Obesity, smoking, and multiple cardiovascular risk factors in young adult African Americans.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the associations between the combination of obesity and tobacco use and total cardiovascular risk score in young adult African Americans.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of 323 African-American men (N = 117) and women (N = 206) aged 20-46 years.


METHODS
Age, height, weight, and data on smoking behavior were obtained, as well as measurements of blood pressure, serum lipids, and measurements from an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). A cardiovascular risk score was calculated from the above data.


RESULTS
Fasting insulin, fasting blood glucose, and blood glucose at 120 minutes of OGTT were significantly higher in obese (body mass index [BMI] > or = 30 kg/m2) men. Obese men also had significantly higher LDL cholesterol, lower HDL cholesterol and higher total risk scores. Obese women had significantly higher blood pressure, higher fasting insulin, lower LDL cholesterol, and higher total risk scores. Among the members of this cohort, 65% of men and 79% of women were obese and/or smoked. Of those who were obese and/or smoked, 68% of the men and 82% of the women had at least one other cardiovascular risk factor.


CONCLUSIONS
The modifiable risk factors of obesity and smoking were present in a large majority of these young adult African Americans in association with other cardiovascular risk factors.
Murtaugh
Kevin H
KH
Department of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Borde-Perry
William C
WC
Campbell
Kimberly L
KL
Gidding
Samuel S
SS
Falkner
Bonita
B
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000208:ethnology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002784:Cholesterol