Clinical Research Directory

Improving Patient-Centered Care for Underserved Older African American Patients With Cardiovascular Comorbidities

This is formative evaluation trial guided by the Values Clarification Theory25 and the Cultural Values Theory26, with specific aims to: Aim 1. Develop a culturally appropriate version of the PPC Approach for older AAs with CVCs by assembling a community advisory group of 3 primary care clinicians, 3 older AA patients with CVCs, and 3 AA persons who care for AA patients with CVCs to solicit feedback on the PPC Approach. Aim 2. Determine the acceptability (e.g., program appraisal interviews) and feasibility (e.g., avg. length of program sessions, program participation rate, study completion rate) of the PPC Approach among a sample 20 of under-resourced older southern AA patients with CVCs receiving primary care at Cooper Green Mercy Health Services Authority. Aim 3. Examine the ability of participants to complete pre- and post-test (8 weeks post-baseline) measures of perception of care, treatment burden, shared decision-making, and patient-clinician communication exchange.

Chronic Kidney Disease and Metabolic Disorders in the Elderly

The goal of this observational study is to investigate the impact of metabolic comorbidities on outcomes in elderly Chinese adults, through two parallel sub-cohorts: one comprising elderly individuals without chronic kidney disease (CKD) at baseline, and one comprising elderly patients with established CKD. The main questions it aims to answer are: Do metabolic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, calcium-phosphorus disorders) increase the risk of incident CKD, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and all-cause mortality in elderly individuals without CKD at baseline? What are the optimal diagnostic thresholds and criteria for CKD in the elderly population? How do metabolic comorbidities affect long-term outcomes - including all-cause mortality, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and cardiovascular events - in elderly patients with established CKD? What is the comorbidity profile and disease burden of elderly CKD patients in China? Participants in both sub-cohorts will: Undergo baseline assessments including laboratory tests and clinical evaluations. Provide longitudinal follow-up data through scheduled clinic visits and medical record linkage. Contribute to a large-scale cohort of 100,000 elderly participants across multiple centers in China.