MORGAM Manual

Collection of background information on the cohorts

© National Institute for Health and Welfare and the MORGAM Project investigators Last updated: 28 September 2006 For more information, please contact Kari Kuulasmaa (firstname.lastname@thl.fi)

To give the exact definitions of the MORGAM Cohorts and to describe their baseline characteristics, follow-up procedures and data collection, the MPCs should provide the relevant information to the MDC:

1. Description of the cohort recruitment and baseline examination
2. Local survey questionnaires (original and English translation)
3. Description of the details of the measurement procedures used at the baseline examination
4. Local quality control procedures
5. Conversion rules between the original local data items and the MORGAM data items
6. Description of the follow-up procedures
7. Definitions of the end-points followed up
8. Description of the diagnostic procedures of the end-point events
9. Possible references for the above information
10. Other relevant information

These information will be summarized in two documents, produced by the MDC:

• Description of MORGAM Cohorts which gives the exact definitions of the MORGAM cohorts and describes their basic characteristics and data collection procedures, such as the follow-up procedures, the disease end-points recorded and diagnostic procedures.
• Details of the measurement procedures and data conversion rules by RUA which collects the questions and procedures used for each cohort at the baseline examination. It includes also the conversion rules used between  the local items and the MORGAM items for the baseline data.

When preparing these documents, the MDC will keep in contact with the MPC on any uncertainties, and for a formal review. It is foreseen that the documents will be published in the World Wide Web.

To facilitate the transfer of the requested information the MPC should use the completed sections of the above documents as templates.

If you have difficulty in providing the requested information, or if you have any questions, please contact the MDC.