Obesity Indicators and C - reactive Protein in African and Haitian Americans with and without Type 2 Diabetes

Vaccaro Ja Rowe Tm

doi:10.4172/2161-0509.1000145

Abstract

Purpose: High sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease based on finding in primarily non-Hispanic White populations. Obesity, another risk factor for cardiovascular disease, is higher in Blacks as compared to non-Hispanic Whites. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between CRP, a marker of systemic inflammation, and obesity indicators by ethnicity, diabetes status and gender for two Black ethnicities. Methods: Anthropometrics and venous blood were collected for African and Haitian Americans with and without type 2 diabetes in a cross-sectional study. A total of 434 participants; 190 African Americans, 244 Haitian Americans, met the inclusion criteria of CRP ≤10 mg/L. Main effects and interactions of ethnicity, diabetes status, gender, and each obesity indicator (waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and body mass index) were performed using General Linear Models. Results: African Americans were more likely to be obese, have higher CRP, and smoke as compared to Haitian Americans. Haitian Americans has a lower rate of health care coverage than African American. Having a higher education level than Haitian Americans was a protective health factor for African Americans; whereas, Haitian Americans were protected by a higher percent married as compared to African Americans. All obesity indicators were associated with CRP. All differences in CRP by ethnicity and diabetes status were negated by obesity indicators. Being female was associated with higher CRP for waist circumference and BMI models. Adjusting for health insurance, smoking, marital status and education negated the relationship of gender and CRP for waist-toheight ratio. Conclusion: Being African American as opposed to Haitian American was a greater risk factor for obesity and inflammation. Obesity was associated with elevated CRP levels in African and Haitian Americans regardless of diabetes status. Inflammation constitutes a serious health problem for minorities with high rates of obesity.

Highlights

Race/ethnicity and gender are risk factors for cardiovascular disease [1]
The second hypothesis, that Haitian Americans and African Americans would have different C-reactive protein (CRP) levels was supported in the reduced model
Models were adjusted for age, smoking, education, marital status, and health insurance. These findings suggest that a high CRP level is related to obesity indicators for both Black ethnicities, Haitian and African Americans

Summary

Introduction

Race/ethnicity and gender are risk factors for cardiovascular disease [1]. African Americans are more than six-time more likely to have coronary heart disease as compared to non-Hispanics Whites [2]. The fact that Blacks are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease, may be partially attributed to their higher rate of obesity (1.4) as compared to White, non-Hispanics (1.0) [3]. Along with race/ethnicity, obesity and systemic inflammation are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Waist circumference and body mass index (BMI), indicators of obesity, have predicted relative risk of coronary heart disease for men and women [4]. CRP was found to be an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease related deaths [5]

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Conclusion