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Follow-up research into mortality in this cohort has resulted in the discovery that people with a higher airway sensitivity have a greater chance of dying from COPD. Research is currently being conducted into genetic causes of reduced lung function in the Vlagtwedde/Vlaardingen cohort. Reduced lung function is a normal phenomenon of ageing, but in some people it is accelerated. This can result in bronchial problems and diseases like COPD.
UMCG researchers have found that the ADAM33 gene is responsible for an accelerated reduction in lung function in the population as a whole and in patients with asthma and (severe) COPD. This gene can therefore be considered a general lung-ageing gene.
Cohort |
Baseline |
Follow-up survey |
||||||
Vlagtwedde |
1965/1967 |
1970 |
1973 |
1976 |
1979 |
1982 |
1985 |
1989 |
N |
450/1,793 |
2,109 |
2,245 |
2,212 |
1,910 |
1,973 |
1,819 |
1,753 |
Vlaardingen |
1965/1969 |
1972 |
1975 |
1978 |
1981 |
1984 |
1987 |
1990 |
N |
859/1969 |
1,679 |
1,384 |
1,219 |
1,214 |
977 |
884 |
800 |
Department of Epidemiology in collaboration with GRIAC research groups.
Given the study's state-of-the-art prospective epidemiological research design, with standardized and repeated measurements of potential risk factors, lung function indeces and bronchial hyperresonsiveness, the study had led to identification of several host related risk factors for the onset and course of chronic airway diseases like COPD.
University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)
Vlagtwedde-Vlaardingen cohort
PO Box 30.001
9700 RB Groningen
The Netherlands
Visiting address
University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)
Department of Pulmonology
Antonius Deusinglaan 1
9713 AV Groningen