Differences in coronary heart disease risk markers among apparently healthy individuals of African ancestry.
OBJECTIVE
This study identified and compared coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors among foreign-born Afro Caribbeans (FBAC), U.S.-born Afro-Caribbean Americans (USBAC) and African Americans.


METHODS
Sixty-six FBAC living in the United States for <10 years, 62 USBAC and 61 African-American adults (18-40 years) were recruited. Sociodemographic, behavioral and biochemical data were collected and analyzed.


RESULTS
More USBAC (26.2%) and African-American (23.7%) participants compared to the FBAC (10.8%) participants had significantly (p < 0.05) poorer diet scores and were significantly (p < 0.05) more obese (17.7% and 23.0% vs. 7.6%). These differences remained significant between the male ethnic groups but not the females. Also, more USBAC and African-American participants compared to FBAC participants watched television often/very often (54.8% and 49.2% vs. 45.5%), played less sports (56.5% and 55.7% vs. 40.9%) and smoked cigarettes (4.8% and 6.6% vs. 0.0%). In general, USBAC and African-American participants were more likely to have elevated blood glucose (BG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels compared to FBAC participants. More FBAC than USBAC and African-American participants had elevated blood pressure (BP) and low levels of high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). However, the differences were not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that there are differences in risk factors for CHD among ethnic groups (FBAC, USBAC and African-American participants) of persons with African ancestory.
Davis
Errol E
EE
Stempel School of Public Health, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
Huffman
Fatma G
FG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000145:classification* / Q000208:ethnology; D015415:Biomarkers; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000208:ethnology / Q000378:metabolism; D006973:Hypertension / Q000208:ethnology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D015415:Biomarkers