The Mid-Atlantic Center for Cardiometabolic Health Equity (MACCHE)

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore MD

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

OVERALL PROJECT SUMMARY The overarching goal of the Mid-Atlantic Center for Cardiometabolic Health Equity (MACCHE) is to test the effectiveness of comprehensive, integrated, and multi-level evidence-based strategies for improving cardiometabolic health outcomes among socially disadvantaged populations in Maryland. The MACCHE will include 5 separate, but related research projects addressing disparities in cardiometabolic disease; 3 integrated cores (Administrative, Investigator Development, and Community Engagement); an Executive Committee; and a Community Advisory Board. The first 3 projects are currently underway and include: Project 1 (Healthy for Two), a randomized trial comparing the effectiveness of an evidence-based pregnancy/postpartum health coaching/home visiting intervention to usual home visiting services in reducing postpartum weight retention among Black and Latinx birthing people at high risk for cardiometabolic health disparities; Project 2 (UNLOAD-Heart Failure) is a randomized trial examining the effectiveness of a multi-level intervention of problem-solving training, community health worker (CHW) support and partnership with community facilities for enhancing cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with low socioeconomic status, diabetes, obesity and asymptomatic cardiac dysfunction; and Project 3 (LINKED-HEARTS) is a cluster-randomized trial testing the effectiveness of a multi-level intervention linking self-monitored blood pressure (BP) with telemonitoring, team-based care with pharmacists and CHWs, and provider-level interventions compared to enhanced usual care, for improving BP control among socially disadvantaged adults with uncontrolled hypertension plus diabetes or chronic kidney disease. The 2 additional proposed studies include: Healthy for Two-Hearts which builds upon Healthy For Two, to address racial and ethnic disparities in hypertension in postpartum birthing people, with an emphasis on two effective strategies for blood pressure reduction: low salt/high fruit and vegetable diet (including food delivery) and stress management; and DASH-Life which will pilot a Food-is-Medicine intervention for adults with hypertension and type 2 diabetes residing in Healthy Food Priority Areas in Baltimore (`food deserts')—a population at high risk for adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes. The MACCHE will advance the science of cardiometabolic disease disparities and facilitate its translation into clinical and public health practice and policy.