Health workers cohort study: methods and study design.

Edgar Denova-Gutiérrez, Yvonne N Flores, Katia Gallegos-Carrillo, Paula Ramírez-Palacios, Berenice Rivera-Paredez, Paloma Muñoz-Aguirre, Rafael Velázquez-Cruz, Leticia Torres-Ibarra, Joacim Meneses-León, Pablo Méndez-Hernández, Rubí Hernández-López, Eduardo Salazar-Martínez, Juan O Talavera, Juan Tamayo, Susana Castañón, Ignacio Osuna-Ramírez, Leith León-Maldonado, Mario Flores, Nayeli Macías, Daniela Antúnez, Gerardo Huitrón-Bravo, Jorge Salmerón

To examine different health outcomes that are associated with specific lifestyle and genetic factors. From March 2004 to April 2006, a sample of employees from three different health and academic institutions, as well as their family members, were enrolled in the study after providing informed consent. At baseline and follow-up (2010-2013), participants completed a self-administered questionnaire, a physical examination, and provided blood samples. A total of 10 729 participants aged 6 to 94 years were recruited at baseline. Of these, 70% were females, and 50% were from the Mexican Social Security Institute. Nearly 42% of the adults in the sample were overweight, while 20% were obese. Our study can offer new insights into disease mechanisms and prevention through the analysis of risk factor information in a large sample of Mexicans.