Liberty University
HLTH 501
The Framingham Heart Study: Case Study Analysis Questions
Part 1
1
, The Framingham Heart Study—Integrative Exercises
Background
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)1 created a teaching dataset that
includes real but anonymized data collected as part of the Framingham Heart Study. The Framingham
Heart Study is one of the most influential and longest running epidemiological studies of risk factors
for cardiovascular disease ever run. The study started in 1948 and continues today to collect extensive
data from original participants, their children, and their children’s children. Much of what we know
about cardiovascular disease was discovered by investigators involved in the Framingham Heart Study.
In fact, studies to date using data collected in the Framingham Heart study have resulted in over 3000
publications in high impact, peer-reviewed medical journals.
The Framingham Heart Study has been widely discussed in the media. WGBH in Boston
produced a video documentary for PBS entitled “The Hidden Epidemic: Heart Disease in America”
that details the history of heart disease in this country and highlights the Framingham Heart Study.2 In
2007, CBS News did a story on the study, its participants, and its impact.3 Additionally, research results
from the Framingham Heart Study are communicated widely, most recently highlighting the discovery
of a gene that may promote obesity4 and new data showing declining rates of dementia.5 Interested
readers can visit the Framingham Heart Study website for a detailed history of this incredible study and
its many contributions to preventive medicine.6
Datasets for Analysis
NHLBI created a longitudinal teaching dataset includes clinical, laboratory, and outcome data
on n = 4434 participants. Each participant has between one and three observations—which represent
1 http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
2 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/takeonestep/heart/
3 http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/landmark-heart-study/
4 http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-a-fat-gene-may-influence-your-weight/
5 http://www.cbsnews.com/news/dementia-alzheimers-risk-signs-of-hope-study/
6 https://www.framinghamheartstudy.org/about-fhs/history.php/
2
HLTH 501
The Framingham Heart Study: Case Study Analysis Questions
Part 1
1
, The Framingham Heart Study—Integrative Exercises
Background
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)1 created a teaching dataset that
includes real but anonymized data collected as part of the Framingham Heart Study. The Framingham
Heart Study is one of the most influential and longest running epidemiological studies of risk factors
for cardiovascular disease ever run. The study started in 1948 and continues today to collect extensive
data from original participants, their children, and their children’s children. Much of what we know
about cardiovascular disease was discovered by investigators involved in the Framingham Heart Study.
In fact, studies to date using data collected in the Framingham Heart study have resulted in over 3000
publications in high impact, peer-reviewed medical journals.
The Framingham Heart Study has been widely discussed in the media. WGBH in Boston
produced a video documentary for PBS entitled “The Hidden Epidemic: Heart Disease in America”
that details the history of heart disease in this country and highlights the Framingham Heart Study.2 In
2007, CBS News did a story on the study, its participants, and its impact.3 Additionally, research results
from the Framingham Heart Study are communicated widely, most recently highlighting the discovery
of a gene that may promote obesity4 and new data showing declining rates of dementia.5 Interested
readers can visit the Framingham Heart Study website for a detailed history of this incredible study and
its many contributions to preventive medicine.6
Datasets for Analysis
NHLBI created a longitudinal teaching dataset includes clinical, laboratory, and outcome data
on n = 4434 participants. Each participant has between one and three observations—which represent
1 http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
2 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/takeonestep/heart/
3 http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/landmark-heart-study/
4 http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-a-fat-gene-may-influence-your-weight/
5 http://www.cbsnews.com/news/dementia-alzheimers-risk-signs-of-hope-study/
6 https://www.framinghamheartstudy.org/about-fhs/history.php/
2
