Abstract P354: The “Afro-Cardiac Study” Identifies High Burden of Cardiovascular Disease Risk in West African Immigrants in the United States

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 131 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne Y Commodore-Mensah ◽  
Charles A Berko ◽  
Maame E Sampah ◽  
Joycelyn Cudjoe ◽  
Cheryl D Himmelfarb
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Health Insurance ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
African Immigrants ◽  
The United States ◽  
West African ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
West African Immigrants

Introduction: The African immigrant population grew 40-fold between 1960 and 2007, from 35,355 to 1.4 million with one third coming from West Africa, primarily Ghana and Nigeria. African immigrants have been understudied and, traditionally, lumped into the racial category of Black/African-American. We have examined the prevalence of CVD risk factors (hypertension, overweight/obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, current smoking and physical inactivity), assessed global CVD risk and identified independent predictors of increased CVD risk by sex in West African immigrants (WAI). Methods: Cross-sectional study of WAI (Ghanaians and Nigerians) aged 35-74 years recruited from churches in the Baltimore/ Washington, DC metropolitan area. CVD risk factors were determined per AHA guidelines. Descriptive statistics were performed on participant’s Pooled Cohort Equations (PCE) scores and CVD risk factors with comparison by sex. Participants with PCE scores ≥7.5% and ≥3 CVD risk factors were deemed high risk. A multivariable logistic regression was fitted to identify independent predictors of high CVD risk. Results: The mean age of the 253 participants was 49.5±9.2 years and 58% were female. Males were more likely to be employed than females (90% vs. 72%; p=0.001). Only 52% of participants had health insurance. The majority [54% [137/253)] had ≥3 CVD risk factors and 28% had PCE score ≥7.5%. Smoking was the least prevalent (<1%) and overweight/obesity the most prevalent (88%) risk factor. Although females (64%) were more likely to be treated for hypertension than males (36%), there was no difference in hypertension control by sex. Diabetes was identified in 16% of the participants. Mean total cholesterol (TC) was 180.9±33.9mg/dL and 32% had TC level ≥200mg/dL. In addition, 44% were found to be physically inactive (<150minutes/week of moderate or <75minutes/week of vigorous physical activity). In females, employment [0.18 AOR, 95%CI: 0.075-0.44)] and health insurance [0.35 AOR, 95%CI 0.14-0.87)] were associated with a PCE score ≥7.5%. In males, higher social support was associated with a 0.92 (95%CI: 0.84-0.98) odds of having ≥3 CVD risk factors. Conclusion: The high prevalence of CVD risk among relatively young WAIs is worrisome and suggests that the “healthy immigrant effect” may no longer hold for 21st century African immigrants. Employment and health insurance were protective against high CVD risk in females with social support protective against high CVD risk in males. CVD prevention strategies must be tailored to the unique needs of the WAI with consideration of socioeconomic status and sex.

Abstract P176: Cardiovascular Disease Risk among West African Immigrants in the US: the AFRO-CardiAC study

Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne Y Commodore-Mensah ◽  
Charles O Agyemang ◽  
Jonathan K Aboagye ◽  
Nancy Abu-Bonsrah ◽  
Cheryl R Himmelfarb
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease Risk ◽  
African Immigrants ◽  
West African ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
The Us ◽  
West African Immigrants

Introduction: There are research gaps on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk of the burgeoning West-African immigrants (WAI) in the United States (US) because they are lumped into the racial category of “Black/African-American”. The epidemiological transition in Africa suggests that WAI may be at high risk for CVD prior to migration, which may worsen with increased years of US residence. We sought to examine the global CVD risk using the 10-year Framingham CVD score (FRS10), CVD risk factors and identify independent predictors of increased CVD risk, among WAI. Methods: The “AFRO-CardiAC” study is a community-based cross-sectional study among first generation WAI aged 35-74 years, born in Ghana/Nigeria and residing in the Washington, D.C metropolis. Cardiovascular disease risk factors (total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, hypertension (HTN), diabetes, smoking and body mass index) and health behaviors were determined according to AHA guidelines. Descriptive statistics were performed on participant’s FRS10 and CVD risk factors with comparison by sex. Participants with FRS10 below 10% were deemed low risk and those at ≥ 10% were classified as high risk. A multivariate logistic regression was fitted to identify independent risk factors associated with high CVD risk. Results: A total of 145 participants have been recruited to date; aged 50±8.5years and 61% female. The majority (72%; 104/145) have resided in the US for more than 10 years. The overall prevalence of HTN was 53% with no significant difference between males (46%) and females (57%)[p=0.201]. The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 94% in females and 82% in males (p<0.0001). Only one participant reported smoking and 15% were diabetic, with no sex differences (males 20 % and females 12 %). Males had a significantly higher mean FRS10 (11.10±8.85) than females (6.66±6.48) [p=0.0016]. Also, 13%, 23%, 64% (n=56) of males were classified as having high, intermediate and low risk of CVD compared to 3%, 20%, and 77% of females (n=87)[p=0.082]. The predictors of high CVD risk using dichotomized FRS10 categories (<10% vs. ≥10%) as the outcome included increasing length of stay in the US, [Odds Ratio (OR):1.12, 95%CI: 1.04-1.20,p= 0.001], unemployment[OR:7.0, 95% CI: 1.69-29.79, p=0.008] and household income less than $25,000 (OR: 4.17, 95%CI:1.33-13.08,p=0.014) Conclusion: In conclusion, this preliminary analysis of an ongoing study shows a high prevalence of major CVD risk factors in relatively young WAI. Males had a significantly higher global CVD risk although females had a striking prevalence of overweight/obesity. Employment was protective against high CVD risk while lower income and longer stay in the US were associated with higher CVD risk. These data suggest a need for CVD prevention strategies that are tailored to the needs of the WAI with consideration of socioeconomic status and gender.

scholarly journals Discrimination Is Associated with Elevated Cardiovascular Disease Risk among African Immigrants in the African Immigrant Health Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 651-660
Author(s):  
Ruth-Alma N. Turkson-Ocran ◽  
Sarah L. Szanton ◽  
Lisa A. Cooper ◽  
Sherita H. Golden ◽  
Rexford S. Ahima ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Immigrant Health ◽  
African Immigrants ◽  
The United States ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
African Immigrant ◽  
African Immigrant Health

Background: African Americans and other persons of African descent in the United States are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Discrimi­nation is associated with higher CVD risk among US adults; however, this relationship is unknown among African immigrants.Objective: To examine the associations among discrimination, resilience, and CVD risk in African immigrants.Methods: The African Immigrant Health Study was a cross-sectional study of African immigrants in Baltimore-Washington, DC, with recruitment and data collection taking place between June 2017 and April 2019. The main outcome was elevated CVD risk, the presence of ≥3 CVD risk factors includ­ing hypertension, diabetes, high choles­terol, overweight/obesity, tobacco use, and poor diet. The secondary outcomes were these six individual CVD risk factors. The exposure was discrimination measured with the Everyday Discrimination Scale; summed scores ≥2 on each item indicated frequent experiences of discrimination. Resilience was assessed with the 10-item Connor- Davidson resilience scale. Logistic regression was used to examine the odds of elevated CVD risk, adjusting for relevant covariates.Results: We included 342 participants; 61% were females. The mean (±SD) age was 47(±11) years, 61% had at least a bachelor’s degree, 18% had an income <$40,000, and 49% had lived in the US ≥15 years. Persons with frequent experi­ences of discrimination were 1.82 times (95%CI: 1.04–3.21) more likely to have elevated CVD risk than those with fewer experiences. Resilience did not moderate the relationship between CVD risk and discrimination.Conclusion: African immigrants with frequent experiences of discrimination were more likely to have elevated CVD risk. Tar­geted and culturally appropriate interven­tions are needed to reduce the high burden of CVD risk in this population. Health care providers should be aware of discrimina­tion as a meaningful social determinant of CVD risk. At the societal level, policies and laws are needed to reduce the occurrence of discrimination among African immi­grants and racial/ethnic minorities. Ethn Dis. 2020;30(4):651-660;doi:10.18865/ed.30.4.651

scholarly journals The Use of Sex-Specific Factors in the Assessment of Women’s Cardiovascular Risk

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 141 (7) ◽  
pp. 592-599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anandita Agarwala ◽  
Erin D. Michos ◽  
Zainab Samad ◽  
Christie M. Ballantyne ◽  
Salim S. Virani
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Primary Prevention ◽  
American Heart Association ◽  
American Heart ◽  
Heart Association ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Increased Risk

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among women in the United States. As compared with men, women are less likely to be diagnosed appropriately, receive preventive care, or be treated aggressively for CVD. Sex differences between men and women have allowed for the identification of CVD risk factors and risk markers that are unique to women. The 2018 American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Multi-Society cholesterol guideline and 2019 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guideline on the primary prevention of CVD introduced the concept of risk-enhancing factors that are specific to women and are associated with an increased risk of incident atherosclerotic CVD in women. These factors, if present, would favor more intensified lifestyle interventions and consideration of initiation or intensification of statin therapy for primary prevention to mitigate the increased risk. In this primer, we highlight sex-specific CVD risk factors in women, stress the importance of eliciting a thorough obstetrical and gynecological history during cardiovascular risk assessment, and provide a framework for how to initiate appropriate preventive measures when sex-specific risk factors are present.

scholarly journals Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes: Findings from Prospective Real-life T1D Exchange Registry

2020 ◽  
Vol 105 (5) ◽  
pp. e2032-e2038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viral N Shah ◽  
Ryan Bailey ◽  
Mengdi Wu ◽  
Nicole C Foster ◽  
Rodica Pop-Busui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Type 1 Diabetes ◽  
Diabetic Nephropathy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Context Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of mortality in adults with type 1 diabetes. Objective We prospectively evaluated CVD risk factors in a large, contemporary cohort of adults with type 1 diabetes living in the United States. Design Observational study of CVD and CVD risk factors over a median of 5.3 years. Setting The T1D Exchange clinic network. Patients Adults (age ≥ 18 years) with type 1 diabetes and without known CVD diagnosed before or at enrollment. Main Outcome Measure Associations between CVD risk factors and incident CVD were assessed by multivariable logistic regression. Results The study included 8,727 participants (53% female, 88% non-Hispanic white, median age 33 years [interquartile ratio {IQR} = 21, 48], type 1 diabetes duration 16 years [IQR = 9, 26]). At enrollment, median HbA1c was 7.6% (66 mmol/mol) (IQR = 6.9 [52], 8.6 [70]), 33% used a statin, and 37% used blood pressure medication. Over a mean follow-up of 4.6 years, 325 (3.7%) participants developed incident CVD. Ischemic heart disease was the most common CVD event. Increasing age, body mass index, HbA1c, presence of hypertension and dyslipidemia, increasing duration of diabetes, and diabetic nephropathy were associated with increased risk for CVD. There were no significant gender differences in CVD risk. Conclusion HbA1c, hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetic nephropathy are important risk factors for CVD in adults with type 1 diabetes. A longer follow-up is likely required to assess the impact of other traditional CVD risk factors on incident CVD in the current era.

scholarly journals Risk factors for cardiovascular disease among Mexican-American adults in the United States and Mexico: a comparative study

2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leo S Morales ◽  
Yvonne N Flores ◽  
Mei Leng ◽  
Noémie Sportiche ◽  
Katia Gallegos-Carrillo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Mexican American ◽  
Hdl Cholesterol ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
The Us ◽  
Low Hdl

 Objective. To compare cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a cohort of Mexican health workers with repre­sentative samples of US-born and Mexico-born Mexican-Americans living in the US. Materials and methods. Data were obtained from the Mexican Health Worker Cohort Study (MHWCS) in Mexico and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) IV 1999-2006 in the US. Regression analyses were used to investigate CVD risk factors. Results. In adjusted analyses, NHANES participants were more likely than MHWCS participants to have hypertension, high total cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and abdominal obesity, and were less likely to have low HDL cholesterol and smoke. Less-educated men and women were more likely to have low HDL cholesterol, obesity, and ab­dominal obesity. Conclusions. In this binational study, men and women enrolled in the MHWCS appear to have fewer CVD risk factors than US-born and Mexico-born Mexican-American men and women living in the US.

scholarly journals Using Cluster Analysis to Explore Associations between Cardiovascular Risk and Lifestyle Factors in a Workplace Wellness Program

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-41
Author(s):  
Heather Carter-Templeton ◽  
Gary Templeton ◽  
Barbara Ann Graves ◽  
Leslie G. Cole
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Risk Factor ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
Workplace Wellness ◽  
Wellness Program ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Ideal Cardiovascular Health

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death in the United States with risk factors including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity, smoking, physical inactivity, age, genetics, and unhealthy diets. A university-based workplace wellness program (WWP) consisting of an annual biometric screening assessment with targeted, individualized health coaching was implemented in an effort to reduce these risk factors while encouraging and nurturing ideal cardiovascular health.Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine and describe the prevalence of single and combined, or multiple, CVD risk factors within a workplace wellness dataset.Methods: Cluster analysis was used to determine CVD risk factors within biometric screening data (BMI, waist circumference, LDL, total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, blood glucose age, ethnicity, and gender) collected during WWP interventions.Results: The cluster analysis provided visualizations of the distributions of participants having specific CVD risk factors. Of the 8,802 participants, 1,967 (22.4%) had no CVD risk factor, 1,497 (17%) had a single risk factor, and 5,529 (60.5%) had two or more risk factors. The majority of sample members are described as having more than one CVD risk factor with 78% having multiple.Conclusion: Cluster analysis demonstrated utility and efficacy in categorizing participant data based on their CVD risk factors. A baseline analysis of data was captured and provided understanding and awareness into employee health and CVD risk. This process and analysis facilitated WWP planning to target and focus on education to promote ideal cardiovascular health.

Abstract 08: Heterogeneity in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Prevalence Among Whites, African Americans, African Immigrants and Afro-Caribbeans: Insights From the 2010-2018 National Health Interview Survey

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 141 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Baptiste ◽  
Ruth-Alma N Turkson-Ocran ◽  
Oluwabunmi Ogungbe ◽  
Binu Koirala ◽  
Lucine Francis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
African Americans ◽  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
National Health ◽  
National Health Interview Survey ◽  
African Immigrants ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Interview Survey

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Blacks are disproportionately affected by CVD risk factors, compared to whites. However, Blacks are not monolithic and include the following ethnic groups; African Americans (AAs), African Immigrants (AIs), and Afro-Caribbeans (ACs). It is unclear how AIs and ACs compare to their AA counterparts and Whites with respect to CVD risk factors. Objective: To examine trends in CVD risk factors among three Black ethnic groups in comparison to whites between 2010-2018. Methods: A comparative analysis of the National Health Interview Survey was conducted among N=452,997 participants, examining sociodemographic data and trends in self-reported CVD risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, overweight/obesity, and smoking). Generalized linear models with a Poisson distribution were used to obtain the respective predictive probabilities of CVD risk factors. Results: The sample included 82,835 Blacks (89% AAs, 5% AIs and 6% ACs) and 370,362 whites. AIs were the youngest with mean age of 40.8 years and were less likely to be insured (76%) compared to whites (91%) and AAs (83%) ( p =<0.001). ACs (23%) were more likely be college-educated than AAs (17%) but not AIs (36%) or whites (32%), (p=<0.001). AIs had the lowest age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of all four CVD risk factors. There were disparities (among AAs) and advantages (among AIs and ACs) in CVD risk factors. ( Figure) . Overweight/obesity and diabetes prevalence was increasing in AAs and whites ( p -values for trend<0.001). Smoking prevalence was highest in whites and AAs compared to AIs and ACs but the prevalence decreased significantly between 2010-2018 ( p -values for trend<0.001). Conclusion: Our results have shown significant heterogeneity in CVD risk factors among three Black ethnic groups compared to whites. These findings suggest that race alone does not account for health disparities in CVD risk factors. Environmental, psychological, and social factors may play a larger role in CVD risk.

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