Caden Olson

Cardiometabolic Health Initiative, RUSH Medical College, USA

Abstract Title:

Biography: Caden completed his BS in Neuroscience and Healthcare Policy at the age of 21 from University of Wisconsin – Madison and is pursuing an MD from RUSH Medical College. He is the co-director of the Cardiometabolic Health Initiative. In addition to engaging in patient screening, point-of- care cardiometabolic testing, and health coaching, Caden has authored community health grants and remains active in the cardiology health equity research space. Outside of CHI, Caden’s research interests include reverse total shoulder arthroplasty revision rates in otherwise healthy individuals. Caden is also a student ambassador for RUSH and a member of RUSH’s Student Curriculum Advisor Committee.

Research Interest: Social determinants of health (SDoH) have previously been shown to have positive correlation with degree of cardiovascular disease. Dyslipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension are known cardiovascular disease risk factors, and the goal of this study was to assess the impact of SDoH on treatment of these risk factors. Cardiometabolic Health Initiative (CHI) is a physician- led, student-run community service organization that provides cardiometabolic screening and health coaching to underserved communities on the West Side of Chicago. Demographic information, cardiometabolic history, and socioeconomic risk factors are assessed and point-of- care cardiometabolic testing is performed. Patients are then referred to social welfare programs and longitudinal care by community health workers and licensed physicians, respectively. This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 278 patients who engaged in cardiometabolic screening across four food pantries on the West Side of Chicago. Patients were retrospectively divided into treated, and untreated groups amongst each cardiovascular comorbidity. Mann-Whitley U testing examined an association between extent of socioeconomic risk factors and rates by which patients are treated for their respective comorbidity. Those with untreated diabetes (n=23) faced significantly greater socioeconomic risk factors (m=4.65) than those with treated diabetes (n=42, m=3.31) (p=0.029). Patients with untreated dyslipidemia (n=42) had a slightly greater socioeconomic burden (m=3.82) that was trending towards significant when compared with patients with treated dyslipidemia (n=46, m=3.62) (p=0.135). Patients with untreated hypertension (n=48) had a similar socioeconomic risk burden (m=3.78) to those with treated hypertension (n=77, m=4.11) (p=0.208). This study showed a significant positive correlation between number of socioeconomic barriers and lack of treatment of diabetes, illustrating a significant area of opportunity for addressing care gaps among disadvantaged individuals. It did not find a significant correlation for the treatment of hypertension and dyslipidemia, even though rates of untreated risk factors remained high indicating the presence of other confounding care gaps.