Erica Spatz, MD, MHS
Associate Professor of Cardiology and Associate Professor of Epidemiology (Chronic Diseases)Cards
About
Research
Publications
2025
Moving Beyond the Model Our Perspective on Meaningful AI Research in Cardiovascular Care
Jain S, Mortazavi B, Chan You S, Yao X, Lam C, Elias P, Poterucha T, Avram R, Tison G, Pirruccello J, Huang C, Wiens J, Schwamm L, Ruan X, Dunn J, Luo Y, Spatz E, Krumholz H. Moving Beyond the Model Our Perspective on Meaningful AI Research in Cardiovascular Care. Journal Of The American College Of Cardiology 2025, 86: 691-695. PMID: 40903130, DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2025.07.040.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEvaluating Blood Pressure Response Patterns to Exercise Stress Testing
Nene A, Lee D, Agboola O, Herrin J, Onuma O, Feher A, Miller E, Lu Y, Meadows J, Spatz E. Evaluating Blood Pressure Response Patterns to Exercise Stress Testing. Hypertension 2025, 82: 1663-1674. PMID: 40859827, DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.124.23717.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHypertensive response to exerciseBlood pressureComposite outcomeResponse to exerciseCardiovascular eventsBlood pressure trajectoriesClass IIComposite outcome of myocardial infarctionBlood pressure response patternsAssociated with future cardiovascular eventsPeak blood pressureAssociated with cardiovascular outcomesOutcome of myocardial infarctionPressure trajectoriesExercise stress testDiastolic blood pressureSystolic blood pressureExercise tolerance testClass II and IIITrajectories of blood pressureSystolic blood pressure trajectoriesStages 1 to 3Heart failureCardiovascular outcomesTolerance testVariability in Long COVID Definitions and Validation of Published Prevalence Rates
Wisk L, L’Hommedieu M, Diaz Roldan K, Ebna Mannan I, Spatz E, Weinstein R, Venkatesh A, Gottlieb M, Huebinger R, Rising K, Montoy J, Stephens K, Rodriguez R, Hill M, O’Laughlin K, Gentile N, Idris A, Li S, Santangelo M, Kean E, McDonald S, Gatling K, Elmore J, Koo K, Derden A, Ahmed Z, Guzman D, Hassaballa M, Kaadan A, Kinsman J, Malicki C, Lin Z, Yu H, Yang Z, Liu M, Ulrich A, Dorney J, Pierce S, Puente X, Salah W, Nichol G, Anderson J, Schiffgens M, Morse D, Adams K, Stober T, Maat Z, Geyer R, Willis M, Zhang Z, Chang G, Lyon V, Klabbers R, Ruiz L, Malone K, Park J, Chang A, Renzi N, Watts P, Kelly M, Schaeffer K, Grau D, Cheng D, Shutty C, Charlton A, Shughart L, Shughart H, Amadio G, Miao J, Hannikainen P, Chandler C, Eguchi M, Moreno R, Wang R, Kemball R, Chan V, Lara Chavez C, Wong A, Arreguin M, Kane A, Nikonowicz P, Sapp S, Gallegos D, Martin K, Saydah S, Plumb I, Hall A, Briggs-Hagen M. Variability in Long COVID Definitions and Validation of Published Prevalence Rates. JAMA Network Open 2025, 8: e2526506. PMID: 40794409, PMCID: PMC12344537, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.26506.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSelf-reported long COVIDSARS-CoV-2 testingCohort studyPublished definitionsLong COVIDFollow-up surveyPrevalence of long COVIDPublished prevalence ratesOlder with symptomsInspiring participationNegative SARS-CoV-2 testCOVID prevalenceMonths postinfectionMain OutcomesClinical carePublished literatureSecondary outcomesPrevalence ratesCOVID-19 illnessCriterion standardMulticenter cohort studySARS-CoV-2ParticipantsPrevalenceLow-to-moderate sensitivityWork Impairment and Financial Outcomes Among Adults With vs Without Long COVID
Gottlieb M, Chen J, Yu H, Santangelo M, Spatz E, Gentile N, Geyer R, Malicki C, Gatling K, O’Laughlin K, Stephens K, Elmore J, Wisk L, L’Hommedieu M, Rodriguez R, Montoy J, Wang R, Rising K, Kean E, Dyal J, Hill M, Venkatesh A, Weinstein R, Koo K, Derden A, Ahmed Z, Gomez C, Guzman D, Hassaballa M, Kaadan A, Kinsman J, Lin Z, Li S, Mannan I, Yang Z, Liu M, Ulrich A, Dorney J, Pierce S, Puente X, Salah W, Nichol G, Anderson J, Schiffgens M, Morse D, Adams K, Stober T, Maat Z, Willis M, Zhang Z, Chang G, Lyon V, Klabbers R, Ruiz L, Malone K, Park J, Chang A, Renzi N, Watts P, Kelly M, Schaeffer K, Grau D, Cheng D, Shutty C, Charlton A, Shughart L, Shughart H, Amadio G, Miao J, Hannikainen P, Chandler C, Eguchi M, Diaz Roldan K, Moreno R, Kemball R, Chan V, Lara Chavez C, Wong A, Arreguin M, Huebinger R, Kane A, Nikonowicz P, Sapp S, Idris A, McDonald S, Gallegos D, Martin K, Saydah S, Plumb I, Hall A, Briggs-Hagen M. Work Impairment and Financial Outcomes Among Adults With vs Without Long COVID. JAMA Network Open 2025, 8: e2526310. PMID: 40794410, PMCID: PMC12344534, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.26310.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProspective cohort studyWork impairmentFinancial toxicityFollow-up electronic surveyProspective cohort study of adultsCohort study of adultsChronic Illness TherapyLongitudinal cohort studyActivity Impairment QuestionnaireStudy of adultsQuality of lifeLong COVIDFinancial outcomesIllness TherapyHealth statusImpairment QuestionnaireMain OutcomesElectronic surveySelf-ReportCohort studyAdult participantsOddsHealthWork productivityAssistance programsCoronary Artery Disease–Based Polygenic Risk Score in Early-Onset Acute Myocardial Infarction Subtypes
Dong W, Lu Y, Li S, Sawano M, Caraballo C, Liu Y, Khera A, Philippakis A, Dreyer R, Lichtman J, D'Onofrio G, Spatz E, Herrington D, Post W, Rich S, Rotter J, Krumholz H. Coronary Artery Disease–Based Polygenic Risk Score in Early-Onset Acute Myocardial Infarction Subtypes. JACC Advances 2025, 4: 101994. PMID: 40712269, PMCID: PMC12311502, DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2025.101994.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAcute myocardial infarction subtypePolygenic risk scoresAcute myocardial infarctionRisk of acute myocardial infarctionRisk scoreCoronary artery diseaseAssociated with acute myocardial infarctionEstimated riskAssociated with higher riskAssociated with MIAcute myocardial infarction patientsMultinomial logistic regressionArtery diseaseNonobstructive coronary artery diseaseLogistic regressionFemale-to-male ratioYoung adultsCox regressionHigh riskInfarction subtypesYoung individualsMyocardial infarctionEarly-onsetScoresSexEffects of long COVID on healthcare utilization
Gottlieb M, Spatz E, Yu H, Mannan I, Santangelo M, Malicki C, Gentile N, Geyer R, Charlton A, Dyal J, Elmore J, Gatling K, Hill M, Montoy J, O’Laughlin K, Rising K, Saydah S, Stephens K, Wang R, Wisk L, Venkatesh A, Weinstein R, Group F. Effects of long COVID on healthcare utilization. PLOS ONE 2025, 20: e0327218. PMID: 40700379, PMCID: PMC12286388, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0327218.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealthcare utilizationElectronic health record dataLong COVIDHealth record dataHealthcare resource planningQuality of lifeEffects of long COVIDHealthcare usageVisit lengthED visitsVisit categoryTelehealth visitsVisit typeOffice visitsSecondary analysisRecord dataAdult participantsInclusion criteriaSecondary outcomesPrimary outcomeConfirmed with testsHealthcareNon-LC groupVisitsVisit numberParticipant engagement in a national longitudinal study of COVID-19: Insights from the INSPIRE study
Kwan K, Stober T, Gottlieb M, Geyer R, Rising K, Saydah S, Santangelo M, Gatling K, Grau D, Wang R, Montoy J, Idris A, MacDonald S, Hill M, Huebinger R, Prado M, Gentile N, Spatz E, Maliki C, Dorney J, Elmore J, L’Hommedieu M, Weinstein R, Venkatesh A, Stephens K, Group O. Participant engagement in a national longitudinal study of COVID-19: Insights from the INSPIRE study. PLOS ONE 2025, 20: e0325948. PMID: 40694553, PMCID: PMC12282896, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0325948.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsParticipant engagementInductive content analysis approachNational Longitudinal StudySurvey questionsContent analysis approachParticipation motivationCOVID-19 studiesCOVID-19Longitudinal researchLongitudinal studyParticipantsStudy findingsVirtual research platformEffects of COVID-19Cognitive burdenLong COVIDQualitative survey questionsParticipatory methodsResearch processStudy benefitsAnalysis approachStudy of COVID-19Research questionsEngagementResearch findingsHypertension Prevalence, Awareness, and Control in US Adults Before and After the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Essa M, Malik D, Lu Y, Yang H, Spatz E, Krumholz H, Faridi K. Hypertension Prevalence, Awareness, and Control in US Adults Before and After the COVID‐19 Pandemic. Journal Of Clinical Hypertension 2025, 27: e70093. PMID: 40685707, PMCID: PMC12277530, DOI: 10.1111/jch.70093.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHypertension prevalencePrevalence ratiosUS adultsAge-standardized prevalence estimatesAggressive public health effortsPublic health effortsPre-pandemicControl of hypertensionCOVID-19 pandemicHypertension awarenessHealth effortsPoisson regressionImpact of hypertensionPost-pandemicPrevalence estimatesNHANES dataNationwide prevalenceCause of deathUnited StatesBlood pressure controlNational trendsPrevalenceCOVID-19AdultsHypertensionImpact of SARS-CoV-2 on healthcare and essential workers: A longitudinal study of PROMIS-29 outcomes
Dorney J, Mannan I, Malicki C, Wisk L, Elmore J, O’Laughlin K, Morse D, Gatling K, Gottlieb M, Santangelo M, L’Hommedieu M, Gentile N, Saydah S, Hill M, Huebinger R, Martin K, Idris A, Kean E, Schaeffer K, Rodriguez R, Weinstein R, Spatz E, Group F. Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on healthcare and essential workers: A longitudinal study of PROMIS-29 outcomes. PLOS ONE 2025, 20: e0324755. PMID: 40680016, PMCID: PMC12273909, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0324755.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPatient-reported outcomesGeneral workersPhysical health summary scoreNon-HCWsEssential workersHealth summary scoresLong-term physical healthFrontline workersAssociated with high job stressLongitudinal studyCognitive functionHigh job stressHigher cognitive scoresEmployment typePROMIS-29Physical healthSummary scoreMain OutcomesINSPIRE registrySARS-CoV-2 statusGEE modelMandatory serviceSARS-CoV-2 exposureCognitive scoresJob stressCharacteristics and Outcomes of Palliative Continuous Intravenous Inotrope Support Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Heart Failure.
Chuzi S, Gao J, Thariath J, Faridi K, Pekow P, Lindenauer P, Spatz E, Groninger H, Lagu T. Characteristics and Outcomes of Palliative Continuous Intravenous Inotrope Support Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Heart Failure. Journal Of The American Heart Association 2025, 14: e039397. PMID: 40654228, DOI: 10.1161/jaha.124.039397.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPalliative care servicesFee-for-serviceRate of admissionPalliative careCare servicesMedicare beneficiariesDiagnostic codesMedicare fee-for-serviceMedicare FFS beneficiariesIntravenous inotropic supportCare of patientsHospice servicesHospice utilizationAverage Charlson Comorbidity Index scoreCharlson Comorbidity Index scoreComorbidity Index scoreFFS beneficiariesHospice claimsInotropic supportOlder beneficiariesHospiceFunctional statusPrimary outcomeCareGlobal comorbidity
Clinical Care
Overview
Erica Spatz, MD, MHS, is a general cardiologist who treats a variety of conditions that relate to the heart and circulatory system. In addition to emphasizing prevention to her patients, she is an active researcher who investigates ways to prevent heart attacks and strokes, so that more people can live long and healthy lives.
“The field of prevention is exciting. We are rapidly developing new ways of estimating people’s risk of future heart disease, and we have new medications and tools to reduce that risk,” says Dr. Spatz, who is especially interested in applying “precision medicine” to prevention. This is making conversations with patients in her practice more specific and less generic. “I am thinking, ‘What are the patient’s risk factors? What's unique about their biology, their genetics, and their biography? What are the aspects of their lives that may be contributing to cardiovascular risk or, on the contrary, promoting cardiovascular health? What might be the best strategies for reducing risk and improving their health outcomes?’ The onus is on us as clinicians, physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, to really understand the person before us.”
We need to be working at multiple levels to reduce heart disease, Spatz says. “We need strong policies and coordinated community efforts to promote healthier lifestyles and overall well-being. There is so much we can be doing to make ‘healthy’ the easy choice for our population. At the individual level, there is an opportunity to better capture the personalized biological factors, experiences, and behaviors that inform cardiovascular risk—through digital technology and surveys.”
Lifestyle changes are often considered the bedrock of preventing heart disease, and while this can be difficult for some people—especially if they are overwhelmed with other life challenges—small achievable goals go a long way, Dr. Spatz says. “I try to think about this from a lifelong perspective. Cardiovascular disease prevention is hard work and people can't be perfect all the time, so I try to find specific things people can work on as well as opportunities when this makes sense in a person's life. If I can help them to define a healthier path, then I think the ripple effects can be massive.”
In addition to caring for patients, Dr. Spatz serves as a clinical investigator for the Center for Outcomes Research & Evaluation (CORE), an organization at Yale School of Medicine that focuses on health care quality, where she researches individualized approaches to preventing and managing cardiovascular disease, health disparities across the health care system, and ways to engage patients as partners in their care. She also is a cofounder of Project Access-New Haven—a network of physicians, hospitals, and community organizations partnering to provide donated specialty care to underserved patients in New Haven.
Clinical Specialties
Fact Sheets
Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
Learn More on Yale MedicineFamilial hypercholesterolemia
Learn More on Yale MedicineHypercholesterolemia (High Cholesterol)
Learn More on Yale MedicineCOVID-19
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Board Certifications
Cardiovascular Disease
- Certification Organization
- AB of Internal Medicine
- Latest Certification Date
- 2019
- Original Certification Date
- 2013
Yale Medicine News
News & Links
News
- November 20, 2025Source: Yale Medicine
Yes, Stress Can Hurt Your Heart: 3 Things to Know
- November 18, 2025
Upcoming Conference: Obesity and Genetic Heart Disease in the Era of Preventive Cardiology
- September 18, 2025
Women’s Health Research at Yale Named Founding Member of The Milken Institute’s Women’s Health Network
- August 26, 2025
2025 Hecht Award Recipients Named
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Contacts
Cardiovascular Medicine
789 Howard Avenue, PO Box 208017
New Haven, CT 06520-8017
United States
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