Role of diabetes and ethnicity in cardiovascular disease-mortality

Role of diabetes and ethnicity in the epidemiology of cardiovascular transition from atherothrombotic diseases to heart failure

My project is to identify the key patterns of mortality trends for heterogenous cardiovascular phenotypes (e.g heart failure and stroke), in relation to diabetes, ethnicity, comorbidities, treatment and other relevant factors. I am working with Clinical Research Practice Datalink data by applying various epidemiological and statistical methods. This includes demographic and machine learning techniques, as well as time-series and the latest survival analysis methods.

Why we are doing it

Evidence has shown consistently that people with diabetes have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. However, most studies have used old cohorts, by which treatment options for diabetic patients in the last ten years has changed considerably. In addition, a lack of studies has investigated the participants or various cardiovascular phenotypes in-depth. This is necessary since the risk of diabetes is known to be higher in some ethnic groups (e.g South Asians) and different cardiovascular phenotypes could have higher risks of cardiovascular disease mortality.

What the benefits will be and to whom?

This research will aid the development of more tailored prevention and management strategies for patients with diabetes, particularly those with different cardiovascular phenotypes. In effect, lowering the risk of further cardiovascular complications and mortality in people with diabetes. 

Who we are working with

I will be working with my supervisors: Dr Francesco Zaccardi and Dr Claire Lawson.

Contact

Kajal Panchal, PhD Student, Diabetes Research Centre, ktmp1@leicester.ac.uk

Photo by Reiner Knudsen on Unsplash