between 2001 and 2002, additional participants were enrolled based on the same sampling strategy used in 1995, for a final sample of 358 women. In 2010, a third follow-up was initiated, when all 358 participants or their relatives were located. Participants completed a standardized questionnaire on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. They also answered questions about lifestyle, medical and reproductive characteristics, sexual life, hormone therapy and mental aspects by using validated instruments. Physical activity was assessed and anthropometric measurements, blood sampling and pelvic ultrasound examination were performed. In the third cycle, bone mineral density by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and abdominal fat and coronary artery calcium score by computed tomography were also determined.DiscussionThe study findings provide relevant information to evaluate the association between menopausal status, female aging and the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and bone health aspects in a representative sample of women from southern Brazil.
Highlights
The Passo Fundo Cohort Study (PFS) is a population-based longitudinal observational study of pre, peri, and postmenopausal women that has been ongoing since 1995 in Passo Fundo, a city in southern Brazil
The study findings provide relevant information to evaluate the association between menopausal status, female aging and the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and bone health aspects in a representative sample of women from southern Brazil
This paper describes the rationale and design of the PFS and summarizes objectives and procedures that have been updated during follow-up
Summary
The Passo Fundo Cohort Study (PFS) is a population-based longitudinal observational study of pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal women that has been ongoing since 1995 in Passo Fundo, a city in southern Brazil. In Brazil, an uppermiddle-income country, only a few observational studies have examined non-communicable diseases, especially regarding women’s health [3] In this respect, the Passo Fundo Cohort Study (PFS) has been conducted for nearly 15 years, investigating pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal women. The main objective of the first cycle of the PFS was to investigate the prevalence of climacteric symptoms and their association with transvaginal sonographic features and hormone levels in pre- and perimenopausal women. It investigated lifestyle habits, socioeconomic status, sexual activity, menstrual complaints, and hormone therapy in this population
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