The Singapore Multi-Ethnic Cohort Phase 2 (MEC2) is an extension of MEC1 to expand the cohorts by recruiting new participants. Participants were recruited from household visitations at government housing estates (which >80% of Singaporeans reside) in different parts of Singapore.
Collection of data from the participants was conducted through a face-to-face home interview and a physical examination at a health screening center. Face-to-face interviews included questionnaires related to health, exercise, use of tobacco and quality of life. The health screening session included anthropometric measurements, skinfold thickness, blood pressure measurement, hand grip strength measurement, foot nerve function test, blood sample, urine sample and electrocardiogram measurements.
Data has been collected at 2 different timepoints: baseline, 2013 to 2016 (MEC2_T1); and first follow-up, 2016 to 2021 (MEC2_T2).
MEC2_T1 (2013 to 2016)
From 2013 to 2016, 34,900 participants, aged 21 and above, were recruited mostly from public housing estates.
Detailed cohort information has been described in Whitton C et al. Longitudinal Associations of Marital, Parenting, and Employment Transitions with Weight Gain in a Multi-Ethnic Asian Population Aged 21 Years and Above. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jul 31;18(15):8115.
| Study | IRB Approval Ref No | Principal Investigator | Documents |
| MEC2_T1 | NUS 13-257 | Prof Rob van Dam | Participant information sheet and consent form |
MEC2_T2 (2016 to 2021)
The participants who were previously surveyed in MEC2_T1 were invited for this follow-up study. The follow-up phase began in 2017 and ended in 2021 and a total of 19,700 participants were revisited.
| Study | IRB Approval Ref No | Principal Investigator | Documents |
| MEC2_T2 | NUS LB-16-125 | Dr Xueling Sim | Participant information sheet Consent form |
Summary of data collected across all timepoints of MEC2
The data dictionaries, data collection forms (DCF), and categories of variables collected across all timepoints of MEC2 are provided below.
| Source | Section | MEC2_T1 Data Dictionary Main DCF |
MEC2_T2 Data Dictionary Main DCF Online Survey and telephone interview |
| Questionnaire | Socio-demographic characteristics | x | x |
| Questionnaire | Smoking | x | x |
| Questionnaire | Alcohol consumption | x | |
| Questionnaire | Dietary assessment | x | |
| Questionnaire | Physical activity | x | x |
| Questionnaire | Personal medical history | x | x |
| Questionnaire | Family medical history | x | |
| Questionnaire | Medical information | x | x |
| Questionnaire | Mental health | x | |
| Questionnaire | Wellbeing | x | x |
| Questionnaire | Sleep | x | |
| Physical examination | Anthropometry | x | x |
| Physical examination | Cardiovascular health | x | x |
| Physical examination | Peripheral neuropathy | x | x |
| Physical examination | Physical fitness | x | |
| Physical examination | Urine biomarkers | x | x |
| Physical examination | Blood biomarkers (core) | x | x |
| Physical examination | Blood biomarkers (others) | x | x |
Updated on 26 March 2024