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.”
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
Polasek O, Tanaka T, Arking DE, Ulivi S, Trompet S, Muller-Nurasyid M, Smith AV, Dorr M, Kerr KF, Magnani JW, Del Greco M F, Zhang W, Nolte IM, Silva CT, Padmanabhan S, Tragante V, Esko T, Abecasis GR, Adriaens ME, Andersen K, Barnett P, Bis JC, Bodmer R, Buckley BM, Campbell H, Cannon MV, Chakravarti A, Chen LY, Delitala A, Devereux RB, Doevendans PA, Dominiczak AF, Ferrucci L, Ford I, Gieger C, Harris TB, Haugen E, Heinig M, Hernandez DG, Hillege HL, Hirschhorn JN, Hofman A, Hubner N, Hwang SJ, Iorio A, Kähönen M, Kellis M, Kolcic I, Kooner IK, Kooner JS, Kors JA, Lakatta EG, Lage K, Launer LJ, Levy D, Lundby A, Macfarlane PW, May D, Meitinger T, Metspalu A, Nappo S, Naitza S, Neph S, Nord AS, Nutile T, Okin PM, Olsen JV, Oostra BA, Penninger JM, Pennacchio LA, Pers TH, Perz S, Peters A, Pinto YM, Pfeufer A, Pilia MG, Pramstaller PP, Prins BP, Raitakari OT, Raychaudhuri S, Rice KM, Rossin EJ, Rotter JI, Schafer S, Schlessinger D, Schmidt CO, Sehmi J, Silljé HH, Sinagra G, Sinner MF, Slowikowski K, Soliman EZ, Spector TD, Spiering W, Stamatoyannopoulos JA, Stolk RP, Strauch K, Tan ST, Tarasov KV, Trinh B, Uitterlinden AG, van den Boogaard M, van Duijn CM, van Gilst WH, Viikari JS, Visscher PM, Vitart V, Völker U, Waldenberger M, Weichenberger CX, Westra HJ, Wijmenga C, Wolffenbuttel BH, Yang J, Bezzina CR, Munroe PB, Snieder H, Wright AF, Rudan I, Boyer LA, Asselbergs FW, van Veldhuisen DJ, Stricker BH, Psaty BM, Ciullo M, Sanna S, Lehtimäki T, Wilson JF, Bandinelli S, Alonso A, Gasparini P, Jukema JW, Kääb S, Gudnason V, Felix SB, Heckbert SR, de Boer RA, Newton-Cheh C, Hicks AA, Chambers JC, Jamshidi Y, Visel A, Christoffels VM, Isaacs A, Samani NJ, de Bakker PI. 52 genetic loci influencing myocardial mass. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2016;68(13):1435-48. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2016.07.729. PubMed
Smit RA, Postmus I, Trompet S, Barnes MR, Warren H, Arsenault BJ, Chasman DI, Cupples LA, Hitman GA, Krauss RM, Li X, Psaty BM, Stein CM, Rotter JI, Jukema JW. Rooted in risk: genetic predisposition for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level associates with diminished low-density lipoprotein cholesterol response to statin treatment. Pharmacogenomics. 2016 Sep 20. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Deo R, Norby FL, Katz R, Sotoodehnia N, Adabag S, DeFilippi CR, Kestenbaum B, Chen LY, Heckbert SR, Folsom AR, Kronmal RA, Konety S, Patton KK, Siscovick D, Shlipak MG, Alonso A. Development and validation of a sudden cardiac death prediction model for the general population. Circulation. 2016;134(11):806-16. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.116.023042. Epub 2016 Aug 19. PubMed
Ehret GB, Ferreira T, Chasman DI, Jackson AU, Schmidt EM, Johnson T, Thorleifsson G, Luan J, Donnelly LA, Kanoni S, Petersen AK, Pihur V, Strawbridge RJ, Shungin D, Hughes MF, Meirelles O, Kaakinen M, Bouatia-Naji N, Kristiansson K, Shah S, Kleber ME, Guo X, Lyytikäinen LP, Fava C, Eriksson N, Nolte IM, Magnusson PK, Salfati EL, Rallidis LS, Theusch E, Smith AJ, Folkersen L, Witkowska K, Pers TH, Joehanes R, Kim SK, Lataniotis L, Jansen R, Johnson AD, Warren H, Kim YJ, Zhao W, Wu Y, Tayo BO, Bochud M; CHARGE-EchoGen Consortium; CHARGE-HF Consortium; Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium, Absher D, Adair LS, Amin N, Arking DE, Axelsson T, Baldassarre D, Balkau B, Bandinelli S, Barnes MR, Barroso I, Bevan S, Bis JC, Bjornsdottir G, Boehnke M, Boerwinkle E, Bonnycastle LL, Boomsma DI, Bornstein SR, Brown MJ, Burnier M, Cabrera CP, Chambers JC, Chang IS, Cheng CY, Chines PS, Chung RH, Collins FS, Connell JM, Döring A, Dallongeville J, Danesh J, de Faire U, Delgado G, Dominiczak AF, Doney AS, Drenos F, Edkins S, Eicher JD, Elosua R, Enroth S, Erdmann J, Eriksson P, Esko T, Evangelou E, Evans A, Fall T, Farrall M, Felix JF, Ferrières J, Ferrucci L, Fornage M, Forrester T, Franceschini N, Franco OH, Franco-Cereceda A, Fraser RM, Ganesh SK, Gao H, Gertow K, Gianfagna F, Gigante B, Giulianini F, Goel A, Goodall AH, Goodarzi MO, Gorski M, Gräßler J, Groves CJ, Gudnason V, Gyllensten U, Hallmans G, Hartikainen AL, Hassinen M, Havulinna AS, Hayward C, Hercberg S, Herzig KH, Hicks AA, Hingorani AD, Hirschhorn JN, Hofman A, Holmen J, Holmen OL, Hottenga JJ, Howard P, Hsiung CA, Hunt SC, Ikram MA, Illig T, Iribarren C, Jensen RA, Kähönen M, Kang HM, Kathiresan S, Keating BJ, Khaw KT, Kim YK, Kim E, Kivimaki M, Klopp N, Kolovou G, Komulainen P, Kooner JS, Kosova G, Krauss RM, Kuh D, Kutalik Z, Kuusisto J, Kvaløy K, Lakka TA, Lee NR, Lee IT, Lee WJ, Levy D, Li X, Liang KW, Lin H, Lin L, Lindström J, Lobbens S, Männistö S, Müller G, Müller-Nurasyid M, Mach F, Markus HS, Marouli E, McCarthy MI, McKenzie CA, Meneton P, Menni C, Metspalu A, Mijatovic V, Moilanen L, Montasser ME, Morris AD, Morrison AC, Mulas A, Nagaraja R, Narisu N, Nikus K, O'Donnell CJ, O'Reilly PF, Ong KK, Paccaud F, Palmer CD, Parsa A, Pedersen NL, Penninx BW, Perola M, Peters A, Poulter N, Pramstaller PP, Psaty BM, Quertermous T, Rao DC, Rasheed A, Rayner NW, Renström F, Rettig R, Rice KM, Roberts R, Rose LM, Rossouw J, Samani NJ, Sanna S, Saramies J, Schunkert H, Sebert S, Sheu WH, Shin YA, Sim X, Smit JH, Smith AV, Sosa MX, Spector TD, Stancáková A, Stanton AV, Stirrups KE, Stringham HM, Sundstrom J, Swift AJ, Syvänen AC, Tai ES, Tanaka T, Tarasov KV, Teumer A, Thorsteinsdottir U, Tobin MD, Tremoli E, Uitterlinden AG, Uusitupa M, Vaez A, Vaidya D, van Duijn CM, van Iperen EP, Vasan RS, Verwoert GC, Virtamo J, Vitart V, Voight BF, Vollenweider P, Wagner A, Wain LV, Wareham NJ, Watkins H, Weder AB, Westra HJ, Wilks R, Wilsgaard T, Wilson JF, Wong TY, Yang TP, Yao J, Yengo L, Zhang W, Zhao JH, Zhu X, Bovet P, Cooper RS, Mohlke KL, Saleheen D, Lee JY, Elliott P, Gierman HJ, Willer CJ, Franke L, Hovingh GK, Taylor KD, Dedoussis G, Sever P, Wong A, Lind L, Assimes TL, Njølstad I, Schwarz PE, Langenberg C, Snieder H, Caulfield MJ, Melander O, Laakso M, Saltevo J, Rauramaa R, Tuomilehto J, Ingelsson E, Lehtimäki T, Hveem K, Palmas W, März W, Kumari M, Salomaa V, Chen YI, Rotter JI, Froguel P, Jarvelin MR, Lakatta EG, Kuulasmaa K, Franks PW, Hamsten A, Wichmann HE, Palmer CN, Stefansson K, Ridker PM, Loos RJ, Chakravarti A, Deloukas P, Morris AP, Newton-Cheh C, Munroe PB. The genetics of blood pressure regulation and its target organs from association studies in 342,415 individuals. Nat Genet. 2016 Oct;48(10):1171-1184. doi: 10.1038/ng.3667. Epub 2016 Sep 12. PubMed
Wu C, Shlipak MG, Stawski RS, Peralta CA, Psaty BM, Harris TB, Satterfield S, Shiroma EJ, Newman AB, Odden MC. Visit-to-visit blood pressure variability and mortality and cardiovascular outcomes among older adults: the health, aging, and body composition study. Am J Hypertens. 2016 Sep 6. pii: hpw106. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Researchers in Cardiovascular Health
 Sascha Dublin, MD, PhDSenior Investigator |
 Beverly B. Green, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
 Laura Harrington, PhD, MPHAssociate Investigator |
 Ellen O'Meara, PhDPrincipal Collaborative Scientist |
 Nicole M. Gatto, PhD, MPHPrincipal Collaborative Scientist |
 Meagan C. Brown, PhD, MPHAssistant Investigator |
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
Research
Study finds bariatric surgery linked to substantially lower risk of blood clots long-term
Largest study to date helps patients weigh risks and benefits of surgery.
Live healthy
Measuring blood pressure at home: It's easy and accurate
Bev Green, doctor and scientist, has tips for monitoring your blood pressure without leaving your house.
Healthy findings blog
New grant boosts research on cardiovascular disease
Epidemiologist Laura B. Harrington, PhD, MPH, speaks about working in cardiovascular and aging research.
Research to practice
Home blood pressure monitoring: From study to clinic
Beverly Green, MD, and Kaiser Permanente work to improve hypertension care.
Research
Is blood pressure reading better at home or clinic?
Home blood pressure monitoring shown to be an excellent alternative for making new diagnoses of hypertension.
New findings
There’s no place like home … to track blood pressure
Research led by KPWHRI’s Beverly Green, MD, MPH, finds that patients prefer at-home monitoring of blood pressure.
Research
CVD risk calculation: Can smaller clinics break through?
KPWHRI researchers uncover obstacles faced by smaller practices when adding CVD risk calculators into primary care.
KPWHRI in the media
Understanding high blood pressure
Hypertension headache: Medical myth or true health concern?
AARP, June 3, 2024
Land Acknowledgment
Our Seattle offices sit on the occupied land of the Duwamish and by the shared waters of the Coast Salish people, who have been here thousands of years and remain. Learn about practicing land acknowledgment.