
Overview and Protocol
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.
MESA Protocol
MESA Population
Total Participants:
Baseline (2000-2002): 6814
Exam 2 (2002-2004): 6239
Exam 3 (2004-2005): 5946
Exam 4 (2005-2007): 5818
Exam 5 (2010-2011): 4655
Exam 6 (2016-2018): 3302
Age-Sex-Ethnicity Breakdown from Exams 1-6
AGE
45-54 | 55-64 | 65-74 | 75-84 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | % of total population |
n | % of total population |
n | % of total population |
n | % of total population |
|
Baseline | 1948 | 29% | 1884 | 28% | 2017 | 30% | 965 | 14% |
Exam 2 | 1815 | 29% | 1735 | 28% | 1834 | 29% | 855 | 14% |
Exam 3 | 1761 | 30% | 1687 | 28% | 1743 | 29% | 755 | 13% |
Exam 4 | 1739 | 30% | 1652 | 28% | 1723 | 30% | 704 | 12% |
Exam 5 | 1544 | 33% | 1425 | 31% | 1296 | 28% | 390 | 8% |
Exam 6 | 1237 | 37% | 1091 | 33% | 813 | 25% | 161 | 5% |
SEX
Female | Male | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
n | % of total population |
n | % of total population |
|
Baseline | 3601 | 53% | 3213 | 47% |
Exam 2 | 3267 | 52% | 2872 | 48% |
Exam 3 | 3132 | 53% | 2814 | 47% |
Exam 4 | 3074 | 53% | 2743 | 47% |
Exam 5 | 2477 | 53% | 2178 | 47% |
Exam 6 | 1760 | 53% | 1542 | 47% |
RACE/ETHNICITY
African-American | Chinese | Hispanic | White | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | % of total population |
n | % of total population |
n | % of total population |
n | % of total population |
|
Baseline | 1891 | 28% | 804 | 12% | 1496 | 22% | 2623 | 39% |
Exam 2 | 1692 | 27% | 729 | 12% | 1352 | 22% | 2466 | 40% |
Exam 3 | 1607 | 27% | 699 | 12% | 1257 | 21% | 2383 | 40% |
Exam 4 | 1509 | 27% | 622 | 11% | 1230 | 21% | 2347 | 40% |
Exam 5 | 1233 | 26% | 541 | 12% | 999 | 21% | 1822 | 39% |
Exam 6 | 850 | 26% | 420 | 13% | 710 | 22% | 1322 | 40% |