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An overview of the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study–Cardiovascular Disease Subcohort (GBCS-CVD): a platform for multidisciplinary collaboration

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 24, pages 139–150 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

The Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study (GBCS, n=30 519, age ⩾50 years) was established to examine the effects of genetic and environmental influences on health problems and chronic disease development. Guangzhou is undergoing massive economic development, but from a baseline that had remained unchanged for millennia. The Cardiovascular Disease Subcohort (GBCS-CVD) consists of 2000 participants who have been intensively phenotyped including a range of surrogate markers of vascular disease, including carotid artery intima-media thickness, cerebral artery stenoses, arterial stiffness, ankle-to-brachial blood pressure index and albuminuria, as well as coagulatory and inflammatory markers. Plasma and leukocytes are stored in liquid nitrogen for future studies. Preliminary demographic data show the female volunteers are younger than the male ones, but present with greater levels of adiposity including central obesity (31 vs 16%). Women had more body fat (33 vs 24%) and associated levels of adipokines. Despite this, body mass index and hip circumferences were similar, which contrasts with Caucasian populations. Men had more physician-diagnosed vascular disease (6.1 vs 2.5%), hypertension (42 vs 34%) and hyperglycaemia (36.6 vs 29.6%) than the women, but were less insulin resistant. In men, smoking (40 vs 2%) and drinking alcohol (67 vs 50%) was more common and they also had lower energy expenditures. The genotype distributions of the 15 typed single nucleotide polymorphisms were all in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. This article describes the rationale and methodology for the study. Given the comprehensive characterization of demographic and psychosocial determinants and biochemistry, the study provides a unique platform for multidisciplinary collaboration in a highly dynamic setting.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by an NSFC/RGC grant (30518001/CO301070202 and HKU720/05). The main cohort study was funded by The University of Hong Kong Foundation for Education and Science, Hong Kong; Guangzhou Public Health Bureau, and Guangzhou Science and Technology Committee, Guangzhou, China; and The University of Birmingham, UK. The Guangzhou Cohort Study-Cardiovascular Disease Subcohort (GBCS-CVD) investigators include: Guangzhou No. 12 Hospital: Jie Ming Lin, Bin Liu, Xiao Jun Yue, Chao Qiang Jiang (Co-PI); The University of Hong Kong: Tai Hing Lam (Co-PI); The Chinese University of Hong Kong: Brian Tomlinson, Ka Sing Wong; The University of Birmingham: Bernard MY Cheung, Shahrad Taheri, Paramjit Gill, Greg YH Lip, Kar Keung Cheng, G Neil Thomas (Co-PI).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangzhou Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment Centre, Guangzhou No. 12 Hospital, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China

    C Q Jiang, J M Lin, B Liu & X J Yue

  2. Department of Community Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China

    T H Lam

  3. Public Health, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK

    K K Cheng & G N Thomas

  4. Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China

    B Tomlinson & K S Wong

  5. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK

    B M Y Cheung

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  1. C Q Jiang
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Correspondence to G N Thomas.

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Jiang, C., Lam, T., Lin, J. et al. An overview of the Guangzhou Biobank Cohort Study–Cardiovascular Disease Subcohort (GBCS-CVD): a platform for multidisciplinary collaboration. J Hum Hypertens 24, 139–150 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2009.52

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