The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) aims to contribute with relevant information regarding the development and progression of clinical and subclinical chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. The investigators enrolled 15,105 civil servants from predefined universities or research institutes. Baseline assessment (2008-2010) included detailed interviews and measurements to assess social and biological determinants of health, as well as various clinical and subclinical conditions related to diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and mental health. For the ascertainment of incident events, annual telephone surveillance is being conducted since 2009, and a second visit of interviews and exams is under way (2012-2014). Long-term biological sample storage is provided for sera, plasma, urine and DNA. Baseline data is available for analyses, and collaboration via specific research proposals directed to study investigators is welcome.

This multicenter study is chaired by a steering committee, made up of the coordinators and vice-coordinators of each of the six centers. No individual center coordinates the study. The six institutions listed in the contact details all sponsor the study.

Full details of the study have been published in the American Journal of Epidemiology (http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/01/10/aje.kwr294.full) and the International Journal of Epidemiology (http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2014/02/27/ije.dyu027.abstract), as listed in the References here. Both articles are available in full text for download without charge.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age 35-74 years,
• active or retired employees of the institutions involved or affiliated institutions.

Exclusion Criteria:

• current or recent (<4 months prior to the first interview) pregnancy,
• intention to quit work at the institution in the near future,
• severe cognitive or communication impairment and,
• if retired, residence outside each center´s corresponding metropolitan area.

ELSA-Brasil is a cohort study of 15,105 civil servants. All active or retired employees of the six institutions (and, in a few instances, also of related educational or health institutions), of both sexes, and with ages between 35 and 74 years, were eligible for the study. The six institutions, located in three different Brazilian regions, are: the Federal Universities of Bahia, Espirito Santo, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul, the University of Sao Paulo and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation.