The Metropolit 1953 Danish Male Birth Cohort

The original aim of the Metropolit cohort was to follow men from early school age to early mid-life, to explore intergenerational mobility and differential life-chances. In 2001 the cohort was revitalised in order to study the development of chronic diseases in a life course perspective.
The Metropolit cohort comprises all 11532 men born in 1953 in the Copenhagen Metropolitan area who were living in Denmark in 1968. These men have been followed repeatedly since their birth. In brief, we have data from birth certificates (1953) which include information on birth dimensions and father’s occupation. In 1965, 7,987 participated in a school-based survey and completed tests of cognition and enquiries regarding leisure-time activities and social aspirations. Data from draft board examinations at around age 19 have been collected for 11,108 of the men. These data include cognitive testing and health information. In 2004, 6,292 of the men responded to a mailed questionnaire with questions on health and lifestyle. In 2009-2010, 2486 of 7799 eligible cohort members participated in the Copenhagen Ageing Midlife Biobank (CAMB) study which comprised questionnaires, cognitive and physical testing as well as blood sampling. Further, around 300 men selected on their young adult and current cognitive performance have been through a neurophysiological examination including EEG, MRI, fMRI and sleep tests. The cohort has also been followed in nation-wide social and health registers for social life, medical and mental hospital diagnosis as well as cause of death from 1969 to 2016.

Last Update 21/09/2017

Types General population-based cohort
Participant Types No diagnosis
Countries Denmark
Genders Male
Sample sizes 10,000 to 19,999
Ages 0 to 9|10 to 19|20 to 39|40 to 59
Brain related measures Cognitive function|Mental health|Neurological
Funtional rating Individual physiological|Individual psychological
Anthropometric Blood pressure|Height|Hip circumference|Waist circumference|Weight
Physical Reproductive|Respiratory
Biological samples Blood
Genotyping Gene screening
Brain imaging Electroencephalogram (EEG)|Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Brain banking
Lifestyle Alcohol|Dietary habits|Physical activity|Smoking
Socio-economic Education|Family circumstances|Housing and accommodation|Income and finances|Informal support|Marital status|Occupation and employment|Unpaid care
Health service utilisation Formal health and social care service utilisation including private care
Institute names Research Center for Prevention and Health, Rigshospitalet- Glostrup University of Copenhagen
Current Sample Sizes 10,000 to 19,999

age at recruitment > 0
last updated
recruitment period 2001
estimated current sample size number value
cohort acronym Metropolit cohort
start date 2001
pi Professor Merete Osler
website www.metropolit.dk; www.camb.ku.dk; https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/35/3/541/735517/Cohort-Profile-The-Metropolit-1953-Danish-Male
contact details Research Center for Prevention and Health
Center for Health
Metropolitan Region
Rigshospitalet -Glostrup (University of Copenhagen)
Ndr. Ringvej 57, section 84/85
2600 Glostrup
abstract  The Metropolit cohort comprises all 11,532 men born in 1953 in the Copenhagen Metropolitan area who were living in Denmark in 1968. The aim is to explore intergenerational mobility and differential life-chances.
funders  Danish Heart Association, the Lundbeck foundation, the Danish Health Insurance Foundation, the Danish Pharmaceutical Fund, and Else and Mogens Wedell-Wedellsborgs Fund, Velux Foundation
contact email PI email: [email protected]
contact phone number 
estimated current sample size
sample sizes 11532