The Greenland population health survey 2018 – methods of a prospective study of risk factors for lifestyle related diseases and social determinants of health amongst Inuit

• Published in: International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Main Authors: Peter Bjerregaard, Christina Viskum Lytken Larsen, Ingelise Olesen, Charlotte Brandstrup Ottendahl, Vibeke Backer, Ninna Senftleber, Marie Mathilde Bjerg Christensen, Trine Jul Larsen, Stine Byberg, Torben Hansen, Marit Eika Jørgensen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2022
• Subjects: Inuit; Greenland; social determinants; cardiometabolic diseases; airway diseases; risk factors; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Circumpolar Health; GRIP; International Journal of Circumpolar Health; inuit
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2022.2090067; https://doaj.org/article/31546b8c8e1c4baa8ee349d9d0da5c77

Since 1993, regular population health surveys in Greenland have supported and monitored the public health strategy of Greenland and have monitored cardiometabolic and lung diseases. The most recent of these surveys included 2539 persons aged 15+ from 20 communities spread over the whole country. The survey instruments included personal interviews, self-administered questionnaires, blood sampling, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, ECG, oral glucose test, pulmonary function, hand grip strength and chair stand test. Blood samples were analysed for glucose, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin, incretin hormones, cholesterol, kidney function, fatty acids in erythrocyte membranes and mercury, urine for albumin-creatinine ratio, and aliquots were stored at −80°C for future use. Data were furthermore collected for studies of the gut microbiome and diabetes complications. Survey participants were followed up with register data. The potential of the study is to contribute to the continued monitoring of risk factors and health conditions as part of Greenland’s public health strategy and to study the epidemiology of cardiometabolic diseases and other chronic diseases and behavioural risk factors. The next population health survey is planned for 2024. The emphasis of the article is on the methods of the study and results will be presented in other publications.