During Phases I and II from May 1992-May 1996, probands, aged 45-69, were recruited from the Framingham Heart Study, the Utah Family Tree Study and the North Carolina and Minnesota sites of the ARIC Study, along with their relatives, for participation in the Family Heart Study. Two groups of probands were selected, either randomly or by a high family risk of CHD as calculated from data from the parent study. Additional family structure and disease history data were collected on 3,150 probands and 22,909 of their relatives. Clinical examination and follow-up of these random and high CHD risk families were conducted on a total of 1,253 families including 5,975 individuals, of whom 102 families including 265 individuals were African-American. The examinations included information on anthropometry, blood pressure, ECG, carotid ultrasound, pulmonary function, and blood chemistries. Questionnaire data included medical and reproductive histories, diet, physical activity, tobacco and alcohol consumption, education, income and psychosocial factors including hostility, social support and stress. Phases I and II included four field centers, a coordinating center, and a central blood laboratory.