Challenges and benefits of integrating diverse sampling strategies in the observation of cardiovascular risk factors (ORISCAV-LUX 2) study

Authors

Ala'A Alkerwi, Luxembourg Institute of Health
Jessica Pastore, Luxembourg Institute of Health
Nicolas Sauvageot, Luxembourg Institute of Health
Gwenaëlle Le Coroller, Luxembourg Institute of Health
Valéry Bocquet, Luxembourg Institute of Health
Marylène D'Incau, Luxembourg Institute of Health
Gloria Aguayo, Luxembourg Institute of Health
Brice Appenzeller, Luxembourg Institute of Health
Dritan Bejko, Luxembourg Institute of Health
Torsten Bohn, Luxembourg Institute of Health
Laurent Malisoux, Luxembourg Institute of Health
Sophie Couffignal, Luxembourg Institute of Health
Stephanie Noppe, Centre Hospitalier of Luxembourg
Charles Delagardelle, Centre Hospitalier of Luxembourg
Jean Beissel, Centre Hospitalier of Luxembourg
Anna Chioti, Ministry of Health
Saverio Stranges, Luxembourg Institute of HealthFollow
Jean Claude Schmit, Ministry of Health

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-4-2019

Journal

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Volume

19

Issue

1

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.1186/s12874-019-0669-0

Abstract

Background: It is challenging to manage data collection as planned and creation of opportunities to adapt during the course of enrolment may be needed. This paper aims to summarize the different sampling strategies adopted in the second wave of Observation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors (ORISCAV-LUX, 2016-17), with a focus on population coverage and sample representativeness. Methods: Data from the first nationwide cross-sectional, population-based ORISCAV-LUX survey, 2007-08 and from the newly complementary sample recruited via different pathways, nine years later were analysed. First, we compare the socio-demographic characteristics and health profiles between baseline participants and non-participants to the second wave. Then, we describe the distribution of subjects across different strategy-specific samples and performed a comparison of the overall ORISCAV-LUX2 sample to the national population according to stratification criteria. Results: For the baseline sample (1209 subjects), the participants (660) were younger than the non-participants (549), with a significant difference in average ages (44 vs 45.8 years; P = 0.019). There was a significant difference in terms of education level (P < 0.0001), 218 (33%) participants having university qualification vs. 95 (18%) non-participants. The participants seemed having better health perception (p < 0.0001); 455 (70.3%) self-reported good or very good health perception compared to 312 (58.2%) non-participants. The prevalence of obesity (P < 0.0001), hypertension (P < 0.0001), diabetes (P = 0.007), and mean values of related biomarkers were significantly higher among the non-participants. The overall sample (1558 participants) was mainly composed of randomly selected subjects, including 660 from the baseline sample and 455 from other health examination survey sample and 269 from civil registry sample (constituting in total 88.8%), against only 174 volunteers (11.2%), with significantly different characteristics and health status. The ORISCAV-LUX2 sample was representative of national population for geographical district, but not for sex and age; the younger (25-34 years) and older (65-79 years) being underrepresented, whereas middle-aged adults being over-represented, with significant sex-specific difference (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: This study represents a careful first-stage analysis of the ORISCAV-LUX2 sample, based on available information on participants and non-participants. The ORISCAV-LUX datasets represents a relevant tool for epidemiological research and a basis for health monitoring and evidence-based prevention of cardiometabolic risk in Luxembourg.