The Norwegian Institute of Public Health Twin Panel: a description of the sample and program of research

Twin Res. 2002 Oct;5(5):415-23. doi: 10.1375/136905202320906192.

Abstract

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo has an ongoing program of twin research using population-based cohorts of twins. The current database includes information on twins identified through the Medical Birth Registry of Norway and born from 1967-1979, altogether 15,370 twins. This is a longitudinal study with a cohort sequential design whereby new cohorts are recruited into the study at 5-6 year intervals. Sub-samples of these twins have participated in questionnaire studies and clinical assessment sub-projects. These projects include national and international collaborations. Our primary areas of interest include mental health and psychological well-being, obesity, asthma and allergies, health behaviors and health perceptions, comorbidity, and perinatal influences on health outcomes. This paper provides a brief overview of the data, sample, and the various research projects associated with this twin program of research.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Asthma / epidemiology
  • Asthma / genetics
  • Cohort Studies*
  • Comorbidity
  • Diseases in Twins / epidemiology
  • Diseases in Twins / genetics
  • Environment
  • Female
  • Gene Library
  • Health Behavior
  • Humans
  • Hypersensitivity / epidemiology
  • Hypersensitivity / genetics
  • Male
  • Mental Health
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Norway / epidemiology
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Obesity / genetics
  • Personality
  • Population Surveillance / methods
  • Public Health*
  • Registries* / statistics & numerical data
  • Research Design*
  • Twin Studies as Topic / methods*
  • Twin Studies as Topic / statistics & numerical data
  • Twins* / genetics
  • Twins* / psychology
  • Twins* / statistics & numerical data