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Cardiovascular Disease Among Alaska Native Peoples

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Abstract

Although Alaska Native peoples were thought to be protected from cardiovascular disease (CVD), data now show that this is not the case, despite traditional lifestyles and high omega-3 fatty acid intake. In this article, the current understanding of CVD and its risk factors among Alaska Native peoples, particularly among the Yupik and Inupiat populations, will be discussed, using data from three major studies funded by the National Institutes of Health: Genetics of Coronary Artery Disease among Alaska Natives (GOCADAN), Center for Native Health Research (CANHR), and Education and Research Towards Health (EARTH). Data from these epidemiologic studies have focused concern on CVD and its risk factors among Alaska Native peoples. This review will summarize the findings of these three principal studies and will suggest future directions for research and clinical practice.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Rachel Schaperow, MedStar Health Research Institute, for editing the manuscript. Dr. Jolly is supported by 1K23DK091363 grant from the National Institutes of Health.

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Conflict of Interest

S.E. Jolly has received a grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (1K23DK091363).

B.V. Howard has received a grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for the GOCADAN project, funded by U01HL064244.

J.G. Umans has received a grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for the GOCADAN project, funded by U01HL064244.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. General Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Medicine Institute, 9500 Euclid Avenue/G10, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA

    Stacey E. Jolly

  2. MedStar Health Research Institute, Hyattsville, MD, USA

    Barbara V. Howard & Jason G. Umans

  3. Georgetown-Howard Universities Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Washington, DC, USA

    Barbara V. Howard & Jason G. Umans

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  1. Stacey E. Jolly
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  2. Barbara V. Howard
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  3. Jason G. Umans
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Correspondence to Stacey E. Jolly.

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Jolly, S.E., Howard, B.V. & Umans, J.G. Cardiovascular Disease Among Alaska Native Peoples. Curr Cardiovasc Risk Rep 7, 438–445 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12170-013-0362-5

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