EPIC Centres
GREECE
| Background | Follow-up | Scientists | Funding | Activities |
Hellenic Health Foundation
Athens, Greece
http://www.hhf-greece.gr/
http://www.nut.uoa.gr
Background
The Greek segment of the EPIC study started in 1994, after the successful implementation of a pilot study during 1991—1993. Recruitment of volunteers was completed in 1999. The EPIC-Greece cohort consists of 28 572 adults recruited from all over Greece and representing a broad range of sociodemographic factors.
Data collection was accomplished by means of an interview during a baseline examination in which the following information was recorded: medical and reproductive history, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, and habitual diet.
Data collection was accomplished by means of an interview during a baseline examination in which the following information was recorded: medical and reproductive history, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, and habitual diet.
Anthropometric data and blood pressure were measured, and blood samples were also collected.
| Males | Females | Number of participants | Percentage of EPIC cohort | |
| Greece | 11 953 | 16 619 | 28 572 | 5.48% |
Follow-up
The follow-up of study participants, initiated in January 1997, is still in progress and focuses on the update of information on lifestyle factors, including diet, and on the health status of the participants. Due to the lack of a national cancer registry and the country wide nature of EPIC-Greece, information is being collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires or telephone interviews. Reported diagnoses of interest are further ascertained through consultation of medical files in hospitals and clinics all over Greece or, in case of death, through the collection of death certificates from the regional death registries.
Scientists
Principal Investigator
Antonia Trichopoulou, MD, PhDVice-President, Hellenic Health Foundation, Athens, Greece
Co-Principal Investigators
Dimitrios Trichopoulos, MD, PhDPresident, Hellenic Health Foundation, Athens, Greece
Professor of Cancer Prevention and Professor of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, USA
Member of the Academy of Athens, Greece
Pagona Lagiou, MD, PhD
Professor of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, USA
Professor of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, USA
Database Manager
Pericles Karathanasis, BScKey people
Christina Bamia, PhDAssistant Professor of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
Michalis Katsoulis, MSc
Biostatistician, Hellenic Health Foundation
Biostatistician, Hellenic Health Foundation
Funding
Financial support is provided by:- Hellenic Health Foundation
- Hellenic Ministry of Health
- Hellenic Ministry of Education
- Stavros Niarchos Foundation
- Lilian Boudouris Foundation
- J. F. Costopoulos Foundation
- Samourkas Foundation
Research Activities
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Coordination of the EPIC - Elderly project, a study within the EPIC project, which focuses on the potential role of nutrition on the health and longevity of Europeans aged 60 years or older
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Coordination of the EPIC-Elderly NAH project, which aims at assessing healthy ageing of elderly Europeans and identifying associated biological and environmental predictors
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Coordination of the HECTOR project, which aims at enhancing knowledge on eating out in Europe and its determinants
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Coordination of the CHANCES project, which aims at combining and integrating current studies in order to produce evidence on ageing-related health characteristics and determinants in Europe.