What is a major disadvantage of cohort studies?

Cohort studies involve following a group of individuals over a period of time to assess the impact of certain exposures on the development of specific outcomes, such as diseases. A significant disadvantage of this study design is the requirement for long follow-up periods, which can often lead to time-consuming data collection and analysis. As participants are observed over time, researchers may face challenges such as participant attrition, changes in exposure, and evolving confounding factors that can complicate the analysis.

Additionally, the lengthy duration required to observe outcomes means that cohort studies can be less efficient in rapidly identifying health issues or drawing conclusions, as opposed to more immediate study designs. This long-term commitment and complexity make cohort studies more resource-intensive and pose challenges in maintaining participant engagement and data integrity. Given these factors, the extensive time investment associated with cohort studies is a significant drawback compared to other study methodologies.