Dataset Information

Poor cardiovascular health is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in apparently healthy sub-Saharan African populations: an H3Africa AWI-Gen study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The cardiovascular health index (CVHI) introduced by the American Heart Association is a valid, accessible, simple, and translatable metric for monitoring cardiovascular health in a population. Components of the CVHI include the following seven cardiovascular risk factors (often captured as life's simple 7): smoking, dietary intake, physical activity, body mass index, blood pressure, glucose, and total cholesterol. We sought to expand the evidence for its utility to under-studied populations in sub-Saharan Africa, by determining its association with common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT).

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 9011 participants drawn from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. We assessed established classical cardiovascular risk factors and measured carotid intima-media thickness of the left and right common carotid arteries using B-mode ultrasonography. Adjusted multilevel mixed-effect linear regression was used to determine the association of CVHI with common CIMT. In the combined population, an individual participant data meta-analyses random-effects was used to conduct pooled comparative sub-group analyses for differences between countries, sex, and socio-economic status.

Results

The mean age of the study population was 51?±?7?years and 51% were women, with a mean common CIMT of 637?±?117??m and CVHI score of 10.3?±?2.0. Inverse associations were found between CVHI and common CIMT (?-coefficients [95% confidence interval]: Burkina Faso, -?6.51 [-?9.83, -?3.20] ?m; Ghana, -?5.42 [-?8.90, -?1.95]; Kenya, -?6.58 [-?9.05, -?4.10]; and South Africa, -?7.85 [-?9.65, -?6.05]). Inverse relations were observed for women (-?4.44 [-?6.23, -?2.65]) and men (-?6.27 [-?7.91, -?4.64]) in the pooled sample. Smoking (p?ConclusionThis large pan-African population study demonstrates that CVHI is a strong marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, measured by common CIMT and importantly demonstrates that primary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in this understudied population should target physical activity, smoking, obesity, hypertension, and hyperglycemia.

SUBMITTER: Nonterah EA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7874493 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Poor cardiovascular health is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in apparently healthy sub-Saharan African populations: an H3Africa AWI-Gen study.

Nonterah Engelbert A EA Crowther Nigel J NJ Oduro Abraham A Agongo Godfred G Micklesfield Lisa K LK Boua Palwendé R PR Choma Solomon S R SSR Mohamed Shukri F SF Sorgho Herman H Tollman Stephen M SM Norris Shane A SA Raal Frederick J FJ Grobbee Diederick E DE Ramsay Michelé M Bots Michiel L ML Klipstein-Grobusch Kerstin K

BMC medicine 20210210 1

<h4>Background</h4>The cardiovascular health index (CVHI) introduced by the American Heart Association is a valid, accessible, simple, and translatable metric for monitoring cardiovascular health in a population. Components of the CVHI include the following seven cardiovascular risk factors (often captured as life's simple 7): smoking, dietary intake, physical activity, body mass index, blood pressure, glucose, and total cholesterol. We sought to expand the evidence for its utility to under-stud ...[more]

PMID: 33563289

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Project description:BackgroundObesity and adipose tissue distribution contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by promoting atherosclerosis. This association has been poorly studied in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) despite the rising prevalence of cardiovascular disease.ObjectivesWe determined the association between various adiposity phenotypes and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), a proxy of subclinical atherosclerosis, in a large SSA population.MethodsA population-based cross-sectional study was performed from 2013-2016 in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya and South Africa. Body mass index (BMI), waist (WC), hip circumferences (HC), visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) using B-mode ultrasound were measured. Ultrasonography of left and right far wall CIMT of the common carotid artery was used as an indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis. Individual participant data meta-analyses were used to determine the associations between adiposity phenotypes and CIMT in the pooled sample while adjusted multivariable linear regression analyses were used for site specific analyses.ResultsData were obtained from 9,010 adults (50.3% women and a mean age of 50± 6years). Men had higher levels of visceral fat than women while women had higher BMI, waist and hip circumference and subcutaneous fat than men at all sites except Burkina Faso. In the pooled analyses, BMI (β-value [95% CIs]: 19.5 [16.8, 22.3] μm) showed the strongest relationship with CIMT followed by VAT (5.86 [4.65, 7.07] μm), SCAT (5.00 [2.85, 7.15] μm), WC (1.27 [1.09, 1.44] μm) and HC (1.23 [1.04, 1.42] μm). Stronger associations were observed in men than in women.ConclusionObesity within SSA will likely result in higher levels of atherosclerosis and promote the occurrence of cardio- and cerebrovascular events, especially in males, unless addressed through primary prevention of obesity in both rural and urban communities across Africa. The inverse association of VAT with CIMT in Burkina Faso and Ghana requires further investigation.HighlightsAll adiposity phenotypes were positively associated with common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in the entire cohort (pooled analyses).BMI had the strongest association with CIMT compared to other phenotypes.The magnitude of association between adiposity phenotypes and CIMT was higher in men than in women.Subcutaneous adipose tissue was inversely associated with CIMT only in women.An unexpected finding was the inverse association of visceral adipose tissue with CIMT in Burkina Faso and Ghana.

Project description:BackgroundAfrican populations are characterised by diversity at many levels including: demographic history, genetic ancestry, language, wealth, socio-political landscape, culture and behaviour. Several of these have a profound impact on body fat mass. Obesity, a key risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, in the wake of the epidemiological and health transitions across the continent, requires detailed analysis together with other major risk factors.ObjectiveTo compare regional and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) distributions, using a cross-sectional study design, in adults aged 40-60 years across six study sites in four sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries and to compare the determinants of BMI at each.MethodsAnthropometric measurements were standardised across sites and BMI calculated. Median BMI and prevalence of underweight, lean, overweight and obesity were compared between the sexes and across sites. Data from multivariable linear regression models for the principal determinants of BMI were summarised from the site-specific studies.ResultsBMI was calculated in 10,702 participants (55% female) and was significantly higher in women than men at nearly all sites. The highest prevalence of obesity was observed at the three South African sites (42.3-66.6% in women and 2.81-17.5% in men) and the lowest in West Africa (1.25-4.22% in women and 1.19-2.20% in men). Across sites, higher socio-economic status and educational level were associated with higher BMI. Being married and increased dietary intake were associated with higher BMI in some communities, whilst smoking and alcohol intake were associated with lower BMI, as was HIV infection in the regions where it was prevalent.ConclusionIn SSA there is a marked variation in the prevalence of obesity both regionally and between men and women. Our data suggest that the drive for social upliftment within Africa will be associated with rising levels of obesity, which will require the initiation of targeted sex-specific intervention programmes across specific African communities.

Project description:IntroductionAtherosclerosis is a key contributor to the burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and many epidemiological studies have reported on the effect of smoking on carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and its subsequent effect on CVD risk. Gene-environment interaction studies have contributed towards understanding some of the missing heritability of genome-wide association studies. Gene-smoking interactions on cIMT have been studied in non-African populations (European, Latino-American, and African American) but no comparable African research has been reported. Our aim was to investigate smoking-SNP interactions on cIMT in two West African populations by genome-wide analysis.Materials and methodsOnly male participants from Burkina Faso (Nanoro = 993) and Ghana (Navrongo = 783) were included, as smoking was extremely rare among women. Phenotype and genotype data underwent stringent QC and genotype imputation was performed using the Sanger African Imputation Panel. Smoking prevalence among men was 13.3% in Nanoro and 42.5% in Navrongo. We analyzed gene-smoking interactions with PLINK after adjusting for covariates: age and 6 PCs (Model 1); age, BMI, blood pressure, fasting glucose, cholesterol levels, MVPA, and 6 PCs (Model 2). All analyses were performed at site level and for the combined data set.ResultsIn Nanoro, we identified new gene-smoking interaction variants for cIMT within the previously described RCBTB1 region (rs112017404, rs144170770, and rs4941649) (Model 1: p = 1.35E-07; Model 2: p = 3.08E-08). In the combined sample, two novel intergenic interacting variants were identified, rs1192824 in the regulatory region of TBC1D8 (p = 5.90E-09) and rs77461169 (p = 4.48E-06) located in an upstream region of open chromatin. In silico functional analysis suggests the involvement of genes implicated in biological processes related to cell or biological adhesion and regulatory processes in gene-smoking interactions with cIMT (as evidenced by chromatin interactions and eQTLs).DiscussionThis is the first gene-smoking interaction study for cIMT, as a risk factor for atherosclerosis, in sub-Saharan African populations. In addition to replicating previously known signals for RCBTB1, we identified two novel genomic regions (TBC1D8, near BCHE) involved in this gene-environment interaction.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Rapid epidemiological health transitions occurring in vulnerable populations in Africa that have an existing burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases predict an increased risk and consequent prevalence of kidney disease. However, few studies have characterised the true burden of kidney damage and associated risk factors in Africans. We investigated the prevalence of markers for kidney damage and known risk factors in rural and urban settings in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS:In this cross-sectional population study (Africa Wits-International Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations and their Health Partnership for Genomic Studies [AWI-Gen]), we recruited unrelated adult participants aged 40-60 years from four rural community research sites (Nanoro, Burkina Faso; Navrongo, Ghana; Agincourt and Dikgale, South Africa), and two urban community research sites (Nairobi, Kenya; and Soweto, South Africa). Participants were identified and selected using random sampling frames already in use at each site. Participants completed a lifestyle and medical history questionnaire, had anthropometric and blood pressure measurements taken, and blood and urine samples were collected. Markers of kidney damage were defined as low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; <60 mL/min per 1·73 m2), presence of albuminuria (urine albumin creatinine ratio >3 mg/mmol); or chronic kidney disease (low eGFR or albuminuria, or both). We calculated age-adjusted prevalence of chronic kidney disease, low eGFR, and albuminuria by site and sex and used logistic regression models to assess risk factors of kidney damage. FINDINGS:Between August, 2013, and August, 2016, we recruited 10?702 participants, of whom 8110 were analysable. 4120 (50·8%) of analysable participants were male, with a mean age of 49·9 years (SD 5·8). Age-standardised population prevalence was 2·4% (95% CI 2·1-2·8) for low eGFR, 9·2% (8·4-10·0) for albuminuria, and 10·7% (9·9-11·7) for chronic kidney disease, with higher prevalences in South African sites than in west African sites (14·0% [11·9-16·4] in Agincourt vs 6·6% [5·5-7·9] in Nanoro). Women had a higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease (12·0% [10·8-13·2] vs 9·5% [8·3-10·8]) and low eGFR (3·0% [2·6-3·6] vs 1·7% [1·3-2·3]) than did men, with no sex-specific differences for albuminuria (9·9% [8·8-11·0] vs 8·4% [7·3-9·7]). Risk factors for kidney damage were older age (relative risk 1·04, 95% CI 1·03-1·05; p<0·0001), hypertension (1·97, 1·68-2·30; p<0·0001), diabetes (2·22, 1·76-2·78; p<0·0001), and HIV (1·65, 1·36-1·99; p<0·0001); whereas male sex was protective (0·85, 0·73-0·98; p=0·02). INTERPRETATION:Regional differences in prevalence and risks of chronic kidney disease in sub-Saharan Africa relate in part to varying stages of sociodemographic and epidemiological health transitions across the area. Public health policy should focus on integrated strategies for screening, prevention, and risk factor management in the broader non-communicable disease and infectious diseases framework. FUNDING:National Human Genome Research Institute, Office of the Director, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the Office of AIDS Research, and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, all of the National Institutes of Health, and the South African Department of Science and Technology.

Project description:Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) are commonly used for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction, and pulse pressure (PP) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) can provide additional information. It is therefore important to understand the factors associated with these cardiovascular risk markers. This cross-sectional study involved 1839 men and women aged 40-60 years. Data on SBP, DBP, MAP, PP, sociodemography, lifestyle, anthropometry, and lipids were collected. Gender-stratified linear regression analyses were performed to determine the association between log-transformed blood pressure indices and the study variables. Age was associated with all measured blood pressure indices (p < 0.001) among men and women. Men had higher SBP (p=0.007) and PP (p < 0.001) than women. Nankana ethnicity was associated with higher PP levels (p < 0.005) in the total population. Vendor meal consumption among women was associated with higher PP levels (p < 0.05). Fruit intake among men was associated with lower PP levels (p < 0.05). Currently unmarried women had higher SBP (p < 0.005), DBP (p < 0.05), MAP (p < 0.005), and PP (p < 0.005) than currently married women. Pesticide exposure was negatively associated with SBP (p < 0.005), DBP (p < 0.005), MAP (p < 0.005), and PP (p < 0.05) among women. Increased subcutaneous fat was associated with DBP (p < 0.005) and MAP (p < 0.05) among women. Among men, hip circumference was associated with higher DBP and MAP (p < 0.05 for both associations), subcutaneous fat associated with higher SBP (p < 0.005), DBP (p < 0.001), and MAP (p < 0.001) and visceral fat was associated with higher PP (p < 0.05). In the total population, visceral fat was associated with higher DBP (p < 0.05) and MAP (p < 0.001). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was positively associated with SBP (p < 0.005), DBP (p < 0.005), and MAP (p < 0.001) for women and positively associated with SBP, DBP, and MAP (p < 0.001 for all three) and PP (p < 0.05) for men. The association of blood pressure indices with modifiable risk factors suggests that targeted health interventions may reduce CVD risk in this population.

Dataset Information

Poor cardiovascular health is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in apparently healthy sub-Saharan African populations: an H3Africa AWI-Gen study.

Background

Methods

Results

Publications

Poor cardiovascular health is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in apparently healthy sub-Saharan African populations: an H3Africa AWI-Gen study.

Similar Datasets

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