# Social and Environmental Determinants of Hypertension in Adolescents and Youth in Haiti

> **NIH NIH R01** · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · 2020 · $143,901

## Abstract

ABSTRACT: The burden of non-communicable diseases has grown significantly in low- and middle-income
countries (LMICs) with devastating consequences on morbidity and mortality. Cardiovascular disease is now
the leading cause of mortality in Haitian adults, having surpassed HIV in the last decade. Preliminary data from
Haiti has shown early onset hypertension (HTN) is significantly more prevalent among Haitian adolescents and
youth ages 18-29 years than in similarly aged black Americans. Earlier onset of hypertension in this younger
population puts them on a trajectory for other co-morbidities and will ultimately limit their life expectancy with
devastating consequences for families and communities.
 Data on the natural history of HTN including underlying risk factors in this young population is severely
lacking. Elucidating the social and environmental determinants of hypertension among Haitian adolescents and
youth will inform evidenced-based screening programs and interventions to prevent HTN and other CVD risk
factors, ultimately preventing early death among young and middle-aged adults. Findings will be directly
applicable to other urban areas with people of African descent in the Caribbean, Africa, and in the US.
We propose to study the natural history of HTN among adolescents and youth enrolled in the longitudinal
cohort of the parent R01 (R01 HL143788). The specific aims of my proposed mentored research are within the
scope of the parent grant and include:
1. Estimate the population-based prevalence of pre-HTN (systolic blood pressure (SBP) 120-139 or diastolic
blood pressure (DBP) 80-89) and HTN (SBP >140 or DBP >90) and other CVD risk factors and their
association with social and environmental determinants in participants ages 18-29 years.
 a. Cardiovascular risk factors other than pre-HTN and HTN include diabetes, obesity,
 hypercholesterolemia, kidney disease, poor diet, cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, and serum
 markers of inflammation.
 b. Determinants include stress, social isolation, depression, family support, food insecurity, lead
 exposure, and HIV infection.
2. Determine the incidence of pre-HTN (systolic blood pressure (SBP) 120-139 or diastolic blood pressure
(DBP) 80-89) and HTN (SBP >140 or DBP >90) and other CVD risk factors among participants ages 18-29
years during 2 to 3.5 years of follow-up and their association with social and environmental determinants.
This study will provide important insights into the epidemiology of HTN among adolescents and youth in Haiti.
Our ultimate goal is to translate new research findings from this study into pragmatic screening interventions to
prevent early onset HTN in young people in Haiti and among Haitian immigrants in the US.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10174315
- **Project number:** 3R01HL143788-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV
- **Principal Investigator:** Margaret Leighton McNairy
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $143,901
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10174315

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10174315, Social and Environmental Determinants of Hypertension in Adolescents and Youth in Haiti (3R01HL143788-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-02 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10174315. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*