Cohort Profile: The Chongqing Longitudinal Twin Study (LoTiS)

We aim to define the relative contribution of genetic factors and the environment to early onset morbidity of infancy and to identify specific ‘biomarkers’ and critical time points from pregnancy onwards for emergence of differences in illness in infancy-associated phenotypes, by establishing a longitudinal twin pregnancy birth cohort.

The Chongqing Longitudinal Twin Study (LoTiS) cohort was established in January 2016 at Chongqing, China, with the aim of enrolling 300 women, aged 20–40 years, pregnant with twins, and their offspring. The women were followed up in early, middle and late pregnancy and at delivery, and their offspring were followed up at birth, 6 weeks and 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36months of age. Currently, there were 439 participants recruited and 333 completed the visits during pregnancy.

Maternal social demography, laboratory examinations, perinatal outcomes, neonatal outcomes, infantile growth data and assessment were collected.

The study collaborated with Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Australia and the University of Birmingham, UK. Data were assessed at the website: [https://www.medscinet.com/Lotis/empty.aspx].