The Lipid Research Clinics program was created in 1971. The objectives were to evaluate the then current techniques for diagnosis of hyperlipoproteinemia; to acquire data across all age groups on the prevalence of different types of hyperlipoproteinemia, particularly genetically determined forms; to collect high quality data on the prevalence and incidence of atherosclerosis in different patterns of hyperlipoproteinemia; and to improve methods for detection, diagnosis, and medical care of coronary heart disease. The program consisted of the Population Studies and the Coronary Primary Prevention Trial. The coronary primary prevention trial is described under Clinical Trials in the database.