Quantitative Biology Colloquium

Racial inequities in overall health and, particularly, cardiovascular health (CVH) continue to remain a public health concern in the United States. We use unique population-based data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis cohort to explore the Black-White differences in optimal CVH. Utilizing geographically weighted regression methods, we assessed the spatial heterogeneity in Black-White differences in optimal CVH and the impact of both individual- and neighborhood-level risk factors. We found evidence of significant spatial heterogeneity in Black-White differences that varied within and between five cities/regions across the US. Initial models showed decreased odds of optimal CVH for Blacks that ranged from 60% to 70% reduced odds –with noticeable variation of these decreased odds within each city/region. Adjusting for risk factors resulted in reductions in the Black-White differences in optimal CVH. Further understanding of the reasons for spatial heterogeneities in Black-White differences in nationally representative cohorts may provide important clues regarding the drivers of these differences.

Bio:  Dr. Loni Philip Tabb, Associate Professor of Biostatistics, received her MS (2005) and BS (2003) in Mathematics from Drexel University, and her PhD (2010) and AM (2007) degrees in Biostatistics from Harvard University. Since joining the faculty at Drexel, her research focuses primarily on spatial statistics and epidemiology with applications in health and social disparities, violence, and toxicity studies. Much of Dr. Tabb’s work involves using Bayesian statistical methods in the presence of complex data structures. Earlier research focused on the intersection of alcohol and violence in urban settings; with a more recent focus on the additional impact of marijuana access and availability - given the changing landscape of legalization of marijuana in the US. More recently, Dr. Tabb has concentrated her research efforts on the intersection of health and place, specifically as it applies to cardiovascular health. In particular, she uses novel spatial and spatio-temporal statistical methods to look at the local and national geographic patterns of Black-White inequities in this country – and how both individual- and neighborhood-level characteristics play a role in these racial/ethnic cardiovascular health inequities.

Place:   Zoom:  https://asu.zoom.us/j/85049043960