The Trøndelag Health Study

[3] The study was primarily set up to address arterial hypertension, diabetes, screening of tuberculosis, and quality of life.

Participants may be linked in families and followed up longitudinally between the surveys and in several national health- and other registers covering the total population.

The HUNT Study includes data from questionnaires, interviews, clinical measurements and biological samples (blood and urine).

The questionnaires include questions on socioeconomic conditions, health related behaviours, symptoms, illnesses and diseases.

[4] From the beginning, in 1984, every citizen of Nord-Trøndelag being 20 years or older, have been invited to all the surveys for adults, and more than 80% of the population (n=130,000) participated.

The population of Nord-Trøndelag was both homogeneous and stable, making it especially suited for epidemiological genetic research.

HUNT contains a unique database of personal and family medical histories collected during four surveys (HUNT1, 2, 3 and 4) since 1984.

[6] This Norwegian prize was established in 1981, as a tribute to the former Director of Health, Karl Evang, for his social-medical pioneering efforts.

The aim of the award is to stimulate interest and the work for public health and social conditions that have significance for this.

Data from the HUNT Study are available to institutions and researchers who satisfy some basic requirements, whether affiliated in Norway or abroad.

HUNT1 was the first health survey in Nord-Trøndelag, and consisted mainly of four sub-studies whose subjects were blood pressure, diabetes, lung disease and quality of life.

At present (2020), the database is a valuable resource for epidemiological research, both in cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and quality of life.

In addition genetic material, blood, urine (adults) and cell samples from the mouth (youth) were stored in the HUNT biobank.

Biological material collected in HUNT3 includes blood (5 glasses for different uses) and urine test (fresh or frozen) for adults, and cheek swabs for the youth.

As the COVID-19 situation in Norway is mostly under control and the infection rate is low,[13] some of the projects have later (June 2020–) permitted personal attendance.

Information about tobacco, alcohol habits, physical activity, health, stages of puberty and literacy problems have also been gathered.

Data collection included self-reported questionnaires, structured interviews, clinical measurements and, in Young-HUNT3, buccal smears.

People in the Young-HUNT survey had height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, and spirometry measured.