Nancy R. Cook, ScD
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Senior Biostatistician, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
ncook@bwh.harvard.edu
Dr. Cook is a biostatistician involved in the design, conduct, and analysis of several large randomized trials, including the Women’s Health Study, the Physicians’ Health Study, and the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL (VITAL). She leads the Trials of Hypertension Prevention (TOHP) Follow-up Study, an observational study focusing on the long-term effects of weight loss and sodium reduction interventions on subsequent cardiovascular disease and mortality. Dr. Cook’s methodologic efforts focus on modeling observational data for developing risk prediction scores using clinical and genetic biomarkers. She has helped develop the Reynolds Risk Score for cardiovascular disease as well as improved methodology for comparing and evaluating risk prediction models.
MS: Harvard School of Public Health
ScD: Harvard School of Public Health
Full Listing of Publications
- Modifiable lifestyle factors in the primordial prevention of hypertension in three US cohorts November 6, 2024CONCLUSION: Healthy weight during adulthood was most substantially associated with incident hypertension among lifestyle factors, but diet, physical activity, and alcohol intake were also related to the risk across all ages, and hypertension-free periods, with stronger associations in early-onset hypertension.Rikuta Hamaya
- Biomarkers of glucose-insulin homeostasis and incident type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease: results from the Vitamin D and Omega-3 trial November 3, 2024CONCLUSIONS: Each of insulin, C-peptide, IRS, and HbA1c were associated with incident T2D with the strongest association noted for HbA1c. While HbA1c was significantly associated with CVD risk, a novel IRS appears to be associated with CHD risk. Neither vitamin D nor n-3 FA modified the associations between these biomarkers and cardiometabolic outcomes.Frank Qian
- Use of Censored Data Methods to Estimate Blood Pressure Percentiles in US Adults September 17, 2024Blood pressure (BP) levels are important modifiable risk factors for incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, many adults are on anti-hypertensive medication (MEDS) which lowers their BP but is a marker for increased CVD risk. To capture the association of BP and its treatment with risk, it is important to estimate BP levels in the absence […]Bernard Rosner
- Inflammation, Cholesterol, Lipoprotein(a), and 30-Year Cardiovascular Outcomes in Women August 31, 2024CONCLUSIONS: A single combined measure of high-sensitivity CRP, LDL cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a) levels among initially healthy U.S. women was predictive of incident cardiovascular events during a 30-year period. These data support efforts to extend strategies for the primary prevention of atherosclerotic events beyond traditional 10-year estimates of risk. (Funded by the National Institutes of Health; […]Paul M Ridker
- Associations of Vitamin D-Related Biomarkers With Hypertension and the Renin-Angiotensin System in Men and Women August 9, 2024CONCLUSIONS: Our study found no association of baseline plasma 25(OH)D or PTH with the risk of hypertension or total renin concentration in middle-aged and older men and women.Lu Wang