Influence of obesity assessments on cardiometabolic risks in African and European American women

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Obesity Research

Background:

• African American women (AAW) exhibit higher risks for cardiometabolic (CME) diseases and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) compared to European American women (EAW).
• The specific impact of obesity on CME risk clustering and CVD disparities in AAW remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a comprehensive CME index.
• To investigate the relationship between obesity and CME risk index patterns stratified by race.

Main Methods:

• A comparative research design involving 213 women (132 AAW, 81 EAW) from the Louisiana Delta.
• Assessment of CME risk clustering using Body Mass Index (BMI), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry % body fat, and waist circumference.
• Measurement of fasting glucose, triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) as key CME risks.

Main Results:

• For AAW, SBP and TG were identified as significant CVD risks or near risks within obesity classifications.
• For EAW, SBP and glucose trends indicated higher CME risk.
• Stepwise regression revealed HDL-C and SBP/DBP as primary indicators of obesity's impact on CME risks in AAW, whereas SBP/DBP and glucose were key for EAW.

Conclusions:

• Obesity-based CME risk profiles demonstrate distinct patterns between AAW and EAW.
• Understanding these race-specific differences is crucial for targeted public health interventions and clinical management of cardiometabolic health.