“Longitudinal, long-term studies like CARDIA make this research possible and are critical to our ability to shine a light on the root causes of chronic diseases, such as heart disease,” Goff said. “Only by understanding these root causes can we effectively promote health and health equity at the societal level.”
Kershaw and coauthors concluded that improved access to resources for those living in segregated neighborhoods, as well as opportunities for residents in those areas to move to places with better access to resources, could help reduce persistent racial health disparities.
About the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI): NHLBI, a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), plans, conducts, and supports research related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases; and sleep disorders. The Institute also administers national health education campaigns on women and heart disease, healthy weight for children, and other topics. NHLBI press releases and other materials are available online at www.nhlbi.nih.gov.
About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.