Malmö Preventive Project - MPP

Malmö Preventive Project is a cohort study that in 1974 invited all men from specific birth cohorts (1921-1949) and some years later began to invite women (born 1926-1949). The purpose was to map cardiovascular risk factors and alcohol abuse in the local population, and to offer individuals at risk an intervention program. At follow-up, DNA was used for analysis of genetic risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer.

When the project was completed in 1991, approximately 22,000 men and 11,000 women had participated. This represented about 70 percent of all invited. Recruitment and collection of data has previously been described in several references.

The baseline survey contained a questionnaire that primarily dealt with lifestyle and socio-economic factors. All participants left a blood sample and underwent a physical examination where blood pressure, height and weight were measured, and the lung function were examined. A number of laboratory parameters were analysed directly, and plasma and serum were saved in minus 20°C freezers.

After five to ten years, the surveys were repeated for about 6,100 individuals (mainly men), so-called 6-year re-examination.

At the beginning of the 2000s, everyone who participated in the baseline survey was invited to a re-examination. It included a shortened questionnaire and blood sampling. This time serum, plasma and DNA were saved. A total of more than 11,500 men and 6,500 women participated in the re-examination.