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.