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The Cardiovascular Health Study: design and rationale
L P Fried1, N O Borhani, P Enright
1Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
Insights
The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) investigates heart disease and stroke risk factors in adults over 65. It identifies key factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in older populations.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Gerontology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
Background:
- The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) is a population-based, longitudinal study.
- Focuses on coronary heart disease and stroke in adults aged 65 years and older.
- Aims to identify factors related to the onset and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Purpose of the Study:
- Determine the significance of conventional CVD risk factors in older adults.
- Identify novel protective and modifiable risk factors specific to this age group.
- Evaluate CVD risk factors in underrepresented populations, including women and the very old.
Main Methods:
- Enrolled 1250 men and women in four US communities.
- Sampled participants from Medicare eligibility lists.
- Conducted extensive baseline physical and laboratory evaluations for CVD risk factors, subclinical disease, and overt CVD.
Main Results:
- Collected data on hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, glucose intolerance, carotid artery atherosclerosis, left ventricular enlargement, and transient ischemia.
- Enabled evaluation of CVD risk factors in older adults.
- Provided insights into cardiovascular health in previously underrepresented groups.
Conclusions:
- CHS provides a robust dataset for understanding cardiovascular disease in older adults.
- The study design allows for the identification of both established and emerging CVD risk factors.
- Findings contribute to the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease in aging populations.
Abstract:
The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) is a population-based, longitudinal study of coronary heart disease and stroke in adults aged 65 years and older. The main objective of the study is to identify factors related to the onset and course of coronary heart disease and stroke. CHS is designed to determine the importance of conventional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in older adults, and to identify new risk factors in this age group, especially those that may be protective and modifiable. The study design called for enrollment of 1250 men and women in each of four communities: Forsyth County, North Carolina; Sacramento County, California; Washington County, Maryland; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Eligible participants were sampled from Medicare eligibility lists in each area. Extensive physical and laboratory evaluations were performed at baseline to identify the presence and severity of CVD risk factors such as hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and glucose intolerance; subclinical disease such as carotid artery atherosclerosis, left ventricular enlargement, and transient ischemia; and clinically overt CVD. These examinations in CHS permit evaluation of CVD risk factors in older adults, particularly in groups previously under-represented in epidemiologic studies, such as women and the very old. The first of two examination cycles began in June 1989. A second comprehensive examination will be repeated three years later. Periodic interim contacts are scheduled to ascertain and verify the incidence of CVD events, the frequency of recurrent events, and the sequellae of CVD.