Panel Discussion

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. In 2008, the overall rate of death attributable to CVD was 244.8 per 100,000. The rates were 287.2 per 100,000 for white males, 390.4 per 100,000 for black males, 200.5 per 100,000 for white females, and 277.4 per 100,000 for black females. On the basis of the mortality data, more than 2,200 Americans die of CVD each day, an average of 1 death every 39 seconds. About 150,000 Americans killed by CVD were <65 years of age, and 33% of deaths due to CVD occurred before the age of 75 years, which is well before the average life expectancy of 77.9 years. CVD continuously poses a serious public health problem in the country. Additionally, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes and cancer account for $700 billion dollars in direct and indirect economic costs and up to two-thirds of all death in the US. American Heart Association American Diabetes Association and American cancer Association issued a call of collaborative effort to identify and treat common risk factors for CVD and diabetes. The purpose of this session is to provide attendees with an update of epidemiological study and new approaches in prevention of CVD. Special discussion will include: (1) cardiovascular health, education and research with focusing on eliminating health disparities in CVD and DM among minority populations; (2) Application of advanced biostatistics and bioinformatics in studies of CVD and DM epidemiology (3) Sleep related conditions as common risk factors for CVD and Diabetes; (4) Cardiotoxicity, cardiac death and cardioprotection in patients exposed to cancer therapy

Session Objectives: 1. Discuss evidence of recent epidemiology of cardiovascular disease, and studies of cardiometabolic syndrome and diabetes as independent predictors for CVD, and health disparities in CVD and diabetes. 2. Discuss the role of sleep and sleep related conditions including sleep disordered breathing and insomnia as independent predictors of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and overall mortality. 3. Discuss cardiotoxicity and overall survival in patients treated for cancer and potential cardioprotective agents. 4. Discuss the impact of new biostatistics and bioinformatics on CVD research 5. discuss areas of needed research identified by each report.