A Prospective Study of Diet and Cancer in Members of the American Association of Retired Persons
Condition: Death; Cancer
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      This is a prospective cohort study of diet and cancer in relation to several major cancers,
      especially breast, prostate, and colorectal malignancies. The cohort comprises 50-69 year-old
      male and female members of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). In 1995-6 we
      mailed baseline questionnaires to 3.5 million AARP members. Over 615,000 AARP members
      responded, with over 540,000 providing adequate dietary data. Preliminary analysis indicates
      that the cohort, both men and women, has the desired wide distributions of percent calories
      from fat, dietary fiber, fruits and vegetables, and red meat. Approximately 330,000 of the
      initial respondents (with satisfactory data) returned a second questionnaire containing
      questions on exposures not assessed in the first instrument.

      In terms of field activities, the study has been relatively quiescent over the past year. At
      the end of the five-year period of observation, we will mail to cohort members a brief
      follow-up questionnaire primarily targeted to endpoint assessment. (Because of cancer
      registry lag-time, we do not expect to mail this questionnaire until early 2002.) Follow-up
      will be largely passive, through established state registries. The initial questionnaire
      mailing will be to AARP members in those states selected on the basis of having registries
      with adequate coverage and quality. We will use active follow-up, with record retrieval, for
      the small percentage of cohort members who have moved out of the cancer registry areas. The
      buccal cell collection pilot study has been completed; over 50% of those pilot study
      partricipants who had completed the baseline and risk factor questionnaires returned buccal
      cell speciments. Preliminary data from a pilot study of the end point ascertainment procedure
      indicate that cohort incidence rates for major cancers, determined from registry data, are
      consistent with SEER rates.
    

Detailed description: 
      This is a prospective cohort study to investigate relations among diet, lifestyle and cancer.
      The cohort comprises 50-69 year-old male and female members of the American Association of
      Retired Persons (AARP). In 1995-96 we mailed baseline questionnaires to 3.5 million AARP
      members. Over 615,000 AARP members responded, with over 540,000 providing adequate dietary
      data. Preliminary analysis indicates that the cohort, both men and women, has the desired
      wide distributions of percent calories from fat, dietary fiber, fruits and vegetables, and
      red meat. Approximately 330,000 of the initial respondents (with satisfactory data) returned
      a second questionnaire containing questions on exposures not assessed in the first
      instrument. In 2004-2006 we mailed a follow-up questionnaire to all living participants to
      assess non-cancer endpoints and lifestyle factors.
    

Observational model: Cohort
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Members of the AARP (formally the American Association of Retired Persons), aged 50-71
        years, and who resided in one of six states (California, Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
        North Carolina, and Louisiana) or in two metropolitan areas (Atlanta, Georgia and Detroit,
        Michigan) in 1995-1996.
      
Keywords: Cancer; Mortality; Lifestyle Factors; Nutrition; Prospective Cohort; Natural History