Laura B. Harrington, PhD, MPH

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"Broadly, my research uses epidemiologic methods to further our understanding of cardiovascular disease etiology, prevention, and treatment, especially among older adults, and in particular, among postmenopausal women."

Laura B. Harrington, PhD, MPH

Assistant Investigator, Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute
Assistant Professor, Department of Health Systems Science, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine
Affiliate Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health

Biography

Laura B. Harrington, PhD, MPH, is a cardiovascular epidemiologist and Assistant Investigator at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) who works to improve the understanding of cardiovascular event risk in relation to a variety of risk factors, with a focus on modifiable factors. In particular, her research focuses on cardiovascular risk among older women and on risk factors associated with incident and recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE), blood clots occurring predominantly in the veins of the legs or lungs.

VTE is the third most common cardiovascular diagnosis in the United States, yet there is more to understand about its etiology and prevention. Thus, Dr. Harrington’s work currently aims to improve health by furthering our knowledge of the etiology, prevention, and treatment of these events.

In August 2018, Dr. Harrington joined KPWHRI, where she is leading research as part of a career development award from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to evaluate the relationship between physical activity, sedentary behavior, and VTE risk. She is using data from the Women’s Health Initiative, the Nurses’ Health Study, and interview data collected directly from KP Washington enrollees, as part of the Research about Venous Events (RaVE) study, to improve the understanding of how physical activity and sedentary behavior are associated with the risk of a first VTE, as well as health after someone has experienced a VTE.

Before joining KPWHRI, Dr. Harrington completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cardiovascular epidemiology in the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Department of Nutrition, a PhD in epidemiology at the University of Washington, and an MPH in epidemiology at the University of Michigan. She conducts epidemiologic research using a variety of data sources, including the integrated health care delivery system-based Heart and Vascular Health Study, the Women’s Health Initiative, the Cardiovascular Health Study, the Nurses’ Health Studies I and II, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, and the Adult Changes in Thought Study.

Dr. Harrington is also an Affiliate Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Washington, where she enjoys guest lecturing and mentoring students.

RESEARCH INTERESTS AND EXPERIENCE

  • Cardiovascular Health

    Risk factors for incident and recurrent venous thrombosis; pharmacologic risk factors; lifestyle-based risk factors; hormonally-related risk factors; women’s cardiovascular health

  • Women's Health

    Endogenous hormones and exogenous hormone use in relation to cardiovascular health; menopausal transition; vasomotor symptoms

  • Aging & Geriatrics

    Long-term prognosis following cardiovascular events

  • Medication Use & Patient Safety

    Pharmacologic risk factors associated with cardiovascular outcomes

 

Recent publications

Kim J, Bhupathiraju SN, Harrington LB, Hagan KA, Lindström S, Manson JE, Kraft P, Kabrhel C. Oral postmenopausal hormone therapy and genetic risk on venous thromboembolism: gene-hormone interaction results from a large prospective cohort study. Menopause. 2022 Jan 10. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001924. Epub ahead of print. PubMed

Harrington LB, Ehlert AN, Thacker EL, Jenny NS, Lopez O, Cushman M, Fitzpatrick A, Mukamal KJ, Jensen MK. Hemostatic factor levels and cognitive decline in older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study. J Thromb Haemost. 2021 Mar 16. doi: 10.1111/jth.15300. Online ahead of print. PubMed

Dublin S, Walker R, Floyd JS, Shortreed SM, Fuller S, Albertson-Junkans L, Harrington LB, Greenwood-Hickman MA, Green BB, Psaty BM. Response to "ACE-2 downregulation and incidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection". Am J Hypertens. 2020 Dec 15:hpaa212. doi: 10.1093/ajh/hpaa212. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed

Dublin S, Walker R, Floyd JS, Shortreed SM, Fuller S, Albertson-Junkans L, Harrington LB, Greenwood-Hickman MA, Green BB, Psaty BM. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and COVID-19 infection or hospitalization: a cohort study. Am J Hypertens. 2021 Apr 20;34(4):339-347. doi: 10.1093/ajh/hpaa168. PubMed

Dublin S, Walker RL, Floyd JS, Shortreed SM, Fuller S, Albertson-Junkans LH, Harrington LB, Greenwood-Hickman MA, Green BB, Psaty BM. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and COVID-19 infection or hospitalization: a cohort study. medRxiv. 2020:2020.07.06.20120386. doi: 10.1101/2020.07.06.20120386. PubMed

 

Healthy findings blog

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New grant boosts research on cardiovascular disease

Epidemiologist Laura B. Harrington, PhD, MPH, speaks about working in cardiovascular and aging research.

Drugs, diabetes, disparities

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Studying COVID-19 risk and outcomes

Dr. Sascha Dublin tells how studies of KP electronic health record data can improve COVID-19 treatment and prevention.

profile

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Heart health researcher Laura B. Harrington joins KPWHRI

KPWHRI gains an expert in studying cardiovascular diseases, including venous blood clots, especially in women and older adults.

improving care

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Partnership with rural-health experts aims to improve heart care

Healthy Hearts Northwest is helping patients receive better care for cardiovascular conditions thanks to collaborators like Dr. L.J. Fagnan.