Candace S. Brown

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 ( P < .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.