Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
Since 1986, all residents of the northern Swedish county of Västerbotten who turned 40, 50 and/or 60 years are invited to visit the primary care centre. The aim of this study is to use the extensive data collected as part of this ongoing health survey in order to address questions related to lifestyle and genetic risk factors in cardiometabolic disease (e.g., heart disease and type 2 diabetes).
Who can participate?
Adults aged 40, 50, and 60 from Västerbotten
What does the study involve?
Patients complete a detailed lifestyle questionnaire and provide blood samples. The blood sample is used to measure blood glucose (sugar), blood lipids (fat, cholesterol), and genetic information. The data is used to find out whether lifestyle/environmental factors affect the link between genetics and human character (e.g. body mass index, blood glucose).
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants receive some health-related advice as part of the background study, which may be perceived as a benefit. Risks include those related to the handling of sensitive personal data. There are no significant treatment-related risks.
Where is the study run from?
Primary Care Center in Västerbotten (Sweden)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 1986 to December 2025
Who is funding the study?
1. Swedish Research Council (Sweden)
2. Novo Nordisk (Denmark)
3. Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation (Sweden)
4. Swedish Diabetes Association (Sweden)
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Paul Franks
Trial website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
Dnr 2015-197-32M
Study information
Scientific title
Gene-lifestyle interactions and complex traits involved in elevated disease risk: a prospective population-based cohort study
Acronym
GLACIER
Study hypothesis
The GLACIER study was designed to estimate the separate and combined effects of genetic and lifestyle factors in cardiometabolic disease.
Ethics approval
The Regional Ethics Review Board in Umeå, 21/10/2010, ref: Dnr 2015-197-32M
Study design
Prospective population-based cohort study
Primary study design
Observational
Secondary study design
Cohort study
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Other
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes
Intervention
All participants are asked to complete a questionnaire concerning various lifestyle factors including diet and to donate a blood sample for for later research purposes. The blood samples were then measured for blood glucose, blood lipid profiles (e.g. triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol) and for genetic information. Body weight and height were measured. The study is focused on whether lifestyle/environmental factors influence the association between genetics and human character (e.g. body mass index, blood glucose).
Intervention type
Mixed
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Many hundreds of exposure and outcome variables including type 2 diabetes, myocardial infarction and stroke, derived from health survey data every 10 years
Secondary outcome measures
Secondary outcomes include quantitative cardiometabolic traits (e.g., blood pressure, glucose, and lipids, and anthropometry) usually assessed in the year of each participant’s 40, 50, 60th or 70th birthdays. Examinations occurred between 1986 and 2007
Overall trial start date
01/01/1986
Overall trial end date
31/12/2025
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
All individuals 40, 50, and 60 years of age in the county’s population are invited
Participant type
Mixed
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
100000
Participant exclusion criteria
People who are not able to consent or not living in the county
Recruitment start date
01/01/1986
Recruitment end date
01/01/2020
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Sweden
Trial participating centre
Primary Care Center in Västerbotten
SE-901 87
Sponsor information
Organisation
Umeå University Department of Biobank Research
Sponsor details
Department of Biobank Research
Umeå University
Umeå
SE-901 87
Sweden
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
Vetenskapsrådet
Alternative name(s)
Swedish Research Council, VR
Funding Body Type
government organisation
Funding Body Subtype
National government
Location
Sweden
Funder name
Novo Nordisk
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
For-profit companies (industry)
Location
Denmark
Funder name
Hjärt-Lungfonden
Alternative name(s)
Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
Trusts, charities, foundations (both public and private)
Location
Sweden
Funder name
Diabetesförbundet
Alternative name(s)
Swedish Diabetes Foundation, Svenska Diabetesförbundet
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
Associations and societies (private and public)
Location
Sweden
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Papers are published on an ongoing basis in peer reviewed biomedical journals.
IPD sharing statement
The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study is not expected to be made available due to consenting constraints.
Intention to publish date
31/12/2026
Participant level data
Not expected to be available
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list