MESA Overview and Protocol
Protocol
Population
The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) is a study of the characteristics of subclinical
cardiovascular disease (disease detected non-invasively before it has produced clinical signs and symptoms)
and the risk factors that predict progression to clinically overt cardiovascular disease or progression of
the subclinical disease. MESA researchers study a diverse, population-based sample of 6,814 asymptomatic
men and women aged 45-84 from six field centers across the United States.
Approximately 38 percent of the recruited participants are white, 28 percent African-American, 22 percent Hispanic,
and 12 percent Asian, predominantly of Chinese descent. Six exams have been completed since 2000.
Participants are contacted every 9 to 12 months throughout the study to assess clinical morbidity and mortality.
The final 18 months of the study will be dedicated to close out and data analysis and publication.
Age-Gender-Ethnicity Breakdown from Exams 1-6
Category |
Baseline |
Exam 2 |
Exam 3 |
Exam 4 |
Exam 5 |
Exam 6 |
Age at Baseline |
45-54 |
1948 |
29% |
1815 |
29% |
1761 |
30% |
1739 |
30% |
1544 |
33% |
1237 |
37% |
|
55-64 |
1884 |
28% |
1735 |
28% |
1687 |
28% |
1652 |
28% |
1425 |
31% |
1091 |
33% |
|
65-74 |
2017 |
30% |
1834 |
29% |
1743 |
29% |
1723 |
30% |
1296 |
28% |
813 |
25% |
|
75-84 |
965 |
14% |
855 |
14% |
755 |
13% |
704 |
12% |
390 |
8% |
161 |
5% |
|
Total |
6814 |
100% |
6239 |
100% |
5946 |
100% |
5818 |
100% |
4655 |
100% |
3302 |
100% |
Gender |
Female |
3601 |
53% |
3267 |
52% |
3132 |
53% |
3075 |
53% |
2477 |
53% |
1760 |
53% |
|
Male |
3213 |
47% |
2972 |
48% |
2814 |
47% |
2743 |
47% |
2178 |
47% |
1542 |
47% |
|
Total |
6814 |
100% |
6239 |
100% |
5946 |
100% |
5818 |
100% |
4655 |
100% |
3302 |
100% |
Race/Ethnicity |
African-American |
1891 |
28% |
1692 |
27% |
1607 |
27% |
1579 |
27% |
1233 |
26% |
1322 |
40% |
|
Chinese-American |
804 |
12% |
729 |
12% |
699 |
12% |
662 |
11% |
541 |
12% |
420 |
13% |
|
Hispanic |
1496 |
22% |
1352 |
22% |
1257 |
21% |
1230 |
21% |
999 |
21% |
850 |
26% |
|
White |
2623 |
39% |
2466 |
40% |
2383 |
40% |
2347 |
40% |
1822 |
39% |
710 |
22% |
|
Total |
6814 |
100% |
6239 |
100% |
5946 |
100% |
5818 |
100% |
4655 |
100% |
3302 |
100% |