Abstract LB141: Harmonization and integration of regional based prospective cohorts: A preliminary report of the African Caribbean Cancer Consortium
Authors: Ragin Camille C. R. , Williams Janeil , Tchuvatkina Olga , Mckenzie Joette , Ashing Kimlin , Tulloch-Reid Marshall 
Published: April 2024

Introduction: The promise of achieving cancer control both nationally and globally rest on rigorous data collection, data harmonization and data sharing to catalyze scientific knowledge and understanding to more quickly advance our progress to addressing cancer disparities. In response, the LIFE Project aimed to establish a cancer-focused robust, functional platform for data harmonization and sharing across national and international studies with a focus on low-resourced settings and LMIC.

Methods: Established in 2022, the integrated database platform hosts data collected from the ongoing Jamaican LIFE and US CAP3 projects. Both studies focus on investigating biologic and socioecologic risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) and cancers. Participants self-reported data via REDCap. A one-to one mapping of the variables from both questionnaires was conducted and stored in the integrated REDCap file. An automated REDCap Application Programming Interface (API) script weekly imports the new entries into the integrated database. To ensure data accuracy, on a weekly schedule, data importation and data integration are monitored and assessed by random sampling of original source data entries and the corresponding entries in the integrated database. Any additional errors in data integration are resolved via consultations with the programming team.

Results: As of June 2023, 3,369 participants were enrolled - 2,561 enrolled from the LIFE study and 808 from the CAP3 study. Overall, the combined participants were 89% Afro-Caribbean or African American, and comprised 40% males with a median age of 54 years and 60% females with median age being 51 years. For the LIFE study, median age is 50 years, and for the CAP3 the median age is 55. The prevalence of self-reported health conditions are as follows: diabetes - 13% LIFE, 13% CAP3; hypertension - 37% LIFE, 19% CAP3; dyslipidemia - 15% LIFE, 21% CAP3.

Conclusion: With the continuing need for precision public health, there is a dire need to address disparities through innovative ways that promote comprehensive data linkage and analyses. This platform can be used in mapping individual cohort data with demonstrated success for the LIFE and CAP3 studies. Our web-based query tool to interface that interfaces with our REDCap database also allows us to query the available variables in both the separate and combined cohort databases and will facilitate hypothesis development. The impact of our study goes beyond the data harmonization, and robust data integration platform that links the LIFE and CAP3 studies. This allows for US comparative studies. Novel. We will also have the ability to harmonize with large US cohort studies, as well as interrogate research questions examining commonalities and differences among African Americans, Afro-Caribbean Americans and Afro-Caribbeans in the Caribbean. These comparative studies will help to elucidate the causes increased health risks, and accelerate the science to remedy the global Black NCD and cancer disparities.

Citation Format: Camille C. R. Ragin, Janeil Williams, Olga Tchuvatkina, Joette Mckenzie, Kimlin Ashing, Marshall Tulloch-Reid. Harmonization and integration of regional based prospective cohorts: A preliminary report of the African Caribbean Cancer Consortium [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr LB141.