DALLAS, August 8, 2023 — As part of a focused effort to assess current cardiovascular treatment algorithms for racial bias, the American Heart Association, the single largest non-government supporter of heart and brain health research in the U.S., is funding three new scientific research projects at $50,000 each.
Clinical algorithms are formulas, flow charts and computerized “calculators” that work behind the scenes to analyze health data and help determine a person’s risk for heart disease or guide their treatment decisions. Age, weight, information from blood tests, personal health history, health habits — like physical activity and smoking — are among the types of data used by clinical algorithms. Some algorithms include race or ethnicity in their analysis, but recent evidence has suggested that race is often an inadequate substitute for genetics.
“By inappropriately including race as a proxy for biological characteristics, algorithms may unintentionally perpetuate disparities in care,” said Nav Persaud, M.D., M.Sc., co-chair of the American Heart Association’s De-biasing Clinical Care Algorithms (DECCA) Expert Advisory Panel and a physician in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, and an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Toronto.
“Studying how race is incorporated into algorithms is an important endeavor in health equity by separating race from the social determinants of health that drive the relationship between race and disease,” adds Judy Wawira Gichoya, M.D., M.S., an American Heart Association volunteer and assistant professor in the Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine and an interdisciplinary researcher studying informatics in medicine. Gichoya co-chairs the DECCA Expert Advisory Panel with Persaud.
The teams of scientists who received funding for “ Assessing Race in Clinical Research Models ” are from Stanford University School of Medicine in Stanford, California, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida and The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Support for these studies is part of a two-year scientific research strategy funded in part by a grant from the Doris Duke Foundation to study the complex issue of how race and ethnicity factor into clinical care algorithms and risk prediction tools.
Specifically, the researchers are charged with (1) assessing potential bias in risk models and identifying factors for the bias (e.g., sampling bias, selection bias, missing data values and potential risk factors); (2) developing statistical methods and advanced models that correct or mitigate against algorithm bias to support equitable care and treatment.
The three research projects, which began July 1, 2023, and are funded for up to two years each, include:
The American Heart Association has funded more than $5 billion in cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and brain health research since 1949. New knowledge resulting from this funding benefits millions of lives in every corner of the U.S. and around the world.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org , Facebook , Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
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