title: The Afro-Cardiac Study: Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Acculturation in West African Immigrants in the United States: Rationale and Study Design.
abstract: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States (US). African-descent populations bear a disproportionate burden of CVD risk factors. With the increase in the number of West African immigrants (WAIs) to the US over the past decades, it is imperative to specifically study this new and substantial subset of the African-descent population and how acculturation impacts their CVD risk. The Afro-Cardiac study, a community-based cross-sectional study of adult WAIs in the Baltimore-Washington metropolis. Guided by the PRECEDE-PROCEED model, we used a modification of the World Health Organization Steps survey to collect data on demographics, socioeconomic status, migration-related factors and behaviors. We obtained physical, biochemical, acculturation measurements as well as a socio-demographic and health history. Our study provides critical data on the CVD risk of WAIs. The framework used is valuable for future epidemiological studies addressing CVD risk and acculturation among immigrants.
authors.affiliation: Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, 1520 Clifton Road NE, Rm 368, Atlanta, GA, 30322-4027, USA. ycommod@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Commodore-Mensah
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Maame
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sampah
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, St. Agnes Hospital, 900 S Caton Ave, Baltimore, MD, 21229, USA.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berko
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, 525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Joycelyn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cudjoe
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abu-Bonsrah
authors.affiliation: A.T Still University, 800 W. Jefferson Street, Kirksville, MO, 63501, USA.
authors.forename: Olawunmi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Obisesan
authors.affiliation: Amsterdam Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Agyemang
authors.affiliation: Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, Building 12A, Room 4047, 12 South Drive, MSC 5635, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Adebowale
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adeyemo
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, 525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl Dennison
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Himmelfarb
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D000354:Africa, Western / Q000208:ethnology; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000208:ethnology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids
keywords: Acculturation; African immigrants; Cardiovascular disease; Immigrants