framingham heart study

cohort study

group of people who share a common characteristic or experience within a defined period

methodology of study

identify common factors or characteristics that contribute to CVD by following participants over a long period of time in a large group of participants

framingham heart study

long term, ongoing cardiovascular study on residents of the town of framingham MA

longitudinal study

research study that involves repeated observations of the same variables over long periods of time -used to uncover predictors of certain disease

what was the purpose?

to answer questions about heart disease and what some of the factors associated with it were

participants consented to...

undergo detailed medical history, physical examination, and medical tests every two years

prior knowledge about CVD

-believed that clogging and narrowing of arteries was a normal part of aging and occurred universally -scientists believed that cardiac health can be influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors and inheritance

Dr. Joseph Mountain

-head of the Division of Chronic Diseases for the US public health service in 1948 -wanted to investigate the etiology and evolution of this disease