Abstract
BackgroundPopulations in Europe are becoming increasingly ethnically diverse, and health risks differ between ethnic groups. The aim of the HELIUS (HEalthy LIfe in an Urban Setting) study is to unravel the mechanisms underlying the impact of ethnicity on communicable and non-communicable diseases.Methods/designHELIUS is a large-scale prospective cohort study being carried out in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The sample is made up of Amsterdam residents of Surinamese (with Afro-Caribbean Surinamese and South Asian-Surinamese as the main ethnic groups), Turkish, Moroccan, Ghanaian, and ethnic Dutch origin. HELIUS focuses on three disease categories: cardiovascular disease (including diabetes), mental health (depressive disorders and substance use disorders), and infectious diseases. The explanatory mechanisms being studied include genetic profile, culture, migration history, ethnic identity, socio-economic factors and discrimination. These might affect disease risks through specific risk factors including health-related behaviour and living and working conditions. Every five years, participants complete a standardized questionnaire and undergo a medical examination. Biological samples are obtained for diagnostic tests and storage. Participants’ data are linked to morbidity and mortality registries. The aim is to recruit a minimum of 5,000 respondents per ethnic group, to a total of 30,000 participants.DiscussionThis paper describes the rationale, conceptual framework, and design and methods of the HELIUS study. HELIUS will contribute to an understanding of inequalities in health between ethnic groups and the mechanisms that link ethnicity to health in Europe.
Highlights
Populations in Europe are becoming increasingly ethnically diverse, and health risks differ between ethnic groups
This paper describes the rationale, conceptual framework, and design and methods of the HELIUS study
HELIUS will contribute to an understanding of inequalities in health between ethnic groups and the mechanisms that link ethnicity to health in Europe
Summary
Ethnic minority groups are excluded from most epidemiological studies in high-income countries in Europe. We are not aware of other population-based cohort studies in Europe that include a broad range of ethnic groups, with a substantial number of respondents per group and a diversity of disease phenotypes In their 2006 review of 72 cardiovascular cohort studies, Ranganathan and Bhopal concluded that even at the international level, only 15 of these were able, by design, to compare different ethnic groups. By obtaining detailed information on the proximal risk factors and causal mechanisms underlying ethnic inequalities in health, the goal of HELIUS is to provide scientific evidence as to how ethnicity has an impact on the major causes of the global burden of disease This evidence can be used to develop ethnically targeted interventions, and to target health care to the health needs of ethnic minority populations in high-income countries.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
