Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Disease Risk of Ghanaian- and Nigerian-Born West African Immigrants in the United States: The Afro-Cardiac Study.

Background: The number of African immigrants in the United States grew 40-fold between 1960 and 2007, from 35 355 to 1.4 million, with a large majority from West Africa. This study sought to examine the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and global CVD risk and to identify independent predictors of increased CVD risk among West African immigrants in the United States.

Psychosocial Correlates of Nocturnal Blood Pressure Dipping in African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study.

Background: African Americans exhibit a lower degree of nocturnal blood pressure (BP) dipping compared with Whites, but the reasons for reduced BP dipping in this group are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to identify psychosocial factors associated with BP dipping in a population-based cohort of African Americans.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 668 Jackson Heart Study (JHS) participants with valid 24-hour ambulatory BP data and complete data on psychosocial factors of interest including stress, negative emotions, and psychosocial resources (e.

Hypertension awareness, treatment, and control among diabetic and nondiabetic individuals in a multiethnic population in the Netherlands: the HELIUS study.

Objectives: There is a paucity of data on hypertension awareness, treatment and control among diabetic adults from different ethnic backgrounds. We assessed ethnic differences in prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among diabetic adults and how they are compared with individuals without diabetes.

Methods: Baseline data from the Healthy Life in an Urban Setting study were used including 12 ,633 adults aged 18-70 years from six ethnic backgrounds in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Panethnic Differences in Blood Pressure in Europe: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: People of Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) and South Asians(SA) ethnic minorities living in Europe have higher risk of stroke than native Europeans(EU). Study objective is to provide an assessment of gender specific absolute differences in office systolic(SBP) and diastolic(DBP) blood pressure(BP) levels between SSA, SA, and EU.

Methods And Findings: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies conducted in Europe that examined BP in non-selected adult SSA, SA and EU subjects.

Cardiometabolic Health in African Immigrants to the United States: A Call to Re-examine Research on African-descent populations.

In the 20th century, Africans in Sub-Saharan Africa had lower rates of cardiometabolic disease than Africans who migrated. However, in the 21st century, beyond infectious diseases, the triple epidemics of obesity, diabetes and hypertension have taken hold in Africa. Therefore, Africans are acquiring these chronic diseases at different rates and different intensity prior to migration.

Relationship between short sleep duration and cardiovascular risk factors in a multi-ethnic cohort - the helius study.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between short sleep duration and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, obesity and lipid profile among various ethnic groups (South Asian Surinamese, African Surinamese, Ghanaians, Turks, Moroccans and the Dutch) living in the Netherlands. The contribution of social economic status (SES) and lifestyle factors were also examined to this association.

Method: A total of 12,805 participants (aged 18-70 years) from the multi-ethnic Healthy Life in an Urban Setting (HELIUS) cohort.

Prevalence of type 2 diabetes and its association with measures of body composition among African residents in the Netherlands--The HELIUS study.

Aims: To compare type 2 diabetes prevalence among three ethnic groups resident in the Netherlands: Ghanaians, African Surinamese and Dutch origin. Secondly, to determine the contribution of measures of body composition to ethnic differences in type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Baseline data from Ghanaian (n=1873), African Surinamese (n=2189) and Dutch (n=2151) origin participants of the HELIUS study (aged 18-70 years) were analyzed.

Disparities in type 2 diabetes prevalence among ethnic minority groups resident in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Many ethnic minorities in Europe have a higher type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevalence than their host European populations. The risk size differs between ethnic groups, but the extent of the differences in the various ethnic minority groups has not yet been systematically quantified. We conducted a meta-analysis of published data on T2D in various ethnic minority populations resident in Europe compared to their host European populations.

Are There Ethnic Inequalities in Revascularisation Procedure Rate after an ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction?

Background: Previously, ethnic inequalities in prognosis after a first acute myocardial infarction were observed in the Netherlands. This might be due to differences in revascularisation rate between ethnic minority groups and ethnic Dutch. Therefore, we investigated inequalities in revascularisation rate after occurrence of an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) between first generation ethnic minority groups (henceforth, migrants) and ethnic Dutch.

Ethnic Disparities in CKD in the Netherlands: The Healthy Life in an Urban Setting (HELIUS) Study.

Background: Evidence suggesting important ethnic differences in chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence comes mainly from the United States, and data among various ethnic groups in Europe are lacking. We therefore assessed differences in CKD in 6 ethnic groups living in the Netherlands and explored to what extent the observed differences could be accounted for by differences in conventional cardiovascular risk factors (smoking, physical activity, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia).

Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from the Healthy Life in an Urban Setting (HELIUS) cohort study.

The influence of early-life conditions on cardiovascular disease later in life among ethnic minority populations: a systematic review.

Ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The reasons for the high prevalence of CVD in ethnic minority groups are not fully understood. Recently, the importance of early-life developmental factors and their impact on CVDs in adulthood is increasingly being recognised, but little is known about this among ethnic minority groups.

The effect of electronic reminders on risk management among diabetic patients in low resourced settings.

Background: Information technology has potential to improve health care delivery particularly among individuals with chronic diseases such as diabetes in low and middle-income countries (LMIC). Research on the usefulness of information technology to manage persons living with chronic diseases is scarce in LMIC. We sought to evaluate the effect of an electronic reminder system on cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, heart rate, and fasting plasma glucose) and adherence to clinical appointments among persons living with diabetes.

Cardiovascular disease incidence and survival: Are migrants always worse off?

Studies on cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and survival show varying results between different ethnic groups. Our aim was to add a new dimension by exploring the role of migrant status in combination with ethnic background on incidence of-and survival from-CVD and more specifically acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke. We conducted a historically prospective cohort study comprising all newly-arrived migrants to Denmark between 1.

Cardiovascular prevention model from Kenyan slums to migrants in the Netherlands.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. As prevention and treatment of CVD often requires active screening and lifelong follow up it is a challenge for health systems both in high-income and low and middle-income countries to deliver adequate care to those in need, with efficient use of resources.We developed a health service model for primary prevention of CVD suitable for implementation in the Nairobi slums, based on best practices from public health and the private sectors.

The association of physical activity, body mass index and the blood pressure levels among urban poor youth in Accra, Ghana.

Background: Globally, there is an increasing prevalence of high blood pressure (HBP) among adults and youth. However, the mechanisms of how the risk factors (physical inactivity and obesity) relate with blood pressure (BP) are not well known especially among the urban poor youth in low and middle income countries. Meanwhile childhood and adolescent physical inactivity and obesity, particularly in conditions of poverty, predispose individuals to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in later life.

Hypertension control in a large multi-ethnic cohort in Amsterdam, The Netherlands: the HELIUS study.

Objective: Hypertension is a major problem among European ethnic minority groups. We assessed the current situation of hypertension prevalence and its management among a multi-ethnic population in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Methods: Data from the HELIUS study were used including 12,974 participants (1871 Ghanaian, 2184 African Surinamese, 2278 South-Asian Surinamese, 2277 Turkish, 2222 Moroccan and 2142 Dutch origin people), aged 18-70 years.

Higher self-reported prevalence of hypertension among Moluccan-Dutch than among the general population of The Netherlands: results from a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Several studies in The Netherlands revealed ethnic disparities in hypertension prevalence, but none have focused on the Moluccan-Dutch, a migrant group from Indonesia that settled in The Netherlands in 1951. The Moluccan-Dutch are considered to be fairly well integrated in Dutch society. The aim of this study was to compare hypertension prevalence among the Moluccan-Dutch to the native Dutch and to explore the contribution of known risk factors.

Perceptions of inhibitors and facilitators for adhering to hypertension treatment among insured patients in rural Nigeria: a qualitative study.

Background: Universal health care coverage has been identified as a promising strategy for improving hypertension treatment and control rates in sub Saharan Africa (SSA). Yet, even when quality care is accessible, poor adherence can compromise treatment outcomes. To provide information for adherence support interventions, this study explored what low income patients who received hypertension care in the context of a community based health insurance program in Nigeria perceive as inhibitors and facilitators for adhering to pharmacotherapy and healthy behaviors.

Cumulative effects of heat exposure and storage conditions of Oxytocin-in-Uniject in rural Ghana: implications for scale up.

Objective: Postpartum hemorrhage can be reduced substantially in home deliveries attended by community-based workers by using Oxytocin-in-Uniject (OIU) devices affixed with temperature-time indicators. We characterized the distribution of time to discard of these devices when stored under normal field conditions in Ghana.

Methods: Two drug storage simulation studies were conducted in rural Ghana in 2011 and 2012.

Ethnic disparities in ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage incidence in the Netherlands.

Background And Purpose: Data on the incidence of stroke subtypes among ethnic minority groups are limited. We assessed ethnic differences in the incidence of stroke subtypes in the Netherlands.

Methods: A Dutch nationwide register-based cohort study (n=7 423 174) was conducted between 1998 and 2010.

Remigration of migrants with severe disease: myth or reality?--a register-based cohort study.

Background: 'Remigration bias' is often referred to when explaining low mortality outcomes among migrants compared with local-born. The hypothesis suggests that severely ill migrants tend to return to their country of origin, but it has hitherto not been tested in a large-scale epidemiological study. Consequently, we studied whether migrants with severe disease were more likely to emigrate compared with migrants without severe disease.