Framingham Heart Study Health Status Updates

Health status updates are obtained every 24 months for participants (Cohort, Offspring, New Offspring Spouse (NOS), Gen 3) who are not having a Framingham Heart Study clinical examination. Each update is completed by a phone call or mailing using a Medical History (Health Status) Update form. The information received allows the Study to obtain medical records and to review those records for endpoint events.

In 1948, researchers recruited men and women from the town of Framingham, Massachusetts, beginning the first round of extensive physical examinations and lifestyle interviews that would later be analyzed for common patterns related to CVD development.

Initially, the Framingham Heart Study enrolled 5209 men and women from the Framingham area who were between the ages of 28 and 62 years. Beginning in 1971, the Framingham Heart Study enrolled 5,124 men and women, who were either offspring of the original cohort or spouses of those offspring. In 2002, 4095 third generation participants (men and women) were enrolled.

During each clinic exam cycle, the participants undergo a detailed examination including physical examination, medical history, laboratory testing, and electrocardiogram. Over the years, other tests (that may not be performed at every exam cycle) have included pulmonary function, lifestyle, physical function, cognitive function questionnaires, and various noninvasive cardiovascular tests including echocardiograms. The content of each exam cycle differs for Original, Offspring and Generation 3 cohorts and can be found in the Exam Cycle Protocol Manuals.

• Study Weblinks:
  • The Framingham Heart Study
• Study Design:
  • Prospective Longitudinal Cohort
• Study Type:
  • Longitudinal
• Total number of consented subjects: 7762
• Subject Sample Telemetry Report (SSTR)

Health status updates are obtained every 24 months for participants (Cohort, Offspring, New Offspring Spouse (NOS), Gen 3) who are not having a Framingham Heart Study clinical examination.

Health Status Update forms were first completed in 1989 for participants who did not have a clinic examination. In 2002, health updates were done every 24 months in cases where the participant did not have a clinical exam during the previous 24 month period. Health status updates are ongoing for all cohorts.

The Original cohort began Exam 1 in 1948 (9/1948 - 4/1953) and has continued with biennial examinations to the present. Exam 29 was performed from 4/2006 - 12/2007.

The Offspring cohort began Exam 1 in 1971 (8/1971 - 9/1975) and has on average been examined every 3 to 4 years since enrollment. However, there was an eight year window between Exam 1 and Exam 2. Exam 8 was performed from 3/2005 - 1/25/2008.

The Generation 3 cohort Exam 1 was performed 4/2002 - 7/2005.

The New Offspring Spouse cohort Exam 1 was performed 10/2003 - 6/2005.

Examination of all three cohorts is ongoing.

• Primary Phenotype: Cardiovascular System