Posted on: Sunday, March 20, 2005

Heart disease studies to focus on Hawaiians

Advertiser Staff

Under a $6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, the University of Hawai'i Medical School will work with The Queen's Medical Center in looking at heart disease among Native Hawaiians over the next five years.

Dr. Marjorie Mau of the medical school and cardiologist Dr. Todd Seto of Queen's are partners in the grant and expect to conduct four studies aimed at improving heart disease disparities in Native Hawaiians and other Pacific islanders.

The specific focus will be heart failure and its potential causes in Native Hawaiians. The studies also will identify families that may have several members affected.

"One of the overall goals of the partnership is to improve access to quality healthcare for Native Hawaiian and other similar at-risk communities so that people can live healthier lives," said Mau.

The partnership, called The Heart Disparities Partnership Program, also will work with four community health centers to develop a patient base: Kalihi-Palama Community Health Center, Kokua Kalihi Valley Community Health Center, Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center and Waimanalo Health Center.