RPS Brazilian Birth Cohorts Consortium (Ribeirão Preto, Pelotas and São Luís): history, objectives and methods

Abstract

This paper describes the history, objectives and methods used by the nine Brazilian cohorts of the RPS Brazilian Birth Cohorts Consortium (Ribeirão Preto, Pelotas and São Luís) Common thematic axes are identified and the objectives, baseline periods, follow-up stages and representativity of the population studied are presented. The Consortium includes three birth cohorts from Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State (1978/1979, 1994 and 2010), four from Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State (1982, 1993, 2004 and 2015), and two from São Luís, Maranhão State (1997 and 2010). The cohorts cover three regions of Brazil, from three distinct states, with marked socioeconomic, cultural and infrastructure differences. The cohorts were started at birth, except for the most recent one in each municipality, where mothers were recruited during pregnancy. The instruments for data collection have been refined in order to approach different exposures during the early phases of life and their long-term influence on the health-disease process. The investigators of the nine cohorts carried out perinatal studies and later studied human capital, mental health, nutrition and precursor signs of noncommunicable diseases. A total of 17,636 liveborns were recruited in Ribeirão Preto, 19,669 in Pelotas, and 7,659 in São Luís. In the studies starting during pregnancy, 1,400 pregnant women were interviewed in Ribeirão Preto, 3,199 in Pelotas, and 1,447 in São Luís. Different strategies were employed to reduce losses to follow-up. This research network allows the analysis of the incidence of diseases and the establishment of possible causal relations that might explain the health outcomes of these populations in order to contribute to the development of governmental actions and health policies more consistent with reality.

Associações entre duração de sono e índices de massa gorda, muscular e corporal em adolescentes de São Luís, Maranhão, Brasil

“…No entanto, para aumentar o poder da amostra e minimizar o efeito de futuras perdas, optou-se por incluir outros adolescentes nascidos em São Luís no ano de 1997, que não haviam sido sorteados inicialmente para participar da coorte. Assim, 1.828 novos adolescentes foram incluídos na pesquisa, totalizando a participação de 2.515 adolescentes 20,21 .…”

The consumption of culinary preparations and ultra-processed food is associated with handgrip strength in teenagers

“…This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 and is nested in the 1997/98 São Luís Birth Cohort, carried out in the capital of Maranhão State, in Northeastern Brazil [14].…”

“…That stage of the study encompassed 2,515 teenagers. However, it only gathered data from 2,433 participants, since 82 of them had no HGS information [14].…”

Cohort profile: maternal and child health and parenting practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ceará, Brazil: birth cohort study (Iracema-COVID)

“…The first studies of both cities started as investigations of perinatal health and later transformed into cohort studies. 7 In 2015, the Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition in Acre, Brazil (MINA-Brazil) study was launched, which is the first population-based birth cohort followed in the Brazilian Amazon. 8 …”

“…In the cities of Ribeirão Preto (1978/1979, 1994 and 2010), state of São Paulo, and São Luis (1997/98, 2010), state of Maranhão, five Brazilian birth cohorts are currently active. The first studies of both cities started as investigations of perinatal health and later transformed into cohort studies 7. In 2015, the Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition in Acre, Brazil (MINA-Brazil) study was launched, which is the first population-based birth cohort followed in the Brazilian Amazon 8…”