Toward resolution of cardiovascular health disparities in African Americans: design and methods of the Jackson Heart Study.

OBJECTIVE The design, overall methods, and major phenotypes for the all-African-American Jackson Heart Study (JHS) are detailed. METHODS Participants were enrolled from the three counties that make up the Jackson, Mississippi metropolitan area. Relatives of selected participants were recruited to develop a large, nested family cohort. Participants provided extensive medical and social history, had an array of physical and biochemical measurements and diagnostic procedures, and provided genomic DNA. RESULTS Data and biologic materials have been collected from 5302 adult African Americans, including 1499 members of 291 families. Participants have a high prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and related disorders. DISCUSSION The JHS dataset and biologic materials (serum, DNA, and cryopreserved cells) offer a valuable resource for the study of diseases that are of particular importance to African Americans.