# Assessing the Impact of Discrimination in Healthcare on the Cardiovascular and Cognitive Health of Aging Black Adults

> **NIH NIH F99** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $50,474

## Abstract

The adverse effects of poor treatment in healthcare settings on cardiovascular health are poorly understood,
particularly among aging adults. Traditionally, poor treatment has been investigated as an exposure variable
that is not attributed to a single or actionable location. Within a healthcare system, healthcare researchers
have the opportunity to directly implement evidence-based interventions to mitigate harmful practices. Studies
have shown that patient-provider interactions can lead to patient’s foregoing preventative care early in the life
course, a consequential choice that can lead to adverse health outcomes. Identifying the adverse impacts of
patient-provider interactions is important for improving patient-physician interactions. The predoctoral phase
(F99/Aim 1) will employ longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to investigate
the impact of poor treatment in a healthcare setting on the incidence of stroke and myocardial
infarction in adults aged 50 and older. My hypothesis is that middle-aged individuals who experience poor
treatment in healthcare are more likely to have negative cardiovascular outcomes at older ages. To evaluate
this hypothesis, this phase will use rigorous epidemiological methods to measure the relationship between
patient-provider interactions and increased cardiovascular risk. We aim to understand how such patientprovider
interactions can worsen cardiovascular health and potentially lead to related cognitive health
dilemmas. My research then transitions into a postdoctoral phase further focusing on the complex relationships
among patient-provider interactions, aging, and cognitive health. My postdoctoral research (K00/Aim 2) will
estimate the longitudinal effects of poor treatment in a healthcare setting on the cognitive health of
adults aged 50 and older and identify factors contributing worse health outcomes. The project builds on
my ongoing research supported by a National Institute on Aging (NIA) Supplement award, establishing a
foundational research trajectory for understanding the health impacts of patient-provider interactions in aging
populations. Throughout both phases, my structured training and research will be interdisciplinary, employing
rigorous epidemiological methods for causal inference and leveraging qualitative insights to contextualize the
findings. I will gain valuable skills in longitudinal data analysis and multilevel modeling, equipping me to
comprehensively address these complex health issues. My work aims to instigate improvements in healthcare
by enhancing our understanding of patient-provider interactions and health outcomes. This research and
training trajectory aligns with NIA's priorities and is crucial for my development as an independent researcher
focusing on the intersection of aging and health improvement.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10954539
- **Project number:** 1F99AG088695-01
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael D. Green
- **Activity code:** F99 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $50,474
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10954539

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10954539, Assessing the Impact of Discrimination in Healthcare on the Cardiovascular and Cognitive Health of Aging Black Adults (1F99AG088695-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-08-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10954539. Licensed CC0.

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