Nurses’ Health Study (NHS)
The NHS is the first in a series of large prospective cohort studies aimed to investigate the risk factors for major chronic diseases. The sample consists of married registered nurses who were aged 30 to 55 in 1976, living in the 11 most populous states in the United States of America, and identified through their state nursing boards. NHS participants have been followed up every even year through questionnaires and other modes of data collection, including biological samples. Ninety percent of the original cohort still participates.
Study design
Cohort - occupational
Number of participants at first data collection
121,700 (participants)
Age at first data collection
30 - 55 years (participants)
Participant year of birth
Varied (participants)
Participant sex
Female
Representative sample at baseline?
No
Sample features
Country
Year of first data collection
1976
Primary Institutions
Harvard University
Links
Profile paper DOI
Funders
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Ongoing?
Yes
Data types collected
- Interview – face-to-face
- Physical or biological assessment (e.g. blood, saliva, gait, grip strength, anthropometry)
- Self-report questionnaire – paper or computer assisted
- None
- None
- None
Engagement
Keywords
Consortia and dataset groups
