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The Generation R Study: design and cohort update until the age of 4 years

  • Developmental Epidemiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

The Generation R Study is a population-based prospective cohort study from fetal life until young adulthood. The study is designed to identify early environmental and genetic causes of normal and abnormal growth, development and health from fetal life until young adulthood. The study focuses on four primary areas of research: (1) growth and physical development; (2) behavioural and cognitive development; (3) diseases in childhood; and (4) health and healthcare for pregnant women and children. In total, 9,778 mothers with a delivery date from April 2002 until January 2006 were enrolled in the study. Of all eligible children at birth, 61% participate in the study. In addition, more detailed assessments are conducted in a subgroup of 1,232 pregnant women and their children. Data collection in the prenatal phase and postnatal phase until the age of 4 years includes questionnaires, detailed physical and ultrasound examinations, behavioural observations and biological samples. This paper gives an update of the study design and cohort profile until the children’s age of 4 years. Eventually, results forthcoming from the Generation R Study have to contribute to the development of strategies for optimizing health and healthcare for pregnant women and children.

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Acknowledgments

The Generation R Study is conducted by the Erasmus Medical Center in close collaboration with the School of Law and Faculty of Social Sciences of the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Municipal Health Service Rotterdam area, Rotterdam, the Rotterdam Homecare Foundation, Rotterdam and the Stichting Trombosedienst and Artsenlaboratorium Rijnmond (STAR-MDC), Rotterdam. We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of children and parents, general practitioners, hospitals, midwives and pharmacies in Rotterdam. The authors thank Rachel Bakker and Claudia Kruithof for their assistance in data management. The first phase of the Generation R Study is made possible by financial support from the Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Erasmus University Rotterdam and The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Generation R Study Group (AE006), Erasmus Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Vincent W. V. Jaddoe

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Vincent W. V. Jaddoe, Cornelia M. van Duijn, Henning Tiemeier, Andre G. Uitterlinden & Albert Hofman

  3. Department of Paediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Vincent W. V. Jaddoe, Albert J. van der Heijden & Henriëtte A. Moll

  4. Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Johan P. Mackenbach

  5. Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Eric A. P. Steegers

  6. Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasmus Medical Center, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Henning Tiemeier & Frank C. Verhulst

  7. Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Andre G. Uitterlinden

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  1. Vincent W. V. Jaddoe
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  2. Cornelia M. van Duijn
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  3. Albert J. van der Heijden
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  4. Johan P. Mackenbach
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  5. Henriëtte A. Moll
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  6. Eric A. P. Steegers
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  10. Albert Hofman
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Correspondence to Vincent W. V. Jaddoe.

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Jaddoe, V.W.V., van Duijn, C.M., van der Heijden, A.J. et al. The Generation R Study: design and cohort update until the age of 4 years. Eur J Epidemiol 23, 801–811 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-008-9309-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-008-9309-4

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