Classics in Global Medicine
Legacy of MESA
Authors:
Jean L. Olson,
Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, US
Diane E. Bild,
Clinical Effectiveness Research Department, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Washington, DC, US
Richard A. Kronmal,
Department of Biostatistics, Collaborative Health Studies Coordinating Center, Seattle, WA, US
Gregory L. Burke
Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, US
Abstract
The MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) was initiated to address unresolved questions about subclinical cardiovascular disease and its progression to clinically overt cardiovascular disease in a diverse population-based sample, incorporating emerging imaging technologies for better evaluation of subclinical disease and creating a population laboratory for future research. MESA’s recruited (from 2000 to 2002) cohort comprised >6,000 adults from 4 racial/ethnic groups, ages 45 to 84 years, who were free of cardiovascular disease at baseline. Extensive cohort data have been collected over 5 exams (through 2011) with additional exam components added through extramurally funded ancillary study grants, and through regular phone follow-up contacts. Over 1,000 MESA papers have been published to date. Exam 6 will incorporate components that use novel wearable, imaging, and other technologies to address new research questions. MESA investigators have and continue to seek opportunities for collaboration with other researchers on a wide variety of topics to further expand the science of MESA.
Highlights
- MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) has published >1,000 papers over its 16-year history.
- MESA has evolved from a focus on cardiovascular disease to include a variety of other topics.
- MESA faces challenges following an aged cohort but has methods to address them.
- Data sharing and collaborating with other studies extend MESA’s data and findings.
Published on
01 Sep 2016.
Peer Reviewed
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