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.

Mobilizing physicians and stakeholders

The Foundation has solicited support and commitment from the following physicians, advocacy groups, and stakeholders for the Healthy Heart initiative:

Physicians
Co Chairs: Luther Cark, MD Brookdale Hospital NYC	Elizabeth Ofili Morehouse School of Medicine
Atlanta Priscilla Igho-Pemu, MD Assoc. Director Morehouse Physician Network David Satcher, MD Morehouse School of Medicine Millard Collier, MD Chairperson, Atlanta Medical Association Arlene Lewis, MD Private practice Lithonia, Georgia Lisa Walker, MD Internist Atlanta, Georgia Alexander Quarshie, MD Assoc. Director, Clinical Research Morehouse School of Medicine Millard Frankel, MD Emory/Grady Health System	Dallas Shauna Nesbitt, MD Medical Director, Hypertension Clinic Univ. Texas Medical Center Samuel Ross, MD Chief Medical Officer Parkland Health & Hospital Center Calvin McClaren Medical Director Southwest Hospital and Medical Center John Herrara, MD St. Paul Hospital
Advocacy Groups
Atlanta organizations Atlanta City Hall Georgia General Assembly Shape up Atlanta project National Kidney Foundation (Atlanta) Southside Ministerial Association Georgia Division of Public Health Georgia Office of Minority Health South Fulton Running Partners Atlanta Diabetes Association Center for Black Women’s Wellness Fulton County Dept. of Wellness National organizations American Heart Association American Diabetes Association American Medical Association Association of Black Cardiologists American Stroke Association	Dallas Organizations Texas State Senate City of Dallas Diabetes Awareness Urban League Cigna Dallas Concilio Dallas County Dept. of Health American Heart Association American Diabetes Association Dallas Parks & Recreation HUD