UK Biobank

Aims
The UK Biobank is a community-based cohort study comprised of 500,000 volunteers aged between 40-69 years in 2006-2010 from across the United Kingdom. Participants have undergone measures, provided blood, urine and saliva samples, detailed information about themselves and agreed to have their health followed. The study aims to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of serious and life-threatening illnesses including cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis, eye disorders, depression and forms of dementia.

Institution
UK Biobank

Geographic coverage - Nations
England, Scotland, Wales

Geographic coverage - Regions
Nationwide

Start date
2006

Catalogue record last updated
10/04/2024

Sample type
Cohort study (Biobank)

Sample details
Invitations to participate in the study were mailed to 9 million people aged 40-69 whose contact details were obtained from Nation Health Service central registers. Recruitment aimed for an equal proportion of men and women and a balanced numbers in 5 year bands between the ages of 40-69 years.

The sample is not representative of the general population on a variety of sociodemographic, physical, lifestyle and health-related characteristics, with evidence of a 'healthy volunteer' selection bias. However, the large sample size and heterogeneity of exposure measures allow for valid scientific inferences of associations between exposures and health outcomes that are generalizable to the wider population.

Sample size at recruitment
Approximately 500,000 individuals

Sample size at most recent sweep
158,000 (2020 - Mental Health Questionnaire)

Sex
All

Age at recruitment
40 years +

Cohort year of birth
1937-70