Background and aims: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is known to be associated with mortality in high income countries but no data regarding Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) populations are documented.This study is aimed at assessing the prognostic value of the Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) among older adults in the Republic of Congo.Methods: Congolese subjects ≥65 years were included in a longitudinal population-based survey (EPIDEMCA-FU). Demographic, biological, and clinical data were collected at baseline. PAD was defined by an ABI≤0.90. Information on mortality was collected from key informants in participants' households. Cox proportional hazard models, adjusted for traditional and cardiovascular risk factors, were fitted to evaluate the association between an ABI≤0.90 and death.Results: 1029 participants were recruited at baseline. ABI measurement was obtained from 927 participants, of whom 17.4% presented an ABI≤0.90. During a 2-year follow-up, a total of 83 (9.1%) deaths were recorded. Mortality was higher in the low-ABI group with 23 deaths (14.7%) vs. 57 (7.8%) and 3 (12.0%), respectively among those with 0.90

19

Background Visual impairment (VI) and determinants of poor cardiovascular health are very common in sub-Saharan Africa. However, we do not know whether these determinants are associated to VI among older adults in this region. This study aimed at investigating the association between the determinants of poor cardiovascular health and near VI among older adults living in Congo. Methods Participants were Congolese older adults aged ≥ 65 years included in EPIDEMCA-FU (Epidemiology of Dementia in Central Africa - Follow-up) population-based cohort. Near VI was defined as visual acuity < 20/40 measured at 30 cm. Associations between determinants of poor cardiovascular health collected at baseline and near visual acuity measured at 1 st follow-up were investigated using multivariable logistic regression models. Results Among the 549 participants included, 378 (68.8% [95% Confidence Interval: 64.9%-72.7%]) had near VI. Of the determinants of poor cardiovascular health explored, we found that having high BMI ≥ 25 kg/m 2 (Odds Ratio= 2.15 [95% CI: 1.25–3.68]), diabetes (OR=2.12 [95% CI: 1.06–4.25]) and hypertension (OR=1.65 [95% CI: 1.02–2.64]) were independently associated with near VI. Conclusions Several determinants of poor cardiovascular health were associated to near VI in this population. This study suggests that promoting a good cardiovascular health could represent a target for VI prevention among older adults.

No abstract