The Million Women Study

We actively involve participants and the public in various stages of our research, using focus groups when designing questionnaires and including lay members in our Steering Committees. The views of members of the public are invited via our study websites and free-phone lines. To date, we have responded to over 6000 enquiries.

We regularly update our websites, summarizing our results in lay language, and frequently discuss our work at public meetings. We will continue to disseminate our findings widely, since our research is aimed primarily at providing reliable information on modifiable factors that directly affect the health of the public.

The Million Women Study is the world largest longitudinal study of the health of women, worldwide. In 1996-2001 1.36 million UK women were recruited through NHS breast screening centres. In the eligible age range, 50-64 years, they include ~25% of all UK women; and, in the recruitment areas, ~50% of the general population and ~70% of those screened. To join the study women completed a questionnaire about a range of social, demographic, personal and lifestyle factors and gave signed consent for follow-up.



The average age was 56 then, and is now 65. Two postal re-surveys have been done collecting information on a wide range of variables. Some 10 million women-years of follow-up have already accrued, with more than 40,000 deaths and 2 million admissions to NHS hospitals. Over 99% of the survivors are still being routinely followed for cause-specific deaths and hospital admissions. Further details and study questionnaires are at www.millionwomenstudy.org.



The Million Women Study was set up to provide reliable information about the major causes of disability and death among women. The long-term plan is to continue following the cohort until the average age is 80 at least, focusing on changing public health issues as women age. Initial emphasis was on hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer, because one third used HRT and breast cancer is the most common cause of death among women in their 50s.



For women in their 60s, however, heart disease and stroke become the leading causes of disability and death. Obesity, alcohol, smoking, physical inactivity, body size at various ages, and other factors have been linked to the risk of women developing vascular disease. There is concern about the rapid rise in obesity, not only for vascular disease, but for many non-fatal conditions. There is also concern about the effects of the rising consumption alcohol and there is a need to characterize the net effect of moderate intakes on the health of women.



In the next 5 years, and beyond, the Million Women Study can provide uniquely reliable evidence about the changing role of obesity, drinking, smoking and many other factors in vascular and other major diseases among women.