Comparison of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors among Haitian and African Americans with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

There is lack of data about the differences in CVD risk factors among Haitian Americans (HA) and African Americans (AA) with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). The study compared the differences in CVD risk factors among HA and AA with T2D. Overall 255 subjects with T2D, (HA =134 and AA=121) were recruited from multiple sources from Miami‐Dade and Broward County, Florida. Risk factors studied were glycemic control, blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low‐density lipoprotein, high‐density lipoprotein, abdominal obesity (AO) and body mass index. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were recorded. Blood glucose and lipids were assayed by enzymatic methods. Data were analyzed using t‐test, chi square test and logistic regression. Logistic Regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounding variables, HA were about 3.7 times more likely to have poor glycemic control than AA (OR 3.69 [95% CI 1.84–7.35], p<.001). AA were 5 times more likely to be obese (OR 5.25 [2.68–10.29] p<.001) and have AO (OR 6.79 [2.74–16.85] p<.001). A high percentage of hypertensive individuals were noted in both groups (77.6% in HA and 81% in AA). Significant differences in CVD risk factors in HA and AA with T2D suggests that more ethnic specific interventions and education programs should be aimed to reduce T2D related complications. Funding of this research was provided through an NIH/NIDDK sponsored grant.