The COVID 19 pandemic - risk factors, severity, and the consequences of nationwide control measures on public health

In this project, we want to study the clinical effect of the COVID19 pandemic, as well as the consequences of national infection control measures at various levels in close collaboration with Trøndelag county municipality, Frosta municipality, Trondheim municipality and FHI. The largest population-based, prospective health survey in Norway, the HUNT study, has already been conducted four times in Trøndelag in the period 1984-2019. Based on the latest HUNT 4 study (2017-2019), with 60% attendance in Frosta municipality, and 54% among all invited, we have an excellent base of health data and biological markers collected just before the SAR-CoV2 virus was detected in Norway to study both the biological, economic and social consequences of the pandemic and the effect of different degrees of lockdown. We will build on an already established collaboration with the public health service at county and municipal level. We will study i) general health and well-being ii) short and long-term effects of COVID19, iii) total and cause-specific mortality and possible changes in the development of other diseases, iv) significance for mental health and effects of socio-economic positioning, v) whether we can demonstrate special consequences for young people and the elderly, vi) a clinical survey of infected people in the population and a follow-up of vaccination response and possible special side effects based on the same cohort. The study started on 1.9.2021, 5,000 have so far been included with an attendance of 63% of those invited