Linda D. Oakley leads African American cardiovascular disparities study

Professor Linda D. Oakley

“Follow your heart” … “Speak from the heart” … ”Believe with all your heart” … “Have a heart”—all reference that large organic muscle that pumps blood through the body and houses the human spirit and soul.

It is the last phrase, however, that bears special significance for Dr. Oakley, associate professor at the UW-Madison School of Nursing. “Have a Heart” is the name of the first health disparities community research project of the African American Health Network (AAHN) of Dane County. Denise Carty, Wisconsin minority health officer, is the founding chair of the network, and Dr. Oakley is the lead investigator of the research project. The project’s aim is to use screening and educational methods to more effectively describe cardiovascular disease health risks and health disparities in African American children and adults living in Dane County.

Statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2001) reveal that African Americans experience extraordinary rates of cardiovascular disease mortality and morbidity:

• The death rate for African American was 31 percent higher than Whites, while life expectancy for Whites exceeds African Americans by 5.5 years.
• Forty-one percent of African American males and 40 percent of African American females had cardiovascular disease, versus 30% for white males and 24% for white females.

“Have a Heart” will address a range of cardiovascular disease risks factors as well as risk factors shown to have a disproportionately negative impact on African Americans, such as obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol and glucose levels, stress, depression and access to culturally competent care.

Funded by the Wisconsin Cardiovascular Program, the Wisconsin Well Woman Program and a UW-Madison Hilldale Undergraduate Research Award, the “Have a Heart” project will offer screening and education programs at schools, neighborhood, centers, and shopping areas within Dane County. “Have a Heart” project partners include the UW-School of Nursing, American Heart Association, National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin, and the Meriter Hospital Community Education program. The AAHN has planned for 1,000 adult and 1,000 children participants.

“This is an ambitious project,” notes Oakley, “but nothing less will give a useful picture of the physical, psychological and social factors that contribute to the significant disparities in African American cardiovascular health risk.”

Visit the Closing the Health Gap web site for more information on health disparities.