Influence of Obesity on the Relationship of Cardiometabolic Risks Factors With Cardiovascular Disease in Older African and European Americans.

Purpose: This study evaluated the impact of obesity on cardiometabolic risk factors (CRF) interrelationships and predictive efficiency of CVD development in older African (AA) and European Americans (EA).

Design: A comparative research design evaluated CRF risk profile differences between participant groups.

Setting: Seven neighborhoods in a southern US city.

Subjects: A sample of 179 older AA (n = 128) and EA (n = 51) adults.

Measures: Non-fasting blood samples were evaluated for lipids and lipoproteins, glycosylated hemoglobin, systolic -(SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage (BF%) and physical function.

Analysis: Data were analysis with descriptive statistics, t-tests, and correlations.

Results: AA were heavier than EA although all had above average age-appropriate fitness. Means and relationships between CRF and other variables were different ( < .05) based on race. Both AA (41.3 + 5.8) and EA (38.6 + 6.4) BF% were CRF risks. Holding BMI constant, CRF were generally not related, and the relationships were different for AA and EA. AA had a range of 13.0 to 27.2% more favorable values for cholesterol, HDL-C, and triglyceride. EA had favorable A1c (EA 5.8 vs AA 6.2%) values.

Conclusions: A limitation of this report is the small sample size. Although further research is warranted, these findings suggest population specific CRF selections would improve CVD prediction in AA.