# Incorporation of a Hypertension Working Group into the Jackson Heart Study

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2020 · $733,061

## Abstract

In the US, African Americans have a higher risk for hypertension, end-organ damage from hypertension, and
hypertension-related cardiovascular disease (CVD) and renal disease outcomes than other race groups. In
2015, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) assembled an ad-hoc working group to identify
research needs to improve hypertension treatment and blood pressure (BP) control in African Americans. In
this application, we propose the renewal of the Jackson Heart Study Hypertension Working Group (JHS–
HWG), which will address several high priority needs identified by the NHLBI working group, and provide
mentorship to early stage investigators (ESIs) in hypertension research. Given its large sample size and
extensive phenotyping, the JHS is the ideal setting for addressing several knowledge gaps in hypertension
among African Americans. Between 2000 and 2004, 5,306 African Americans were enrolled in the JHS and
completed a baseline study visit that included clinic BP measurements, a pill bottle review, and questionnaires
on medication adherence and psychosocial factors. Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM) was
conducted at baseline in 1,046 JHS participants, making the JHS one of the largest studies with ABPM in the
US. Study visits have been conducted 4 and 8 years following baseline at which time hypertension onset and
organ damage were assessed. Participants have been followed over 10 years for CVD events. In the initial
three years of funding, JHS-HWG ESIs have published 16 manuscripts and have 11 manuscripts undergoing
peer review (26 with ESIs as the first author). JHS-HWG ESIs have been successful in obtaining grant funding
including one R01, five K awards, three diversity supplements and one pre-doctoral F31 grant award. Seven
of these ESIs are under-represented minorities. Further, JHS-HWG members have developed expert
knowledge of the JHS data set that will result in even higher productivity during the renewal period. For the 4-
year renewal period, we propose conducting in-depth studies in four new core thematic areas: (1) Remaining
free of hypertension across the lifespan, and among those with hypertension, remaining free of organ damage
and CVD events; (2) Using predicted CVD risk to guide antihypertensive medication initiation and titration; (3)
Maintaining persistent BP control over 8 years of follow-up; and (4) Diurnal BP patterns on ABPM. New
activities for ESIs include training in advanced statistical methods, analysis of administrative claims, conduct of
health policy evaluations, and leading pilot studies, which will begin the translation of findings from the JHS into
improving outcomes. The JHS-HWG will be led by principal investigators, who have a strong collaboration
history, and an established track record of publishing high impact hypertension research and mentoring ESIs.
The JHS-HWG also has an Advisory Committee, comprised of internationally recognized hypertension experts,
and a panel of Senior ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9952399
- **Project number:** 5R01HL117323-07
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Paul Muntner
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $733,061
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2013-07-15 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9952399

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9952399, Incorporation of a Hypertension Working Group into the Jackson Heart Study (5R01HL117323-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9952399. Licensed CC0.

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