CLEVELAND — University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute has released findings from its study centering the health of people living in areas that were “redlined” decades ago.  The study was recently published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

What You Need To Know

  • University Hospitals study shows that people living in "redlined" areas face a higher risk of having heart problems
  • University Hospitals of Clevealand and the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority are partnering to address the issues
  • ACHIEVE GreatER is an initiative to create greater access to health screenings and improve cardiovascular health

The study shows that people living in these areas are more likely to suffer from cardiology issues like diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. 

Redlining is a discriminatory housing practice enacted by the federal government in the 1930s: It prevented some racial and ethnic minorites from moving into certain neighborhoods by denying or limiting loans or mortgages to them, forcing them to remain in the inner city. 

According to the UH study, the impact is still being felt today, particularly in majority Black neighborhoods. 

Sadeer Al-Kindi, MD, cardiologist at UH Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute and co-author of the study, points out the lack of health care access people in these communities have, even in Cleveland. 

“Cleveland has one of the highest number of hospitals, but they don’t actually have access to care,” he said. 

To address the issues, University Hospitals have teamed up with the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority for an initiative called ACHIEVE GreatER. 

“We screen residents in the public housing programs for cholesterol problems, blood pressure problems, diabetes problems” said Dr. Al-Kindi.

Jeffery Patterson, CEO of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, explains how the program is a start in creating a solution. 

“We just want to see progress; we want to see progress for more people being involved---more of a heightened sense of awareness, more attention to some of the things you can do to try to improve your health,” Patterson said.

ACHIEVE GreatER will pay for community health workers, nurses and care coordinators to work with CMHA and provide for health services, including free risk factor screenings.