A Natural History of Cardiometabolic Disease Among US Bhutanese: Developing the Cross-Sectional Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio Health Study to Understand Acculturation as Synergizing Socioenvironmental and Biobehavioral Risk Factors Propagating ...

NCT06991751 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: 10002248002248-E
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background: As of 2021, almost 45 million people in the United States were foreign-born immigrants. South Asians, including people from Bhutan, are the fastest-growing immigrant subgroup in the US. Their income and education levels are higher than the US average. Yet they have worse physical and mental health outcomes than their White US-born counterparts. These risks include type 2 diabetes and obesity. Objective: This natural history study will explore how life experiences and environmental factors affect heart health and metabolism among Bhutanese people living in the US. Eligibility: Adults aged 18 years or older who identify as Bhutanese and live in the US. Design: Participants will be recruited and screened by the Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio (BCCO). They will have 1 visit to the BCCO s Arogya Clinic in Reynoldsburg. The visit will last 2 hours. Participants will take a survey; they may use either English or Nepali. They will answer questions about their background; their experiences living in the US; and how their customs and habits might have changed. They will also be asked about their experiences with discrimination; their mental health and well-being; their community; quality of life; and overall physical health. The survey will take 60 minutes. Participants will also speak with a researcher. They will be asked how they feel about providing biological samples; these may include saliva, blood, and urine. Their answers will be audio recorded.

Conditions

Mental Health; Cardiometabolic Risk Factors

Keywords

Bhutanese; South Asian; Community engaged; Biospecimen perceptions; Epidemiology; Syndemic

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• To summarize socioecological characteristics of acculturation and cardiometabolic health from >=18-year-old adults United States Bhutanese living in Central Ohio.

  Summary on self-reported constructs of acculturation and acculturative stress, discrimination and stigma, health behaviors, medical history and health behaviors, mental health, sleep health, neighborhood social cohesion and community support, trauma, and medical history of cardiometabolic conditions.

  6-12 months

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• To identify barriers and facilitators to biospecimen donation among United States Bhutanese adults living in Central Ohio.

  6-12 months

Study Arms (1)

US Bhutanese

Those self-identifying as Bhutanese living in central Ohio.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 100 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adults aged 18 years or older who identify as Bhutanese and live in the US, greater Ohio area.

You may qualify if:

• To participate in this study all of the following criteria must be met:
• Adults (aged 18 years and older) living in the United States
• Identify as Bhutanese, which will be defined as those individuals that resided or had/have their closest relatives residing in the Kingdom of Bhutan
• Bhutanese identity will also include those that self-identify as Bhutanese-Nepali or Bhutanese American

You may not qualify if:

• An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
• Any South Asian participants that do not identify as Bhutanese.
• Pregnant at time of study or screening

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS): lead

Study Sites (1)

Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio (BCCO)

Columbus, Ohio, 43229, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Personal Satisfaction; Behavior

Study Officials

• Chandra L Jackson, Ph.D.

  National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Chandra L Jackson, Ph.D.

CONTACT

(984) 297-3701; chandra.jackson@nih.gov

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: RETROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: NIH
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 23, 2025
• First Posted: May 28, 2025
• Study Start (Estimated): June 17, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 31, 2026
• Last Updated: June 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-08-29

Locations

US (1)