Recruited men at age 50 underwent the first screening examination programme, including a medical questionnaire and interview, blood and urine sampling, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements, intravenous glucose tolerance test, ECG recording, chest X-ray and pure tone audiometry.

Participants in the first survey were invited to the second investigation.  The investigation procedures were similar to that at age 50. All participants underwent a minor investigation including measurement of fasting blood glucose, blood pressure, weight and height, and a medical questionnaire. A subpopulation was selected for further investigations including an intravenous glucose tolerance test.

All participants in the first investigation were invited to the third investigation.  Procedures were carried out in a manner as similar as possible to the two previous surveys, including a medical questionnaire, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements, blood samples, peroral glucose tolerance test, hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure registration.

The fourth investigation was performed when the men were aged 77 years. The first 44 participants only performed a mini mental test. Plasma/serum samples were available from 788 individuals and urine samples from 706 individuals.

Men who had participated at age 70 or 77 were invited to participate in the fifth investigation.  This investigation included anthropometrical measurements, blood pressure, blood and urine sampling, bone density measurement by whole body DXA, ECG examination, tests of cognitive function, questionnaire, and a dietary investigation.

All men who were alive and had participated in any of the previous investigations were invited to participate in this investigation.  Of these, 296 men were examined at the hospital and 58 were visited at home by a nurse. In addition, 29 men completed only a questionnaire.  The ULSAM-88 investigation includes anthropometrical measurements, blood pressure, blood sampling, bone density measurement by whole body DXA, oral glucose tolerance test, ECG examination, tests of cognitive function, gait and balance. A detailed questionnaire regarding medical and social issues, dietary intake, activities in daily life and rating scales on depressive symptoms was administered. In addition to this, update of dementia and diabetes diagnoses have been performed as well as Cancer, Hospital discharge and Cause-of-death registries have been updated.

To this examination 245 men have been invited. Totally 147 men (60%) participated in the investigation. Of these, 23 men were examined at the hospital and 102 were visited at home by a nurse. In addition, 22 men completed only a questionnaire. Anthropometrical measurements, blood pressure, blood sampling, bone density measurement by whole body DXA, ECG examination, tests of cognitive function, gait and balance. A detailed questionnaire regarding medical and social issues, dietary intake, activities in daily life and rating scales on depressive symptoms was administered. In addition to this, update of Cancer, Hospital discharge and Cause-of-death registries have been performed.