Department of Pediatrics

Cardiology Research

Background
The age-adjusted rate of heart diseases in West Virginia in 1995 was 21% higher than the national average and 49th in the nation. The CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Survey consistently showed that West Virginia ranks bottom among the states for obesity (49th), hypertension (47th) and tobacco use (45th).

William A. Neal, M.D.

Clinical Research
The CORONARY ARTERY RISK DETECTION IN APPALACHIAN COMMUNITIES (CARDIAC) Project, is a multidisciplinary team effort to assess, prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases in West Virginia. Its primary aim is cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor screening/intervention among all 5th grade students in the state. This screening entailed multi-stage screening of populations for familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Since 1998, data from at least 40,000 children demonstrated that 50% of these children are obese; 15% are hypertensive, and 15% have abnormal lipoprotein patterns. Insulin resistance has been shown to be present in most of the severely obese children. ‘Reverse’ cholesterol screening of the parents of at-risk children shows that two-thirds of them also have high blood cholesterol levels, and the majority of them (70%) were unaware of their adverse risk status. The project has completed its statewide expansion (55 counties) and intervention strategies are progressively being employed. The CARDIAC project has thus far identified at least five FH pedigrees with history of premature CHD.

For more information about the CARDIAC Project go to: www.cardiacwv.org
Contact Dr. Neal: wneal@hsc.wvu.edu

John Phillips, MD

Clinical Research:
Dr. Phillips and the WVU Pediatric Cardiology section is enrolled in a multi-center study researching congenital complete heart block in infants of mothers with lupus antibodies.  Investigators also evaluate the efficacy of steroids in reducing congenital heart block among pregnant affected mothers.   Dr. Phillips’ additional research interests include studies identifying barriers to automated electronic defibrillator (AED) installation and use in WV schools to decrease the incidence of sudden death among students and faculty.

Contact Dr. Phillips  jphillips@hsc.wvu.edu

Larry Rhodes, MD

Clinical Research:
Pediatric cardiologists Drs. Larry Rhodes and Todd Gudausky and CARDIAC project developmental psychologist Lesley Cottrell are surveying all known West Virginian Adult Survivors with Congenital Heart Disease to determine their quality of life and access to ongoing medical care.  All are concerned that many adult survivors with congenital heart disease may have a poor understanding of their heart condition, increased risk taking behavior and poor access to knowledgeable health care providers.  It is hoped that the survey will provide insight to the overall condition and medical needs of this patient population as Drs. Rhodes and Gudausky establish an Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic at WVU Hospital. 

Resident Involvement: Joshua Dower, M.D.

Contact Dr. Rhodes: larhodes@hsc.wvu.edu