Introduction by Vice Chancellor Steve Goldstein
In this installment of Bridging the Gap, I am pleased to highlight the impactful work of Nana Entsuah-Boateng, PharmD, health sciences assistant clinical professor in the School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, to improve blood pressure control and by extension cardiovascular health within the African American community.
Entsuah-Boateng and her research team are determined to address the disproportionately high rates of hypertension and cardiovascular disease within the African American community. By studying how to bring a culturally tailored approach to healthcare, they seek to weave healthcare equity into the fabric of the daily operations of delivery systems.
The implications of this project extend far beyond the immediate, important goal of improving blood pressure control. It focuses a lens on the multifaceted aspects of health disparities, including structural disadvantages and social determinants of health, in order to devise solutions that are as diverse and nuanced as the communities we aim to serve. It is a clarion call for a systemic shift towards more inclusive and effective healthcare.
UCI Health Affairs is committed to supporting transformative projects and fostering partnerships that extend our reach into populations that need it the most. Our overarching One Health vision unites the health disciplines of Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing and Public Health to advance the frontiers of discovery, educate the diverse healthcare workforce of the future, and provide whole-person, team-based, precision care equitably for all.
UC Irvine has long championed health equity as a priority. We believe in the power of innovation, research and community engagement to tackle the systemic inequalities that have long marred the healthcare landscape. I commend Entsuah-Boateng and her team for their dedication and pioneering work. It is through such endeavors that UCI continues to lead the way in making health equity not just an aspiration, but a reality.
Addressing Cardiovascular Health within the African American Community
By Nana Entsuah-Boateng, PharmD
Assistant Clinical Professor, Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States, with hypertension being a critical risk factor. The disparity in hypertension control between African Americans and their Caucasian counterparts is stark, with African Americans facing about a 30% higher risk of developing CVD. This disparity is further exacerbated by a variety of factors including non-optimized pharmacotherapy and inequitable social determinants of health, alongside a lack of specially tailored patient education.
To help address this inequity, I am leading a research study supported by a two-year pilot award from the UCLA-UCI Center for Eliminating Cardiometabolic Disparities in Multi-Ethnic Populations (UC END DISPARITIES). The mission at UC END DISPARITIES centers around addressing these inequitable factors that disproportionately affect low-income and minority groups across Los Angeles County and Orange County. Our team is using a multi-modal and culturally tailored approach to improve blood pressure control within the African American community at UCI.
Our study recognizes the complexity of hypertension disparities, which are not solely rooted in biology or genetics but are also heavily influenced by social, economic and environmental factors. This study demonstrates our continuous effort to address health disparities and promote equity in healthcare outcomes.
The core of our study seeks to reduce the disparities in hypertension control among African American patients at UCI’s primary care sites, where we implement evidence-based medication management practices, develop culturally tailored adjunct interventions and provide community resources to meet social needs. We are creating lifestyle modification education material specifically catered to the African American community. The lack of such resources has been a glaring gap in our healthcare education system, and we aim to bridge that with materials that resonate culturally and practically with the community.
In collaboration with the Institute for Healthcare Advancement, we are developing and distributing these education materials, concentrating particularly on diet, which plays a significant role in managing hypertension. Additionally, we are providing participants with community resources to address integral social determinants of health needs.
This is more than just a project for me; it’s a heartfelt commitment to contribute towards health equity. The African American community has faced systemic barriers in accessing optimum healthcare for far too long. By tailoring our approach to meet the unique needs of this community, we hope not only to control hypertension more effectively but also to pave the way for a more equitable healthcare system.
Our work is only the beginning. Achieving health equity requires a community-wide effort, including healthcare professionals, community leaders and policy makers coming together. It is about understanding the unique challenges faced by minority communities and addressing them with empathy, respect and evidence-based solutions.
As we move forward, I am optimistic about the impact our work will have on improving the lives of many African Americans dealing with hypertension. It is a step towards not just a healthier community, but a fairer world where we achieve health equity across all populations.
