The Afro-Cardiac Study: Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Acculturation in West African Immigrants in the United States: Rationale and Study Design

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in the United States (US). African-descent populations bear a disproportionate burden of CVD risk factors. With the increase in the number of West African immigrants (WAIs) to the US over the past decades, it is imperative to specifically study this new and substantial subset of the African-descent population and how acculturation impacts their CVD risk. The Afro-Cardiac study, a community-based cross-sectional study of adult WAIs in the Baltimore-Washington metropolis. Guided by the PRECEDE-PROCEED model, we used a modification of the World Health Organization Steps survey to collect data on demographics, socioeconomic status, migration-related factors and behaviors. We obtained physical, biochemical, acculturation measurements as well as a socio-demographic and health history. Our study provides critical data on the CVD risk of WAIs. The framework used is valuable for future epidemiological studies addressing CVD risk and acculturation among immigrants.

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

“…The Afro-Cardiac Study was a community-based, crosssectional study among first-generation WAI aged 35 to 74 years who were born in Ghana or Nigeria and residing in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area. 22 This study targeted Ghanaian and Nigerian WAI, 2 of the largest African immigrant populations in the United States, with an estimated total population of 25 000 in the Washington metropolitan area. 8 In the absence of a population frame of WAI in the United States, convenience sampling was used.…”

Health Promotion Programs and Healthy Lifestyle: First Generation African Black Males’ Perspectives

“…The study also assessed if first generation African black males in the US meet the recommended guidelines for physical activity and healthy eating. The BMI results of the study did not only confirm obesity and overweight problems among first generation black African males [34,35] but also they revealed disturbing potential health problems for three reasons: First, most of the participants were physically inactive and with 18% of the participants being obese and over 54% being overweight, they are at risk of experiencing hypokinetic diseases. Second, since some of the participants did not want to access health screening, they might not know their health status whether or not they have any hypokinetic diseases for which they may need either early treatment or preventive care before the disease progresses to an advance stage.…”

Predictors of Obesity Among Nigerian Immigrants in the United States

“…The general Nigerian adult immigrant population in the United States was specifically chosen because it had previously been studied as a homogenous group with the general African American population [7,18]. The research questions and hypotheses that guided this study were developed to provide baseline information of what actually exists in a sample population The results of this study were consistent with other studies that found gender was a significant predictor of obesity in certain populations with males found to have lower odds of obesity (OR .030, 95 % CI .001, .733).…”

“…In 2010, the African immigrant population accounted for 4 % of all U.S. immigrants, with Nigerian immigrants constituting 7.3 % (219,309) of the total population [6]. However, little is known about the health of this population in comparison to other immigrant groups [7].…”