The Amsterdam cohort study (ACS) on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and AIDS among homosexual men started in 1984 and was expanded to include drug users in 1985. From the beginning, ACS has applied a multidisciplinary approach encompassing epidemiology, social science, virology, immunology and clinical medicine. Through 2002, over 550 articles and 62 PhD theses were completed based on the data of the ACS. Thus far, about 2100 homosexual men and 1630 (injecting) drug users have been included of whom approximately 600 homosexual men and 550 drug users are still in active follow-up. Every 3-6 months participants complete a standardized questionnaire to obtain medical, epidemiological and social scientific information and undergo a medical examination. In addition, they have blood drawn for virological and immunological tests and storage.
Over time, questionnaires have changed and adapted to newer insights, which necessitates extensive data management before long-term trends can be studied. This especially hampers epidemiological and social scientific studies and has unfortunately lead to a relative underutilisation of the unique data set of the ACS. Recently, it has been made possible for Dutch researchers outside the ACS to submit requests for data and samples obtained within the ACS framework. However, because of the complex nature of the collected information over a long period of follow-up, laborious data management is necessary before such a request can be fulfilled. |
