# A Cohort for Studying the Burden of Cardiometabolic Diseases in Guam and Pohnpei

> **NIH NIH U24** · UNIVERSITY OF GUAM · 2020 · $526,159

## Abstract

Project Summary
Islanders in the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) experience some of the highest mortality
rates resulting from non-communicable diseases (NCD) in the world, yet they are excluded from
national health surveys such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the
National Health Interview Survey. The absence of longitudinal health data on populations makes
it extremely difficult to truly understand their health disparities they face and restricts the ability
to address their long-term health needs. The intent of this project is to establish the baseline of
a generational epidemiologic cohort, with a focus on cardiometabolic risk factors, in Guam and
Pohnpei. Approximately 1,100 children and parents (or 550 dayds) will be recruited to obtain
information on NCD lifestyle factors from two generations of USAPIs. The specific aims are to:
1) estimate the prevalence of NCD lifestyle factors (acculturation, alcohol, betel nut, diet,
hypertension, obesity, physical activity, sleep, stress, and tobacco use), 2) estimate the
prevalence diabetes mellitus (DM) and dyslipidemia through biomarkers, and 3) validate the
association of DM and acanthosis nigricans. The children will be recruited from the Early
Hearing and Detection Intervention birth cohorts in Guam and Pohnpei. The research staff will
be trained in the ethics and methods involved in population health research. Data collection will
include survey questionnaires and the collection of biospecimens for the verification of
cardiometabolic biomarkers. Throughout the research process, the proposed partnerships
(among the University of Guam and College of Micronesia programs, the public health
laboratories, community partners, and government and non-government agencies with some
form of data linkage infrastructure), will be further developed. The epidemiologic cohort will be
sustained through the institutionalization and sharing of the work among partners. Over time the
data will provide critical information on the cardiometabolic risk in Guam and Pohnpei and will
be used to refine health messages and intervention strategies, as well as improve the equality
of health care practices relevant to USAPI populations.
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## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9844418
- **Project number:** 5U24MD011201-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF GUAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Margaret P Hattori
- **Activity code:** U24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $526,159
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-07-01 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9844418

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9844418, A Cohort for Studying the Burden of Cardiometabolic Diseases in Guam and Pohnpei (5U24MD011201-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9844418. Licensed CC0.

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