OBJECTIVES, DESIGN AND RECRUITMENT OF A FAMILIAL AND LONGITUDINAL COHORT FOR STUDYING GENE-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS IN THE FIELD OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK - THE STANISLAS COHORT

The main objective of the Stanislas cohort is to study the role and th e contribution of genetic and environmental factors to cardiovascular status. We plan:a) to describe the degree of association of a large nu mber of cardiovascular risk indicators with cardiovascular endpoints, b) to evaluate the contribution of genetic and that of environmental f actors to this association, c) to follow the evolution of these risk i ndicators during a period of at least ten years, d) to search for the determinants influencing this evolution. The principal variables studi ed are: a) blood pressure, cardiac mass, and wall thickness of carotid and femoral arteries, b) obesity and fat mass, c) indicators of lipid metabolism, d) genetic polymorphisms of several cardiovascular risk c andidate genes, e) food, tobacco and alcohol consumption, f) consumpti on of drugs and anti-oxidant vitamins. Between September 1993 and Augu st 1995, 1006 families consisting of the two biological parents with a t least two children were recruited totalling 4295 individuals. This c ohort will be followed up until 2004. There will be two health examina tions five and ten years after the initial examination. A bank of bloo d samples (serum and plasma) in liquid nitrogen and DNA (-80 degrees C ) has been established.