The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) aims to collect a high quality nationally representative sample of Chinese residents ages 45 and older to serve the needs of scientific research on the elderly.

Overview

Acronym
CHARLS
Investigators
Prof Yaohui Zhao
National School of Development, Peking University
Prof John Strauss
University of Southern California
Prof Gonghuan Yang
Institute of Basic Medical Sciences
Contacts
Prof Yaohui Zhao
National School of Development, Peking University

General Design

Study design
Cohort
Start - End Year
2011 -
General Information on Follow Up (profile, frequency)
CHARLS respondents are followed every 2 years, using a face-to-face computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI). Physical measurements are conducted at every follow-up and blood-sample collection is done once in every two follow-up cycles.
Recruitment Target
  • Individuals
  • Other : Spouses
Number of Participants
17,708
Number of Participants with Biological Samples
12,122

Access

Availability of data and biosamples

Possible Access to Data
Possible Access to Biosamples
Other

Marker Papers

Zhao Y, Hu Y, Smith JP, Strauss J, Yang G. Cohort Profile: The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). International Journal of Epidemiology. 2014;43(1):61-68.

PUBMED 23243115

Timeline

Population

CHARLS - Population
Nationally representative sample of Chinese residents ages 45 and older and their spouses.

Selection Criteria

Minimum age
45
Countries
  • China
Territory
All counties with the exception of Tibet

Sources of Recruitment

General Population
  • Selected sample
Supplementary Information
Samples were chosen through multistage probability sampling. The sample was stratified by region and within region by urban districts or rural counties and per capita statistics on gross domestic product (GDP). Because no pre-existing sampling frame of residents existed, mapping and listing operations within each village-level unit was conducted to obtain the sampling frame for CHARLS. If more than one household was found within each dwelling unit, a household with a member 45 years of age or older was randomly selected. If the chosen household had more than one age-eligible member, one of them was randomly selected and both that person and his or her spouse were interviewed.

Sample Size

Number of Participants
17,708
Number of Participants with Biological Samples
12,122
Supplementary information about number of participants
10 069 were main respondents randomly selected after the randomization procedures for the survey, and 7639 were spouses of main respondents.

Data Collection Events

# Name Data sources Data sources - Biosamples Start End
0 CHARLS - Baseline
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
  • Biosamples
  • Blood
2011 (June) 2012 (March)
1 CHARLS - Follow-up 1
  • Questionnaires
  • Physical measures
2013 (June) 2014 (March)

Participating Studies

Acronym Name Study design Countries

Harmonization Initiatives Included

Acronym Name

Datasets

Name Data Collection Events Variables

Areas of Information Collected

Socio-demographic and economic characteristics
Death
Lifestyle and behaviours
Physical measures and assessments
Birth, pregnancy and reproductive health history
Laboratory measures
Perception of health, quality of life, development and functional limitations
Cognition, personality and psychological measures and assessments
Diseases
Life events, life plans, beliefs and values
Symptoms and signs
Preschool, school and work life
Medication and supplements
Social environment and relationships
Non-pharmacological interventions
Physical environment
Health and community care services utilization
Administrative information

Variables Content Summary

Areas of Information Collected
No Areas of Information Collected
No Scales Collected
Areas of Information Collected per per Population and Data Collection Event
No Areas of Information Collected
No Scales Collected

Networks

Acronym Name Harmonization Initiatives Individual Studies
Last Update: 2023-05-03T11:03:55.690