Introduction Cardiovascular (CV) diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in the world. Increasing lifespans and ageing populations also contribute to an increasing CV burden. However, in China, there were few well-designed cohort studies focusing on the elderly population, let alone an established CV risk score. The objective of this study is to establish a CV risk score based on a community-dwelling Chinese elderly population, determining the profile of the associated CV risk factors and target organ damages (TODs), so as to guide the later intervention.

Methods and analysis The Northern Shanghai Study is an ongoing prospective community-based study. After enrolment, clinical examination, anthropometric measurement and a questionnaire will be administered to each participant at baseline and after every 2 years in the follow-up. Our tests and examinations include: blood/urine sample and biochemical measurements, office blood pressure recording, carotid ultrasonograph, echocardiograph, pulse wave velocity, pulse wave analysis, 4-limb blood pressure recording, body mass index, etc. Baseline measurement will also include the assessments on TODs and the conventional CV risk factors. In the follow-up, the incidence of CV events and mortality will be recorded. The Northern Shanghai Risk Score will be calculated, with considerations on CV risk factors and TODs.

Ethics and dissemination This study was approved by the Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital Institutional Review Board. All participants signed a written consent form.

Trial registration number NCT02368938; Pre-results.