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

Ellervik C, Roselli C, Christophersen IE, Alonso A, Pietzner M, Sitlani CM, Trompet S, Arking DE, Geelhoed B, Guo X, Kleber ME, Lin HJ, Lin H, MacFarlane P, Selvin E, Shaffer C, Smith AV, Verweij N, Weiss S, Cappola AR, Dörr M, Gudnason V, Heckbert S, Mooijaart S, März W, Psaty BM, Ridker PM, Roden D, Stott DJ, Völzke H, Benjamin EJ, Delgado G, Ellinor P, Homuth G, Köttgen A, Jukema JW, Lubitz SA, Mora S, Rienstra M, Rotter JI, Shoemaker MB, Sotoodehnia N, Taylor KD, van der Harst P, Albert CM, Chasman DI. Assessment of the relationship between genetic determinants of thyroid function and atrial fibrillation: a Mendelian randomization study.  JAMA Cardiol. 2019 Feb 1;4(2):144-152. doi: 10.1001/jamacardio.2018.4635. PubMed

Kilpeläinen TO, Bentley AR, Noordam R, Sung YJ, Schwander K, Winkler TW, Jakupovic H, Chasman DI, Manning A, Ntalla I, Aschard H, Brown MR, de Las Fuentes L, Franceschini N, Guo X, Vojinovic D, Aslibekyan S, Feitosa MF, Kho M, Musani SK, Richard M, Wang H, Wang Z, Bartz TM, Bielak LF, Campbell A, Dorajoo R, Fisher V, Hartwig FP, Horimoto ARVR, Li C, Lohman KK, Marten J, Sim X, Smith AV, Tajuddin SM, Alver M, Amini M, Boissel M, Chai JF, Chen X, Divers J, Evangelou E, Gao C, Graff M, Harris SE, He M, Hsu FC, Jackson AU, Zhao JH, Kraja AT, Kühnel B, Laguzzi F, Lyytikäinen LP, Nolte IM, Rauramaa R, Riaz M, Robino A, Rueedi R, Stringham HM, Takeuchi F, van der Most PJ, Varga TV, Verweij N, Ware EB, Wen W, Li X, Yanek LR, Amin N, Arnett DK, Boerwinkle E, Brumat M, Cade B, Canouil M, Chen YI, Concas MP, Connell J, de Mutsert R, de Silva HJ, de Vries PS, Demirkan A, Ding J, Eaton CB, Faul JD, Friedlander Y, Gabriel KP, Ghanbari M, Giulianini F, Gu CC, Gu D, Harris TB, He J, Heikkinen S, Heng CK, Hunt SC, Ikram MA, Jonas JB, Koh WP, Komulainen P, Krieger JE, Kritchevsky SB, Kutalik Z, Kuusisto J, Langefeld CD, Langenberg C, Launer LJ, Leander K, Lemaitre RN, Lewis CE, Liang J; Lifelines Cohort Study, Liu J, Mägi R, Manichaikul A, Meitinger T, Metspalu A, Milaneschi Y, Mohlke KL, Mosley TH Jr, Murray AD, Nalls MA, Nang EK, Nelson CP, Nona S, Norris JM, Nwuba CV, O'Connell J, Palmer ND, Papanicolau GJ, Pazoki R, Pedersen NL, Peters A, Peyser PA, Polasek O, Porteous DJ, Poveda A, Raitakari OT, Rich SS, Risch N, Robinson JG, Rose LM, Rudan I, Schreiner PJ, Scott RA, Sidney SS, Sims M, Smith JA, Snieder H, Sofer T, Starr JM, Sternfeld B, Strauch K, Tang H, Taylor KD, Tsai MY, Tuomilehto J, Uitterlinden AG, van der Ende MY, van Heemst D, Voortman T, Waldenberger M, Wennberg P, Wilson G, Xiang YB, Yao J, Yu C, Yuan JM, Zhao W, Zonderman AB, Becker DM, Boehnke M, Bowden DW, de Faire U, Deary IJ, Elliott P, Esko T, Freedman BI, Froguel P, Gasparini P, Gieger C, Kato N, Laakso M, Lakka TA, Lehtimäki T, Magnusson PKE, Oldehinkel AJ, Penninx BWJH, Samani NJ, Shu XO, van der Harst P, Van Vliet-Ostaptchouk JV, Vollenweider P, Wagenknecht LE, Wang YX, Wareham NJ, Weir DR, Wu T, Zheng W, Zhu X, Evans MK, Franks PW, Gudnason V, Hayward C, Horta BL, Kelly TN, Liu Y, North KE, Pereira AC, Ridker PM, Tai ES, van Dam RM, Fox ER, Kardia SLR, Liu CT, Mook-Kanamori DO, Province MA, Redline S, van Duijn CM, Rotter JI, Kooperberg CB, Gauderman WJ, Psaty BM, Rice K, Munroe PB, Fornage M, Cupples LA, Rotimi CN, Morrison AC, Rao DC, Loos RJF. Multi-ancestry study of blood lipid levels identifies four loci interacting with physical activity.  Nat Commun. 2019;10(1):376. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-08008-w.  PubMed

He KY, Li X, Kelly TN, Liang J, Cade BE, Assimes TL, Becker LC, Beitelshees AL, Bress AP, Chang YC, Chen YI, de Vries PS, Fox ER, Franceschini N, Furniss A, Gao Y, Guo X, Haessler J, Hwang SJ, Irvin MR, Kalyani RR, Liu CT, Liu C, Martin LW, Montasser ME, Muntner PM, Mwasongwe S, Palmas W, Reiner AP, Shimbo D, Smith JA, Snively BM, Yanek LR, Boerwinkle E, Correa A, Cupples LA, He J, Kardia SLR, Kooperberg C, Mathias RA, Mitchell BD, Psaty BM, Vasan RS, Rao DC, Rich SS, Rotter JI, Wilson JG; NHLBI Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) Consortium, TOPMed Blood Pressure Working Group, Chakravarti A, Morrison AC, Levy D, Arnett DK, Redline S, Zhu X. Leveraging linkage evidence to identify low-frequency and rare variants on 16p13 associated with blood pressure using TOPMed whole genome sequencing data. Hum Genet. 2019 Jan 22. doi: 10.1007/s00439-019-01975-0. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed

Lindström S, Brody JA, Turman C, Germain M, Bartz TM, Smith EN, Chen MH, Puurunen M, Chasman D, Hassler J, Pankratz N, Basu S, Guan W, Gyorgy B, Ibrahim M, Empana JP, Olaso R, Jackson R, Braekkan SK, McKnight B, Deleuze JF, O'Donnell CJ, Jouven X, Frazer KA, Psaty BM, Wiggins KL, Taylor K, Reiner AP, Heckbert SR, Kooperberg C, Ridker P, Hansen JB, Tang W, Johnson AD, Morange PE, Trégouët DA, Kraft P, Smith NL, Kabrhel C; INVENT Consortium. A large-scale exome array analysis of venous thromboembolism. Genet Epidemiol. 2019 Jun;43(4):449-457. doi: 10.1002/gepi.22187. Epub 2019 Jan 19. PubMed

Timmers PR, Mounier N, Lall K, Fischer K, Ning Z, Feng X, Bretherick AD, Clark DW; eQTLGen Consortium, Agbessi M, Ahsan H, Alves I, Andiappan A, Awadalla P, Battle A, Bonder MJ, Boomsma D, Christiansen M, Claringbould A, Deelen P, van Dongen J, Esko T, Favé M, Franke L, Frayling T, Gharib SA, Gibson G, Hemani G, Jansen R, Kalnapenkis A, Kasela S, Kettunen J, Kim Y, Kirsten H, Kovacs P, Krohn K, Kronberg-Guzman J, Kukushkina V, Kutalik Z, Kähönen M, Lee B, Lehtimäki T, Loeffler M, Marigorta U, Metspalu A, van Meurs J, Milani L, Müller-Nurasyid M, Nauck M, Nivard M, Penninx B, Perola M, Pervjakova N, Pierce B, Powell J, Prokisch H, Psaty BM, Raitakari O, Ring S, Ripatti S, Rotzschke O, Ruëger S, Saha A, Scholz M, Schramm K, Seppälä I, Stumvoll M, Sullivan P, Teumer A, Thiery J, Tong L, Tönjes A, Verlouw J, Visscher PM, Võsa U, Völker U, Yaghootkar H, Yang J, Zeng B, Zhang F, Agbessi M, Ahsan H, Alves I, Andiappan A, Awadalla P, Battle A, Bonder MJ, Boomsma D, Christiansen M, Claringbould A, Deelen P, van Dongen J, Esko T, Favé M, Franke L, Frayling T, Gharib SA, Gibson G, Hemani G, Jansen R, Kalnapenkis A, Kasela S, Kettunen J, Kim Y, Kirsten H, Kovacs P, Krohn K, Kronberg-Guzman J, Kukushkina V, Kutalik Z, Kähönen M, Lee B, Lehtimäki T, Loeffler M, Marigorta U, Metspalu A, van Meurs J, Milani L, Müller-Nurasyid M, Nauck M, Nivard M, Penninx B, Perola M, Pervjakova N, Pierce B, Powell J, Prokisch H, Psaty BM, Raitakari O, Ring S, Ripatti S, Rotzschke O, Ruëger S, Saha A, Scholz M, Schramm K, Seppälä I, Stumvoll M, Sullivan P, Teumer A, Thiery J, Tong L, Tönjes A, Verlouw J, Visscher PM, Võsa U, Völker U, Yaghootkar H, Yang J, Zeng B, Zhang F, Shen X, Esko T, Kutalik Z, Wilson JF, Joshi PK. Genomics of 1 million parent lifespans implicates novel pathways and common diseases and distinguishes survival chances. Elife. 2019;8. pii: 39856. doi: 10.7554/eLife.39856.  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