National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS)
NHATS follows a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older based in the United States to collect detailed information on the disablement process and its consequences. The original cohort was recruited in 2011, and of the 8,245 participants, over 40% were ages 80 or older and about 20% self-identified as Black or African American. Since 2015, the sample is being replenished periodically to provide a refreshed nationally representative sample of the Medicare population aged 65 and older. Participants are followed up annually, and if deceased, a 'Last Month of Life' interview is conducted typically with a close family member. The NHATS also generates the National Study of Caregiving (NSOC) sample, which characterizes caregiving experiences of family and unpaid caregivers of NHATS participants.
Study design
Cohort
Number of participants at first data collection
8,245 (participants)
Recruitment is ongoing
Age at first data collection
≥ 65 years (participants)
Participant year of birth
1920 - 1950 (participants)
Participant sex
All
Representative sample at baseline?
Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older.
Sample features
Country
Year of first data collection
2011
Primary Institutions
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
University of Michigan
Profile paper DOI
Funders
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Ongoing?
Yes
Data types collected
- Interview – face-to-face
- Physical or biological assessment (e.g. blood, saliva, gait, grip strength, anthropometry)
- Secondary data
- None
- None
- Census data
- Healthcare data
Engagement
Keywords
