Follow-up

The Iwate Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization (IMM) will ask participants about their health over an extended period of time.

This is known as a “follow-up.” The follow-up will be conducted based on consent forms obtained from participants at the baseline survey.

Schedule for the TMM Community-based Cohort Study

1. Questionnaire Survey by mail

An annual survey will ask participants about topics such as their lifestyle, treatment status, illness, and mental health.

2. Incidence of cancer, stroke, and heart disease

The IMM is reviewing medical charts at hospitals to identify the incidence of cancer, stroke, and heart disease in conjunction with the Iwate Cancer Registry and the Iwate Stroke Registry and the Northern Iwate Heart Disease Registry Consortium.

3. Death, migration, health check-up data, medical claims data, data of the long-term care insurance, and causes of death

Information about death, migration, health check-up data, medical claims data, data of the long-term care insurance, and causes of death of participants will be collected with the cooperation of municipal governments and relevant organizations.

 A follow-up system will be instituted with municipal governments and relevant organizations. In addition, the system under which the study is conducted will be made more reliable and secure to protect personal information.

4.Third health survey

Since 2021, the third health survey with blood and urine collection has been conducted.

Results of the third health survey will be compared to those of the baseline survey and the second health survey. Those findings should help to improve health and prevent illness in the future.

Participants in the second health survey will be informed about the third health survey in order of the year of their participation.