The Miami Heart Study at Baptist Health South Florida

What is this study about? The Miami Heart Study is a long term observational research study which is designed to identify new and novel relationships between risk factors, genetics, lifestyle behaviors and cardiovascular disease in the greater Miami area. Miami is uniquely situated to capture a diverse, multi-ethnic population. As an employee of Baptist Health and a very important stakeholder in Baptist Health's mission, you are being asked to take part in this research study. The investigators expect approximately 4,000 members of the South Florida community and/or employees of Baptist Health to participate in this study over the next 5 years.

The research study aims to better understand heart disease and what causes it. Heart disease often starts many years before a person has a heart attack or develops symptoms of heart disease. This is called subclinical disease - and it refers to heart disease and the body processes causing heart disease, at a stage before any symptoms are experienced. Although doctors and researchers have a good understanding of heart disease in some areas, subclinical disease is not very well understood.

Better understanding subclinical disease can allow doctors and healthcare staff to intervene and prevent the process from developing further and causing symptomatic (with symptoms) heart disease. Progression refers to the process by which subclinical (without symptoms) heart disease develops into clinical (with symptoms) disease.

Therefore, the purpose of this research study is to:

• To examine the presence and severity of subclinical disease in the South Florida community.
• To examine what unique factors contribute to development of subclinical disease and appearance of clinical symptoms.

In the future, the investigators hope this information will allow us to better predict and prevent the development heart disease in diverse populations. Participants will be asked to come to the Miami Heart Study clinic for an examination that may take 4 to 6 hours to complete. During the examination, information about the participant's health will be collected and standard procedures routinely done a physician's office such as height, weight, and blood pressure will be performed.

Inclusion criteria

• Current full time/part-time employees of BHSF (occupational cohort) or resident of Greater Miami Area for at least six months (community cohort)
• Age 40 to 65 years
• Asymptomatic individuals free of any known cardiovascular event
• Able to comprehend and sign an informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

• Prior history of major cardiovascular events (angina, myocardial infarction, prior coronary revascularization)
• History of cerebrovascular disease including stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• History of peripheral arterial disease (PAD)
• History of either diagnosis or surgery for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
• Heart failure
• Weight greater than 350 lbs
• Any contraindication to CT scans or iodinated contrast
• Active treatment for cancer
• Currently pregnant, breastfeeding, or suspect they may be pregnant.
• Patients who do not agree to an informed consent