Cohort Description

South Asia Biobank is a high quality data (lifestyle, environmental, sociodemographic, clinical and biochemical) and biological sample resource among ~ 100,000 South Asian participants in the UK (comprising LOLIPOP 2003 and 2020 cohorts). Participants will be followed up over many years for health outcomes to help gain critical knowledge in tackling health challenges affecting South Asians.

1. LOLIPOP 2003, is a longitudinal cohort of participants, aged 35-75 years recruited from 58 general practices in West London (2003-8).

2. LOLIPOP 2020, is a cohort of participants, aged 18-85 years recruited from general practice lists across the UK (2020- 2024).

Data collection comprises; i. questionnaires (health and lifestyle); ii. physical measurements (height, weight, waist-hip circumference, body fat composition, blood pressure, 12-lead ECG, spirometry, retinal imaging, physical activity monitoring); and iii. wide-range of biological samples (blood, urine) for molecular assays. Participants are consented for long-term follow-up.

All data has been captured electronically, anonymised, and stored on a secure cloud-based database. Data collection has been standardised across UK, including training, protocols and equipment.

Informed consent has been obtained at recruitment from all participants giving permission for: i. linkage to medical and other health-related records; ii. genomic studies including whole genome sequencing; iii. recall by genotype/phenotype. Follow-up will identify people with incident cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and other critical illnesses.