A Natural History of Cardiometabolic Disease Among US Bhutanese: Developing the Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio Health Study to Identify Synergizing Socioenvironmental and Biobehavioral Risk Factors Propagating Health Disparities From a Cross-Sectional Study
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Summary
Background: As of 2021, almost 45 million people in the United States were foreign-born immigrants. South Asians, including people from Bhutan, are the fastest-growing immigrant subgroup in the US. Their income and education levels are higher than the US average. Yet they have worse physical and mental health outcomes than their White US-born counterparts. These risks include type 2 diabetes and obesity. Objective: This natural history study will explore how life experiences and environmental factors affect heart health and metabolism among Bhutanese people living in the US. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 years or older who identify as Bhutanese and live in the US. Design: Participants will be recruited and screened by the Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio (BCCO). They will have 1 visit to the BCCO s Arogya Clinic in Reynoldsburg. The visit will last 2 hours. Participants will take a survey; they may use either English or Nepali. They will answer questions about their background; their experiences living in the US; and how their customs and habits might have changed. They will also be asked about their experiences with discrimination; their mental health and well-being; their community; quality of life; and overall physical health. The survey will take 60 minutes. Participants will also speak with a researcher. They will be asked how they feel about providing biological samples; these may include saliva, blood, and urine. Their answers will be audio recorded.
Description
Study Description: In 2021 we completed a cross-sectional feasibility study to assess cardiometabolic health of the Bhutanese refugee community in central Ohio. This is a cross-sectional pilot to assess the feasibility of establishing a long-term cohort study among the Bhutanese community to provide representation of a hardly-reached demographic group, optimize collection of behavioral and biological data. Schedule of Activities, describes the study activities including a survey assessing the participants experiences and a brief qualitative assessment examining the feasibility of obtaining bi…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–100 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
* INCLUSION CRITERIA: To participate in this study all of the following criteria must be met: * Adults (aged 18 years and older) living in the United States * Identify as Bhutanese, which will be defined as those individuals that resided or had/have their closest relatives residing in the Kingdom of Bhutan * Bhutanese identity will also include those that self-identify as Bhutanese-Nepali or Bhutanese American EXCLUSION CRITERIA: An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study: * Any South Asian participants that do not identify as B…
Location
- Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio (BCCO)Columbus, Ohio