Hoorn-studies
Hoorn study cohort and Diabetes Care System West-Friesland cohort
The Hoorn Studies and the Hoorn Diabetes Care System cohort were designed to investigate the development and progression of diabetes. The main aim of our research group is to identify novel risk factors for development of diabetes, its progression and complications in people with Type-2 Diabetes (T2D), and evaluate T2D care. This will aid to develop new, more targeted and more effective therapies that will improve care and reduce the burden of T2D the (psychological, social, biological and genetic) factors that influence the development and progression of diabetes.
Infrastructure and User Services
The Hoorn studies cohorts is a population-based prospective cohort study in the West-Friesland region of The Netherlands. The rationale and design are described elsewhere [Rutters 2017). This longitudinal cohort was set up in three waves of data collection and designed to study the prevalence and determinants of impaired glucose tolerance in the general Dutch population. In 1989, baseline measurements for the first wave were completed in 2480 people, who returned for follow-up measurements in 1990-1996-2000-2005-2007. In 2006, baseline measurements for the second wave were performed and included 2807 participants, who returned for follow-up measurements in 2010-2015-2021. In total, we currently have 5287 participants. In 2024, a third wave of ±3000 participants was started (currently >250 participants included). At all follow up visits, we have data on general demographics, diabetes-related markers from blood, biomarkers, physical tests, lifestyle behaviors, genetics, questionnaires and biobanking.
The Hoorn Diabetes Care System cohort consists of persons with T2D in primary care from the West-Friesland region of the Netherlands. Enrolment in the cohort started in 1998 and this prospective dynamic cohort currently holds >17.000 persons with T2D. Clinical measures were collected annually, including microvascular complications (kidney function, screening feet and eyes) and cardiovascular disease (by self-report, electrocardiography and electronic patient records). In subgroups of the cohort, biobanking and additional measurements were performed to obtain information on, for example, lifestyle, depression and genomics. Finally, the cohort is linked to national cancer and all-cause mortality registers. In 2024, we started a biobanking effort of 2500 participants (currently >600 participants included), collecting general demographics, diabetes-related markers from blood, physical tests, lifestyle behaviors, genetics, questionnaires, blood, urine and feces
Examples/description of the type of research
Both cohorts facilitate epidemiological research, as well as represent real world data. Possible research included identification of subgroups with distinct development of hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure and retinopathy, and their predictors; validation of a prediction model for personalized retinopathy screening; the assessment of the role of genetics in development and treatment of T2D, providing options for personalized medicine. Also the assessment of biomarkers and prediction models for T2D and complications, the role of psychology in the T2D as well as the role of the exposome.
How to access the infrastructure ?
The older collaborations were mostly set up with physical access of the data (50%), however for larger consortia and more recent projects our data is accessible via virtual access and remote access (50%). There is also the possibility of access to our diabetes research facility, where measurements and interview can take place with participants of the study cohorts is physical if needed, always in close collaboration with the cohorts’ PI’s.