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Representativeness of the LifeLines Cohort Study

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  • Bart Klijs
  • Salome Scholtens
  • Jornt J Mandemakers
  • Harold Snieder
  • Ronald P Stolk
  • Nynke Smidt

Abstract

Background: LifeLines is a large prospective population-based three generation cohort study in the north of the Netherlands. Different recruitment strategies were adopted: recruitment of an index population via general practitioners, subsequent inclusion of their family members, and online self-registration. Our aim was to investigate the representativeness of the adult study population at baseline and to evaluate differences in the study population according to recruitment strategy. Methods: Demographic characteristics of the LifeLines study population, recruited between 2006–2013, were compared with the total adult population in the north of the Netherlands as registered in the Dutch population register. Socioeconomic characteristics, lifestyle, chronic diseases, and general health were further compared with participants of the Permanent Survey of Living Conditions within the region (2005–2011, N = 6,093). Differences according to recruitment strategy were assessed. Results: Compared with the population of the north of the Netherlands, LifeLines participants were more often female, middle aged, married, living in a semi-urban place and Dutch native. Adjusted for differences in demographic composition, in LifeLines a smaller proportion had a low educational attainment (5% versus 14%) or had ever smoked (54% versus 66%). Differences in the prevalence of various chronic diseases and low general health scores were mostly smaller than 3%. The age profiles of the three recruitment groups differed due to age related inclusion criteria of the recruitment groups. Other differences according to recruitment strategy were small. Conclusions: Our results suggest that, adjusted for differences in demographic composition, the LifeLines adult study population is broadly representative for the adult population of the north of the Netherlands. The recruitment strategy had a minor effect on the level of representativeness. These findings indicate that the risk of selection bias is low and that risk estimates in LifeLines can be generalized to the general population.

Suggested Citation

  • Bart Klijs & Salome Scholtens & Jornt J Mandemakers & Harold Snieder & Ronald P Stolk & Nynke Smidt, 2015. "Representativeness of the LifeLines Cohort Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(9), pages 1-12, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0137203
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137203
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    Cited by:

    1. Alessie, Rob J.M. & Angelini, Viola & van den Berg, Gerard J. & Mierau, Jochen O. & Viluma, Laura, 2019. "Economic conditions at birth and cardiovascular disease risk in adulthood: Evidence from post-1950 cohorts," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 77-84.
    2. Ballering, Aranka V. & Bonvanie, Irma J. & Olde Hartman, Tim C. & Monden, Rei & Rosmalen, Judith G.M., 2020. "Gender and sex independently associate with common somatic symptoms and lifetime prevalence of chronic disease," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    3. Jacobien Niebuur & Aart C. Liefbroer & Nardi Steverink & Nynke Smidt, 2019. "Translation and Validation of the Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI) among the General Dutch Older Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-14, August.
    4. Martine J. Sealy & Fons van der Lucht & Barbara C. van Munster & Wim P. Krijnen & Hans Hobbelen & Hans A. Barf & Evelyn J. Finnema & Harriët Jager-Wittenaar, 2022. "Frailty among Older People during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic in The Netherlands," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-15, March.
    5. Qingqing Cai & Louise H Dekker & Stephan J L Bakker & Martin H de Borst & Gerjan Navis, 2019. "Intraregional differences in renal function in the Northern Netherlands: The Lifelines Cohort Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(10), pages 1-15, October.
    6. Alessie, Rob & Angelini, Viola & van den Berg, Gerard J. & Mierau, Jochen O. & Viluma, Laura, 2017. "Economic Conditions at Birth and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Adulthood: Evidence from New Cohorts," IZA Discussion Papers 10810, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Richard H. Rijnks & Stephen Sheppard, 2018. "Occupant Well-Being and House Values," Department of Economics Working Papers 2018-05, Department of Economics, Williams College.
    8. Alessie, Rob & Angelini, Viola & Mierau, Jochen O. & Viluma, Laura, 2018. "Economic downturns and infant health," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 162-171.
    9. Viluma, Laura, 2020. "Do Cesarean Delivery rates rise when the economy declines? A test of the economic stress hypothesis," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 36(C).

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