This sub-study is investigating whether people with more frequent exposure to pesticides also visit their general practitioner (GP) more often. For example, with eye conditions. The study involves people who live or previously lived near agricultural land.
Expected duration: until May 2029
GP consultations
A GP is often the first point of contact for people with acute or chronic health problems, which is why it makes sense to check the symptoms people consulted their GP about. This study also focuses specifically on GP consultations regarding temporary breathing difficulties among patients who already have asthma and COPD. This concerns consultations that took place from 2011 to end 2025.
How this is investigated
This study links data from the Nivel Primary Care Database, (NZR, in Dutch) and data on pesticide exposure in the living environment. Exposure is calculated using the computational model developed in sub-study 2.
All analyses are conducted using the secure digital environment of Statistics Netherlands.
The Nivel Primary Care Database contains data on two million people registered with GP practices that participate in the healthcare database. These data cannot be traced back to individuals.