About CONOR - data from several regional health studies
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CONOR is a collection of health data and blood samples from several Norwegian health surveys. When the data collection is complete, CONOR will be a unique database with health data and biological samples of about 200 000 individuals. The purpose of CONOR is investigating the causes of disease.
Norway has particular advantages in investigating the causes of disease because it is a surveyable and well-organised little country, where each individual has a unique ID-number. Systematic research may bring new knowledge about e.g. the causes of cancer and other serious diseases. This is the background for the foundation of CONOR – the Cohort of Norway.
CONOR is both the name of a collection of health data and blood samples, and of the collaboration between the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and the Universities in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim and Tromsø:
- The Tromsø Health Study (Tromsø IV and V) - Cohort profile
- The Troms and Finnmark Health Study
- The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT 2 and 3)
- The Oslo Health Study (Osloundersøkelsen (Oslo I- Oslo II), HUBRO, The Oslo Immigrant Health Study, The Health Study in Romsås and Furuset (Helseundersøkelsen i bydelene Romsås og Furuset i Oslo (MoRo)), The Oslo Study I and II)
- The Oppland and Hedmark Health Study
- The Hordaland Health Study (HUSK)
When the health surveys are finished, selected data are copied into the CONOR database. The large number of persons in the database makes the research results more reliable than research based on regional surveys.
Health data
The information contained in the CONOR database has been gathered through questionnaires and attendance in a short health examination. Questions are asked about e.g. specific diseases, general questions about health, the use of blood pressure medication, physical activity, education, smoking and drinking habits and the occurrence of coronary heart disease in the family. Furthermore, there are questions about place of birth, housing situation, family, working situation and social security.
When the participants attend the health examinations, blood pressure, height, weight, and waist and hip circumference are measured. A blood sample is analysed for lipids and blood sugar - and another sample are stored at – 80 degrees celsius.
The first CONOR data were taken from the survey in Tromsø in 1994-95. The last data stem from the third health survey in Nord-Trøndelag (HUNT 3) which will be finished in 2008. So far, CONOR contains data from ca 185 000 individuals. The data-collection follow a standard procedure – see more detailed information in Conor - Material and Methods.
The CONOR data makes it possible to discover whether, for instance, there is a connection between cancer and working situation, between cancer and environmental toxins in blood, or between cancer and specific genes.
80 degrees below zero
The blood samples are stored at 80 degrees below zero Centigrade. In the future they may be defrosted, and further analyses be performed. Extracted DNA will be available from most of the participants in a few years.. Researchers must apply to the steering group for access to data and, possibly, blood samples or DNA.
Ethics and anonymising
The data delivered will always be anonymised. All the blood samples are identified by a serial number only. All collection of data is based on consent from the participants. Researchers must apply for a new approval from the Data Inspectorate if information is to be linked with other registers - or when DNA or new analyses on the frozen blood samples are to be utilised.
How can researchers gain access to data?
For access to data and biological material, use the electronic application for access to data. A steering group will process the applications.
- More information about the electronic application and guidelines for Research and data: Access to data and biological material
- Guidelines for access to CONOR materials regarding access to CONOR materials.
E-mail CONOR: conor@fhi.no
Links
- Guidelines for access to CONOR materials regarding access to CONOR materials
Articles from CONOR
Association of psychological distress late in life and dementia-related mortality. Rosness TA, Strand BH, Bergem AL, Nafstad P, Langballe EM, Engedal K, Tambs K, Bjertness E.Aging Ment Health. 2015 Apr 14:1-8. [Epub ahead of print]
Social inequalities and smoking-associated breast cancer - Results from a prospective cohort study. Bjerkaas E, Parajuli R, Engeland A, Maskarinec G, Weiderpass E, Gram IT.Prev Med. 2015 Apr;73:125-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2015.01.004. Epub 2015 Jan 22.
Alcohol consumption in the elderly and risk of dementia related death - A Norwegian prospective study with a 17-year follow-up. Ormstad H, Rosness TA, Bergem AL, Bjertness E, Strand BH; the GENIDEM-group.Int J Neurosci. 2014 Dec 13:1-17. [Epub ahead of print]
Associations between Physical Activity in Old Age and Dementia-Related Mortality: A Population-Based Cohort Study. Rosness TA, Strand BH, Bergem AL, Engedal K, Bjertness E.Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra. 2014 Oct 29;4(3):410-8. doi: 10.1159/000367938. eCollection 2014 Sep.
Cohort profile: Norwegian Epidemiologic Osteoporosis Studies (NOREPOS). Søgaard AJ, Meyer HE, Emaus N, Grimnes G, Gjesdal CG, Forsmo S, Schei B, Tell GS.Scand J Public Health. 2014 Dec;42(8):804-13. doi: 10.1177/1403494814551858. Epub 2014 Oct 2.
The association between lifetime smoking exposure and breast cancer mortality--results from a Norwegian cohort. Bjerkaas E, Parajuli R, Engeland A, Maskarinec G, Weiderpass E, Gram IT.Cancer Med. 2014 Oct;3(5):1448-57. doi: 10.1002/cam4.304. Epub 2014 Jul 30.
Age, education and dementia related deaths. The Norwegian Counties Study and The Cohort of Norway. Strand BH, Langballe EM, Rosness TA, Bergem AL, Engedal K, Nafstad P, Tell GS, Ormstad H, Tambs K, Bjertness E; GENIDEM-group.J Neurol Sci. 2014 Oct 15;345(1-2):75-82. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2014.07.009. Epub 2014 Jul 10.
Ethnic differences in risk factors and total risk of cardiovascular disease based on the Norwegian CONOR study. Rabanal KS, Lindman AS, Selmer RM, Aamodt G.Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2013 Dec;20(6):1013-21. doi: 10.1177/2047487312450539. Epub 2012 May 29.
Is the quality of drinking water a risk factor for self-reported forearm fractures? Cohort of Norway. Dahl C, Søgaard AJ, Tell GS, Flaten TP, Krogh T, Aamodt G; NOREPOS Core Research Group.Osteoporos Int. 2013 Feb;24(2):541-51. doi: 10.1007/s00198-012-1989-7. Epub 2012 May 9.
Controlling for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol does not affect the magnitude of the relationship between alcohol and coronary heart disease. Magnus P, Bakke E, Hoff DA, Høiseth G, Graff-Iversen S, Knudsen GP, Myhre R, Normann PT, Næss Ø, Tambs K, Thelle DS, Mørland J.Circulation. 2011 Nov 22;124(21):2296-302. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.036491. Epub 2011 Oct 31.
Blood pressure and risk of prostate cancer: Cohort Norway (CONOR). Martin RM, Vatten L, Gunnell D, Romundstad P.Cancer Causes Control. 2010 Mar;21(3):463-72. doi: 10.1007/s10552-009-9477-x. Epub 2009 Dec 1.