Study Title:  Pacific Islands Cohort on CArdiometabolic Health (PICCAH) U24 Study - A Cohort for Studying the Burden of Cardiometabolic Diseases in Guam and Pohnpei  

 Our primary purpose is to build the infrastructure for a longitudinal cohort focused on cardiometabolic risk (CR) in two U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI) jurisdictions (Guam and Pohnpei), and to collect pilot data to improve our understanding of non-communicable diseases (NCD) lifestyle determinants in USAPI populations.

 Islanders in Guam, like other USAPI populations, are excluded from national health surveys like the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the National Health Interview Survey. Current data are limited and the mostly self-reported nature of the data, particularly of obesity and disease status, limits the interpretation of such data. The absence of longitudinal health data on USAPI populations makes it extremely difficult to truly understand their health risks and restricts the ability to address their long-term health needs.

 The intent of this project is to establish the baseline of a generational epidemiologic cohort through the institutionalization of research at the University of Guam (UOG) and the College of Micronesia (COM-FSM), a partner Area Health Education Center institution. With cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) ranking among the leading causes of death in the two jurisdictions, an emphasis will be placed on cardiometabolic risk factors.