The Charleston Heart Study began in 1960 with the examination of a random sample of 2181 residents of Charleston County. Approximately one-third of the sample was Black. The cohort was re-examined in 1963-1964, 1974-1975, and 1984-1985, and the fifth recall involving physical examination, electrocardiogram, echocardiograph, plasma glucose and lipid assays, physical disability assessment, and 24-hour Holter monitoring was completed. In the 1963-1964 recall, 102 high socioeconomic status Black men were added to the cohort. Also, in the 1963-1964 recall a battery of anthropometric measurements were taken on about half the cohort and these measurements and others were included in the 1987-1988 recall. Thus height, weight, reported weight at age 25, circumference of the chest at inhale and exhale, circumference at the umbilicus and mid-arm circumference were available on the same individuals from the 1963-1964 and the 1987-1988 examinations. In addition, skinfolds at the triceps, biceps, subscapular, suprailiac and lower thigh and circumference at the hips were measured in the latter recall. The fifth examination was completed in 1989 under separate NHLBI grant support.