A Cohort Study on the Relation of Lifestyle, Personality and Biologic Markers to Cancer in Miyagi, Japan: Study Design, Response Rate and Profiles of the Cohort Subjects

Abstract

To assess the relation of lifestyle factors, personality and some biologic markers to cancer incidence, and to evaluate the effectiveness of cancer screening, a cohort study was conducted among all residents aged 40 to 64 years in 14 municipalities of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. The baseline survey consisted of self-completed questionnaires concerning lifestyle and personality (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised), and serum samples collected from a part of the subjects. The proportion of the subjects who appropriately responded to the lifestyle questionnaire (response rate) was 91.7% (47, 605 persons of the total 51, 921 residents), indicating that representative data could be obtained. Of these, 41, 442 persons (87.1%) also completed a personality questionnaire, and serum samples were collected from 8, 896 persons (18.7%). Linkage of these baseline data with the cancer incidence data of a population-based cancer registry, and with the records of cancer screening at a cancer detection center will provide useful information for comprehensive cancer prevention. J Epidemiol, 1995; 5: 153-157. © 1995, Japan Epidemiological Association. All rights reserved.