The National Institutes of Health (NIH) established the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) in 1991 to address the most common causes of death, disability and impaired quality of life in postmenopausal women. The WHI addressed cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. The WHI was a 15 year multi-million dollar endeavor, and one of the largest U.S. prevention studies of its kind. The three major components of the WHI were:

• a randomized controlled clinical trial of promising but unproven approaches to prevention;
• an observational study to identify predictors of disease;
• a study of community approaches to developing healthful behaviors.

The WHI Program Office is located within the Office of the Director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

Women's Health Initiative Program Office
2 Rockledge Centre
Suite 10018, MS 7936
6701 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7936 (U.S. Postal Service)
Bethesda, Maryland 20817-7936 (Express Mail Service)
Phone: (301) 402-2900
Fax: (301) 480-5158
Internet: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/whi/index.html

Major Components of the Women's Health Initiative

Randomized Clinical Trial (CT)

• Hormone Therapy Trial (HT) (27,347)
• Dietary Modification Trial (DM) (48,835)
• Calcium/Vitamin D Supplementation Trial (CaD) (36,282)

Observational Study (OS)

• CT/OS Participants:
  • From 40 Clinical Centers (CC) nationwide
  • 161,808 women aged 50-79;
    68,132 in CT
    93,676 in OS
  • 17.5% overall minority recruitment:
    10 CC's with goal of 60%

Community Prevention Study (CPS)

• CPS Participants:
  • at CDC funded University-based Prevention Research Centers

• Fact Sheet: "Backgrounder"
• Clinical Trial and Observational Study
• Community Prevention Study