Implementation
The research is based on existing data from cross-sectional and longitudinal health examination surveys (HESs) and administrative registers. HESs conducted in Finland are based on random sample of the general population. They provide abundant information about risk factors and health of the population.
Repeated, cross-sectional national health examination surveys (HESs) have been conducted in the general Finnish population since 1972 (FINRISK Study). In 2010-2012, a migrant health examination survey (MAAMU) was conducted. Information from repeated measurements on the same persons is available from longitudinal studies: East-West study, Mini-Finland and Health2000/2011 re-examinations. These HESs form the bases for the study.
All these HESs include comprehensive information about health and functioning, diseases, health behaviours and living conditions. All cross-sectional HESs, except the Mini-Finland survey have been linked to following administrative registers using the personal identity code.
Administrative registers used are:
- Care Register for Health Care: dates and diagnoses of hospitalizations.
- Causes of death register: date and cause of death.
- Socio-demographic data from Statistics Finland.
- Registers of the Social Insurance Institution: entitlement to specifically reimbursed medications due to specific chronic conditions, sickness absence, work disability pensions, purchase of medicines by ATC code.
- Cancer Register: date and diagnoses of cancers.
- Digital and population data services agency: geographical information (geographical coordinates) of the place of residence and the examination centres.
For the projections, the required information about population structure and estimated demographic changes will be obtained from Statistics Finland.
