Chronic disease research in Europe and the need for integrated population cohorts

Abstract

The burden of chronic diseases in Europe is sure to increase in coming decades, due primarily to an aging European population. This will place an enormous burden on national health budgets that are already constrained and highlights the urgent need to identify cost-effective and evidence-based public health policies and interventions aimed at preventing chronic diseases that are suitable for the European population. Europe boasts are strong collection of prospective population cohorts, including at least 2.5 million individuals in over 40 cohorts with biological samples. These cohorts need to be viewed as an essential European research infrastructure that provide our best opportunity to identify strategies to reduce chronic disease mortality and morbidity, The true value of these cohorts will also only come through integration, enhanced collaboration and extensive genetic and phenotypic characterization