HEAF is a prospective cohort study of older people drawn from the patient registers of 24 English general practices which contribute data to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD).

The HEAF study aims to assess the health benefits and risks of remaining in work at older ages and their predictors, and thereby the potential health impact of policies to extend working life and maximise employment in later working life and to identify occupational, social and personal co-factors which modify this relationship, as possible targets for intervention.

Over 8, 000 participants born between 1948 and 1962 were recruited and represent every decile of deprivation. Annual questionnaires are used to collect information concerning participants' mental and physical health, work status, thoughts about work and retirement, and other demographic factors (e.g. age, gender, ethnicity) and lifestyle choices (e.g. smoking and physical activity). Health information in the form of coded data is provided by the CPRD.