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. I moved and started work with the University of Hawaii in August 2005. One of the major reasons for this move was to provide myself with the research support and the patient population with which to study heart function and disease during pregnancy. The prevalence of heart disease in Native Hawaiians is greater compared to other ethnic groups. Heart failure hits Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders five to ten years before it hits Caucasian and Asian groups. In addition, Hawaiians have an increased mortality rate from cardiovascular disease. Determination of heart function in all phases of pregnancy, delivery, and recovery can be critical to the care of the gravid cardiac patient. The physiologic demands of pregnancy can stress the heart function more than in the non-pregnant state. Therefore, better heart monitoring techniques are needed to help care for pregnant women with cardiomyopathy and other types of heart failure. Considering the increased work that the pregnant heart needs to do and the increase and early onset of heart disease in Hawaii, it is an ideal environment to pursue these clinical and research interests.
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