The Austrian LEAD (Lung hEart sociAl boDy) Study

The LEAD (Lung, hEart, sociAl, boDy) study is a longitudinal, observational, population-based cohort study aimed at investigating the prevalence and incidence of health disorders and the relationships between social, environmental, developmental, and aging factors that influence respiratory, cardiac, and metabolic health and comorbidities throughout life.

A random sample (male and female, age 6 - 80 years) of Vienna inhabitants (urban cohort) and all the inhabitants of six villages from Lower Austria (rural cohort) were invited to participate. Participants are followed up every four years. A number of investigations and measurements are obtained in each of the four domains of the study (Lung, hEart, sociAl, boDy), as briefly discussed below.

Lung Domain: Lung function measures include pre- and post-bronchodilation spirometry and static lung volumes, effort-independent measures of oscillatory resistance, and carbon monoxide lung diffusing capacity (DLCO). Measurements are obtained according to international recommendations, and reference values correspond to those of the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI). Smoking history and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) are recorded. History of respiratory diseases, allergies, and related medications from the individual and spouses, as well as respiratory symptoms, are collected using a questionnaire.

Heart Domain: Cardiovascular measurements include arterial blood pressure, automated electrocardiogram, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, and blood pressure measurements at both the upper and lower extremities. History of cardiovascular diseases and events, as well as related medications, are collected using a questionnaire.

Social Domain: Socioeconomic status (income, education, occupation) of the individual or parents/legal representative (if underage) is collected. To study the presence of neuropsychiatric diseases such as anxiety, depression, and impaired cognitive function, standardized questionnaires and test modules are used.

Body Domain: To determine the presence of diabetes and metabolic syndrome, we measure fasting glucose in peripheral venous blood, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass, fat-free mass, blood lipid profiles, and blood pressure. The presence of osteoporosis is determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. History of diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and osteoporosis, as well as related medications from the individual, are collected using a questionnaire.

Blood and urine samples are analyzed for routine clinical measurements and stored in a biobank for future investigations.

All measurements are performed at the LEAD study center of the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Health at the Otto Wagner Hospital in Vienna, Austria.

This health examination will be the first investigation in Austria providing information about the respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic health and relevant comorbidities in a longitudinal approach.

Inclusion criteria

• Male and Female,
• Age 6 - 80 years,
• Invitation by study invitation letter

Exclusion criteria

• Insufficient language skills
• pregnancy