Cardiovascular Health

“One in four deaths in the United States is attributed to heart disease. Our researchers study how behavior, environment, and genetics affect heart health and how screening and treatment can reduce risk.”

Laura B. Harrington, PhD, MPH
Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute Assistant Investigator

Research overview

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for Americans. Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) scientists are working to understand how to reduce our risk of heart attacks, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases throughout life. 

Addressing risk factors, improving diagnosis, and exploring how medications, genes, and everyday life affect our cardiovascular health at different ages and stages are central to this work — as is translating research findings into practical, personalized care.

“We’ve found that helping patients and health care teams work together on personalized care plans is the best path to lifelong heart health,” says Beverly Green, MD, MPH, whose recent work has focused on improving the diagnosis of high blood pressure.

Additional focus areas for KPWHRI scientists include exploring the impact of cardiovascular diseases on other health conditions — and vice versa. Recently, this has led researchers Sascha Dublin, MD, PhD, and Laura B. Harrington, PhD, MPH, to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular health.

Below are other research highlights from KPWHRI’s cardiovascular health scientists (please visit their bios to learn more):

  • In 2016 Dr. Green, a senior investigator, launched the BP-CHECK study, which aims to find the easiest, most accurate way to diagnose high blood pressure. With a $2.8 million award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), the study compares blood pressure readings taken in clinic, at home, and at validated blood pressure kiosks to the 24-hour blood pressure test that is currently considered the gold standard for diagnosing hypertension.
     
  • Dr. Dublin, a senior investigator, explores many different facets of cardiovascular disease in her work, including risk factors for atrial fibrillation, the effect of medications on cardiovascular disease, and the relationship between cardiovascular disease and other conditions, such as dementia. Managing cardiovascular risk factors in pregnancy — such as high blood pressure and diabetes — is a particular interest.
     
  • Dr. Harrington, an assistant investigator, is a cardiovascular epidemiologist whose research aims to improve understanding of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, particularly among older women. Currently, she is leading a study exploring the relationship between physical activity, sedentary behavior, and the risk of venous thromboembolism (blood clots that form predominantly in the veins of the legs or lungs). In addition to this work, Dr. Harrington conducts research in the areas of recurrent cardiovascular event risk, cardiovascular health in relation to cognitive decline and dementia risk in later life, and pharmacologic exposures in relation to cardiovascular event risk, with a particular focus on risk factors for venous thromboembolism.
     
  • Senior Investigator Michael L. Parchman, MD, MPH, focuses on implementing evidence-based cardiovascular disease care into primary care settings. He led the 4-year Healthy Hearts Northwest trial, an EvidenceNOW initiative that helped smaller primary care practices in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho adopt evidence-based approaches to improving cardiovascular care outcomes. The trial continues to produce findings of importance.
     
  • The work of Ellen O'Meara, PhD, a senior research associate, centers on the epidemiology of common and important health conditions in the United States, including cardiovascular disease. Her collaborative research has included studies exploring the risk factors and outcomes of heart disease and stroke. Recent work includes research on quality improvement aimed at controlling hypertension at small primary care practices.

Recent publications on Cardiovascular Health

Wong JYY, Margolis HG, Machiela M, Zhou W, Odden MC, Psaty BM, Robbins J, Jones RR, Rotter JI, Chanock SJ, Rothman N, Lan Q, Lee JS. Outdoor air pollution and mosaic loss of chromosome Y in older men from the Cardiovascular Health Study.  Environ Int. 2018 Apr 23;116:239-247. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.04.030. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed

Wood AM, Kaptoge S, Butterworth AS, Willeit P, Warnakula S, Bolton T, Paige E, Paul DS, Sweeting M, Burgess S, Bell S, Astle W, Stevens D, Koulman A, Selmer RM, Verschuren WMM, Sato S, Njølstad I, Woodward M, Salomaa V, Nordestgaard BG, Yeap BB, Fletcher A, Melander O, Kuller LH, Balkau B, Marmot M, Koenig W, Casiglia E, Cooper C, Arndt V, Franco OH, Wennberg P, Gallacher J, de la Cámara AG, Völzke H, Dahm CC, Dale CE, Bergmann MM, Crespo CJ, van der Schouw YT, Kaaks R, Simons LA, Lagiou P, Schoufour JD, Boer JMA, Key TJ, Rodriguez B, Moreno-Iribas C, Davidson KW, Taylor JO, Sacerdote C, Wallace RB, Quiros JR, Tumino R, Blazer DG 2nd, Linneberg A, Daimon M, Panico S, Howard B, Skeie G, Strandberg T, Weiderpass E, Nietert PJ, Psaty BM, Kromhout D, Salamanca-Fernandez E, Kiechl S, Krumholz HM, Grioni S, Palli D, Huerta JM, Price J, Sundström J, Arriola L, Arima H, Travis RC, Panagiotakos DB, Karakatsani A, Trichopoulou A, Kühn T, Grobbee DE, Barrett-Connor E, van Schoor N, Boeing H, Overvad K, Kauhanen J, Wareham N, Langenberg C, Forouhi N, Wennberg M, Després JP, Cushman M, Cooper JA, Rodriguez CJ, Sakurai M, Shaw JE, Knuiman M, Voortman T, Meisinger C, Tjønneland A, Brenner H, Palmieri L, Dallongeville J, Brunner EJ, Assmann G, Trevisan M, Gillum RF, Ford I, Sattar N, Lazo M, Thompson SG, Ferrari P, Leon DA, Smith GD, Peto R, Jackson R, Banks E, Di Angelantonio E, Danesh J, Emerging Risk Factors Collaboration/EPIC-CVD/UK Biobank Alcohol Study Group. Risk thresholds for alcohol consumption: combined analysis of individual-participant data for 599 912 current drinkers in 83 prospective studies. Lancet. 2018 Apr 14;391(10129):1513-1523. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30134-X. PubMed

Mahajan A, Wessel J, Willems SM, Zhao W, Robertson NR, Chu AY, Gan W, Kitajima H, Taliun D, Rayner NW, Guo X, Lu Y, Li M, Jensen RA, Hu Y, Huo S, Lohman KK, Zhang W, Cook JP, Prins BP, Flannick J, Grarup N, Trubetskoy VV, Kravic J, Kim YJ, Rybin DV, Yaghootkar H, Müller-Nurasyid M, Meidtner K, Li-Gao R, Varga TV, Marten J, Li J, Smith AV, An P, Ligthart S, Gustafsson S, Malerba G, Demirkan A, Tajes JF, Steinthorsdottir V, Wuttke M, Lecoeur C, Preuss M, Bielak LF, Graff M, Highland HM, Justice AE, Liu DJ, Marouli E, Peloso GM, Warren HR; ExomeBP Consortium; MAGIC Consortium; GIANT Consortium, Afaq S, Afzal S, Ahlqvist E, Almgren P, Amin N, Bang LB, Bertoni AG, Bombieri C, Bork-Jensen J, Brandslund I, Brody JA, Burtt NP, Canouil M, Chen YI, Cho YS, Christensen C, Eastwood SV, Eckardt KU, Fischer K, Gambaro G, Giedraitis V, Grove ML, de Haan HG, Hackinger S, Hai Y, Han S, Tybjærg-Hansen A, Hivert MF, Isomaa B, Jäger S, Jørgensen ME, Jørgensen T, Käräjämäki A, Kim BJ, Kim SS, Koistinen HA, Kovacs P, Kriebel J, Kronenberg F, Läll K, Lange LA, Lee JJ, Lehne B, Li H, Lin KH, Linneberg A, Liu CT, Liu J, Loh M, Mägi R, Mamakou V, McKean-Cowdin R, Nadkarni G, Neville M, Nielsen SF, Ntalla I, Peyser PA, Rathmann W, Rice K, Rich SS, Rode L, Rolandsson O, Schönherr S, Selvin E, Small KS, Stancáková A, Surendran P, Taylor KD, Teslovich TM, Thorand B, Thorleifsson G, Tin A, Tönjes A, Varbo A, Witte DR, Wood AR, Yajnik P, Yao J, Yengo L, Young R, Amouyel P, Boeing H, Boerwinkle E, Bottinger EP, Chowdhury R, Collins FS, Dedoussis G, Dehghan A, Deloukas P, Ferrario MM, Ferrières J, Florez JC, Frossard P, Gudnason V, Harris TB, Heckbert SR, Howson JMM, Ingelsson M, Kathiresan S, Kee F, Kuusisto J, Langenberg C, Launer LJ, Lindgren CM, Männistö S, Meitinger T, Melander O, Mohlke KL, Moitry M, Morris AD, Murray AD, de Mutsert R, Orho-Melander M, Owen KR, Perola M, Peters A, Province MA, Rasheed A, Ridker PM, Rivadineira F, Rosendaal FR, Rosengren AH, Salomaa V, Sheu WH, Sladek R, Smith BH, Strauch K, Uitterlinden AG, Varma R, Willer CJ, Blüher M, Butterworth AS, Chambers JC, Chasman DI, Danesh J, van Duijn C, Dupuis J, Franco OH, Franks PW, Froguel P, Grallert H, Groop L, Han BG, Hansen T, Hattersley AT, Hayward C, Ingelsson E, Kardia SLR, Karpe F, Kooner JS, Köttgen A, Kuulasmaa K, Laakso M, Lin X, Lind L, Liu Y, Loos RJF, Marchini J, Metspalu A, Mook-Kanamori D, Nordestgaard BG, Palmer CNA, Pankow JS, Pedersen O, Psaty BM, Rauramaa R, Sattar N, Schulze MB, Soranzo N, Spector TD, Stefansson K, Stumvoll M, Thorsteinsdottir U, Tuomi T, Tuomilehto J, Wareham NJ, Wilson JG, Zeggini E, Scott RA, Barroso I, Frayling TM, Goodarzi MO, Meigs JB, Boehnke M, Saleheen D, Morris AP, Rotter JI, McCarthy MI. Refining the accuracy of validated target identification through coding variant fine-mapping in type 2 diabetes.  Nat Genet. 2018;50(4):559-571. doi: 10.1038/s41588-018-0084-1. Epub 2018 Apr 9. PubMed

Napier MD, Franceschini N, Gondalia R, Stewart JD, Méndez-Giráldez R, Sitlani CM, Seyerle AA, Highland HM, Li Y, Wilhelmsen KC, Yan S, Duan Q, Roach J, Yao J, Guo X, Taylor KD, Heckbert SR, Rotter JI, North KE, Reiner AP, Zhang ZM, Tinker LF, Liao D, Laurie CC, Gogarten SM, Lin HJ, Brody JA, Bartz TM, Psaty BM, Sotoodehnia N, Soliman EZ, Avery CL, Whitsel EA. Genome-wide association study and meta-analysis identify loci associated with ventricular and supraventricular ectopy.  Sci Rep. 2018 Apr 4;8(1):5675. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-23843-z. PubMed

Malik R, Chauhan G, Traylor M, Sargurupremraj M, Okada Y, Mishra A, Rutten-Jacobs L, Giese AK, van der Laan SW, Gretarsdottir S, Anderson CD, Chong M, Adams HHH, Ago T, Almgren P, Amouyel P, Ay H, Bartz TM, Benavente OR, Bevan S, Boncoraglio GB, Brown RD Jr, Butterworth AS, Carrera C, Carty CL, Chasman DI, Chen WM, Cole JW, Correa A, Cotlarciuc I, Cruchaga C, Danesh J, de Bakker PIW, DeStefano AL, den Hoed M, Duan Q, Engelter ST, Falcone GJ, Gottesman RF, Grewal RP, Gudnason V, Gustafsson S, Haessler J, Harris TB, Hassan A, Havulinna AS, Heckbert SR, Holliday EG, Howard G, Hsu FC, Hyacinth HI, Ikram MA, Ingelsson E, Irvin MR, Jian X, Jiménez-Conde J, Johnson JA, Jukema JW, Kanai M, Keene KL, Kissela BM, Kleindorfer DO, Kooperberg C, Kubo M, Lange LA, Langefeld CD, Langenberg C, Launer LJ, Lee JM, Lemmens R, Leys D, Lewis CM, Lin WY, Lindgren AG, Lorentzen E, Magnusson PK, Maguire J, Manichaikul A, McArdle PF, Meschia JF, Mitchell BD, Mosley TH, Nalls MA, Ninomiya T, O'Donnell MJ, Psaty BM, Pulit SL, Rannikmäe K, Reiner AP, Rexrode KM, Rice K, Rich SS, Ridker PM, Rost NS, Rothwell PM, Rotter JI, Rundek T, Sacco RL, Sakaue S, Sale MM, Salomaa V, Sapkota BR, Schmidt R, Schmidt CO, Schminke U, Sharma P, Slowik A, Sudlow CLM, Tanislav C, Tatlisumak T, Taylor KD, Thijs VNS, Thorleifsson G, Thorsteinsdottir U, Tiedt S, Trompet S, Tzourio C, van Duijn CM, Walters M, Wareham NJ, Wassertheil-Smoller S, Wilson JG, Wiggins KL, Yang Q, Yusuf S, Bis JC, Pastinen T, Ruusalepp A, Schadt EE, Koplev S, Björkegren JLM, Codoni V, Civelek M, Smith NL, Trégouët DA, Christophersen IE, Roselli C, Lubitz SA, Ellinor PT, Tai ES, Kooner JS, Kato N, He J, van der Harst P, Elliott P, Chambers JC, Takeuchi F, Johnson AD, Sanghera DK, Melander O, Jern C, Strbian D, Fernandez-Cadenas I, Longstreth WT Jr, Rolfs A, Hata J, Woo D, Rosand J, Pare G, Hopewell JC, Saleheen D, Stefansson K, Worrall BB, Kittner SJ, Seshadri S, Fornage M, Markus HS, Howson JMM, Kamatani Y, Debette S, Dichgans M, Malik R, Chauhan G, Traylor M, Sargurupremraj M, Okada Y, Mishra A, Rutten-Jacobs L, Giese AK, van der Laan SW, Gretarsdottir S, Anderson CD, Chong M, Adams HHH, Ago T, Almgren P, Amouyel P, Ay H, Bartz TM, Benavente OR, Bevan S, Boncoraglio GB, Brown RD Jr, Butterworth AS, Carrera C, Carty CL, Chasman DI, Chen WM, Cole JW, Correa A, Cotlarciuc I, Cruchaga C, Danesh J, de Bakker PIW, DeStefano AL, Hoed MD, Duan Q, Engelter ST, Falcone GJ, Gottesman RF, Grewal RP, Gudnason V, Gustafsson S, Haessler J, Harris TB, Hassan A, Havulinna AS, Heckbert SR, Holliday EG, Howard G, Hsu FC, Hyacinth HI, Ikram MA, Ingelsson E, Irvin MR, Jian X, Jiménez-Conde J, Johnson JA, Jukema JW, Kanai M, Keene KL, Kissela BM, Kleindorfer DO, Kooperberg C, Kubo M, Lange LA, Langefeld CD, Langenberg C, Launer LJ, Lee JM, Lemmens R, Leys D, Lewis CM, Lin WY, Lindgren AG, Lorentzen E, Magnusson PK, Maguire J, Manichaikul A, McArdle PF, Meschia JF, Mitchell BD, Mosley TH, Nalls MA, Ninomiya T, O'Donnell MJ, Psaty BM, Pulit SL, Rannikmäe K, Reiner AP, Rexrode KM, Rice K, Rich SS, Ridker PM, Rost NS, Rothwell PM, Rotter JI, Rundek T, Sacco RL, Sakaue S, Sale MM, Salomaa V, Sapkota BR, Schmidt R, Schmidt CO, Schminke U, Sharma P, Slowik A, Sudlow CLM, Tanislav C, Tatlisumak T, Taylor KD, Thijs VNS, Thorleifsson G, Thorsteinsdottir U, Tiedt S, Trompet S, Tzourio C, van Duijn CM, Walters M, Wareham NJ, Wassertheil-Smoller S, Wilson JG, Wiggins KL, Yang Q, Yusuf S, Amin N, Aparicio HS, Arnett DK, Attia J, Beiser AS, Berr C, Buring JE, Bustamante M, Caso V, Cheng YC, Choi SH, Chowhan A, Cullell N, Dartigues JF, Delavaran H, Delgado P, Dörr M, Engström G, Ford I, Gurpreet WS, Hamsten A, Heitsch L, Hozawa A, Ibanez L, Ilinca A, Ingelsson M, Iwasaki M, Jackson RD, Jood K, Jousilahti P, Kaffashian S, Kalra L, Kamouchi M, Kitazono T, Kjartansson O, Kloss M, Koudstaal PJ, Krupinski J, Labovitz DL, Laurie CC, Levi CR, Li L, Lind L, Lindgren CM, Lioutas V, Liu YM, Lopez OL, Makoto H, Martinez-Majander N, Matsuda K, Minegishi N, Montaner J, Morris AP, Muiño E, Müller-Nurasyid M, Norrving B, Ogishima S, Parati EA, Peddareddygari LR, Pedersen NL, Pera J, Perola M, Pezzini A, Pileggi S, Rabionet R, Riba-Llena I, Ribasés M, Romero JR, Roquer J, Rudd AG, Sarin AP, Sarju R, Sarnowski C, Sasaki M, Satizabal CL, Satoh M, Sattar N, Sawada N, Sibolt G, Sigurdsson Á, Smith A, Sobue K, Soriano-Tárraga C, Stanne T, Stine OC, Stott DJ, Strauch K, Takai T, Tanaka H, Tanno K, Teumer A, Tomppo L, Torres-Aguila NP, Touze E, Tsugane S, Uitterlinden AG, Valdimarsson EM, van der Lee SJ, Völzke H, Wakai K, Weir D, Williams SR, Wolfe CDA, Wong Q, Xu H, Yamaji T, Sanghera DK, Melander O, Jern C, Strbian D, Fernandez-Cadenas I, Longstreth WT Jr, Rolfs A, Hata J, Woo D, Rosand J, Pare G, Hopewell JC, Saleheen D, Stefansson K, Worrall BB, Kittner SJ, Seshadri S, Fornage M, Markus HS, Howson JMM, Kamatani Y, Debette S, Dichgans M; AFGen Consortium; Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology (CHARGE) Consortium; International Genomics of Blood Pressure (iGEN-BP) Consortium; INVENT Consortium; STARNET; BioBank Japan Cooperative Hospital Group; COMPASS Consortium; EPIC-CVD Consortium; EPIC-InterAct Consortium; International Stroke Genetics Consortium (ISGC); METASTROKE Consortium; Neurology Working Group of the CHARGE Consortium; NINDS Stroke Genetics Network (SiGN); UK Young Lacunar DNA Study; MEGASTROKE Consortium; MEGASTROKE Consortium. Multiancestry genome-wide association study of 520,000 subjects identifies 32 loci associated with stroke and stroke subtypes. Nat Genet. 2018 Mar 12. pii: 10.1038/s41588-018-0058-3. doi: 10.1038/s41588-018-0058-3. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed

Researchers in Cardiovascular Health

Sascha Dublin, MD, PhD

Senior Investigator
206-287-2870
Sascha.Dublin@kp.org

Curriculum vitae (CV)

Beverly B. Green, MD, MPH

Senior Investigator
206-287-2997
Bev.B.Green@kp.org

Curriculum vitae (CV)

Laura Harrington, PhD, MPH

Assistant Investigator
206-287-2066
Laura.B.Harrington@kp.org

Curriculum vitae (CV)

Ellen O'Meara, PhD

Principal Collaborative Scientist
206-287-2938
Ellen.S.O'Meara@kp.org

Curriculum vitae (CV)

Nicole M. Gatto, PhD, MPH

Principal Collaborative Scientist
Nicole.M.Gatto@kp.org

Curriculum vitae (CV)

Meagan C. Brown, PhD, MPH

Assistant Investigator
Meagan.C.Brown@kp.org

Curriculum vitae (CV)

 

Affiliate researchers

James Floyd, MD, MS
Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology
University of Washington

Susan Heckbert, MD, PhD
University of Washington (UW) Department of Epidemiology; UW Cardiovascular Health Research Unit

Nicholas L. Smith, PhD, MPH
UW Professor, Epidemiology, Cardiovascular Health Research Unit
Director, Seattle Epidemiology and Information Resource Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System