Virginia J Howard
Biographic Data
| ID | 85891 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Virginia J Howard |
| GIVEN NAMES | Virginia J |
| FAMILY NAME | Howard |
| SIGNATURE | HOWARD V J |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Alabama at Birmingham |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-4912-9975 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 38 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 29 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 38 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2003 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Neighborhood factors and incident stroke: Reproducibility of associations across two nationwide cohorts
Research linking adverse neighborhood context with disparities in incident stroke may reflect publication bias for chance associations. We compared results from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS, n = 25,126, aged ≥45 years, 41 % Non-Hispanic Black, 12 % 50 years, 15 % Non-Hispanic Black, 20 % < high school degree, 2004-2022). We estimated Cox models predicting stroke for 44 census tract variables representing de…
Longitudinal impact of transition to caregiving on cognitive functioning: A matched case-control study
Objectives Chronic stress has a strong theoretical link to poorer cognitive aging outcomes. Stress from caregiving, especially dementia caregiving, is associated with worse cognition; however, most prior studies have serious methodological limitations. We examined the longitudinal impact of caregiving transitions (including dementia caregiving) on cognition, compared to carefully matched non-caregiver controls, and the possible mediating role of …
The predictive validity of a Brain Care Score for late-life depression and a composite outcome of dementia, stroke, and late-life depression: Data from the UK Biobank cohort
These data further demonstrate the shared risk factors across depression, dementia, and stroke. The findings suggest that a higher BCS, indicative of healthier lifestyle choices, is significantly associated with a lower incidence of late-life depression and a composite brain health outcome. Additional validation of the BCS is warranted to assess the weighting of its components, its motivational aspects, and its acceptability and adaptability in r…
Association of educational attainment with cancer mortality in a national cohort study of black and white adults: A mediation analysis
In conclusion, participant education was strongly associated with cancer mortality, and this association was partially mediated by the SDOH domain score
Changes in Adiposity and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: The REGARDS Study
A greater decrease in %BMI (>5%) and %WC (>10%) change was associated with greater cognitive loss observed over time
Birth in the U.S. Plantation South and Racial Differences in all-cause mortality in later life
Rural/urban differences in the prevalence of stroke risk factors: A cross‐sectional analysis from the REGARDS study
PURPOSE: We previously described the magnitude of rural-urban differences in the prevalence of stroke risk factors and stroke mortality. In this report, we sought to extend the understanding of rural-urban differences in the prevalence of stroke risk factors by using an enhanced definition of rural-urban status and assessing the impact of neighborhood socioeconomic status (nSES) on risk factor differences. METHODS: This analysis included 28,242 p…
Neighborhood Walkability as a Predictor of Incident Hypertension in a National Cohort Study
The built environment (BE) has been associated with health outcomes in prior studies. Few have investigated the association between neighborhood walkability, a component of BE, and hypertension. We examined the association between neighborhood walkability and incident hypertension in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study. Walkability was measured using Street Smart Walk Score based on participants' residentia…
Matching participant address with public records database in a US national longitudinal cohort study
Agreement between LexisNexis and REGARDS addresses varied by sociodemographic groups, potentially introducing bias in studies reliant on LexisNexis alone for residential address data
Health care experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic by race and social determinants of health among adults age ≥ 58 years in the REGARDS study
In this national study of older US adults, many participants with potential COVID-19 symptoms and asymptomatic participants who desired testing did not receive COVID-19 testing
Geospatial analysis of Mediterranean diet adherence in the United States
Objective: The current study aims to describe the Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence across the US regions, and explore the predictive factors of MD adherence among US adults. Design: Cross-sectional secondary data analysis. MD adherence score (0–9) was calculated using the Block 98 FFQ. Hot spot analysis was conducted to describe the geospatial distribution of MD adherence across the US regions. Logistic regression explored predictors of MD adher…
Change in Social Engagement among Incident Caregivers and Controls: Findings from the Caregiving Transitions Study
Objectives: We aimed to compare incident family caregivers and matched controls on change in social network variables and satisfaction with social activities. Methods: A total of 479 participants from the Caregiving Transitions Study were included in the analysis, 244 (50.9%) of whom began substantial and sustained caregiving between baseline and follow-up interviews. We assessed associations between incident caregiving and change in social netwo…
The Association of Neighborhood Medical Facilities with Aging in Place and Risk of Incident Myocardial Infarction
Objectives: Aging in place (residential stability) is a desirable means of aging where adults remain in their homes, even when facing challenges that impair their capacity for self-care. Residential stability, especially following acute health challenges, depends on individual and community factors, possibly including proximity to medical facilities. Methods: We explored the association between the density of medical facilities around homes with …
Black–White Differences in Cardiovascular Disease Mortality: A Prospective US Study, 2003–2017
Objectives. To determine factors that explain the higher Black:White cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rates among US adults. Methods. We analyzed data from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study from 2003 to 2017 to estimate Black:White hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD mortality within subgroups younger than 65 years and aged 65 years or older. Results. Among 29 054 participants, 41.0% who were Black and 54.9% who were…
Prevalence of workplace discrimination and mistreatment in a national sample of older U.S. workers: The REGARDS cohort study
Although workplace discrimination and mistreatment (WDM) has recently drawn widespread media attention, our understanding of the prevalence of these phenomena remains limited. In the current study, we generated national prevalence estimates of WDM from a community-based cohort of employed black and white men and women aged ≥48 years. Measures of WDM in the current job were obtained by computer-assisted telephone interview (2011-2013) involving di…
Association of community food environment and obesity among US adults: A geographical information system analysis
BACKGROUND: Emerging studies have investigated the contribution of food environment to obesity in the USA. However, the findings were inconsistent. Methodological explanations for the inconsistent findings included: (1) using individual store/restaurant exposure as food environment indicator, and (2) not accounting for non-stationarity assumption. This study aimed to describe the spatial distribution of obesity and examine the association between…
Walk Score and objectively measured physical activity within a national cohort
BACKGROUND: There have been mixed findings regarding the relationship between walkability and level of physical activity in adults. METHODS: Participants from The REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) national cohort (N=7561) were used to examine the association between Walk Score and physical activity measured via accelerometry. The subsample included geographically diverse adults, who identified as black or white, an…
Alcohol Consumption and Incident Stroke Among Older Adults
Among older adults, those who used to, but no longer, drink had higher risks of stroke, especially among women; current light drinkers had the lowest risk of stroke
The Role of Occupation in Explaining Cognitive Functioning in Later Life: Education and Occupational Complexity in a U.S. National Sample of Black and White Men and Women
Higher levels of education may provide opportunity for intellectually engaging environments throughout adulthood in the form of complex work, which may protect late-life cognition. However, this protective effect of occupational complexity may not occur equally across race-gender subgroups
Differential Impact of Risk Factors in Blacks and Whites in the Development of Atrial Fibrillation: The Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study
Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2016 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association
Each year, the American Heart Association (AHA), in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and other government agencies, brings together the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and presents them in its Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update. The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay pu…
Addressing Stroke Risk Factors in Black and White Americans: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009-2010
We found that addressed hypertension and hyperlipidemia in stroke naïve participants were significantly lower in Blacks than Whites. Our observations call attention to areas that require further investigation, such as why Black Americans may not be receiving evidence-based pharmacologic therapy for hypertension and hyperlipidemia or why Black Americans are not at goal blood pressure or goal LDL. A better understanding of this information is criti…
Dietary fried fish intake increases risk of CVD: The REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study
Objective The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship of dietary fried fish consumption and risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Design Prospective cohort study among participants of the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study who resided in the USA. Setting The primary outcome measures included the hazard ratios (HR) of incident CVD including first incident fatal or non-fat…
Distinct age and self-rated health crossover mortality effects for African Americans: Evidence from a national cohort study
US Mortality: Influence of Race, Geography and Cardiovascular Risk Among Participants in the Population-Based REGARDS Cohort
The Role of Occupation in Explaining Cognitive Functioning in Later Life: Education and Occupational Complexity in a U.S. National Sample of Black and White Men and Women
Higher levels of education may provide opportunity for intellectually engaging environments throughout adulthood in the form of complex work, which may protect late-life cognition. However, this protective effect of occupational complexity may not occur equally across race-gender subgroups
Caregiving Strain and All-Cause Mortality: Evidence From the REGARDS Study
High perceived caregiving strain is associated with increased all-cause mortality after controlling for appropriate covariates. High caregiving strain constitutes a significant health concern and these caregivers should be targeted for appropriate interventions
Distinct age and self-rated health crossover mortality effects for African Americans: Evidence from a national cohort study
Birth in the U.S. Plantation South and Racial Differences in all-cause mortality in later life
Black–White Differences in Cardiovascular Disease Mortality: A Prospective US Study, 2003–2017
Objectives. To determine factors that explain the higher Black:White cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rates among US adults. Methods. We analyzed data from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study from 2003 to 2017 to estimate Black:White hazard ratios (HRs) for CVD mortality within subgroups younger than 65 years and aged 65 years or older. Results. Among 29 054 participants, 41.0% who were Black and 54.9% who were…
Association of community food environment and obesity among US adults: A geographical information system analysis
BACKGROUND: Emerging studies have investigated the contribution of food environment to obesity in the USA. However, the findings were inconsistent. Methodological explanations for the inconsistent findings included: (1) using individual store/restaurant exposure as food environment indicator, and (2) not accounting for non-stationarity assumption. This study aimed to describe the spatial distribution of obesity and examine the association between…
Association Between Neighborhood Disadvantage and Hypertension Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control in Older Adults: Results From the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging
Objectives. We evaluated the effect of neighborhood disadvantage (ND) on older adults’ prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension. Methods. Data were from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging, an observational study of 1000 community-dwelling Black and White Alabamians aged 65 years and older, in 1999 to 2001. We assessed hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control with blood pressure measuremen…
"A "Real Man's Ring: Gender and the Invention of Tradition
Journal Article A “Real Man's Ring”: Gender and the Invention of Tradition Get access Vicki Howard Vicki Howard Department of History, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY 13820 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Journal of Social History, Volume 36, Issue 4, Summer 2003, Pages 837–856, https://doi.org/10.1353/jsh.2003.0098 Published: 01 July 2003
Change in Social Engagement among Incident Caregivers and Controls: Findings from the Caregiving Transitions Study
Objectives: We aimed to compare incident family caregivers and matched controls on change in social network variables and satisfaction with social activities. Methods: A total of 479 participants from the Caregiving Transitions Study were included in the analysis, 244 (50.9%) of whom began substantial and sustained caregiving between baseline and follow-up interviews. We assessed associations between incident caregiving and change in social netwo…
Walk Score and objectively measured physical activity within a national cohort
BACKGROUND: There have been mixed findings regarding the relationship between walkability and level of physical activity in adults. METHODS: Participants from The REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) national cohort (N=7561) were used to examine the association between Walk Score and physical activity measured via accelerometry. The subsample included geographically diverse adults, who identified as black or white, an…
"A "Real Man's Ring: Gender and the Invention of Tradition
Journal Article A “Real Man's Ring”: Gender and the Invention of Tradition Get access Vicki Howard Vicki Howard Department of History, Hartwick College, Oneonta, NY 13820 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar Journal of Social History, Volume 36, Issue 4, Summer 2003, Pages 837–856, https://doi.org/10.1353/jsh.2003.0098 Published: 01 July 2003
The Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Study: Objectives and Design
The REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study is a national, population-based, longitudinal study of 30,000 African-American and white adults aged ≧45 years. The objective is to determine the causes for the excess stroke mortality in the Southeastern US and among African-Americans. Participants are randomly sampled with recruitment by mail then telephone, where data on stroke risk factors, sociodemographic, lifestyle…
The Bridal Business
Weddings are likely not on the minds of our students. But if asked to think about them for a moment, most young people would recognize that they are a central preoccupation in American popular culture today. They are familiar with wedding reality shows on television and wedding-themed Hollywood movies and have seen thick bridal magazines at grocery store check outs. And they are probably aware that weddings cost money. Indeed, the bridal extravag…
Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2011 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association
Each year, the American Heart Association (AHA), in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and other government agencies, brings together the most up-to-date statistics on heart disease, stroke, other vascular diseases, and their risk factors and presents them in its Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update. The Statistical Update is a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, h…
Heavy Drinking Is Associated with Poor Blood Pressure Control in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study
Alcohol intake has been shown to have a J-shaped association with blood pressure (BP). However, this association has not been examined in mixed race populations or in people with diabetes where tighter blood pressure control is recommended. Participants in the REGARDS study who were 45 years or older (n = 30,239) were included. Medical history (including self-reported alcohol intake) was collected by telephone while blood collection and clinical …
Caregiving Strain and All-Cause Mortality: Evidence From the REGARDS Study
High perceived caregiving strain is associated with increased all-cause mortality after controlling for appropriate covariates. High caregiving strain constitutes a significant health concern and these caregivers should be targeted for appropriate interventions
Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2013 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association
Each year, the American Heart Association (AHA), in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and other government agencies, brings together the most up-to-date statistics on heart disease, stroke, other vascular diseases, and their risk factors and presents them in its Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update*The Statistical Update is a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, he…
Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2014 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association
Each year, the American Heart Association (AHA), in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and other government agencies, brings together the most up-to-date statistics on heart disease, stroke, other vascular diseases, and their risk factors and presents them in its Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update. The Statistical Update is a critical resource for researchers, clinicians, h…
Associations of neighborhood area level deprivation with the metabolic syndrome and inflammation among middle- and older- age adults
These findings highlight the role of neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation on METS and CRP-MetS for black and white adults. Interventions tailored to address the contextual effects of deprived neighborhoods may reduce the observed neighborhood disparities
Methods and feasibility of collecting occupational data for a large population-based cohort study in the United States: The reasons for geographic and racial differences in stroke study
The feasibility of conducting high-quality occupational data collection and coding for a large heterogeneous population-based sample was demonstrated. We found that training for interview staff was important in ensuring that narrative responses for industry and occupation were adequately specified for coding. Estimates of survey administration time and coding from digital records provide an objective basis for planning future studies. The social …
Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2015 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association
Each year, the American Heart Association (AHA), in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and other government agencies, brings together the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and presents them in its Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update. The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay pu…
The impact of the combination of income and education on the incidence of coronary heart disease in the prospective Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort study
For younger individuals, low income, regardless of education, was associated with higher risk of CHD, but not observed for ≥ 65 years. Findings suggest that for younger participants, education attainment may not overcome the disadvantage conferred by low income in terms of CHD risk, whereas among those ≥ 65 years, the independent effects of income and education are less pronounced
Association Between Neighborhood Disadvantage and Hypertension Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control in Older Adults: Results From the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging
Objectives. We evaluated the effect of neighborhood disadvantage (ND) on older adults’ prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension. Methods. Data were from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging, an observational study of 1000 community-dwelling Black and White Alabamians aged 65 years and older, in 1999 to 2001. We assessed hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control with blood pressure measuremen…
Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2016 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association
Each year, the American Heart Association (AHA), in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and other government agencies, brings together the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular and metabolic diseases and presents them in its Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update. The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay pu…
Addressing Stroke Risk Factors in Black and White Americans: Findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2009-2010
We found that addressed hypertension and hyperlipidemia in stroke naïve participants were significantly lower in Blacks than Whites. Our observations call attention to areas that require further investigation, such as why Black Americans may not be receiving evidence-based pharmacologic therapy for hypertension and hyperlipidemia or why Black Americans are not at goal blood pressure or goal LDL. A better understanding of this information is criti…
Dietary fried fish intake increases risk of CVD: The REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study
Objective The objective of the present study was to examine the relationship of dietary fried fish consumption and risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Design Prospective cohort study among participants of the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study who resided in the USA. Setting The primary outcome measures included the hazard ratios (HR) of incident CVD including first incident fatal or non-fat…
Distinct age and self-rated health crossover mortality effects for African Americans: Evidence from a national cohort study
US Mortality: Influence of Race, Geography and Cardiovascular Risk Among Participants in the Population-Based REGARDS Cohort
Alcohol Consumption and Incident Stroke Among Older Adults
Among older adults, those who used to, but no longer, drink had higher risks of stroke, especially among women; current light drinkers had the lowest risk of stroke
The Role of Occupation in Explaining Cognitive Functioning in Later Life: Education and Occupational Complexity in a U.S. National Sample of Black and White Men and Women
Higher levels of education may provide opportunity for intellectually engaging environments throughout adulthood in the form of complex work, which may protect late-life cognition. However, this protective effect of occupational complexity may not occur equally across race-gender subgroups
Differential Impact of Risk Factors in Blacks and Whites in the Development of Atrial Fibrillation: The Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study
Prevalence of workplace discrimination and mistreatment in a national sample of older U.S. workers: The REGARDS cohort study
Although workplace discrimination and mistreatment (WDM) has recently drawn widespread media attention, our understanding of the prevalence of these phenomena remains limited. In the current study, we generated national prevalence estimates of WDM from a community-based cohort of employed black and white men and women aged ≥48 years. Measures of WDM in the current job were obtained by computer-assisted telephone interview (2011-2013) involving di…
Association of community food environment and obesity among US adults: A geographical information system analysis
BACKGROUND: Emerging studies have investigated the contribution of food environment to obesity in the USA. However, the findings were inconsistent. Methodological explanations for the inconsistent findings included: (1) using individual store/restaurant exposure as food environment indicator, and (2) not accounting for non-stationarity assumption. This study aimed to describe the spatial distribution of obesity and examine the association between…
Walk Score and objectively measured physical activity within a national cohort
BACKGROUND: There have been mixed findings regarding the relationship between walkability and level of physical activity in adults. METHODS: Participants from The REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) national cohort (N=7561) were used to examine the association between Walk Score and physical activity measured via accelerometry. The subsample included geographically diverse adults, who identified as black or white, an…
Change in Social Engagement among Incident Caregivers and Controls: Findings from the Caregiving Transitions Study
Objectives: We aimed to compare incident family caregivers and matched controls on change in social network variables and satisfaction with social activities. Methods: A total of 479 participants from the Caregiving Transitions Study were included in the analysis, 244 (50.9%) of whom began substantial and sustained caregiving between baseline and follow-up interviews. We assessed associations between incident caregiving and change in social netwo…
Medicine (35 works) · Gerontology (24 works) · Environmental health (20 works) · Demography (19 works) · Demography (17 works) · Health disparities and outcomes (17 works) · Internal Medicine (17 works) · Population (16 works) · Cohort (14 works) · Cohort study (12 works)