Maintaining The Health In Men Study (HIMS)
This project is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC).
The Health In Men Study (HIMS) is a large population-based study that arose from the Western Australian Trial of Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA). The AAA study began in 1996 and involved screening over 12,000 men between the ages of 65 and 83 years for abdominal aortic aneursym. Other data was also collected, such as height, weight, diet, physical activity, alcohol and tobacco use, and other lifestyle information.
HIMS is an ongoing study and continues to survey the men who participated in the original trial. Participants were last surveyed in 2001-04, in which 5,500 men completed a comprehensive medical questionnaire, and approximately 4,000 of these underwent an assessment of cognitive function and provided a blood sample. A further survey is planned for 2008-09.
HIMS uses the WA Data Linkage System. This database is one of the world's most comprehensive electronic health records systems. The Linked Database Project brings together records for all inpatient hospital admissions, all births, all registered cancers, all deaths, and all public sector mental health service contacts in the State since 1982. The capacity that the WA Data Linkage System offers this study into the health trajectories of individuals is unrivalled in the southern hemisphere.
HIMS constitutes a valuable resource that has already generated many important findings and has resulted in the publications of over 30 journal articles. Major findings to date include:
- a simple lifestyle score, based on answers to eight items covering smoking, alcohol, physical activity, height and weight, and consumption of fish, meat, salt and milk predicts all-cause mortality. Survival in older men without a history of cardiovascular disease can potentially be enhanced by promoting a healthy lifestyle
- increasing age, diabetes, and regular use of full-cream milk are associated with a 5-year risk of cognitive impairment in older men, whereas mild alcohol consumption and physical activity appear to have a protective effect on cognition
- education, physical activity and a diet low in saturated fat appear to decrease the risk of poor mental health outcomes after the age of 80 years
- low levels of free testosterone appear to be associated with a higher prevalence of depression, and poorer cognition
Research Staff
