To conduct a community-based research and demonstration project in cardiovascular disease prevention in the town of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Targeted risk factors included high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol, obesity, cigarette smoking, and sedentary living. To evaluate the program, risk factor surveys on a cross-sectional and cohort basis were conducted along with mortality and morbidity surveillance both in Pawtucket and in the non-intervention comparison town of New Bedford, Massachusetts.