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Cohort profile : The Swedish Tattoo and Body Modifications Cohort (TABOO)

Nielsen, Christel LU orcid ; Andréasson, Kristofer LU ; Olsson, H ; Engfeldt, Malin LU and Jöud, Anna LU orcid (2023) In BMJ Open 13(5).
Abstract

PURPOSE: The Swedish Tattoo and Body Modifications Cohort (TABOO) cohort was established to provide an infrastructure for epidemiological studies researching the role of tattoos and other body modifications as risk factors for adverse health outcomes. It is the first population-based cohort with detailed exposure assessment of decorative, cosmetic, and medical tattoos, piercing, scarification, henna tattoos, cosmetic laser treatments, hair dyeing, and sun habits. The level of detail in the exposure assessment of tattoos allows for investigation of crude dose-response relationships.

PARTICIPANTS: The TABOO cohort includes 13 049 individuals that participated in a questionnaire survey conducted in 2021 (response rate 49%). Outcome... (More)

PURPOSE: The Swedish Tattoo and Body Modifications Cohort (TABOO) cohort was established to provide an infrastructure for epidemiological studies researching the role of tattoos and other body modifications as risk factors for adverse health outcomes. It is the first population-based cohort with detailed exposure assessment of decorative, cosmetic, and medical tattoos, piercing, scarification, henna tattoos, cosmetic laser treatments, hair dyeing, and sun habits. The level of detail in the exposure assessment of tattoos allows for investigation of crude dose-response relationships.

PARTICIPANTS: The TABOO cohort includes 13 049 individuals that participated in a questionnaire survey conducted in 2021 (response rate 49%). Outcome data are retrieved from the National Patient Register, the National Prescribed Drug Register and the National Cause of Death Register. Participation in the registers is regulated by Swedish law, which eliminates the risk of loss to follow-up and associated selection bias.

FINDINGS TO DATE: The tattoo prevalence in TABOO is 21%. The cohort is currently used to clarify the incidence of acute and long-lasting health complaints after tattooing based on self-reported data. Using register-based outcome data, we are investigating the role of tattoos as a risk factor for immune-mediated disease, including hypersensitisation, foreign body reactions and autoimmune conditions.

FUTURE PLANS: The register linkage will be renewed every third year to update the outcome data, and we have ethical approval to reapproach the responders with additional questionnaires.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
BMJ Open
volume
13
issue
5
article number
e069664
pages
6 pages
publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:37142309
  • scopus:85159551688
ISSN
2044-6055
DOI
10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069664
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.
id
b7c51be1-ae61-47e4-9c99-5db7b6ecef84
date added to LUP
2023-05-08 10:48:51
date last changed
2025-03-09 04:23:04
@article{b7c51be1-ae61-47e4-9c99-5db7b6ecef84,
  abstract     = {{<p>PURPOSE: The Swedish Tattoo and Body Modifications Cohort (TABOO) cohort was established to provide an infrastructure for epidemiological studies researching the role of tattoos and other body modifications as risk factors for adverse health outcomes. It is the first population-based cohort with detailed exposure assessment of decorative, cosmetic, and medical tattoos, piercing, scarification, henna tattoos, cosmetic laser treatments, hair dyeing, and sun habits. The level of detail in the exposure assessment of tattoos allows for investigation of crude dose-response relationships.</p><p>PARTICIPANTS: The TABOO cohort includes 13 049 individuals that participated in a questionnaire survey conducted in 2021 (response rate 49%). Outcome data are retrieved from the National Patient Register, the National Prescribed Drug Register and the National Cause of Death Register. Participation in the registers is regulated by Swedish law, which eliminates the risk of loss to follow-up and associated selection bias.</p><p>FINDINGS TO DATE: The tattoo prevalence in TABOO is 21%. The cohort is currently used to clarify the incidence of acute and long-lasting health complaints after tattooing based on self-reported data. Using register-based outcome data, we are investigating the role of tattoos as a risk factor for immune-mediated disease, including hypersensitisation, foreign body reactions and autoimmune conditions.</p><p>FUTURE PLANS: The register linkage will be renewed every third year to update the outcome data, and we have ethical approval to reapproach the responders with additional questionnaires.</p>}},
  author       = {{Nielsen, Christel and Andréasson, Kristofer and Olsson, H and Engfeldt, Malin and Jöud, Anna}},
  issn         = {{2044-6055}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{05}},
  number       = {{5}},
  publisher    = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{BMJ Open}},
  title        = {{Cohort profile : The Swedish Tattoo and Body Modifications Cohort (TABOO)}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069664}},
  doi          = {{10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069664}},
  volume       = {{13}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}