# Food insecurity and hypertension in the Eastern Caribbean

> **NIH NIH K01** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $159,459

## Abstract

Project Abstract
Hypertension (HTN) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It affects almost
850 million people worldwide and is a primary risk factor for strokes and other cardiovascular
diseases. The burden of hypertension is greatest in low-and middle-income countries, and is
disproportionately increased in the Caribbean region. Food insecurity (FI), an economic or
social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food, has recently emerged as a
contributing factor in the development and poor management of chronic diseases in US and
Latin American populations. Studies demonstrate a relationship between FI and poor dietary
quality, obesity, diabetes and stress. However, few studies have included food insecurity in
investigations of hypertension, and among those that have, results are mixed. FI is a major
public health problem in the Caribbean region and may be particularly relevant to investigations
of hypertension. People with FI consume cheap, calorie dense foods that are ultra-processed
and high in sodium. Persons with FI and diet sensitive conditions have poorer control, more
emergency visits, and complications. The proposed study leverages data from the Eastern
Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network Cohort Study (ECS), a first of its kind
community-dwelling cohort across four Caribbean islands, to determine whether food insecurity
influences the development and management of hypertension in the Caribbean.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10214671
- **Project number:** 5K01HL145347-03
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Carol Renee Oladele
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $159,459
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-15 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10214671

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10214671, Food insecurity and hypertension in the Eastern Caribbean (5K01HL145347-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10214671. Licensed CC0.

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