The La Palma Health Services Management, part of the Canary Islands’ Health Department, held a training session at the University Hospital of La Palma to discuss the progress of the IMPaCT Cohort study. This initiative is a key part of epidemiological research in primary care and precision medicine, involving health authorities from Tenerife, La Palma, and Gran Canaria.
Led by IMPaCT Cohort coordinator Pilar Chantada and project implementer Náyade Jorge, the session aimed to inform health professionals about the project. Under the slogan “If we call you, come!”, the IMPaCT Cohort seeks to better understand how people live and the factors that may influence their health over time.
Across Spain, 51 nodes have been established in all 17 autonomous communities, inviting individuals from specific health areas to participate randomly. In the Canary Islands, three nodes are in place—one each in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and La Palma, with the latter encompassing health zones in Los Llanos de Aridane, Santa Cruz de La Palma, Breña Alta, Breña Baja, El Paso, Tazacorte, and Tijarafe.
The aim is to randomly select 4,000 participants over the 20-year study period. As of September this year, 570 individuals have joined the study, with 57.19% being women and 42.81% men. Among the age groups, 24.54% of women are aged between 40 and 50 years, while 31.15% of men fall within the 50 to 60-year range.
The programme is supported in the Canary Islands by the Canary Islands Health Service, the Canary Islands Health Research Institute, and the IISC/FIISC, in collaboration with the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Ministry of Health, and various health institutions, including the Carlos III Health Institute and the European Union.
The research aims to involve 200,000 individuals aged 16 to 79 nationally, who will be tracked over two decades to gather insights into the social, environmental, biological, and lifestyle factors affecting the onset and progression of major health issues.
Participants will voluntarily provide data through epidemiological questionnaires about their lifestyle habits and environmental exposure, along with undergoing various health assessments, including audiometric tests and spirometry. They will also contribute to a European project called “More than a Million Genomes.”
The information gathered will help researchers study participants’ health evolution and identify links between various diseases and health issues. Ultimately, the study aims to enhance disease prevention, healthcare, and the development of public health policies, offering a comprehensive understanding of how various factors relate to disease occurrence over time.
