Rotinas de organizacao de exames e entrevistas no centro de investigacao ELSA-Brasil

Abstract

The ELSA-Brasil (Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto -Brazilian Longitudinal Study for Adult Health) is a prospective cohort study with extensive assessments throughout time. This article describes the routine of clinical tests and interviews performed with participants and the structuring of the Research Center physical space and teams. The ELSA-Brasil assumes that participants will be present at the Research Center to have the tests and interviews performed, according to standard protocols developed by this study. Considering the multiplicity of activities involved, each with specifi c needs for standardization, several predetermined orders of clinical tests and interviews were created. This ensured a high standard of quality in data collection without harm to participants' comfort. Each participant was previously assigned to a specifi c sequence of clinical tests and interviews with a predefi ned arrival time, mean length of stay of fi ve to six hours and departure time.

Afericoes e exames clinicos realizados nos participantes do ELSA-Brasil

“…All ELSA-Brasil procedures are detailed elsewhere. 7 Furthermore, the ELSA took an innovative approach by assessing ABI using an automated BP device successfully. Another novel approach was the proposed quantitative assessment for NAFLD, which is being validated using computed tomography as the gold standard.…”

“…Some assessments including anthropometric assessment, casual blood pressure (BP) measure, and ankle-brachial index (ABI) have established clinical application. 7,8,10,16,27,30 Although BP measure following postural change maneuver has an established clinical application, it has not been much applied in epidemiological studies. 2,21 Other assessments including pulse wave velocity (PWV), heart rate variability (HRV), and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) have no established clinical application but have been applied in cohort studies 9,19,30,31 and may be important predictors of cardiovascular outcomes.…”

Construcao do Estudo Longitudinal de Saude do Adulto (ELSA-Brasil)

“…The project's structure comprises six study sites, fi ve reading centers, 6 a central laboratory, 13 a biobank 17 and a data center. 12 The project is managed collectively and its governing body is the Research Steering Committee aided by assisting committees and an External Advisory Committee.…”

“…The study activities take place at local site facilities in especially designated areas. All six sites have conducted subject recruitment, 2 interviews, 10 medical assessments, 6,15 and biological sample collection, analysis, storage and transport. 13,17 They also follow up subjects according to the guidelines set forth by the Clinical Outcome Committee (COC).…”

“…12 The study sites developed standard procedures for performing complex assessment as well as provided training and certifi cation of their staff in testing and result reading. 6,10,15 The results of medical assessments and measurements including electrocardiograms, 18 echocardiography, retinography, pulse wave velocity, and abdominal and vascular ultrasound are coded and data is transferred to the ELSA-Brasil reading centers. There are seven biorepositories to ensure safe storage of biological samples (urine, serum, plasma and DNA) collected from subjects.…”