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The Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (ATP) prospective cohort study was established in 2000 to investigate the causes of cancer and chronic disease. The cohort consists of almost 55 000 participants aged 35–69 years at the time of recruitment. From 2020 to 2022, ATP conducted a longitudinal substudy, the COVID-19 Antibody Testing (CAT) study, nested in this existing cohort, to understand the spread and impact of the SARS-CoV-2. In this cohort profile, we describe the CAT study design, recruitment and initial findings.
In this prospective cohort substudy, ~4000 participants completed online surveys and provided blood samples at a study centre every 4 months for 1 year, across four cities in Alberta, Canada. The study was launched on a rolling basis beginning in September 2020 and data collection was completed in May 2022. The surveys collected information on health and lifestyle factors, COVID-19 (testing, symptoms, vaccination, public health recommendations) and impacts of the pandemic (including economic, health services, mental health). Blood samples were tested for antinucleocapsid and antispike protein SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.
A total of 4102 participants consented and attended a study centre at baseline, and almost 90% of these completed the study. Overall, participants were aged 61±10 years, 60% female, 12% came from rural areas, 45% had at least a bachelor’s degree, 24% reported a household income 4 weeks). By the end of the study, 96% of participants had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Through investigating other outcomes, it was observed that participants under 50 years of age were more likely to be assessed to have mild or moderate-to-severe anxiety and depressive symptoms compared with older participants. In addition, approximately 15% of participants reported a moderate to major impact on their ability to meet financial obligations.
Serology results, together with health, lifestyle and sociodemographic data, and the continued follow-up of these participants as part of the broader ATP cohort study (planned through 2065), will provide opportunities to investigate the long-term sequelae of COVID-19 infection as well as the broader impacts of the pandemic on physical, mental and emotional health. Data are available to researchers on request through the ATP access process.
The Surrey Communication and Language in Education Study (SCALES) cohort was established to estimate prevalence, persistence and impact of developmental language disorders on cognition and mental health, using newly established international consensus diagnostic criteria.
A population sample of 7267 children aged 4–5 years (59% of eligible children), who started state-maintained school in Surrey, England in 2011–2012 for whom teacher-rated screening data on language, behaviour and early learning goals were available. A subsample of monolingual children enriched for language difficulties completed intensive assessments in year 1 (age 5–6, n=529), year 3 (age 7–8, n=499), year 6 (age 10–11, n=384) and year 8 (age 12–13, n=246). Screening data for 7013 children has been linked to the UK Department of Education National Pupil Database data on special educational needs provision and academic progress.
Language disorders are more prevalent than other neurodevelopmental conditions (such as autism) and more common in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage. Language is a highly stable trait. Language status at school entry is therefore strongly predictive of long-term education progress, the need for specialist support, general cognitive abilities and increased risk for poor mental health, through its effects on social and emotional development.
The SCALES cohort will leave compulsory education in 2025 and we are planning to track academic qualifications and post-18 destinations. SCALES data are publicly available via the UK Data Service: DOI: 10.5255/UKDA-SN-8967-1 and DOI:
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