Cohort Profile: The ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons (ALSOP)

作者：John J. McNeil, Robyn L. Woods, Stéphanie Ward, Carlene Britt, Jessica E. Lockery, Lawrence J. Beilin, Alice Owen · 发表于：International Journal of Epidemiology · 年份：2018 · DOI：10.1093/ije/dyy279 · 被引用次数：90 · 研究领域：Health disparities and outcomes、Global Health Care Issues、Retirement, Disability, and Employment

The ASPREE Longitudinal Study of Older Persons (ALSOP) is a longitudinal cohort study of ageing which involves approximately 90% of the Australian participants in the ASPREE clinical trial (see below). The aim of ALSOP is to examine a broad range of general health, lifestyle, behavioural, social, economic and environmental factors that are relevant to the ageing Australian population, and to link these to future health status. The ultimate goal is to identify new strategies to maintain the health of ageing Australians and allow maintenance of independent living. The rationale for the establishment of ALSOP is the need to understand and address medical and social issues arising from the rapid increase in the numbers of Australians expected to survive into their 70 s, 80s and 90 s in future years. This is the result of both a decline in the death rate of middle-aged Australians and a substantial decrease in mortality among the elderly.1 However, ageing is commonly accompanied by an array of chronic disabling diseases and disabilities leading to both a reduced quality of life and substantial costs for the community. An essential prerequisite for healthy ageing is the prevention and/or the effective management of these diseases. Foremost amongst these are dementia, musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular disease, cancer, depression and vision and hearing disorders. Observational cohort studies have been fundamental in identifying risk factors and prevention opportunities for va...