Finnish Mobile Clinic Follow-up Survey (AU)

The purpose of the Finnish Mobile Clinic follow-up stage, the so-called Finnish Mobile Clinic Follow-up Survey, carried out 1973-1976, was to investigate prevalence, incidence, determinants and changes in the determinants of certain national diseases and to serve the research work related to health. Additionally, the purpose was to study the significance of screening and early detection of diseases. The study objects were coronary artery disease, hypertension and some other cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, disorders of lipid metabolism, diseases of kidney and urinary tract, thyroid gland diseases, pulmonary tuberculosis and other lung diseases, anemia and polycythemia. As it was the case with the Finnish Mobile Clinic Health Examination Survey (FMC), the variety of diseases of interest has diversified substantially. Every third of those who participated in the Mobile Clinic Health Examination Survey was invited to the follow-up survey which means 24 833 persons in 12 study areas (Knekt et al. 2017).

The survey included a health examination and, when needed, a re-examination which involved a clinical examination. The data consists of a basic questionnaire, interviews (a dietary interview, a basic coronary interview and several supplementary disease specific interviews), and results of physical (anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and pulse, resting ECG and miniature chest X-ray) and biochemical (blood and urine) measurements.  Additionally, the data contains a biological sample bank of the miniature X-ray images, ECG strips and frozen  serum and plasma samples. Information from the principal health registries has been linked to the data since the beginning of the survey. 

The Finnish Mobile Clinic Follow-up Survey was the second stage in a population survey series which also includes the FMC, the Mini Finland Survey and the Health 2000 and Health 2011 Surveys.

Personnel of the Finnish Mobile Clinic