Toni Braxton, Star Jones, and Lamar Odom have each opened up about how cardiovascular issues have affected their lives. Bronny James placed a national spotlight on the power of treatment for congenital heart defects after suffering cardiac arrest during a team workout with USC.
Denise N. Bronner, PhD Director Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Jansen, and JoBaris D. Swain, MD, MPH Medical Executive, Cardiovascular & MetabolismJanssen Scientific Affairs, ILC of Johnson & Johnson discussed the need for “True Representation In Cardio Research” at the 2023 Black Health Matters Summit. They were introduced by actor and producer James Pickens (Grey’s Anatomy). According to a study published by the National Kidney Foundation, “rates for African Americans remained 20% higher for heart disease and 40% higher for stroke.”
Another study published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that “African Americans were 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease than non-Hispanic whites.”
How has a lack of accurate representation in cardio research impacted the Black community?
“Representation is very important,” said Dr. Swain, noting that biological differences are not accounted for when studies are not diverse. Dr. Bronner shared how crucial it is for Black people to be considered in the planning phases of treatment development. She declared that exclusion from the baseline can result in disparities in “efficacy” and “effectiveness.” “The only time that we get included is when the drug has already been approved,” she said. “That’s when you start to see the adverse events or side effects starting to come.” Inclusion at that stage precludes preventive safety measures in some instances. “Things could have been identified if we were being pulled into the study,” she continued. Dr. Swain remarked on the lack of available training materials for diagnosing psoriasis on Black skin. Studies have found that this chronic and complex autoimmune disease is associated with many cardio patients. According to Cureus, “Many studies have shown an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity in patients with psoriasis.”
What are some myths associated with cardio care?
“Many of us have probably heard that cardiovascular disease only happens in old people, and a lot of times, you know, when you go to certain screening events, they’ll, you know, start looking at people 65 and older. However, we’ve now learned that cardiovascular disease can affect individuals of all ages, even children, so we have to be mindful of our activity, diet, and exercise,” he continued.
“A second myth that often we have is that if I don’t have symptoms, I have a healthy heart,” said Dr. Swain, who described witnessing the sudden onset of severe symptoms during a telehealth session.
“We have patients who come into the emergency department, and they’ve been completely healthy in their mind. They’ve not had chest pain or any other side effects or symptoms, and all of a sudden, they come in, and they may have gone and had their blood pressure checked. Then they start having chest pain, and then they realize that they’ve had a full-on myocardial infarction, and often it comes as a complete surprise,” Dr. Swain continued. The older man clutching his left arm in sudden distress is the troupe most people are familiar with when they think of a heart attack. But that popular image is not the whole story of how cardio events occur.
“We often think that men are the only ones who have cardiovascular disease, and we understand men often are at greater risk, but cardiovascular disease affects men and women,” said Dr. Swain.
He revealed that these events in women can be associated with jaw pain. They can also appear to be “asymptomatic or atypical.”
Swain pointed out how cultural norms can convince Black women to ignore symptoms that might be their overall cardio health. “As a culture, you know, we grow up with aches and pains, and it’s straightforward for us to say, oh, I woke up like this, and kind of, you know, write it off as something that’s a part of our natural everyday experience.
Take Action!
- The session provided valuable and practical tips for managing your cardiovascular health.
- Take control by educating yourself and others about cardiovascular issues.
- Familiarize yourself with the myths associated with cardio so you can fight misinformation
- Don’t assume the ache or pain you are feeling is normal.
As Dr. Swain said, “If you feel something, say something.” Start the conversation. Ask the questions. Listen to your body. Contact your healthcare provider and fight for your cardiovascular health.
This session was presented by Janssen
The Panelists: Denise N. Bronner, PhD Director Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Clinical Trials – Immunology Portfolio Jansen
JoBaris D. Swain, MD, MPH Medical Executive, Cardiovascular & Metabolism Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC of Johnson & Johnson
