The seventh survey of the Tromsø Study (Tromsø7) 2015–2016: study design, data collection, attendance, and prevalence of risk factors and disease in a multipurpose population-based health survey

Abstract

Aims: The Tromsø Study is an ongoing population-based health study in Tromsø, Norway, initiated in 1974. The purpose of the seventh survey (Tromsø7) 2015–2016 was to advance the population risk factor surveillance and to collect new types of data. We present the study design, data collection, attendance, and prevalence of risk factors and disease. Methods: All inhabitants in Tromsø municipality, Norway, aged 40 years and older (N=32,591) were invited to a health screening including extensive questionnaires, face-to-face interviews, biological sampling (blood, urine, saliva, nasal/throat swabs, faeces), measurements (anthropometry, blood pressure, pulse, pulse oximetry) and clinical examinations (pain sensitivity, echocardiography, cognitive, physical, and lung function, accelerometer measurements, eye examinations, carotid ultrasound, electrocardiography, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and heart, lung and carotid auscultation). New research areas in this round were dental and oral health examinations, collection of faecal samples for studies of normal bacterial flora and antibiotic resistance, and 24-hour urine samples for examination of sodium and iodine intakes. Results: Attendance was 65% (N=21,083), and was higher in women, age group 50–79 years, previous attenders, and Norwegian-born individuals. Cardiovascular risk factor levels and prevalence of chronic obstructive lung disease decreased since the last survey, while the prevalence of obesity and diabetes increased. Conclusions: Attendance was stable from the sixth survey. Interaction with participants might be key to maintain participation. Favourable trends in risk factors continue, except for a continued increase in obesity. Both new data collection technology and traditional physical examinations will be crucial for the impact of future population studies.