Stroke is the 4th leading cause of US mortality and 3rd among African Americans, with African Americans exhibiting more than twice the risk of Whites. The underlying causes of racial disparities in stroke are unclear. Few studies have systematically evaluated how racial disparities in stroke might vary by socioeconomic and behavior risk factors (e.g. measures of socioeconomic status [SES], adiposity, physical activity and alcohol) and they might explain the observed disparities through their roles as intermediates in the causal pathway between race and stroke. There has been a paucity of research on the impact of socioeconomic and behavioral risk factors in stroke risk prediction. Moreover, validation of existing stroke prediction scores among African Americans is urgently needed. This innovative project will address these gaps in the literature by: (1) determining whether racial disparities in stroke and the associations of selected stroke risk factors by race are comparable in two biracial socioeconomically heterogeneous populations, (2) determining whether mediation by socioeconomic and behavioral stroke risk factors account for racial disparities in stroke beyond traditional stroke risk factors using conventional and causal frameworks, and (3) examining whether race-specific stroke prediction models improve the predictive performance (calibration and discrimination) of long-term stroke risk compared to existing stroke prediction models.
These aims will be accomplished through the use of three multi-racial, well-established NIH-funded cohorts; the Women's Health Initiative, Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS) and Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke. A comprehensive approach to examining racial disparities will be utilized. Novel causal mediation analyses will complement conventional epidemiologic methods and move the field forward. Furthermore, race-specific stroke prediction models will enable the development of improved prevention strategies among at-risk individuals. These socioeconomic and behavioral stroke risk factors are often routinely collected in the clinic or could be obtained at minimal cost. This grant will generate new knowledge and crucial training for my advancement to become an independent epidemiologist in the field of racial/ethnic disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD) by developing my expertise in (1) racial disparities and social determinant of CVD; (2) statistical training in mediation analyses; (3) methodologic training in prediction modeling; (4) data management and analytic skills with Medicare claims data (CMS) for stroke ascertainment in SCCS and (5) pilot medical record collection for stroke validation in SCCS. The advanced training, mentorship and protected time provided by this career development award will provide the skills and experience necessary for conducting the highest quality racial/ethnic cardiovascular disparities research and a strong foundation for success as an independent epidemiologic racial/disparities investigator.

Public Health Relevance

Stroke is the 4th leading cause of US mortality and 3rd among African Americans, with African Americans exhibiting more than twice the risk of Whites. This proposal will increase our understanding of differences in risk of stroke by race, providing insight into new approaches for prevention and elimination of racial disparities in stroke. By examining the contribution of socioeconomic and behavioral stroke risk factors (measures of SES, adiposity, physical activity and alcohol) to racial disparities in stroke, this proposal will advance knowledge and suggest target areas to decrease disparities, while the limitations of existing prediction scores will be addressed by the development of race-specific risk models which may assist in prevention strategies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01HL124391-04
Application #
9292369
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-X (M1))
Program Officer
Nelson, Cheryl R
Project Start
2014-08-01
Project End
2019-05-31
Budget Start
2017-06-01
Budget End
2018-05-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
$178,200
Indirect Cost
$13,200
Name
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Department
Type
Independent Hospitals
DUNS #
030811269
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Madsen, Tracy E; Howard, Virginia J; Jiménez, Monik et al. (2018) Impact of Conventional Stroke Risk Factors on Stroke in Women: An Update. Stroke 49:536-542
Rist, Pamela M; Jiménez, Monik C; Tworoger, Shelley S et al. (2018) Plasma Retinol-Binding Protein 4 Levels and the Risk of Ischemic Stroke among Women. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 27:68-75
Gall, Seana; Phan, Hoang; Madsen, Tracy E et al. (2018) Focused Update of Sex Differences in Patient Reported Outcome Measures After Stroke. Stroke 49:531-535
Rist, Pamela M; Jiménez, Monik C; Rexrode, Kathryn M (2017) Prospective association between ?2-microglobulin levels and ischemic stroke risk among women. Neurology 88:2176-2182
Jiménez, M C (2017) Response to comment on plasma uric acid and risk of ischaemic stroke in women. Eur J Neurol 24:e2
Jiménez, M C; Curhan, G C; Choi, H K et al. (2016) Plasma uric acid concentrations and risk of ischaemic stroke in women. Eur J Neurol 23:1158-64
Jiménez, Monik C; Rexrode, Kathryn M; Kotler, Gregory et al. (2016) Association Between Markers of Inflammation and Total Stroke by Hypertensive Status Among Women. Am J Hypertens 29:1117-24
Writing Group Members; Mozaffarian, Dariush; Benjamin, Emelia J et al. (2016) Executive Summary: Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics--2016 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation 133:447-54
Sesso, Howard D; Jiménez, Monik C; Wang, Lu et al. (2015) Plasma Inflammatory Markers and the Risk of Developing Hypertension in Men. J Am Heart Assoc 4:e001802
Jiménez, Monik C; Rexrode, Kathryn M; Glynn, Robert J et al. (2015) Association Between High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Total Stroke by Hypertensive Status Among Men. J Am Heart Assoc 4:e002073

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