U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know
Here’s how you know

**Official websites use .gov**
A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
A **lock** ( A locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Search Query:
			MAIN MENU

																				
              Health Topics
								All Health Topics A-Z
					
													
		

		Asthma


				

															Heart-Healthy Living


				

															High Blood Pressure


				

															Sickle Cell Disease


				

															Sleep Apnea


				

															Information & Resources on COVID-19
																				
              Health Education
								Education Programs and Initiatives
					
													
		

		The Heart Truth®


				

															Learn More Breathe Better®


				

															Blood Diseases and Disorders Education Program


				

															Publications and Resources
																				
              The Science
								Research Focus Areas
					
													
		

		Blood Disorders and Blood Safety


				

															Sleep Science and Sleep Disorders


				

															Lung Diseases


				

															Health Disparities and Inequities


				

															Heart and Vascular Diseases


				

															Precision Medicine Activities


				

															Obesity, Nutrition, and Physical Activity


				

															Population and Epidemiology Studies


				

															Women’s Health


				

															Research Topics


				

															Clinical Trials


				

															All Science A-Z
																				
              Grants and Training
								Grants and Training Home


				

															Policies and Guidelines


				

															Funding Opportunities and Contacts


				

															Training and Career Development
																				
              News and Events
								News and Events Home
					
													
		

		Email Alerts


				

															All News
					
													
		

		NHLBI News


				

															NHLBI in the Press


				

															Research Features


				

															All Events
					
													
		

		Past Events


				

															Upcoming Events
																				
              About NHLBI
								About NHLBI Home
					
													
		

		Mission and Strategic Vision


				

															Leadership


				

															Divisions, Offices and Centers


				

															Advisory Committees


				

															Budget and Legislative Information


				

															Jobs and Working at the NHLBI


				

															Contact and FAQs


				

															NIH Sleep Research Plan
						
						HOME
		Search Text: Home/< Back ToThe Science/Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study
                        
                                                Project timeline
            1985-ongoing (project currently funded through 2028)
              Point of contact
            
                
            Jacqueline Wright, Dr.P.H.
              Website
            
                
            https://www2.cscc.unc.edu/aric/
                                        On this page
                        At a Glance
                                                                                                                    Key Findings
                                                            How It's Conducted
        What is the goal of the ARIC study?
                        
            The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study initially served to identify risk factors for subclinical atherosclerosis, . The study included Black and white adults between the ages of 45 and 65 who lived in four U.S. communities across the country.As participants have aged, study goals have shifted to focus on risk factors for heart diseases includingheart attack(myocardial infarction),coronary heart disease,stroke, andheart failure.The study also aims to measure how heart disease risk factors, medical care, and health outcomes vary by race, ethnicity, sex, location, and time.
                AT A GLANCE
                                        ARIC enrolled approximately 16,000 adults from four U.S. communities and has monitored them for over 35 years.
          The study helped understand the risks of heart attack, hospitalizations from heart failure, and deaths from heart disease in over 400,000 adults.
          Findings helped shape clinical guidelines used by healthcare providers to treat coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and chronic kidney disease.
          ARIC has published more than 2,800 scientific articles.
            What are the key findings of the ARIC study?
    The ARIC study has led to many discoveries that have increased our understanding of the causes ofatherosclerosisand heart disease. These discoveries have shaped evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for coronary heart disease, diabetes,stroke, and chronic kidney disease.For 25 years, ARIC’s community surveillance data have provided important, validated information about the occurrence of coronary heart disease and how often it leads to death in the United States.
    More information
      
	-
		Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study
    Highlighting further key findings and accomplishments, the ARIC study:Became the first U.S. population-based study to establish a specific clinical characteristic — thickness of the carotid intima-media (IMT) — as a marker or indicator for atherosclerosis before other detectable signs or symptoms. Accounting for this marker in clinical care can improve heart disease outcomes.Provided long-term, prospective data about how previously unknown risk factors such as lipoprotein A or vitamin D levels and fat distribution impact heart disease in Black and African American people.Increased understanding of risk factors for heart failure so researchers could create useful models to predict heart failure and stroke. These models include information specifically about risks for Black and African American people, some of the first models to do so.Became the first study to document a set of health metrics that indicate likelihood for heart disease and provide evidence that the number of health metrics a person meets relates to their risk for heart disease. The American Heart Association calls this set of health metrics Life’s Essential 8.Played a major role in identifying specific gene mutations (PCSK9 mutations) that can lead to low cholesterol levels and decreased coronary heart disease risk.Identified that high levels of inflammatory markers are associated with a higher risk for diabetes, a discovery that helped drive the current understanding of the ways inflammation can cause diabetes.Produced some of the first evidence that lifestyle factors contribute to the risk ofvenous thromboembolism, a blood clot that starts in a vein. The findings offered some key areas to target prevention efforts.
              How is the ARIC study conducted?
    The ARIC study was divided into two parts: community surveillance, where researchers collected general information about the health of the communities based on available data, and a cohort study, where individual participants volunteered to provide specific samples and data to researchers as part of the research study.The community surveillance arm (1987-2014) tracked deaths from heart attack, or myocardial infarction, and coronary heart disease for over 400,000 adults ages 35 to 84 living in four communities.Forsyth County, North CarolinaJackson, MississippiEight northern suburbs of Minneapolis, MinnesotaWashington County, Maryland.From 2005 to 2014, the study also looked at the rate of hospitalization for heart failure among adults in these communities who were age 55 and older.Participants in the cohort study were also recruited from the four ARIC study communities.
    More information
      
	-
		Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study
    The cohort was started in 1985 to improve researchers’ understanding of what they observed from community surveillance. Data were validated using standard methods for cohort studies that follow a group of people over a long period of time. They were also validated through additional information, such as risk factors and out-of-hospital medical care.Researchers recruited 15,792 Black and white adults ages 45 to 64, who completed four clinic exams in the first decade of the study (1987-1989, 1990 -1992, 1993 -1995, and 1996 -1998).Starting in 2011, additional exams were conducted (2011-13, 2016-17, and 2018-19). Participants are also contacted by telephone twice a year to report on their health and any hospitalizations.
                                Related Scientific Focus Areas
                                    Population and Epidemiology Studies
              Heart and Vascular Diseases
              Obesity, Nutrition, and Physical Activity
                                                                                                                                                                Related Health Topics
                                    What Is Atherosclerosis? Back To Top Link
  

        

        Back to top
  Web Policies & Notices
  

        

              Accessibility
                      No FEAR Act Data
                      Privacy Policy
                      Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
                      HHS Vulnerability Disclosure
    
          Related Government Websites
  

        

              Health and Human Services
                      National Institutes of Health
                      Office of the Inspector General
                      USA.gov
    
          Stay Connected
    
      
            chat bubblesLive ChatLive Chat with us, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.envelopeGet Email AlertsReceive automatic alerts about NHLBI related news and highlights from across the Institute.
  Footer Bottom
  

        



Contact Us
                            Site Index
                            Jobs