Major
Public Health
Anticipated Graduation Year
2023
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) in Middle Age African-Origin Adults
Mikaela Lies,a Candice Choo-Kanga, *Lara R. Dugasa
aDepartment of Public Health Sciences, Loyola University, Chicago, IL 60660 USA
email: mlies@luc.edu *PI: ldugas@luc.edu
As populations age, we have seen a significant increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, obesity). It is not understood if this rise of NCDs is expected or circumstantial. This longitudinal cohort study investigates the increased prevalence of NCDs with age in African-origin adults within 5 countries of varying economic transition.
2,500 participants of African descent from 5 different countries of varying development have taken part in The Modeling the Epidemiological Transition Study. This cohort study demonstrates the relationship between participant’s yearly weight gain and increased prevalence of NCDs. All participants underwent a baseline assessment at a research clinic, followed by yearly assessments. Anthropometric measurements along with a self-reported questionnaire were recorded each year.
Participants (n=2580), in 2009, had an average age of 34.75yrs(±6.16). Participants (n=1785), in 2019, had an average age of 42.00yrs(±8.05). With this increase of age, there was in increase in obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. In all 5 sites, there was a significant increase in hypertension (p=<0.0001). All sites had a significant increase in obesity, except the U.S. However, prevalence of obesity in the US cohort in 2019 was 63.3%, which is more than 20% larger than the US prevalence of obesity in non-Hispanic whites at that time (42.4%). The only site with a significant increase in diabetes was the Seychelles (p=0.0454). Prevalence of diabetes in the Seychelles increased from 3.04% in 2009 to 23.08% in 2019. Prevalence of diabetes in the Seychelles was 12.3% in 2019.
The prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes increased in all countries of all varying development. Increases in prevalence of hypertension is expected to be higher within black adults than any other race [1]. These NCDs disproportionately affect African-origin adults when compared to their white counterparts. Preventing this disproportionate increase is of grave importance to public health.
References
[1] Lackland D. T. (2014). Racial differences in hypertension: implications for high blood pressure management. The American journal of the medical sciences, 348(2), 135–138. https://doi.org/10.1097/MAJ.0000000000000308
Faculty Mentors & Instructors
Lara Dugas
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Hypertension is Associated with Adiposity in Middle Age African American Adults
Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) in Middle Age African-Origin Adults
Mikaela Lies,a Candice Choo-Kanga, *Lara R. Dugasa
aDepartment of Public Health Sciences, Loyola University, Chicago, IL 60660 USA
email: mlies@luc.edu *PI: ldugas@luc.edu
As populations age, we have seen a significant increase in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, obesity). It is not understood if this rise of NCDs is expected or circumstantial. This longitudinal cohort study investigates the increased prevalence of NCDs with age in African-origin adults within 5 countries of varying economic transition.
2,500 participants of African descent from 5 different countries of varying development have taken part in The Modeling the Epidemiological Transition Study. This cohort study demonstrates the relationship between participant’s yearly weight gain and increased prevalence of NCDs. All participants underwent a baseline assessment at a research clinic, followed by yearly assessments. Anthropometric measurements along with a self-reported questionnaire were recorded each year.
Participants (n=2580), in 2009, had an average age of 34.75yrs(±6.16). Participants (n=1785), in 2019, had an average age of 42.00yrs(±8.05). With this increase of age, there was in increase in obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. In all 5 sites, there was a significant increase in hypertension (p=<0.0001). All sites had a significant increase in obesity, except the U.S. However, prevalence of obesity in the US cohort in 2019 was 63.3%, which is more than 20% larger than the US prevalence of obesity in non-Hispanic whites at that time (42.4%). The only site with a significant increase in diabetes was the Seychelles (p=0.0454). Prevalence of diabetes in the Seychelles increased from 3.04% in 2009 to 23.08% in 2019. Prevalence of diabetes in the Seychelles was 12.3% in 2019.
The prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes increased in all countries of all varying development. Increases in prevalence of hypertension is expected to be higher within black adults than any other race [1]. These NCDs disproportionately affect African-origin adults when compared to their white counterparts. Preventing this disproportionate increase is of grave importance to public health.
References
[1] Lackland D. T. (2014). Racial differences in hypertension: implications for high blood pressure management. The American journal of the medical sciences, 348(2), 135–138. https://doi.org/10.1097/MAJ.0000000000000308