DDCH - sporedata/researchdesigneR GitHub Wiki

General description

The Danish Diet, Cancer and Health (DDCH) cohort is a large-scale, prospective epidemiological study designed to investigate the links between diet, lifestyle factors, and the risk of developing cancer and other chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease. The study is one of the most significant resources for understanding how diet and lifestyle impact cancer incidence and overall health in Denmark.

Initiated in 1993, the cohort includes over 57,000 participants (approximately 29,000 women and 28,000 men) aged between 50 and 64 years at the time of recruitment. Participants were recruited from the Copenhagen and Aarhus areas, representing both urban and rural populations, and all participants were free of cancer at the time of recruitment.

The DDCH cohort is an invaluable resource for understanding the complex relationships between diet, lifestyle, and cancer risk. Its extensive data collection, coupled with its linkage to national registries, makes it a powerful tool for both national and international research on cancer prevention and other chronic diseases. Findings from this cohort have already contributed significantly to public health guidelines and dietary recommendations, particularly regarding cancer prevention.

Data Categories

1. Dietary Intake: Participants were required to complete detailed food frequency questionnaires (FFQs), which covered various dietary habits over the past year. The FFQs allowed researchers to estimate nutrient intake, food groups, and dietary patterns.
2. Lifestyle Information: Along with dietary information, participants provided data on lifestyle factors such as:
   • Smoking status.
   • Alcohol consumption.
   • Physical activity levels.
   • Socioeconomic factors (education, occupation).
3. Anthropometric Measurements: Body weight, height, waist circumference, and other physical measures were recorded to assess obesity and body composition.
4. Biological Samples: Blood samples were collected for genetic and biomarker analyses, enabling molecular epidemiological research and gene-environment interaction studies.

Limitations

1. Self-Reported Dietary Data: As with many large cohorts, the reliance on self-reported food frequency questionnaires introduces the potential for recall bias and misreporting.
2. Changing Diets: Dietary habits may change over time, and without repeated dietary assessments, it may be challenging to account for these changes fully.

Related publications

• Flavonoid intake is associated with lower mortality in the Danish Diet Cancer and Health Cohort
• Determinants related to gender differences in general practice utilization: Danish Diet, Cancer and Health Cohort
• Prediagnosis plasma concentrations of enterolactone and survival after colorectal cancer: the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health cohort
• Adherence to a Healthy Nordic Food Index Is Associated with a Lower Risk of Type-2 Diabetes--The Danish Diet, Cancer and Health Cohort Study
• Pre-diagnostic plasma enterolactone concentrations are associated with lower mortality among individuals with type 2 diabetes: a case-cohort study in the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health cohort

Data access

For more information on the Danish Diet, Cancer and Health cohort , visit https://www.cancer.dk/danish-cancer-institute/research-groups/diet-cancer-and-health/

• Download DDCH cohort