CARDIA is a collaborative, longitudinal study of lifestyles and the evolution of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in young adults. The study is sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Data have been collected at approximately two- to three-year intervals for 5,115 participants recruited at four centers, Chicago, Minneapolis, Birmingham, and Oakland. These individuals ranged in age from 18 to 30 at baseline in 1985-1986, and were roughly evenly balanced by sex, race (black/white), age (18-24, 25-30), and education (high school or less, more than high school). Five examinations (baseline, year 2, year 5, year 7, and year 10) have been completed. Repeated data collected from these participants over the ten-year period include blood pressure measurements, blood chemistries, anthropometric measurements, complete medical histories, family histories, physical activity questionnaires, exercise treadmill tests, psychosocial data, alcohol questionnaires, smoking questionnaires, diet histories, pulmonary function tests, and echocardiography measurements. In addition, an ancillary study was funded by the NHLBI to study the relationship between sodium/lithium countertransport and blood pressure at the year 2 examination. At the year 5 and 7 examinations, an ancillary study was funded by the NHLBI to study hemostatic factors (fibrinogen, factor VII, factor VIII, and von Willebrand's disease) in 1,810 participants in the Chicago and Minneapolis CARDIA centers. Both ancillary studies have been completed. Currently, the year 15 examination is on-going. In addition to the core components, the examination includes CT scan for coronary calcium. The year 15 data collection was completed in June, 2001.

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last updated:Tue Aug 25, 2009 7:14 AM