This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. As the life expectancy of persons with spinal cord disorder (SCD) has approached that in the general population, cardiovascular diseases have become the major cause of death in affected individuals. The risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), nevertheless, seems to be higher in individuals with SCD than able-bodied controls. We propose a cross-section study to examine CHD risk among 30 women with SCD compared with data obtained from 30 women without disabling conditions. It is hypothesized that the prevalence of major atherogenic risk factors, including impaired glucose tolerance and reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (< 35 mg/dl), is higher in women with SCD than age-, race-, and body mass index-matched able-bodied controls. The potential contributing factors to the increased CHD risk will also be assessed, including anthropometric measures, total body fat and lean mass measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), visceral fat determined by a single computed tomography scan at the umbilicus level, resting energy expenditure assessed by indirect calorimetry, self-reported physical activity participation, dietary intake assessed by 24-hour diet recall, 4-day food records, and food frequency questionnaire, smoking status, and alcohol use. Study participants will be recruited by advertising at the community level. All measurements will be taken during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle under controlled dietary and laboratory conditions at the General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) on a schedule that precludes interference between measures.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 570 publications
