Page 11 - Chehalis Tribal Newsletter - October - November 2019

11

Fewer American

Indians getting

heart disease

Study brings good news
to Indian Country “... When we find people
before they have the disease
SEATTLE – A first-of-its-
kind study led by researchers at and we follow them and
Washington State University shows heart disease or die from a heart- the team’s analysis didn’t include
that new cases of heart disease make sure they receive the disease-related event, as well as as many deaths in women.
among American Indians in three treatment they need, we the overall prevalence of heart “It’s possible that women are
U.S. regions have gone down. disease within each cohort. in fact benefiting from lower
Findings from the study, which can prevent the disease.” To determine long-term trends, mortality rates, but we just didn’t
looked for changes across a span – CLEMMA MULLER, LEAD AUTHOR they compared five-year risks for have the statistical power to detect
of 25 years, also suggest that fewer people who were aged 45, 55, 65, these improvements,” she said.
native men are dying from heart- OF THE HEART DISEASE STUDY and 75 at the conclusion of the She also pointed to the
disease-related events, such as study with risks for those who possibility that certain risk
heart attacks and strokes. from 5,627 American Indians who were the same age a generation factors for heart disease, such as
American Indians and participated in two long-running earlier. smoking, may be increasing at
Alaska Natives make up less than studies that looked at heart For all ages, the researchers a higher rate in women than in
2 percent of the U.S. population disease and related risk factors saw fewer new disease cases men. Finally, she said that heart
but account for 12 percent of all in native people living in the in people who were born more disease symptoms in women can
cases of heart disease – more than Southwest and the Northern and recently. They also observed a be more subtle than those in men.
any other racial group. Southern Great Plains. drop in death rates from heart- As a consequence, women are less
“Our findings strongly suggest The Strong Heart Study disease-related events in men, but likely to seek care for acute events
that delivering on our federal enrolled participants from 1989- not in women. At the same time, such as heart attacks.
mandate to provide high-quality 90. The Strong Heart Family overall prevalence of heart disease “We need to more closely
accessible health care to our Study recruited participants declined more in women. examine whether American
native people will reduce the from the Strong Heart Study and “We expected that our results Indian women and men are
health disparities seen in this their multigenerational relatives would show that things were having different experiences with
population,” said lead author between 2000-03, following each getting better uniformly,” Muller their health patterns and why so
Clemma Muller, a researcher with participant until 2013. Those who said. She suggested that heart we can make sure improvements
the WSU Institute for Research were determined to have heart disease prevalence continuing to are experienced equally by both
and Education to Advance disease or be at elevated risk for be high in American Indian men groups,” Muller said.
Community Health (IREACH) heart disease received treatment while new cases and death rates The research team, which also
and an assistant professor in referrals. are down reflects the fact that men included investigators from the
the Elson S. Floyd College of Muller and her co-authors are living longer with the disease, University of Minnesota and the
Medicine. “In other words, when analyzed data for study which pushes the prevalence for Strong Heart Study, plan to delve
we find people before they have participants who were between 30 men up. further into this issue in a future
the disease and we follow them and 85 years old during their last As for women, Muller said study.
and make sure they receive the follow-up visit. there are several possible They are also planning a study
treatment they need, we can They divided participants born explanations as to why they aren’t to determine long-term changes
prevent the disease.” within a decade of each other seeing the same improvements in in risk factors for heart disease –
Published in the Journal of the into cohorts and calculated the death rates from heart disease that such as high blood pressure and
American Heart Association, the five-year risk that participants in men are. Overall, fewer women die elevated blood glucose levels – in
team’s study was based on data each birth-year cohort might get from heart disease than men, so the same population.

WIC THROUGH SPIPA

CHECKS TO BUY FOOD, HEALTH USDA Food Program
EDUCATION, SERVICES REFERRAL,
BREASTFEEDING HELP The South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency’s
program offers an assortment of food to fill your
NEXT DATE: 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. freezer, refrigerator and cupboards. The next date
Jan. 9 at the Wellness Center is Jan. 15 from 9:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Chehalis

CONTACT: Debbie Gardipee-Reyes, Tribal Community Center.
360-462-3227 or Patty Suskin,
360-462-3224. Chehalis: Debra SIGN UP: Call Debra Shortman at 360-709-
Shortman, 360-709-1689 1689 or 360-438-4216 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Monday through Friday.