# AMERICAN INDIAN CHronic disEase RIsk and Sleep Health (AI-CHERISH)

> **NIH NIH R01** · WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $103,600

## Abstract

ABSTRACT: Both comparative and single-race studies suggest that sleep disorders are at least as
prevalent among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) as they are in the all-races population. Sleep
problems are known to be important contributors to chronic disease and early mortality in all populations, while
effective treatment of sleep disorders improves the management of diverse health conditions. We propose to
conduct an innovative mixed-methods study – American Indian CHronic disEase RIsk and Sleep Health (AI-
CHERISH) – to assess the relationship between CVD and metabolic risk and sleep health in the context of Native
culture. During the first 2 project years, we will conduct 5 focus groups (15 groups total; 12 participants each)
and 2 rounds of semi-structured interviews with 5 key informants (30 interviews total). The resulting qualitative
data will inform the development of a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) of sleep health, to augment
established measures accounting for factors specific to Native communities, and culturally-grounded,
complementary guidelines for improving sleep. In the quantitative portion of this work, we will implement the
largest epidemiologic study of sleep health to date with an AI/AN sample to assess the population prevalence of
sleep deficiencies and their association with specific CVD risk factors. Participants in the epidemiologic study
were previously enrolled in the Strong Heart Family Study (SHFS). For the epidemiologic study, we will recruit
250 AI participants aged 30–50 years from each geographic region (N=750) and collect sleep data from each
participant during 2 study visits in a single 9-month period, with a visit during the months with the longest and
shortest daylight exposure (May–July and November–January). For 7 days before each data collection visit,
participants will wear wrist actigraphs to measure sleeping and waking activities, and will keep a diary to
document waking activities as well as sleep duration, consolidation, and timing. When they return the actigraphs,
they will complete 4 validated self-report instruments: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Epworth Sleepiness
Scale, the Sleep Hygiene Index, the Insomnia Severity Index, and the STOP-Bang questionnaire. They will also
provide data on sociodemographics and on CVD risk factors (blood lipids, hemoglobin A1C, blood pressure,
BMI) known to be influenced by sleep. Our Specific Aims are to: 1) Develop a culturally appropriate PROM of
sleep health based on the local context affecting sleep at each study site by using focus groups. 2) In key
informant interviews, evaluate existing guidelines and elucidate complementary culturally-grounded guidelines
for improving sleep health at each study site to augment existing guidelines for AI communities. 3) Estimate the
prevalence and nature of sleep deficiencies in a sample of 750 AI adults at 3 study sites by analyzing objective
data from actigraphy and subjective data from sleep/...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10498863
- **Project number:** 3R01MD014035-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Lonnie A. Nelson
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $103,600
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-05-13 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10498863

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10498863, AMERICAN INDIAN CHronic disEase RIsk and Sleep Health (AI-CHERISH) (3R01MD014035-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10498863. Licensed CC0.

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