PARASOL

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PARASOL stands for Prevention of And Risk fActorS for chronic diseases: an Observational study in North HoLland. It is a collaboration between the Hoorn Studies and P4O2 consortium.

The primary aims are: 

• To examine how environmental exposures influence the prevalence, 5-year incidence and progression of cardiometabolic and chronic respiratory disease in the general population
• To determine the mediation effect of lifestyle factors and ‘omics profiles (i.e., biological mechanisms) in these associations
• To detect biomarkers and treatable targets for early lung damage and cardiometabolic diseases

PARASOL is a prospective longitudinal cohort study. A total of 3000 persons aged 30-55 years old that live in the province of North Holland will be included into the cohort. Participants are recruited via the manucipal registries of Amsterdam and Hoorn.  Five years after the baseline visit we plan to have a followup visit. 

In a subgroup of 350 persons, aged 40-55 years old, additional measurements are performed. Half of that group is at high risk of developing respiratory disease, the other half is a sample of the general population. High risk is defined as having at least two of the following risk factors:

• Active smoking and/or secondhand smoke exposure
• High exposure to ambient air pollution (PM2.5 and NO2)
• Low SES
• Family history of lung cancer, COPD, asthma or pulmonary fibrosis -> first-degree relatives

The additional measurements in the subgroup are:

• A chest CT scan at baseline and at t=5 years
• Personal exposome measurements (6 home visits at baseline and at t=5 years)
  • Personal, indoor and outdoor air pollution exposure
  • Chemical exposures (wristband)
  • Physical activity (Garmin activity tracker)
• Optimal combined lifestyle intervention (CooL)
• (Additional study visit at t=1 year)

The PARASOL cohort also is a control group to compare findings in the other P4O2 cohorts (Sherlock COPD cohort, ILD cohort, COVID cohort). If you are interested in the cohort, please feel free to contact us.