Information was collected through a questionnaire and a Health Screening Center (HSC) visit for a comprehensive health examination. Information was collected on health and lifestyle as well as job history which was linked to the MATGENE job-exposure matrices to establish cumulative indices of exposure to various occupational hazards. The Jenkins Sleepiness Scale was also used to assess sleep.
Information about alcohol use was collected with the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test) and the AUDIT-C (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption). Cognitive function is assessed through the Mini Mental State Exam, trail making A and B, Weschler's coding subtest, finger tapping test, free and cued recall (RL/RI16), word fluency, formal lexical and semantic evocation, Grober and Busckhe's memory tests. For participants aged 45+ years, an evaluation of specific health problems of the elderly is also performed and comprises the Instumental Activities of Daily Living and the French Handicaps-Disabilities-Impairments Survey, assessing the ability to use new technologies.
At the health screening center, weight, height, blood pressure, vision, auditory measures were taken and an electrocardiogram and spirometry were carried out. Physical functioning is assessed through gait speed, balance and hand grip tests.
The participants are also followed-up passively for social and work-related events and health data by regular linkage with the national databases. Vital status and cause of death is obtained from the National Death Registry.