Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze type 2 diabetes (T2D) among adult female Jamaican Maroons, comparing those with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D). A health survey was conducted with a self-selected sample of female heads of household (n=116). Comparisons used analysis of variance/ covariance (ANOVA/ANCOVA), cross tabulations, and logistic regression and resampling with listwise deletion of missing values (n=86). T2D women were significantly older than non-T2D women (71.7 years vs. 57.0 years, p < 0.01). Hip circumference (cm), BMI, fat mass (FM) (kg), and percent body fat were significantly lower in T2D women compared to non-T2D women. Obesity was significantly more frequent in non-T2D women (OR = 0.16, p < 0.05). Notably, waist:hip ratio was higher among T2D women compared to non-T2D individuals (0.95 vs. 0.88, p < 0.04). Mean systolic blood pressure among T2D women (152.8 mmHg) was significantly (p < 0.04) higher than non-T2D females (134.7 mmHg). The estimated prevalence of T2D among Maroon females (16/116) was 13.79% (95% CI: 8.67% - 21.24%), which is similar to non-Maroon Jamaican populations. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression showed that women self-reporting T2D tended to have: a higher waist circumference (OR=1.22, p < 0.01), decreased FM(OR=0.71, p < 0.001), higher systolic pressure (OR=1.06, p < 0.007), lower diastolic pressure (OR=0.90, p < 0.02), and a first-degree relative with T2D (OR = 9.11, p < 0.03). This is the first report on T2D in Jamaican Maroons. Abdominal (central) obesity, body composition, and systolic hypertension were associated with T2D. Central fat distribution predicted T2D rather than overweight or obesity per se. The prevalence of T2D in this small sample of women from a genetic isolate in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica was significantly lower compared to admixed urban Jamaicans.
Highlights
The number of adults living with type-2 diabetes (T2D) worldwide is estimated at about 422 million, with the heaviest burden in lowincome and middle-income countries [1,2]
Estimated Fat free mass (FFM) did not differ significantly between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and non-T2D women (p < 0.48), while fat mass (FM) and percentage body fat were significantly lower in T2D women than in non-T2D women (p < 0.13)
The age-adjusted prevalence of T2D in the sample of Blue Mountain Jamaican Maroon women was 13.79%
Summary
The number of adults living with type-2 diabetes (T2D) worldwide is estimated at about 422 million, with the heaviest burden in lowincome and middle-income countries [1,2]. That 97.5% of the genome was of West African origin [9]. The aim of the present, exploratory study is to analyze the prevalence and physical characteristics predictive of T2D in several Maroon communities (Moore Town, Jamaica), providing the first data on T2D in Jamaican Maroons. Jamaica has experienced increased rates of T2D as the prevalence of risk factors, such as sedentary lifestyle, high energy carbohydrate diet, overweight and obesity, increased in the population [5]. One of the challenges in analyzing T2D risk factors is the genetic heterogeneity of the Jamaican population. Many Jamaicans trace their descent to the forced migration of West African populations during the interval of slave trade. Of relevance to the Jamaican population, genomic analysis of West Africans has shown the possible presence of T2D susceptibility genes [7]
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