Healthy Bodies, Healthy Hearts after Menopause

描述(申请人提供)：玛格丽特(莫莉)B·康罗伊博士是匹兹堡大学医学和流行病学助理教授。她正在申请以患者为导向的导师研究职业发展奖(K23)，以便成为一名独立的临床调查员。她的建议集中在绝经后女性的体力活动、腹部和肌肉肥胖与心血管疾病(CVD)之间的关系。女性是高危人群，因为她们比男性更有可能缺乏身体活动，随着年龄的增长，这一差距变得更加明显。绝经后，女性心血管疾病的发病率增加，而定期体力活动的参与率下降。更年期后体力活动影响心血管疾病风险的途径，特别是那些包含身体成分和潜在的可改变的心理社会因素的途径，需要进一步的研究。康罗伊博士将研究这些关系，并通过追求三个具体目标，在临床环境中实施和评估体力活动干预。目的#1将确定在一组绝经后女性中，腹部和肌肉肥胖是否在体力活动和亚临床心血管疾病风险之间起中介作用。目的#2将研究强化生活方式干预后体力活动、腹部和肌肉肥胖症与心血管疾病风险之间的关系。目的#3将对绝经后早期妇女进行随机、受控的体力活动干预，采用临床试验方法，并将其转化为初级保健患者群体和实践环境。目标1将通过妇女通过活动和营养(妇女)队列进行的一项辅助研究来解决。目的2将在慢性期不良血管效应(SAVE)研究中解决。目标#3通过从康罗伊医生的初级保健诊所招募干预队列来解决。体力活动和心血管疾病流行病学、转化研究、行为医学和干预设计领域的专家将监督康罗伊博士的职业发展。她将接受以下方面的专门培训：(1)收集、分析和解释肥胖和亚临床心血管疾病的最新结果衡量标准；(2)规划和执行体力活动和生活方式干预所需的理论背景和实践技能；(3)翻译研究，重点是在临床系统中实施生活方式干预的战略、协作模式和技术支持系统。在这一高危人群中，更好地了解体力活动、肥胖和绝经后心血管疾病之间的联系机制，以及创新的体力活动促进战略，是促进女性心血管健康的关键步骤。(摘要结束)

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Dr. Margaret (Molly) B. Conroy is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh. She is applying for a Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) in order to become an independent clinical investigator. Her proposal focuses on the relationships between physical activity, abdominal and muscular adiposity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women after menopause. Women are a high-risk population, as they are more likely to be physically inactive than men, a disparity that becomes more striking with advancing age. Following menopause, the incidence of CVD in women increases, while participation in regular physical activity declines. Further investigation is warranted of the pathways through which physical activity impacts CVD risk after menopause, particularly those incorporating body composition and potentially modifiable psychosocial factors. Dr. Conroy will examine these relationships and implement and evaluate a physical activity intervention in a clinical setting by pursuing three specific aims. Aim #1 will determine whether abdominal and muscular adiposity mediate the relationship between physical activity and subclinical cardiovascular disease risk in a cohort of postmenopausal women. Aim #2 will examine the relationships between changes in physical activity, abdominal and muscular adiposity and cardiovascular disease risk after an intensive lifestyle intervention. Aim #3 will involve a randomized, controlled physical activity intervention for early postmenopausal women that adapts clinical trial methods and translates them to the primary care patient population and practice setting. Aim #1 will be addressed by an ancillary study in the Women on the Move through Activity and Nutrition (WOMAN) cohort. Aim #2 will be addressed in the Slow Adverse Vascular Effects (SAVE) study. Aim #3 wiN be addressed by recruiting an intervention cohort from Dr. Conroy's primary care clinic. Experts in the fields of physical activity and CVD epidemiology, translational research, behavioral medicine and intervention design will supervise Dr. Conroy's career development. She will receive specific training in (1) collection, analysis and interpretation of state-of-the art outcome measures of obesity and subclinical cardiovascular disease; (2) theoretical background and hands-on skills necessary for planning and executing physical activity and lifestyle interventions; and (3) translational research, focused on strategies, collaborative models and technical support systems for implementing lifestyle interventions in clinical systems. A better understanding of the mechanisms linking physical activity, adiposity and CVD after menopause and innovative physical activity promotion strategies in this high-risk population are critical steps towards advancing cardiovascular health in women. (End of Abstract)