United States Framingham Heart Study Original Cohort

The Framingham Heart Study (FHS) has been in existence since 1948. Initially, the longitudinal project included 5,209 men and women, ages 30-62, from the town of Framingham, Massachusetts. Participants return every two years for a medical history, physical examination, and laboratory tests. In 1971, the study enrolled 5,124 of the original participants' adult children and their spouses. In 1994, the Omni cohort, 506 men and women of African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Indian, Pacific Islander and Native American descent, was enrolled. Since 2002, a third generation, second Omni group, and New Offspring Spouse cohort have been added, and as the study continues, new cohorts are enrolled. The study includes demographic information, risk factors, medical history, and mental and physical status. The examinations include blood tests, urine tests, ECGs, spirometry, tonometry, echocardiograms, and others. The results are later analyzed for patterns related to CVD development.