Sunday, June 1, 2025
6/1/2025
Initiating Preventive Care for Hyperlipidemia in the Emergency Department: The EMERALD Trial - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Hyperlipidemia (HLD) is a major contributor to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), the leading cause of US mortality and morbidity. Nearly 30% of Emergency Department (ED) patients with chest pain have undiagnosed and/or unmanaged HLD, putting them at an increased risk of ASCVD. Although safe and effective HLD treatments exist, the ED traditionally focuses on acute care and does not offer preventive cardiovascular care services or treatment for HLD. This represents a large, missed opportunity to improve cardiovascular health for the millions of Americans evaluated in the ED each year for chest pain who are not receiving appropriate guideline-directed preventive care in the outpatient setting. The overarching research goals of this study are to determine the efficacy of a novel, protocolized, ED-based preventive care intervention for HLD known as EMERALD (Emergency Medicine Cardiovascular Risk Assessment for Lipid Disorders) in lowering cholesterol while also informing our understanding of patient adherence and implementation determinants of ED-based preventive cardiovascular care. To accomplish these goals, I worked with my mentoring team to design a career development plan that blends multidisciplinary research training with an innovative research proposal. Aim 1 will use a randomized, controlled, single center, parallel group trial of 130 ED patients to test the efficacy of EMERALD vs. usual care in lowering cholesterol. Aim 2 will rely on mixed methods to identify patient adherence facilitators and barriers as well as implementation determinants for Emergency Medicine providers. To successfully accomplish these Specific Aims, I will capitalize on the outstanding research environment at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and my engaged transdisciplinary mentorship team of senior scientists. With support from my mentoring team, I will complete a robust career development program that will provide me with the necessary training in preventive cardiovascular care, clinical trial design and methodology, and qualitative methods that are needed for me to become an independent investigator and national leader with expertise in ED-based preventive cardiovascular care strategies. The proposed K23 Award aligns with NHLBI's objective to “Develop and optimize novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to prevent, treat, and cure heart, lung, blood, and sleep diseases,” with position statements from Emergency Medicine and Cardiology professional societies, and with the Department of Health and Human Services “Healthy People 2030” initiative. This proposal will inform our understanding of ED-based preventive cardiovascular care strategies and will help me achieve my long-term goal of becoming an independent investigator focused on ED-based preventive cardiovascular care.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).