SARS-CoV-2 vaccination uptake in six ethnic groups living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands: A registry-based study within the HELIUS cohort.

Objective: Ethnic minority groups have experienced a disproportionate burden of COVID-19, and should therefore be especially encouraged to receive SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. This study compared first-dose uptake of the primary SARS-CoV-2 vaccination series across six ethnic groups in Amsterdam, the Netherlands in 2021.

Methods: We analyzed data from participants of the population-based HELIUS cohort.

Relative contributions of pre-pandemic factors and intra-pandemic activities to differential COVID-19 risk among migrant and non-migrant populations in the Netherlands: lessons for future pandemic preparedness.

Background: Although risk factors for differences in SARS-CoV-2 infections between migrant and non-migrant populations in high income countries have been identified, their relative contributions to these SARS-CoV-2 infections, which could aid in the preparation for future viral pandemics, remain unknown. We investigated the relative contributions of pre-pandemic factors and intra-pandemic activities to differential SARS-CoV-2 infections in the Netherlands by migration background (Dutch, African Surinamese, South-Asian Surinamese, Ghanaians, Turkish, and Moroccan origin).

Methods: We utilized pre-pandemic (2011-2015) and intra-pandemic (2020-2021) data from the HELIUS cohort, linked to SARS-CoV-2 PCR test results from Public Health Service of Amsterdam (GGD Amsterdam).

Differences in incidence, nature of symptoms, and duration of long COVID among hospitalised migrant and non-migrant patients in the Netherlands: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Comprehensive data on long COVID across ethnic and migrant groups are lacking. We investigated incidence, nature of symptoms, clinical predictors, and duration of long COVID among COVID-19 hospitalised patients in the Netherlands by migration background (Dutch, Turkish, Moroccan, and Surinamese origin, Others).

Methods: We used COVID-19 admissions and follow up data (January 2021-July 2022) from Amsterdam University Medical Centers.

Cardiovascular Risk Estimation Based on Country-of-Birth- and Country-of-Residence-Specific Scores among Migrants in the Netherlands: The HELIUS Study.

Background: Regional and country-specific cardiovascular risk algorithms have been developed to improve CVD risk prediction. But it is unclear whether migrants' country-of-residence or country-of-birth algorithms agree in stratifying the CVD risk of these populations. We evaluated the risk stratification by the different algorithms, by comparing migrant country-of-residence-specific scores to migrant country-of-birth-specific scores for ethnic minority populations in the Netherlands.

Associations of psychosocial stress with type 2 diabetes and glycaemic control among Ghanaians: The RODAM study.

Background: The extent to which psychosocial stress relates to type 2 diabetes among sub-Saharan Africans is not well understood. We assessed associations of psychosocial stresses with type 2 diabetes status and glycaemic control among Ghanaians.

Methods: We used data from Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) study.

Inequalities in COVID-19 deaths by migration background during the first wave, interwave period and second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: a closed cohort study of 17 million inhabitants of the Netherlands.

Background: It is not known how differences in COVID-19 deaths by migration background in the Netherlands evolved throughout the pandemic, especially after introduction of COVID-19 prevention measures targeted at populations with a migration background (in the second wave). We investigated associations between migration background and COVID-19 deaths across first wave of the pandemic, interwave period and second wave in the Netherlands.

Methods: We obtained multiple registry data from Statistics Netherlands spanning from 1 March 2020 to 14 March 2021 comprising 17.

An epigenome-wide association study of insulin resistance in African Americans.

Background: African Americans have a high risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and insulin resistance. Studies among other population groups have identified DNA methylation loci associated with insulin resistance, but data in African Americans are lacking. Using DNA methylation profiles of blood samples obtained from the Illumina Infinium® HumanMethylation450 BeadChip, we performed an epigenome-wide association study to identify DNA methylation loci associated with insulin resistance among 136 non-diabetic, unrelated African American men (mean age 41.

COVID-19 Impacts Across Multiple Life Domains of Vulnerable Socio-Demographic Groups Including Migrants: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

We assessed the impacts of COVID-19 on multiple life domains across socio-demographic groups in Netherlands. After the first COVID-19 wave, we distributed online questionnaires among 13,031 participants of the multi-ethnic HELIUS cohort. Questionnaires contained questions on changes in income status, healthy behaviors, mental health, and access to non-COVID-19 health care.

Epigenetic age acceleration in the emerging burden of cardiometabolic diseases among migrant and non-migrant African populations: the population based cross-sectional RODAM study.

Background: African populations are experiencing health transitions due to rapid urbanization and international migration. However, the role of biological aging in this emerging burden of cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) among migrant and non-migrant Africans is unknown. We aimed to examine differences in epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) as measured by four clocks (Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge and GrimAge) and their associations with cardiometabolic factors among migrant Ghanaians in Europe and non-migrant Ghanaians.

Reduced Rank Regression-Derived Dietary Patterns Related to the Fatty Liver Index and Associations with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus among Ghanaian Populations under Transition: The RODAM Study.

The Fatty Liver Index (FLI) is a proxy for the steatotic component of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). For sub-Saharan African populations, the contribution of dietary factors to the development of NAFLD in the etiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains to be clarified. We identified sex-specific dietary patterns (DPs) related to the FLI using reduced ranked regression (RRR) and evaluated the associations of these DPs with T2DM.

The Magnitude and Directions of the Associations between Early Life Factors and Metabolic Syndrome Differ across Geographical Locations among Migrant and Non-Migrant Ghanaians-The RODAM Study.

Background: Early-life factors (ELFs) such as childhood nutrition and childhood socio-economic status could be the drivers of the increase in metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) among African populations, but data are lacking. This study evaluated whether markers of childhood nutritional status and childhood socio-economic status were associated with MetSyn in adulthood among migrant Ghanaians living in Europe and non-migrant Ghanaians living in Ghana.

Methods: Data from the Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) study, involving 2008 migrants and 2320 non-migrants aged ≥25 years, were analysed for this study.

Metabolic-associated Fatty Liver Disease as Assessed by the Fatty Liver Index Among Migrant and Non-migrant Ghanaian Populations.

Background And Aims: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is driven by high caloric intake and sedentary lifestyle. Migration towards high income countries may induce these driving factors; yet, the influence of such on the prevalence of MAFLD is clearly understudied. Here, we investigated the Fatty Liver Index (FLI), a proxy of steatosis in MAFLD, after migration of Ghanaian subjects.

Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis on C-reactive protein among Ghanaians suggests molecular links to the emerging risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Molecular mechanisms at the intersection of inflammation and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among Africans are still unknown. We performed an epigenome-wide association study to identify loci associated with serum C-reactive protein (marker of inflammation) among Ghanaians and further assessed whether differentially methylated positions (DMPs) were linked to CVD in previous reports, or to estimated CVD risk in the same population. We used the Illumina Infinium® HumanMethylation450 BeadChip to obtain DNAm profiles of blood samples in 589 Ghanaians from the RODAM study (without acute infections, not taking anti-inflammatory medications, CRP levels < 40 mg/L).

DNA methylation as the link between migration and the major noncommunicable diseases: the RODAM study.

We assessed epigenome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) differences between migrant and non-migrant Ghanaians. We used the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip to profile DNAm of 712 Ghanaians in whole blood. We used linear models to detect differentially methylated positions (DMPs) associated with migration.

Epigenome-wide association study for perceived discrimination among sub-Saharan African migrants in Europe - the RODAM study.

Sub-Saharan African (SSA) migrants in Europe experience psychosocial stressors, such as perceived discrimination (PD). The effect of such a stressor on health could potentially be mediated via epigenetics. In this study we performed an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) to assess the association between levels of PD with genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in SSA migrants.

Hyperuricaemia and its association with 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease among migrant and non-migrant African populations: the RODAM study.

Objective: In the advent of rapid urbanisation, migration and epidemiological transition, the extent to which serum uric acid (sUA) affects cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among Africans is not well understood. We assessed differences in sUA levels and associations with CVD risk among migrant Ghanaians in Europe and non-migrant Ghanaians in rural and urban Ghana.

Methods: Baseline data from 633 rural, 916 urban and 2315 migrant participants (40-70 years) from the cross-sectional RODAM study were analysed.

Prevalence and determinants of type 2 diabetes among lean African migrants and non-migrants: the RODAM study.

Background: Exposure to adverse conditions earlier in life-course can predispose to type 2 diabetes in adulthood, irrespective of body mass index (BMI). However, the burden of type 2 diabetes in lean Africans is not well understood despite higher exposure to adverse early life conditions. Mirroring ongoing epidemiological transition, we assessed the burden and determinants of type 2 diabetes in a homogenous group of lean Ghanaians residing in rural and urban Ghana, and as migrants in Europe.

Investigating associations between rural-to-urban migration and cardiometabolic disease in Malawi: a population-level study.

Background: The extent to which rural-to-urban migration affects risk for cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) in Africa is not well understood. We investigated prevalence and risk for obesity, diabetes, hypertension and precursor conditions by migration status.

Methods: In a cross-sectional survey in Malawi (February 2013-March 2017), 13 903 rural, 9929 rural-to-urban migrant and 6741 urban residents (≥18 years old) participated.

Perceived discrimination and stressful life events are associated with cardiovascular risk score in migrant and non-migrant populations: The RODAM study.

Background: Psychosocial stress could be an underlying factor for emerging risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in Africans. We assessed the association between psychosocial stress and estimated CVD risk among non-migrant Ghanaians and migrant Ghanaians living in Europe.

Methods: Data from the Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) study, involving 2315 migrant and 1549 non-migrants aged 40-70 years were used for this study.