health in men study (HIMS)
HIMS is the name given to the follow-up phase of a study that started as an NHMRC-funded trial of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The key original outcomes of interest were the long-term impact of screening on mortality from AAAs and all other causes, and morbidity from AAA and other manifestations of cardiovascular disease. In addition to an on-going interest in cardiovascular disease, the aims of HIMS were broadened to improve our understanding of all aspects of healthy ageing in older men. Although we know a lot about predictors of health and illness in middle age, we know surprisingly little about these things in advanced years. The outcomes we are interested in include common acute medical problems such as heart attacks or stroke, chronic debilitating problems such as dementia or heart failure and psycho-social challenges of ageing such as depression and isolation.
In 1995 we used the electoral roll to identify 49,801 men aged 65-83 years who were resident in the Perth metropolitan area. Of these, 41,000 men were entered into the trial of screening for AAAs and randomised into two groups: (20,500 for invitation to screening and 20,500 for no intervention). The remaining 8,801 were not randomised. Of the 20,500 randomised to screening, 1,148 died before invitations were sent, 19,352 were invited and 12,203 attended between 1996 and 1999. These men provided informed consent to participate in a study of screening for AAA and, with the completion of a detailed questionnaire, of outcomes associated with cardiovascular disease.
In 2000 we received further funding from NHMRC for a proposal to recall the survivors of the 12,203 men who had originally attended. Between 2001 and 2004, 4,262 men attended follow-up (including two men who were invited to participate in the original study, but were unable attend) with a further 1,322 returning completed questionnaires.
This project is funded by an ARC/NHMRC Ageing Well, Ageing Productively Strategic Award.
 |
 |
|