Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2007

Mentor: Elizabeth M. Holper, MD MPH
Department: Cardiology
Room number: Parkland Cardiac Labs: HB126
Mail Code: 8837
Phone number: 214-590-8617
E-mail: Elizabeth.holper@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: The Hispanic Paradox: Does it hold true in the cath lab?

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 022008-087

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research): Patient-based research.

Brief Description of Project:
The Hispanic Paradox is a term used to describe the tendency for individuals of Hispanic descent to have lower than average rates of some chronic illnesses despite the fact that many of them live in relatively poor social or economic conditions. Although prior studies have confirmed these findings, there has been several recent studies questioning this finding, especially with regards to cardiovascular mortality. We believe that one explanation for this shift in the paradox lies in the increased amount of coronary atherosclerosis that we have observed in our Hispanic patients at Parkland who have been referred for coronary angiography. As the number of Hispanic immigrants continue to increase, these findings might help influence their process of care. We would like to do a retrospective chart review to compare the demographic characteristics and coronary anatomy of Hispanic patients versus non Hispanic patients who have had a cardiac catheterization at Parkland Hospital.
We plan on constructing a registry of both Hispanic patients and non Hispanic patients who have had a cardiac catheterization at Parkland by utilizing data via chart review. The database will include (but is not limited to) the following variables: coronary anatomy, intervention done (if any), hemodynamic data obtained, prior medical history, patient demographics (age, gender, race, history of hypertension, diabetes and smoking), prior medication use, pre-operative lab values, and reason for cath lab referral. We will be reviewing data from 1994 to the present and plan on including all patients who underwent a cardiac catheterization during that time period. This database will represent the most comprehensive database of Hispanic patients who have undergone cardiac catheterization.
The student's role in this project will be to enter the above data from the electronic medical record into this comprehensive database. Additionally, the student will have an introductory experience to the performance and evaluation of cardiac catheterization through participation in our introductory fellow lectures, daily angiographic film review, and observation of procedures. We anticipate that this would involve approximately one hour on average of a typical day. These activities will allow the student to gain a better understanding of the procedure and the data collected which is being entered into the database.