Data collected

Main & Tiree study data

The four page questionnaire used for the Main & Tiree Studies was similar to that used for the original Whitehall study, both being developed at around the same time. Subjects completed the appropriate box, answers were coded and later entered onto computer anonymously. The original questionnaires are currently stored at the Glasgow University Archive.

Data recorded

  • Questionnaire data
    sex
    occupation
    employment status
    date of birth
    place of birth (coded by population size)
    marital status
    height (self reported)
    weight (self reported)
    detailed questions on smoking habit
    exercise activity
    car ownership
    sleep
    daily consumptions of milk, coffee, tea
    alcohol intake
    MRC bronchitis
    chest wheeze
    weather effect on breathing
    Rose angina questionnaire
    severe chest pain
    intermittent claudication
    diabetes
    partner suffer from bronchitis or heart trouble
  • Clinical measurements:
    respiratory function, FEV1, MMF, FVC
    blood pressure
    chest x-ray
    ECG
    biochemical tests on urine: blood*, glucose*, protein*, pH
    triceps skinfold thickness
    * only available on some subjects
  • Derived data:
    cardiothoracic ratio
  • Follow-up data:
    mortality

Further visits
Between 1967 and 1969 participants were invited to take part in a repeat survey. The format of this was identical to the previous one.

Collaborative study data

Participants in the Collaborative study completed a questionnaire of personal details and health questions prior to attending a clinical examination. These answers were checked by experienced interviewers at the time of attending. Clinical measurements were recorded by staff at the clinic or later upon receipt of laboratory results of samples taken. The data were subsequently coded and entered onto computer. Mortality incidence has also been recorded. The original questionnaires are currently stored at the Glasgow University Archive.

Data recorded

  • Questionnaire data
    sex
    occupation, employment status
    date of birth, place of birth (category), type of place where lived longest
    marital status
    MRC bronchitis questionnaire
    chest wheeze
    weather affecting breathing
    exercise
    regular car driver
    sleep
    daily consumption of milk, tea, coffee
    addition of sugar
    alcohol consumption per week
    detailed questions on smoking habit
    Rose angina questionnaire
    severe chest pain
    intermittent claudication
    diabetes
    parent's cause of death
    partner suffer from bronchitis or heart condition
    first regular occupation
    father's occupation
    Reeder Stress Inventory
    job satisfaction
    numbers of siblings, position in family
    number of job changes
    most recent job change
    age completed full-time education
  • Clinical measurements
    respiratory function, FEV1, MMF, FVC
    chest X-ray
    blood pressure
    triceps skinfold thickness medical history
    ECG (Minnesota code)
    biochemical analyses of urine specimum: blood, ketones, glucose, protein, pH
    cholesterol (plasma)
    triglycerides
    height
    weight
    tuberculin Tine test
    lipoprotein phenotype
  • Derived data
    age at screening
    father’s social class, own 1st social class, own social class
    Carstairs deprivation score/category
    body mass index
    %-predicted FEV1
    Rose angina classification
    ischaemia on ECG
  • Follow-up data
    mortality
    cancer incidence
    hospital admissions

Further visits
A further visit six weeks later was arranged for participants whose clinical measurements required confirmation or clarification. The data were recorded on computer.

Subjects were invited for further screening in 1977. Those who attended completed the same questionnaire as previously and underwent a similar series of tests. The second screening data were also recorded on computer.

Renfrew/Paisley study data

The questionnaire used in the Renfrew/Paisley study was very similar in appearance to that used in the Collaborative study but some new questions were included and others (eg. diet and early life) omitted. The data have been coded and entered onto computer, anonymously. Mortality incidence has also been recorded. The original questionnaires are currently stored at the Glasgow University Archive.

Data recorded

  • Questionnaire data
    sex
    marital status
    date of birth
    occupation
    exercise
    MRC bronchitis
    chest wheeze
    weather effect on breathing
    detailed questions on smoking habit
    Rose angina questionnaire
    severe chest pain
    diabetes
    stroke symptoms
    treatment for blood pressure
    asthma / hayfever
    years in present home (Paisley only)
  • Clinical measurements
    blood pressure
    chest X-ray
    Tine test
    sputum
    cholesterol (plasma)
    blood sugar*
    cardiothoracic ratio
    height
    weight
    ECG (Minnesota code)
    respiratory function, FEV1, FVC
    biochemical tests*: Sodium (Renfrew only), potassium, O2, Hb, carboxyhaemoglobin
    * only available on some subjects
  • Derived data
    age at screening
    Occupational social class
    Carstairs deprivation score/category
    body mass index
    %-predicted FEV1
    Rose angina classification
    ischaemia on ECG
  • Follow-up data
    mortality
    cancer incidence
    hospital admissions

Further visits
A further visit six weeks later was arranged for participants whose clinical measurements required confirmation or clarification. These data were recorded on computer.

Subjects were invited for further screening approximately 4 years later. Those who attended completed the same questionnaire as previously and underwent a similar series of tests. These second screening data were also recorded on computer.

Periodically throughout the duration of screening additional studies were undertaken on some subjects and the results summarised and recorded on the relevant questionnaire:

General Health questionnaire
Supplement of smoking and diet

Family study data

Offspring who had two parents who had participated in the original Renfrew/Paisley study and were themselves between the age of 30-59 and living locally were invited to take part in the Family Study. Participants were asked to complete a 33 page health and lifestyle questionnaire at home and later attend a clinic for physical examination. The original questionnaires are currently stored at Glasgow University Archive.

Data recorded

  • Questionnaire data
    personal: gender, date of birth, marital status, education, occupation, employment, housing tenure, accommodation, car ownership, food frequency questionnaire, physical activity, smoking habit, exposure to passive smoking
    medical history:limiting long-standing illness, doctor diagnosed illness (angina, heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, asthma, bronchitis/emphysema, venous thrombo-embolism, lung cancer, breast cancer, stomach/bowel cancer), medication (incl. high blood pressure, cholesterol, aspirin, vitamins/supplements), Rose angina questionnaire, European Community Respiratory Health Survey, MRC bronchitis questionnaire, intermittent claudication, allergic symptoms
    women only: menstruation, pregnancy, use of contraception, HRT
    family history: parents, siblings
    childhood circumstances
    vehicle access, housing tenure, accommodation, parental smoking, paternal occupation
    birthweight, place of birth, infant feeding, respiratory illness in early life (based on reported parent's response)
    health beliefs/attitudes, behavioural changes
  • Clinical measurements
    blood pressure, pulse, MAP
    height
    sitting height
    weight
    waist & hip circumference
    spirometry
    ECG
  • Laboratory tests
    sodium, potassium, chlorine, bicarbonate, urea, creatinine, glucose (non-fasting)
    bilirubin, AsT, AlT, alk phosphate, adj calcium, calcium, phospate, proteins, albumin, globulins, urate, Gamma GT
    cholesterol (non-fasting), triglycerides, HDL
    haematocrit, white cell count, plasma viscosity, factor VII, factor VIII, factor IX, APTT, APC resistance, fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, t-PA, PAI, D-dimer
    vitamins A, C, E
    lutein, lycopene, a-carotene, b-carotene, cryptozan, C-reactive protein, cotinine
    Lp(a), Apo(a) phenotype
    ACE genotype
  • Stored samples
    serum
    plasma
    DNA
  • Derived data
    age at screening
    occupational social class, Carstairs deprivation score/category
    family size, birth order
    body mass index, waist/hip ratio, leg length, trunk height
    duration/pack years of smoking
    weekly alcohol intake (beer, wine, spirits, total)
    Rose angina classification
    whole blood viscosity
    daily nutrient intakes
    fat, saturated/polyunsaturated fat, protein, carbohydrate, starch, sugar, fibre, energy, cholesterol, vitamin C, retinal, carotene, tocop, linol, iron
    % food energy derived from fat
    ECG evidence of previous myocardial infarction/ischaemia
    ECG evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy
    %-predicted FEV1
    hormone replacement; route of administration, hormones, duration
    oral contraceptives; hormones, oestrogen dose, 3rd generation
  • Follow-up data
    mortality
    cancer incidence
    hospital admissions

Further visits
Between 2001-2003 the TWOGen study undertook the collecting of blood samples from the surviving parents.