Differences in Women and Men with Atrial Fibrillation

项目总结 Ruth L.Kirschstein国家研究服务奖(NRSA)个人博士前研究的目的 护理研究奖学金(F31)申请是为弗雷泽女士提供研究培训，她是一名三年级学生 华盛顿大学护理学院的博士生。此次培训的长期目标是 这位申请者希望在研究密集的学术环境中发展成为一名独立的护士科学家 致力于综合生物和社会生态因素的干预措施以减少 并减轻房颤(AF)患者的症状负担。随着美国人口老龄化， 房颤患者的数量正在迅速增加，预计到2030年病例将增加一倍以上。多数 患有房颤的患者会出现令人烦恼的症状，有时还会使人虚弱，这些症状会严重影响质量 生活质量(QOL)。女性房颤患者的房颤症状更频繁、更严重，生活质量更低。 虽然之前的研究一直发现房颤症状和生活质量结果存在性别差异，但 造成男女这种差异的多层次因素在很大程度上没有得到充分的研究。申请人 提出一项横断面研究(N=124)，同时使用定量(目标1和目标2)和定性(目标3) 方法阐明导致房颤症状差异的社会因素和新的生物标志物 以及男女房颤患者的生活质量。具体目的是：1)比较心外膜脂肪组织体积， 男女房颤患者的脂肪因子(瘦素和脂联素)、房颤症状和生活质量；2)检查 对于与心外膜脂肪组织体积之间的潜在中介途径有关的关联， 男女房颤患者的脂肪因子(瘦素和脂联素)、房颤症状和生活质量；3)探索 对社会因素(社会支持、生活状况和社会网络互动)的看法及其影响 关于房颤症状和男女房颤患者的生活质量。通过高级课程和直接研究 经验、定性和定量方法，重点分析房颤中的性别和社会背景，以及 发现与房颤相关的结果的生物标志物之间高度相关的联系，该奖项将提供 为制定行为干预措施和上游解决方案以改善 男女房颤患者的症状体验和生活质量。

PROJECT SUMMARY The purpose of this Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Pre-Doctoral Fellowship in Nursing Research (F31) application is to provide research training for Ms. Frazier, a third-year doctoral student at the University of Washington School of Nursing. The long-term goal of this training is for this applicant to develop into an independent nurse scientist in a research-intensive academic setting with a program of research dedicated to interventions that integrate biological and socioecological factors to reduce and ameliorate symptom burden in individuals living with atrial fibrillation (AF). As the U.S. population ages, the number of individuals with AF is rapidly increasing, with cases projected to more than double by 2030. Most individuals with AF experience bothersome and at times debilitating symptoms that significantly impair quality of life (QOL). Women with AF bear the burden of more frequent and severe AF symptoms and lower QOL. While prior studies have consistently identified gender differences in AF symptom and QOL outcomes, the multilevel factors contributing to such differences in women and men are largely understudied. The applicant proposes a cross-sectional study (N=124) that employs both quantitative (Aims 1 and 2) and qualitative (Aim 3) methods to elucidate social factors and novel biological markers that contribute to differences in AF symptoms and QOL in women and men with AF. The specific aims are to: 1) Compare epicardial adipose tissue volume, adipokines (leptin and adiponectin), AF symptoms, and QOL between women and men with AF; 2) Examine for associations linked to potential intermediating pathways between epicardial adipose tissue volume, adipokines (leptin and adiponectin), AF symptoms, and QOL for women and men with AF; and 3) Explore perceptions of social factors (social support, living situation, and social network interactions) and their influence on AF symptoms and QOL for women and men with AF. Through advanced coursework and direct research experience, qualitative and quantitative methods, focused analysis of gender and social contexts in AF, and discovery of highly relevant links among biological markers of and AF-related outcomes, this award will provide a firm foundation for the long-term goal to develop behavioral interventions and upstream solutions to improve symptom experiences and QOL in women and men with AF.