Overview

The Healthy Heart Initiative, under the aegis of the National Minority Health Month Foundation and an unrestricted grant from Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a groundbreaking pilot program. This pilot program is designed to strengthen the capacity of local communities in Atlanta and Dallas to eliminate the disproportionate burden of premature death and preventable illness from CVD through prevention, early detection, and control of disease complications. The pilot program is targeting specific zip codes where CVD disparities in Atlanta and Dallas are significantly higher than the national average for cardiovascular disease.

The Problem

Cardiovascular heart disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States.
Factors associated with an increased risk of developing CVD include older age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity. In addition, data suggest that CVD often clusters geographically; that is to say, in contiguous zip codes where the residents are primarily minorities. These CVD 'disparity zones' are often associated with higher death rates, significantly greater hospitalization rates and costs in these minority groups.

Targeting Atlanta and Dallas

Figures 1 and 2 depict premature death due to CVD in congressional districts by zip code. Zip codes in red signify premature death rates due to CVD that are significantly above the national norm. The goal of the pilot programs is to turn the red zip codes into green zip codes - the national average for cardiovascular disease

Figure 1: 5th Congressional district, Atlanta	Figure 2: 30th Congressional district, Dallas

There may be numerous factors contributing to cardiovascular disease-related premature deaths. Risk factors such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity - combined with patients' lack of awareness, access to care, cultural, and socioeconomic barriers - underscore the challenges and burden placed on the healthcare community, employers, and minorities.

Solution

The Healthy Heart initiative will mobilize local government and health care community leaders, businesses, physicians, medical centers, faith-based organizations, and the media to promote CVD awareness, prevention, and treatment.

Multiple screening events will be held in our target zones; collected data will be analyzed; results disseminated. Patients will be educated about the importance of proper diet; some patients will be directed to health care facilities for treatment and follow up.

The results will serve as a model for conducting CVD programs in other communities where CVD disparities exist.

Organizations participating in the pilot programs include:

Atlanta organizations Atlanta Medical Association Morehouse School of Medicine American Heart Association SE Affiliate Association of Black Cardiologists Heroes of Football Atlanta City Council Representatives State Legislators REACH for Wellness - Fulton County Dept. of Health & Wellness National Kidney Foundation (Atlanta) Center for Black Women's Wellness Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 100 Black Women - DeKalb Chapter Local churches Concerned Black Clergy Southside Ministerial Association Maverick International Millennium Filmworks Georgia Division of Public Health Georgia Office of Minority Health United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta Atlanta Diabetes Association West End Medical Center

Dallas Organizations Parkland Health and Hospital System UT Southwestern Medical Center State Legislators City of Dallas Diabetes Awareness Dallas Urban League Dallas Concilio Dallas County Dept. of Health American Heart Association American Diabetes Association Dallas Parks and Recreation Paradigm International Fortitude Health and Wellness Heroes of Football Healthwise (in the Elite News)