Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC)

ABSTRACT Over more than three decades, the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study has provided important new information on risk factors for atherosclerosis and its progression, on risk factors for coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke, and on trends in community rates of cardiovascular disease (averaging over 150 papers and 15,000 citations/year in the past cycle). We herein propose continuation of ARIC from 2021 to 2028. There are separate proposals for each ARIC Field Center and the Coordinating Center. The Coordinating Center is housed in the Collaborative Studies Coordinating Center in the Department of Biostatistics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC CSCC). Our aims/tasks for renewal in response to the ARIC RFPs are to: 1. Collaborate with ARIC investigators and the Steering Committee to continue regular follow-up of ARIC’s cohort for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality over at least 40 years (1987-2026), and to analyze, identify, and publish on factors related to incident CHD, heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, and other outcomes. The Coordinating Center will have specific additional tasks, including hosting the data management system, providing data to investigators and central repositories, maintaining a web site, overseeing the biospecimen repositories, reporting on study progress, and proposing a plan for and then managing the single IRB process. (Task Area A) 2. Perform a basic re-examination (Exam 12) of the surviving ARIC cohort in 2024-2025 to update basic risk factor status, medical history, and medication use, and obtain a blood sample for storage (Task Area B). The Coordinating Center, through its laboratory sub-contractors, will run a set of assays on samples collected at the examination. This contract supported examination will take place in conjunction with ancillary studies. 3. Provide mentoring through diversity supplements (Task Area C) and serve as a resource for ancillary studies, new and collaborating investigators, and research data sharing. 4. Perform study closeout as directed by the NHLBI Project Office (Task Area D). An extension of the ARIC contract will enable ARIC to continue to make use of its valuable cohort and stored biospecimens to address new questions on the etiology and outcomes of cardiovascular disease. 1