Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) - Catalog
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Name
Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS)
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Accession Number
HLB00040025a
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Acronym
CHS
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Related studies(SHHS) Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS)
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BSI Study IDs
CHS
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Is public use dataset
False
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Keywords
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Ingestion StatusReleased
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Has Study Datasets
True
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Has Specimens
True
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Specimen ID TypeCoded
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Study Website
https://chs-nhlbi.org/
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The Framingham Heart Study Group requires that the requestor must obtain full or expedited IRB/Ethics Committee review and approval to obtain these data. Waivers or a determination that the research is exempt from ethical regulations do not suffice.
False
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Clinical Trial URLs
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Study typeEpidemiology Study
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Collection TypeOpen BioLINCC Study
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Cohort typeAdult
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Interventions
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Study Open Date (Data)
2009-10-01
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Study Open Date (Specimens)
2026-03-23
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Date materials available
2008-10-13
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Last updated
2009-05-01
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Study period
June 1988 - May 2009
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Study Contacts
ecterry@uw.edu - Data Renewal Request, Data Request
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NHLBI Division
DCVS
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ClassificationHeart
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HIV study classificationnon-HIV
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COVID study classificationnon-COVID
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Pre-Website # of Specimens Shipped
None
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# of Returned Specimens
None
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Primary Publication URLs
N/A
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Commercial use data restrictionsYes
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Data restrictions based on area of researchYes
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Commercial use specimen restrictionsNot Applicable (Data Only)
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Non-genetic use specimen restrictions based on area of useNot Applicable (Data Only)
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Genetic use of specimens allowed?Not Applicable (Data Only)
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Genetic use area of research restrictionsNot Applicable (No Genetic Use Specimens)
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Specific Consent Restrictions
Use of data is tiered to (1) CVD-related research only, or (2) unrestricted area of research. Study participants were also given the option to consent to commercial use.
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ConditionsCardiovascular Diseases
Cerebrovascular Accident
Coronary Disease
Diabetes Mellitus
Heart Diseases
Heart Failure, Congestive
Hypertension
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Objectives
The Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) is a study of risk factors for development and progression of CHD and stroke in people aged 65 years and older. The objectives of the Cardiovascular Health Study are to: 1) quantify associations of conventional and hypothesized risk factors with CHD and stroke; 2) assess the associations of non-invasive measures of subclinical disease with the incidence of CHD and stroke; 3) quantify the associations of risk factors with subclinical disease; 4) characterize the natural history of CHD and stroke, and identify factors associated with clinical course; and 5) describe the prevalence and distributions of risk factors, non-invasive measures of subclinical disease, and clinical CHD and stroke.
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Background
The study originated in 1988 from the recommendations of an NHLBI workshop on the management of CHD in the elderly. This is the most extensive study undertaken by the NHLBI to study CVD exclusively in an elderly population. Initially funded for six years, it was renewed for a second six year period in 1994 and recently was renewed for continued morbidity and mortality follow-up.
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Participants
The 5,888 study participants were recruited from four U.S. communities and have undergone extensive clinic examinations for evaluation of markers of subclinical cardiovascular disease. The original cohort totaled 5,201 participants. A new cohort was recruited in 1992. The 687 participants in the new cohort are predominately African-American and were recruited at three of the four field centers.
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Design
The 2,962 women and 2,239 men were examined yearly from 1989 through 1999. The added minority cohort of 256 men and 431 women was examined from 1992 to 1999. Examination components have included medical history questionnaires, measurement of ankle-brachial index, abdominal and carotid ultrasound studies, echocardiograms, ambulatory electrocardiograms, cerebral magnetic resonance imaging, spirometry and retinal photographs over the past decade. The most extensive evaluations were at study entry (baseline) and again in 1992-1993 to assess change in subclinical disease measures. CHS has undertaken extensive follow-up for ascertainment of cardiovascular events including incident claudication, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, stroke and death.
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Conclusions
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Disease classification
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Publications
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Mat typesDNA
Plasma
Serum
Urine
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Network
The study population available in BioLINCC study data may be lower than total study enrollment due to Informed Consent restrictions and other factors.
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Subjects
There are 5,888 subjects.
Last Modified: April 24, 2026, 10:52 a.m. -
Age
Total Subjects
73-74
575
77-78
426
69-70
898
79-80
341
71-72
730
65-66
507
83-84
147
75-76
525
67-68
944
85-86
92
87-89
78
81-82
228
90+
48
Last Modified: April 24, 2026, 10:52 a.m. -
Sex
Total Subjects
Female
3,161
Male
2,378
Last Modified: April 24, 2026, 10:52 a.m. -
Race
Total Subjects
White
4,659
Black
844
Other
36
Last Modified: April 24, 2026, 10:52 a.m.
Please note that biospecimen availability is subject to review by the NHLBI, BioLINCC, and the NHLBI Biorepository. Certain biospecimens may not be made available for your request. The BioLINCC Users Guide describes the components of the review process.
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Material Types
Serum, Serum (2hr), Plasma (EDTA), Plasma (Citrate), DNA, Urine
Last Modified: April 24, 2026, 10:52 a.m. -
General Freeze/Thaw Status
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Visits (Vials)
Updated 24th April 2026.
Serum
Serum (2hr)
Plasma (EDTA)
Plasma (Citrate)
DNA
Urine
Total
Visit Year
6553
.
3068
2325
4329
.
16275
2
5
6711
.
401
3259
4874
.
15245
6
.
.
18699
.
948
.
19647
7
4654
.
9773
.
246
.
14673
8
.
.
.
.
39
.
39
9
5211
11469
6260
12471
732
5505
41648
10
.
.
14819
.
1879
.
16698
18
5147
.
2935
.
.
.
8082
Last Modified: April 27, 2026, 9:49 a.m. -
Visits (Subjects)
Serum
Total number of subjects
Average volume (ml) per subject
Visit Year
4,558
1.44
2
5
4,286
0.78
7
3,477
1.34
9
3,036
0.86
18
1,000
2.59
Serum (2hr)
Total number of subjects
Average volume (ml) per subject
Visit Year
2,208
2.60
9
Plasma (EDTA)
Total number of subjects
Average volume (ml) per subject
Visit Year
2,584
1.19
2
5
384
0.54
6
4,021
2.33
7
3,730
1.31
9
2,943
1.06
10
2,827
2.62
18
988
2.97
Plasma (Citrate)
Total number of subjects
Average volume (ml) per subject
Visit Year
2,317
0.50
2
5
3,252
0.50
9
3,147
1.98
DNA
Total number of subjects
Average mass (ug) per subject
Visit Year
2,669
46.74
2
5
3,794
50.19
6
943
48.40
7
245
52.47
8
39
43.17
9
731
183.16
10
1,878
63.72
Urine
Total number of subjects
Average volume (ml) per subject
Visit Year
2,785
17.79
9
Last Modified: April 27, 2026, 9:49 a.m.