Descriptive characteristics of both cohorts and results of the follow up procedure are presented in Table 1. The Saarland cohort was approximately half the size of the cohort in NRW. Females were slightly overrepresented in both cohorts. The arrival period for entering the cohort was four years longer for the Saarland cohort. The NRW study population was restricted by age at migration of 15 years or older, whereas the Saarland cohort had no age restriction. Thus, the Saarland cohort was on average younger. Country of origin distribution was similar for both cohorts: around 55% of the Aussiedler came from Kazakhstan, 37% from the Russian Federation. Other countries.
