<P> The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study is a multi-site, prospective, biracial cohort study funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health . The ARIC Study was designed to investigate the etiology and clinical outcomes of atherosclerosis . A total of 15,792 middle - aged (45--64 years) men and women were enrolled from four U.S. communities: </P> <Ul> <Li> Forsyth County, North Carolina </Li> <Li> Jackson, Mississippi </Li> <Li> Suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota </Li> <Li> Washington County, Maryland </Li> </Ul>

The atherosclerosis risk in communities (aric) study design and objectives