Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Increasing Equitable Cardiovascular Disease Screening And Prevention For Women Of Low Socioeconomic Status: You First, Isabel N. Martinez Daniel

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the leading cause of death in females of all ages and races. Given the potential reduction in risk of coronary events with modifiable behaviors, primary care physicians are in a unique position to be able to use shared decision making and patient education to help dramatically reduce the potential burden of cardiovascular disease. Consideration for social determinants of health, such SES, should not be forgotten when aiming to provide adequate and accessible healthcare. Furthermore, the incorporation of unique programs, such as You First, into primary care offices can increase equitable care for patients and …

Expanding Awareness Of Air Quality And Health Impacts In The Clinical Setting, Caitlin Early

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Smoke from Canadian wildfires has greatly impacted the air quality in Vermont this year, 2023. Poor air quality can lead to an increase in inflammatory reactions in the body, for example increasing asthma and COPD exacerbations and causing symptoms in those with cardiovascular disease. This project aimed to improve awareness of the negative health impacts of poor air quality, particularly for those patients with existing lung and heart disease, those of older age, and children. This intervention sparked conversation between patients and providers to discuss symptoms, medication refills, and recommendations for poor air quality days. With lines of communication open …

Primary Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, Kaileen Cruden

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

Cardiovascular Disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, causing about 1 in 4 deaths. Cardiac rehabilitation is often only suggested to patients AFTER a hospitalization for serious heart conditions such as heart attack or heart failure. Data demonstrates the decrease of a secondary cardiac event for individuals who were enrolled in cardiac rehab as well as an improvement in cardiac risk factors including: decrease in lipid levels and insulin resistance with increased smoking cessation and exercise tolerance. Levels of depression and anxiety also improved in this population. This leads us to ask: How can we take …

Assessing The Effect Of Cold Weather On Rural Cardiovascular Disease Deaths In Vermont, Alex V. Sherbrook, Madison M. Freeman, Cody A. Aspril, Jennifer A. Tomczak, Emily C. Pareles, Timothy B. Plante

Master of Public Health Culminating Projects

Objective: To study Vermont mortality and temperature data to determine if there is an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease related death on categorically cold streak days among rural residents.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using a cohort of Vermont CVD deaths between 2009-2017 subset with corresponding daily temperature data. CVD deaths that occurred on a categorical cold streak day were then identified and analyzed using a Poisson Regression to assess the relationship between ambient temperature changes, CVD mortality, and rurality.

Results: As compared to non-cold streak days, risk of CVD mortality was 4% higher on cold …

Increasing Awareness Of Added Sugar In The Outpatient Setting, Lauren Bougioukas

Family Medicine Clerkship Student Projects

An estimated 80% of Americans consume more than the recommended daily amount of added sugar. Added sugar consumption significantly increases risk for cardiovascular disease mortality, and is associated with body weight, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. In the United States, added sugar consumption contributes to public health costs related to cardiovascular disease ($555 billion spent in 2016) and diabetes ($245 billion spent in 2012). Particularly in New York, nearly 40% of all New York deaths in 2014 could be attributed to cardiovascular disease and 10.5% of New York adults had diabetes in 2017. In addition to added sugar overconsumption, …