Cardio-metablic risks have been reported to be most prevalent among Americans of African origin. However, there are inconsistencies among studies on the topic from Africans residents of sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed at assessing the reliability and validity of a new non-invasive cardio-metabolic risk tool for usage among African elderly population.
A cross-sectional, community-based study was done among Ubungo Msewe residents in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Information on weight, height, fasting glycaemia, 2-hours post-prandial glycaemia, resting electrocardiogram, sitting systolic and diastolic blood pressures were performed. Continuous data were summarized using median (IQR) while categorical data were summarized using frequency (%). Generalised linear model was used to ascertain association among variables. Chronbach’s alpha coefficient was used to estimate the reliability index. Variables were assessed for their construct validity. A verbal informed consent was sought from each participant prior to inclusion into the study
We recruited 472 black Africans. Median age was 67 (IQR: 63-71) years. Waist-circumference, female gender, age>65, fasting glycaemia as well as systolic blood pressure were the largest determinant of a cardio-metabolic risk in this study population ( chronbach’s α = .719, p=0.000). Waist -circumference correlated well with BMI ( γ = 0.81, p=.000). Cardio-metabolic risk index increased by a unit for each tenth-increase in systolic BP (p=.02), 3-unit increase in BMI (p=.05), 1.5 unit increase in fasting glycaemic level (p=.000). Majority (68.9%) of study participants had early repolarisation pattern on their resting electrocardiograms.
Non-invasive variables had appreciable reliability and validity in this study population.