Guangdong Biobank Cohort (GDBC) study

The global rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) presents an urgent public health challenge, particularly in regions undergoing rapid economic and demographic transitions. Guangdong Province, China's most populous and economically advanced region, is experiencing a substantial and accelerating burden of NCDs. However, large-scale, population-based cohorts from this region remain scarce, limiting insights into region-specific disease determinants and prevention strategies. The Guangdong Biobank Cohort (GDBC) was established in 2017, enrolling 35,081 participants aged 40-84 years from urban and rural areas of Zhongshan City in the Pearl River Delta. At baseline, comprehensive data on 346 variables-including lifestyle, environmental exposures, medical histories, physical examinations, and laboratory profiles-were collected via a cloud-based member management information system (MMIS), alongside blood and saliva samples for biobanking. A sub-cohort underwent genome-wide genotyping (N = 2,530) and oral microbiome profiling via 16 S rRNA sequencing (N = 2,049). During dynamic follow-up, 44.2% (N = 15,499) completed Phase I resurvey with repeated measurements and updated biospecimens. Disease outcomes, including hypertension, diabetes, and cancer, were ascertained through active surveillance and regional registry linkage until December 2023. Baseline prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and cancer was 25.3%, 8.0%, and 3.6%, respectively. Over follow-up, 1,767 hypertension cases, 814 diabetes cases, and 558 cancers were recorded, yielding crude incidence rates of 1,804.6, 649.7, and 423.1 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. The GDBC provides a comprehensive, dynamically updated resource to dissect gene-microbiome-environment interactions and develop precision prevention strategies to inform public health policies.

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Publication Details

Journal
European Journal of Epidemiology
Published
2026-01-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-025-01320-y
Primary Topic
Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Guangdong Biobank Cohort (GDBC) study

Dan‐Hua Li, Yan Du, Jing-Wen Huang, Xueyin Chen et al.
European Journal of Epidemiology
Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
article

Guangdong Biobank Cohort (GDBC) study

Dan‐Hua Li, Yan Du, Jing-Wen Huang, Xueyin Chen, Fu-gui Li, Ruo-Wen Xiao, Ziyi Wu, Ying Liao, Xuejun Liang, Xiaohui Zheng, Jiyun Zhan, Wen-Qiong Xue, Yu Xia, Ting Zhou, Yan-Xia Wu, Lian-jing Cao, Wen-Bin Zhang, Lu-Ting Luo, Jian-Hua Wu, Xia-Ting Tong, Shao-Dan Zhang, Hua Diao, Biao-Hua Wu, Zhi-Yang Zhao, Fang Wang, Si-Qi Dong, Cao-Li Tang, Qiao-Ling Wang, Pei-Fen Zhang, Tong-Min Wang, Lei-Lei Yuan, Lin Ma, Yong-Qiao He, Yue-Ze Zhao, Xi-Zhao Li, Qiao-Yun Liu, Mei-Qi Zheng, Ming-Fang Ji, Wen-Li Zhang, Ye-Zhu Hu, Yi-Jing Jia, Chang-Mi Deng, Cheng-Tao Jiang, Ling-Ling Tang, Bi-Sen Deng, Chang-ling Huang, Da-Wei Yang, Wei-Hua Jia, Yi Zhao
article en

Abstract

The global rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) presents an urgent public health challenge, particularly in regions undergoing rapid economic and demographic transitions. Guangdong Province, China's most populous and economically advanced region, is experiencing a substantial and accelerating burden of NCDs. However, large-scale, population-based cohorts from this region remain scarce, limiting insights into region-specific disease determinants and prevention strategies. The Guangdong Biobank Cohort (GDBC) was established in 2017, enrolling 35,081 participants aged 40-84 years from urban and rural areas of Zhongshan City in the Pearl River Delta. At baseline, comprehensive data on 346 variables-including lifestyle, environmental exposures, medical histories, physical examinations, and laboratory profiles-were collected via a cloud-based member management information system (MMIS), alongside blood and saliva samples for biobanking. A sub-cohort underwent genome-wide genotyping (N = 2,530) and oral microbiome profiling via 16 S rRNA sequencing (N = 2,049). During dynamic follow-up, 44.2% (N = 15,499) completed Phase I resurvey with repeated measurements and updated biospecimens. Disease outcomes, including hypertension, diabetes, and cancer, were ascertained through active surveillance and regional registry linkage until December 2023. Baseline prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and cancer was 25.3%, 8.0%, and 3.6%, respectively. Over follow-up, 1,767 hypertension cases, 814 diabetes cases, and 558 cancers were recorded, yielding crude incidence rates of 1,804.6, 649.7, and 423.1 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. The GDBC provides a comprehensive, dynamically updated resource to dissect gene-microbiome-environment interactions and develop precision prevention strategies to inform public health policies.

European Journal of EpidemiologyVol. 41(2)
Qingdao University (CN), Fujian Medical University (CN), Army Medical University (CN), Sun Yat-sen University (CN), Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CN), First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (CN), Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital (CN), First People's Hospital of Foshan (CN), Guangzhou Women and Children Medical Center (CN), Zhongshan People's Hospital (CN), Shenzhen Chronic Disease Prevention Center (CN), Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University (CN), Xinqiao Hospital (CN), Community Health Center (US), Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (CN), Fujian Provincial Cancer Hospital (CN), Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CN), Guangzhou Medical University Cancer Hospital (CN), First Hospital of Lanzhou University (CN), Shenzhen Nanshan Center for Chronic Disease Control (CN), Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Lanzhou University (CN), Guangzhou Medical University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Sun Yat-sen University, National Science and Technology Major Project, National Key Research and Development Program of China, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center
Sustainable cities and communities
Openalex Percentile: Top 91%
Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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