A Nurse Cohort Study in Xiamen, China

Objectives: To establish a cohort of about 10,000 registered nurses (aged 20 or over) in Xiamen, China; to describe the baseline major risk factors; to analyze their interrelationships; and to examine the risks of incidence and progression of major chronic diseases, such as hypertension, stroke, CKD and cancers, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality by different levels of the risk factors after about 5 years follow-up.

Design: A prospective cohort study. Setting: 7 public hospitals in Xiamen, China. Participants: About 10,000 registered nurses (aged 20 or over) who work in public hospitals in Xiamen, China.

Main outcome: Incidences of common chronic diseases, such as CVD, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and cancers; progression of these diseases; all cause and specific-cause mortality.

Hypothesis: Relative risks of major risk factors. Results of the study should have strong impact on prevention and control of these diseases and promoting nurses'health in the local population.

Inclusion criteria

• Registered nurses of public hospitals in Xiamen, China;
• aged 20 years or over;
• Working in the public hospitals for at least 1 year;
• Signed the informed consent and agreed to participate in the study;
• Assuming not moved out of Xiamen for at least 5 years;

Exclusion criteria

• who are unambulatory;
• who are receiving treatment modalities, which , if omitted, may result in immediate life threatening risk such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy for cancer, or dialysis for renal failure.