Melbourne Atopy Cohort Study (MACS)
The MACS is a single-centre study of children with a family history of allergic disease based in Melbourne, Australia. Established in 1990, MACS recruited 620 unborn infants (probands) and their family members (1,234 parents and 617 siblings). Expectant mothers were approached during antenatal care visits at the former Mercy Hospital for Women (East Melbourne) and other private consulting suites. Probands with a parent or older sibling with a history of allergic disease (asthma, eczema, allergic rhinitis, or severe food allergy) were included. All probands included in the MACS were born between 1990 and 1994.
Study design
Cohort - birth, Cohort - intergenerational
Number of participants at first data collection
620 (probands)
1,234 (parents)
617 (siblings)
Age at first data collection
Birth (probands)
Varied (parents)
Varied (siblings)
Participant year of birth
1990 - 1994 (probands)
Varied (parents)
Varied (siblings)
Participant sex
All
Representative sample at baseline?
No
Sample features
Country
Year of first data collection
1990
Primary Institutions
University of Melbourne
Profile paper DOI
Funders
Asthma Australia
Asthma Foundation of Victoria
Centre for Air Quality and Health Research and Evaluation (CAR)
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Nestlé Australia
Ongoing?
Yes
Data types collected
- Interview – face-to-face
- Interview – phone
- Physical environment assessment (e.g. pollution, mould)
- Physical or biological assessment (e.g. blood, saliva, gait, grip strength, anthropometry)
- Secondary data
- None
- None
- Geographic, spatial & environmental data
- Healthcare data
- Medical birth registry
Engagement
Keywords
