Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center (CMERC) cohort: study protocol and results of the first 3 years of enrollment

Abstract

Although the etiologies of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are widely understood, the goal of finding a globally effective solution for preventing CVD is unrealistic. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a community-based prospective study on the prevention and management of CVD in Korean adults. This study was designed to recruit 8,000 healthy adults over the course of 5 years. The baseline assessment includes a wide range of established CVD risk factors, including demographic characteristics, medical history, health behaviors, psychological conditions, body size and composition, blood pressure, the augmentation index, carotid ultrasonography, an electrocardiogram, and biochemical indicators, as well as some novel factors, such as social network characteristics, exposure to environmental pollutants, inflammatory markers, hemostatic markers, and immunosenescence markers. Annual telephone interviews and follow-up health examinations at 5-year intervals after the baseline assessment are planned to collect information on changes in health status and its determinants. Additionally, indirect follow-up using secondary data sources will be conducted to obtain information on health services utilization and death. So far, more than 6,000 adults have been enrolled during the first three and a half years, and almost all participants have been tracked by annual telephone follow-up surveys. The data have been uploaded to iCReaT, the clinical research information management system of the Korea National Institute of Health.

Associations between age and dyslipidemia are differed by education level: The Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center (CMERC) cohort

“…The study participants consisted of female, communitydwelling, capital residents of Republic of Korea, who were enrolled in the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center (CMERC) cohort. Briefly, the CMERC study aimed to identify novel risk factors and to investigate distribution and effects of known cardiac and metabolic diseases risk factors, ultimately to develop improved cardiovascular disease prediction tools for the general Korean population [15]. Using validated questionnaire, the trained interviewee collected detailed information on SES, health behaviors, disease history, nutrition, and psychosocial characteristics.…”

“…Using validated questionnaire, the trained interviewee collected detailed information on SES, health behaviors, disease history, nutrition, and psychosocial characteristics. Adhering to standardized protocols, anthropometry and blood and urinal profiles were also assayed to identify high-risk individuals who will merit from earlier intervention [15]. The exact details of the CMERC study has been published elsewhere [15].…”

Effects of cigarette smoking on blood lipids in Korean men: Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center cohort

“…Participants from the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center (CMERC) cohort provided the sample population for this study [13]. The participants were aged between 30 and 64 years old and were free from cancer, myocardial infarction, cerebral stroke, and heart failure.…”

Effect of Inflammatory Status on the Association Between Cardiovascular Health and Cognitive Function: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…The CMERC study enrolled participants meeting the following criteria: (1) aged 30 to 64 years, (2) having an urban residence in Seoul or nearby, (3) able to articulate their own opinions, (4) no history of overt cardiovascular diseases (lifetime), or malignant cancer (within the previous 2 years), (5) no concurrent enrollment in other clinical trials, and (6) not pregnant at baseline. Details of the study are described elsewhere [13]. Cognitive function at age 50 years or older (N = 2,663) was evaluated with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), which was conducted on the entire cohort.…”