DataSet

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

SWAN

The study examines the physical, biological, psychological and social changes during this transitional period. The goal of SWAN's research is to help scientists, health care providers and women learn how mid-life experiences affect health and quality of life during aging.

Nationally representative sample

Annual

Interview, and yearly clinical examination

Hispanic or Latino, Not Hispanic or Latino

Female

SWAN is a multi-site longitudinal, epidemiologic study designed to examine the health of women during their middle years.

NLM/crs

3,302 women

Pre- or perimenopausal women

Bone mineral density and body composition, cardiovascular measures and risk factors, ovarian markers, psychosocial factors; factors measured at baseline included demographic descriptors such as race/ethnicity, education, income, occupation (job title, activities, and industry) and marital status. Other factors assessed were health care utilization, active and passive smoke exposure, physical activity, menstrual characteristics, pregnancy/infertility and menstrual history (including cycle length and variability, and premenstrual symptoms), family history, medical history (including chronic diseases, fractures, urinary incontinence and surgeries), medication use, weight history, physical and psychological/emotional symptoms of midlife, initiation and discontinuation of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and use of complementary and alternative therapies. Most of these factors, except those (such as family history) that are unlikely to change are assessed annually. Information pertaining to diet is obtained periodically.

1994 -

1636