EPIC Centres

GREECE

  Background | Follow-up | Scientists | Funding  | Activities 

Hellenic Health Foundation
Athens, Greece
http://www.hhf-greece.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.

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, PhD
President, Hellenic Health Foundation, Athens, Greece

Key people

Anna Karakatsani , MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Pulmonary Medicine School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece

Database Manager

Paschalis Thriskos, PhD
Hellenic Health Foundation, Athens, Greece

Other key people

Elisavet Valanou, PhD
Hellenic Health Foundation, Athens, Greece
Georgia Martimianaki, MSc
Hellenic Health Foundation, Athens, Greece
Eleni Peppa
Hellenic Health Foundation, Athens, Greece
Sophia Brebou
Hellenic Health Foundation, Athens, Greece

Funding

Financial support is provided by:
  • Bodossaki Foundation
  • Hellenic Health Foundation
  • Stavros Niarchos Foundation
  • Lilian Boudouris Foundation
  • J. F. Costopoulos Foundation
  • Hellenic Ministry of Health
  • Hellenic Ministry of Education
  • Samourkas Foundation

Research Activities

  • Studies on Mediterranean diet and longevity

  • Dietary assessment methodologies

  • Food intake and food patterns

  • The role of dietary behaviour for risk of chronic diseases

  • Studies on hip fracture

  • Studies on Self-rated health

  • Studies on biomarkers, genetic factors and chronic diseases