Vitamin D Deficiency at Diagnosis Increases All-Cause and Prostate Cancer-specific Mortality in Jamaican Men.

BACKGROUND: 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and serum calcium have been associated with incident prostate cancer (PCa). However, there is limited data on whether these metabolites predict survival in men of African descent, a population disproportionately affected by PCa. We studied the relationship of 25(OH)D at PCa diagnosis with all-cause and cancer-specific mortality among Jamaican men and examined whether serum calcium modified any associations. METHODS: Serum 25(OH)D from 152 Jamaican men with incident PCa within the Prostate Cancer Risk Evaluation (PROSCARE) study were re-evaluated approximately 11 years after enrollment. 25(OH)D analyses were stratified using the using Holick criteria. PCa-specific and all-cause mortality were examined in Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression models adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), smoking and Gleason score. Restricted cubic splines evaluated nonlinear associations. Serum calcium was assessed as an effect modifier of the association between 25(OH)D and mortality. RESULTS: Of cases with available 25(OH)D, 64 men with PCa survived, 38 deaths were PCa specific and 36 died of other causes. At baseline, 9.9% of cases were vitamin D deficient and 61.2% were vitamin D sufficient. Compared to 25(OH)D sufficient men, those with 25(OH)D <20.0 ng/mL concentrations were associated with higher PCa-specific mortality (adjusted HR, 4.95; 95% CI, 1.68, 14.63, P = .004) and all-cause mortality (adjusted HR, 2.40; 95%CI, 1.33, 4. 32, P = .003). Serum calcium was not associated with survival and did not modify any associations with 25(OH)D. CONCLUSIONS: 25(OH)D deficiency at PCa diagnosis predicted decreased survival for overall and PCa-specific cancer in Caribbean men of African ancestry.

Health-related quality of life in long-term Caribbean prostate cancer survivors: comparisons with prostate cancer-free men.

PURPOSE: Prostate cancer (PCa) and its treatment can impact health-related quality of life (HRQoL). There are few studies of HRQoL in long-term PCa survivors of African ancestry from low- and middle-income countries. We examined the effect of PCa treatment on HRQoL of Jamaican PCa survivors compared with cancer-free controls and explored the effect of demographic and clinical factors on these outcomes. METHODS: PCa survivors (n = 64) treated with and without ADT along with PCa-free controls (n = 88) from a case-control study of 10 years post enrolment. HRQoL was measured using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life (EORTC-QLQ-C30). Effects of demographic and clinical variables on HRQoL on PCa and type of therapy were evaluated in multivariable linear regression models. RESULTS: HRQoL of PCa survivors (overall and by treatment group) indicated a high quality of life, comparable to PCa-free men. However, ADT-treated survivors had lower physical functioning that was of small clinical relevance compared with those not on ADT. Symptom burden scores of PCa survivors and controls were similar excluding fatigue and dyspnoea which were highest in men on ADT and controls. In multivariable models, PCa was not an important determinant of overall HRQoL, functioning or symptom burdens. Underlying medical conditions and marital status were the main contributors to HRQoL in PCa survivors. CONCLUSION: PCa cancer status was not an independent determinant of long-term HRQoL in Jamaican men. Interventions addressing social factors and comorbid illnesses could improve HRQOL in long-term PCa survivors.

Maternal characteristics influence infant feeding styles in Caribbean women.

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between maternal characteristics and feeding styles in Caribbean mothers. DESIGN: Participants were mother-child pairs enrolled in a cluster randomised trial of a parenting intervention in three Caribbean islands. Maternal characteristics were obtained by questionnaires when infants were 6-8 weeks old. Items adapted from the Toddler Feeding Behaviour Questionnaire were used to assess infant feeding styles at the age of 1 year. Feeding styles were identified using factor analysis and associations with maternal characteristics assessed using multilevel linear regression. SETTING: Health clinics in St. Lucia (n 9), Antigua (n 10) and Jamaica (n 20). PARTICIPANTS: A total of 405 mother-child pairs from the larger trial. RESULTS: Maternal depressive symptoms were associated with uninvolved (ß = 0·38, 95 % CI (0·14, 0·62)), restrictive (ß = 0·44, 95 % CI (0·19, 0·69)) and forceful (ß = 0·31, 95 % CI (0·06, 0·57)) feeding and inversely associated with responsive feeding (ß = -0·30, 95 % CI (-0·56, -0·05)). Maternal vocabulary was inversely associated with uninvolved (ß = -0·31, 95 % CI (-0·57, -0·06)), restrictive (ß = -0·30, 95 % CI (-0·56, -0·04)), indulgent (ß = -0·47, 95 % CI (-0·73, -0·21)) and forceful (ß = -0·54, 95 % CI (-0·81, -0·28)) feeding. Indulgent feeding was negatively associated with socio-economic status (ß = -0·27, 95 % CI (-0·53, -0·00)) and was lower among mothers ≥35 years (ß = -0·32, 95 % CI (-0·62, -0·02)). Breast-feeding at 1 year was associated with forceful feeding (ß = 0·41, 95 % CI (0·21, 0·61)). No significant associations were found between maternal education, BMI, occupation and feeding styles. CONCLUSION: Services to identify and assist mothers with depressive symptoms may benefit infant feeding style. Interventions to promote responsive feeding may be important for less educated, younger and socio-economically disadvantaged mothers.

A cross-sectional analysis of investigator needs for non-communicable disease research at the University of the West Indies, Mona.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the needs of academic staff conducting non-communicable disease (NCD) research at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus in Jamaica. METHODS: Utilizing a cross-sectional design an online survey was created using the research electronic data capture application (REDCap); it was disseminated via email to 708 academic staff members in the Faculties of Medical Sciences and Science & Technology between September and November 2018. Participants were asked to indicate their level of access to expertise, training and equipment for conducting research. Descriptive analysis was conducted using STATA version 14. RESULTS: Most respondents were women (74.2%), predominantly scientists (33.1%) or specialist physicians (22.6%). Less than 2/3 of respondents reported publishing research findings in peer reviewed journals, with a quarter not disseminating their research findings in any medium. Resources for field research/data collection, epidemiological methods and principles, and data management/data analysis were generally available. However, there was limited access to training, expertise and equipment in emerging techniques for NCD research such as metabolomics, bioinformatics/analysis of large-scale data sets and health economics. Additional challenges included limited access to financing for research, inadequate workspace and poor administrative support for conducting research. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for more local research seed funding, stronger administrative support for researchers, and opportunities for training in cutting edge NCD research techniques. Jamaican researchers could benefit from being part of a regional research centre of excellence with critical research skills and equipment that builds research networks and strengthens the NCD research response.

Central adiposity at diagnosis may reduce prostate cancer-specific mortality in African-Caribbean men with prostate cancer: 10-year follow-up of participants in a case-control study.

PURPOSE: General and central adiposity are associated with the risk of developing prostate cancer (PCa), but the role of these exposures on PCa survival among men of African ancestry are less studied. This study aimed to investigate the association of anthropometry at diagnosis with all-cause and PCa-specific mortality and evaluate whether androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) modulated this risk. METHODS: Associations between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) at diagnosis and mortality were examined in 242 men with newly diagnosed PCa enrolled between 2005 and 2007 and re-evaluated 10.9 years later. Multi-variable Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine associations of body size variables (using standard WHO cut-points and as continuous variables) with mortality, adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, Gleason score, smoking, diabetes, primary treatment, and ADT therapy. RESULTS: A total of 139 deaths (all-cause mortality 6.98/100 person-years) occurred (PCa-specific deaths, 56; other causes, 66; causes unknown, 17). In multi-variable analysis BMI, WC and WHR categories at diagnosis were not associated with all-cause mortality even after adjusting for ADT. While WHR (but not BMI or WC) when included as a continuous variable predicted lower PCa-specific mortality (multi-variable adjusted WHR per 0.1 difference: HR, 0.50; 95%CI 0.28, 0.93), the effect disappeared with ADT covariance and excluding deaths within the first 2 years. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that central adiposity as measured by WHR may improve long-term survival among men of African ancestry. Metabolic studies to understand the mechanism for this association are needed.

Effects of cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 on prostate cancer risk in a population of African ancestry.

PURPOSE: To investigate the association between serum cholesterol and prostate cancer and whether any effect may be mediated through inflammatory markers. METHODS: Data from a case-control study of 40-80 years old Jamaican male patients (229 cases; 252 controls) were used. Cases had incident histologically-confirmed prostate cancer and controls were men with normal digital rectal examination and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) < 4 µg/L or free: total PSA > 0.15 obtained from the same clinic. Total and HDL cholesterol, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured from a non-fasting sample. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between these factors and prostate cancer, adjusting for age, body mass index, waist circumference, family history of prostate cancer, diabetes, hypertension, use of cholesterol-lowering drugs, and smoking. RESULTS: Total cholesterol [Mean (cases, 4.71 ± 1.07; controls, 4.64 ± 1.07 mmol/L)], CRP [median (cases, 2.11; controls, 2.09 µg/ml)], and IL-6: [median (cases, 3.34; controls, 3.24 pg/ml)] did not differ by PCA status. Higher total cholesterol was associated with an increased risk of low-grade disease after adjusting for potential confounders [multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI): tertile 2: 3.32(1.66, 6.45), tertile 3: 2.14(1.07, 4.32)]. Total cholesterol was unrelated to overall prostate cancer or high-grade disease. There was no significant association between HDL cholesterol or any of the inflammatory markers with prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing total cholesterol but not inflammatory markers were associated with low-grade prostate cancer in Caribbean men.

Chikungunya: important lessons from the Jamaican experience.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical presentation of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) illness in adults during the 2014 outbreak in Jamaica and to determine the predictive value of the case definition. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using clinical data from suspected cases of CHIKV that were reported to the Ministry of Health in April - December 2014. In addition, charts were reviewed of all individuals over 15 years of age with suspected CHIKV based on a diagnosis of CHIKV or "acute viral illness" that presented to four major health centers in Jamaica during the week prior to and the peak week of the epidemic. Data abstracted from these charts using a modified CHIKV Case Investigation Form included demographics, clinical findings, and laboratory tests. RESULTS: In 2014, the Ministry of Health of Jamaica received 4 447 notifications of CHIKV infection. PCR testing was conducted on 137 suspected CHIKV cases (56 men and 81 women; median age 28 years) and was positive for 89 (65%) persons. In all, 205 health charts were identified that met the selection criteria (51 men and 154 women, median age 43 years). The most commonly reported symptoms were arthralgia (86%) and fever (76%). Of those who met the epidemiologic case definition for CHIKV as defined by the Pan American Health Organization, only 34% had this diagnosis recorded. Acute viral illness was the most frequently recorded diagnosis (n = 79; 58%). CONCLUSIONS: Broader case definitions for acute CHIKV illness may be needed to identify suspected cases during an outbreak. Standardized data collection forms and validation of case definitions may be useful for future outbreaks.

Glycated Albumin Identifies Prediabetes Not Detected by Hemoglobin A1c: The Africans in America Study.

BACKGROUND: Following immigration to the US, many Africans transition from a low-normal to a high-normal or overweight body mass index (BMI). This weight change is associated with a high rate of prediabetes in the nonobese. Studies in East Asians reveal that glycated albumin is effective in identifying prediabetes in nonobese Asians. Whether this is true in African immigrants is unknown. Therefore, we evaluated the ability of hemoglobin A1c (Hb A1c) and glycated albumin to detect prediabetes in nonobese (BMI <30 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) African immigrants. METHODS: Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) were performed in 236 self-identified healthy African immigrants [mean (SD) BMI 27.6 (4.4) kg/m2]. Prediabetes diagnosis was based on glucose criteria for the OGTT. Diagnostic sensitivity of Hb A1c and glycated albumin was determined by thresholds at the upper quartile for each [Hb A1c ≥5.7% (39 mmol/mol), glycated albumin ≥13.77%]. RESULTS: Based on glucose criteria for the OGTT, prediabetes was detected in 36% (85/236). BMI and Hb A1c were positively correlated (r = 0.22, P < 0.001), whereas BMI and glycated albumin were negatively correlated (r = -0.24, P < 0.001). Although the sensitivities of Hb A1c and glycated albumin were similar in nonobese immigrants (37% vs 42%, P = 0.75), prediabetes was detected in 21 nonobese Africans by glycated albumin alone, in 18 by Hb A1c alone, and in 4 by both tests. Therefore, sensitivity of the combined tests was better than for Hb A1c alone(72% vs 37%, P < 0.01). In the obese, Hb A1c was a much better diagnostic test than glycated albumin (64% vs 16%, P < 0.01) and combining the tests did not improve sensitivity (72% vs 64%, P = 0.50). CONCLUSIONS: Glycated albumin contributes by identifying prediabetes not detected by Hb A1c in nonobese African immigrants. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00001853.

Social support and ideal cardiovascular health in urban Jamaica: A cross-sectional study.

Recent studies have suggested that high levels of social support can encourage better health behaviours and result in improved cardiovascular health. In this study we evaluated the association between social support and ideal cardiovascular health among urban Jamaicans. We conducted a cross-sectional study among urban residents in Jamaica's south-east health region. Socio-demographic data and information on cigarette smoking, physical activity, dietary practices, blood pressure, body size, cholesterol, and glucose, were collected by trained personnel. The outcome variable, ideal cardiovascular health, was defined as having optimal levels of ≥5 of these characteristics (ICH-5) according to the American Heart Association definitions. Social support exposure variables included number of friends (network size), number of friends willing to provide loans (instrumental support) and number of friends providing advice (informational support). Principal component analysis was used to create a social support score using these three variables. Survey-weighted logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between ICH-5 and social support score. Analyses included 841 participants (279 males, 562 females) with mean age of 47.6 ± 18.42 years. ICH-5 prevalence was 26.6% (95%CI 22.3, 31.0) with no significant sex difference (male 27.5%, female 25.7%). In sex-specific, multivariable logistic regression models, social support score, was inversely associated with ICH-5 among males (OR 0.67 [95%CI 0.51, 0.89], p = 0.006) but directly associated among females (OR 1.26 [95%CI 1.04, 1.53], p = 0.020) after adjusting for age and community SES. Living in poorer communities was also significantly associated with higher odds of ICH-5 among males, while living communities with high property value was associated with higher odds of ICH among females. In this study, higher level of social support was associated with better cardiovascular health among women, but poorer cardiovascular health among men in urban Jamaica. Further research should explore these associations and identify appropriate interventions to promote cardiovascular health.

Differences in COVID-19 Vaccination and Experiences among Patients with Hypertension in Colombia and Jamaica during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: COVID-19 vaccination and shielding targeted hypertensive patients in low and middle income countries. We describe the COVID-19 experiences of hypertensive patients in Colombia and Jamaica and discuss factors associated with vaccine acceptance. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2021 and February 2022 in 4 randomly selected primary care clinics in Colombia and 10 primary care clinics in Jamaica. Participants in Colombia were randomly selected from an electronic medical record. In Jamaica consecutive participants were selected on clinic days for non-communicable diseases. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were conducted by telephone. Results: 576 participants were recruited (50% Jamaica; 68.5% female). Jamaica's participants were younger (36% vs 23% <60 years) and had a lower proportion of persons with "more than high school" education (17.2% vs 30.3%, p=0.011). Colombia's participants more commonly tested positive for COVID-19 (24.2% vs 6.3%, p<0.001), had a family member or close friend test positive for COVID-19 (54.5% vs, 21.6%; p<0.001), experienced loss of a family member or friend due to COVID-19 (21.5% vs 7.8%, p<0.001) and had vaccination against COVID-19 (90.6% vs 46.7%, p<0.001). Fear of COVID-19 (AOR 2.71, 95% CI 1.20-6.13) and residence in Colombia (AOR 5.88 (95% CI 2.38-14.56) were associated with COVID-19 vaccination. Disruption in health services affecting prescription of medication or access to doctors was low (<10%) for both countries. Conclusion: Health services disruption was low but COVID-19 experiences such as fear of COVID-19 and vaccine acceptance differed significantly between Colombia and Jamaica. Addressing reasons for these differences are important for future pandemic responses.

Differences in COVID-19 Vaccination and Experiences among Patients with Hypertension in Colombia and Jamaica during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, hypertensive patients had increased infection and healthcare disruption in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with limited vaccine access. The objective of this report is to describe COVID-19 experiences and vaccination uptake among hypertensive patients in Colombia and Jamaica. A cross-sectional study of patients with hypertension was conducted in primary care clinics in both countries between 2021 and 2022. Trained interviewers used a telephone-administered questionnaire to assess COVID-19 experiences (infection, vaccination, and healthcare access). A total of 576 patients (68.5% female, mean age: 67.5 years) participated. Health service disruption affecting access to care was low (<10%). Compared to Jamaica, more participants from Colombia reported testing positive for COVID-19, having family members or friends testing positive, losing family members or friends due to COVID-19, and being vaccinated. In logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, education, and rural/urban clinic status, fear of COVID-19 (OR 2.7, 95% CI: 1.2-6.1) and residence in Colombia (OR 5.9, 95% CI: 2.4-14.6) were associated with higher vaccination uptake. Disparities in access to COVID-19 testing and diagnosis may have influenced these country differences including fear of COVID-19 and vaccine uptake. Other factors need to be better understood to prepare for future pandemic responses.

Maternal feeding styles in infancy predict child body mass index z-scores at 72 months: findings from a cohort of Jamaican children.

Objective: To explore whether maternal feeding styles at 12 months predict child Body Mass Index (BMI) z-scores at 72 months and evaluate whether BMI z-scores at 18 months mediates the association. Methods: Data from 239 mother-child pairs participating in a parenting intervention were analyzed. Feeding information was ascertained at 12 months by questionnaire with feeding styles identified using factor analysis. Children's weight and length/height were measured at 18 and 72 months and BMI z-scores computed. Maternal sociodemographic data, depressive symptoms and language skills were obtained by questionnaire. Multilevel linear regression analysis was used to examine whether feeding styles predicted 72 month BMI z-scores. Complete case analysis was conducted and multiple imputation used to treat missing values of explanatory and outcome variables at 18 and 72 months. Mediational analysis was performed to assess the indirect effects of feeding styles on 72 month BMI z-scores via 18 month BMI z-scores. Results: Restrictive feeding at age 12 months predicted higher 72 month BMI z-scores in both complete case analysis [ß (95%CI): 0.19 (0.02, 0.37)] and multiple imputation [ß (95%CI): 0.20 (0.02, 0.39)]. Uninvolved, forceful, indulgent and responsive feeding styles were not significant predictors of 72 month BMI z-scores. A significant indirect effect was observed between restrictive feeding and child BMI z-scores at 72 months via 18 month BMI z-scores [ß (95% CI) 0.12 (0.03, 0.22)]. Conclusion: Restrictive feeding at 12 months was associated with higher BMI z-scores at 72 months and appeared to be mediated by BMI z-scores at 18 months.

Acceptability and use of waist-worn physical activity monitors in Jamaican adolescents: lessons from the field.

OBJECTIVE: We report our experience with a validated waist-worn activity monitor in Jamaican adolescents attending urban high schools. Seventy-nine adolescents from the Global Diet and Activity Research (GDAR) study, recruited from 5 urban Jamaican high schools (two coeducational (n = 37), two all-female schools (n = 32) and one all-boys school (n = 10)) were asked to wear Actigraph wGT3X-BT accelerometers for 7 days (24-h), removing the device only when bathing or swimming. They also logged wake up and bed times in an activity diary. Accelerometry was considered valid if at least 4 days with ≥ 10-h monitor wear were recorded. Validity was compared by adolescent demographic and school characteristics. We also reviewed the students' written feedback on objective physical activity measurement. RESULTS: Participants, 80.5% female, had a mean age of 15.5 ± 0.8 years with 60% attending schools in low-income communities. Accelerometer return rates were > 98% with 84% providing valid data. Validity did not vary by age group, sex and school setting. While participants were excited about participating in the accelerometer sub-study, commonly reported challenges included monitor discomfort during sleep and maintaining the study diary. Objective measurement of physical activity using 24-h waist-worn accelerometers is feasible and acceptable in Jamaican adolescents.

Sodium and potassium consumption in Jamaica: National estimates and associated factors from the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey 2016-2017.

This study aimed to estimate dietary sodium and potassium consumption among Jamaicans and evaluate associations with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey 2016-2017. Participants were noninstitutionalized Jamaicans aged ≥15 years. Trained staff collected sociodemographic and health data via interviewer-administered questionnaires and spot urine samples. The Pan American Health Organization formula was used to estimate 24-hour urine sodium and potassium excretion. High sodium level was defined as ≥2000 mg/day, and low potassium levels as <3510 mg/day (World Health Organization criteria). Associations between these outcomes and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were explored using multivariable ANOVA models using log-transformed 24-hour urine sodium and potassium as outcome variables. Analyses included 1009 participants (368 males, 641 females; mean age 48.5 years). The mean sodium excretion was 3582 mg/day (males 3943 mg/day, females 3245 mg/day, P < .001). The mean potassium excretion was 2052 mg/day (males, 2210 mg/day; females, 1904 mg/day; P = .001). The prevalence of high sodium consumption was 66.6% (males 72.8%, females 60.7%, P < .001) and that of low potassium intake was 88.8% (85.1% males, 92.3% females, P < .001). Sodium consumption was inversely associated with older age, higher education, and low glomerular filtration rate but was directly associated with being male, current smoking, and obesity. Overall, males had higher sodium consumption than women, with the effect being larger among hypertensive men. Women with hypertension had lower sodium consumption than nonhypertensive women; however, hypertensive men had higher sodium consumption than nonhypertensive men. Potassium consumption was higher among men, persons with obesity, and those with high total cholesterol but was lower among men with "more than high school" education compared to men with "less than high school" education. We conclude that most Jamaican adults have diets high in sodium and low in potassium. In this study, sodium consumption was directly associated with male sex, obesity, and current smoking but was inversely associated with older age and higher education. High potassium consumption was associated with obesity and high cholesterol levels. These associations should be further explored in longitudinal studies and population-based strategies should be developed to address these cardiovascular risk factors.

The Jamaica Salt Consumption Study Protocol: Sodium Intake; Sodium Content in Restaurant Foods; Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices; Spot Urine Sodium Validation.

Background: Excess dietary salt consumption is a major contributor to hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Public education programs on the dangers of high salt intake, and population level interventions to reduce the salt content in foods are possible strategies to address this problem. In Jamaica, there are limited data on the levels of salt consumption and the population's knowledge and practices with regards to salt consumption. This study therefore aims to obtain baseline data on salt consumption, salt content in foods sold in restaurants, and evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Jamaicans regarding salt consumption. Methods: The study is divided into four components. Component 1 will be a secondary analysis of data on urinary sodium from spot urine samples collected as part of a national survey, the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey 2016-2017. Component 2 will be a survey of chain and non-chain restaurants in Jamaica, to estimate the sodium content of foods sold in restaurants. Component 3 is another national survey, this time on a sample 1,200 individuals to obtain data on knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding salt consumption and estimation of urinary sodium excretion. Component 4 is a validation study to assess the level of agreement between spot urine sodium estimates and 24-hour urinary sodium from 120 individuals from Component 3. Discussion: This study will provide important baseline data on salt consumption in Jamaica and will fulfil the first components of the World Health Organization SHAKE Technical Package for Salt Reduction. The findings will serve as a guide to Jamaica's Ministry of Health and Wellness in the development of a national salt reduction program. Findings will also inform interventions to promote individual and population level sodium reduction strategies as the country seeks to achieve the national target of a 30% reduction in salt consumption by 2025.

Nutrient intakes and dysglycaemia in populations of West African origin.

Examining the relationship between glucose intolerance and dietary intake in genetically similar populations with different dietary patterns and rates of type 2 diabetes may provide important insights into the role of diet in the pathogenesis of this disease. The objective of the present study was to assess the relationship between dietary variables and dysglycaemia/type 2 diabetes among three populations of African origin. The study design consists of a cross-sectional study of men and women of African descent aged 24-74 years from Cameroon (n 1790), Jamaica (n 857) and Manchester, UK (n 258) who were not known to have diabetes. Each participant had anthropometric measurements and underwent a 2 h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Habitual dietary intake was estimated with quantitative FFQ, developed specifically for each country. The age-adjusted prevalence of undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in Cameroon was low (1·1 %), but it was higher in Jamaica (11·6 %) and the UK (12·6 %). Adjusted generalised linear and latent mixed models used to obtain OR indicated that each 1·0 % increment in energy from protein, total fat and saturated fats significantly increased the odds of type 2 diabetes by 9 (95 % CI 1·02, 1·16) %, 5 (95 % CI, 1·01, 1·08) % and 16 (95 % CI 1·08, 1·25) %, respectively. A 1 % increase in energy from carbohydrates and a 0·1 unit increment in the PUFA:SFA ratio were associated with significantly reduced odds of type 2 diabetes. The results show independent effects of dietary factors on hyperglycaemia in African origin populations. Whether modifying intake of specific macronutrients helps diabetes prevention needs testing in randomised trials.

The TG/HDL-C ratio does not predict insulin resistance in overweight women of African descent: a study of South African, African American and West African women.

Women of African descent have a high prevalence of diseases caused by insulin resistance. To positively impact cardiometabolic health in Black women, effective screening tests for insulin resistance must be identified. Recently, the TG/HDL-C ratio has been recommended as a tool to predict insulin resistance in overweight people. While the ratio predicts insulin resistance in White women, it is ineffective in African American women. As there are no data for African women, we tested the ability of the TG/HDL-C ratio to predict insulin resistance in Black women from South Africa, West Africa and the United States. For comparison, the ratio was also tested in White women from South Africa. Participants were 801 women (157 Black South African, 382 African American, 119 West African, 143 White South African, age 36 +/- 9y [mean +/- SD]). Standardized scores were created from log-transformed homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance values from each population. Participants in the upper third of their population distribution were classified as insulin-resistant. To predict insulin resistance by the TC/HDL-C ratio, area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC-ROC) curve was used and criteria were: 0.50 for no discrimination and > or = 0.70 for acceptable. Seventy-one percent of the Black women were overweight vs 51% of White women (P<.01). In overweight White women, AUC-ROC curve for prediction of insulin resistance by TG/HDL-C was 0.76 +/- 0.06, but below the 0.70 threshold in each group of overweight Black women (Black South African: 0.64 +/- 0.06, African American: 0.66 +/- 0.03, and West African: 0.63 +/- 0.07). Therefore, TG/HDL-C does not predict insulin resistance in overweight African American women and this investigation extends that finding to overweight Black South African and West African women. Resources to identify effective markers of insulin resistance are needed to improve cardiometabolic health in women of African descent.

An Evaluation of Regional Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer Research Needs Using Conference Abstracts.

Background: Despite cardiovascular diseases and cancer being the leading causes of premature mortality in the Caribbean region, there is limited local research available to guide a comprehensive response to this epidemic. Objective: To evaluate cardiovascular disease and cancer research in the Caribbean using abstracts presented at the Caribbean Public Health Agency's (CARPHA) meeting - the longest running annual research conference in the region. Method: Study data (population, intervention/exposure, comparison and outcome) were extracted from abstracts published for the 2006 to 2018 meetings. Additionally, institutional affiliation and geographic location of the first author, countries involved, sample size, study design and use of specialized testing/biomarkers were also extracted. Data were analysed using STATA version 14. Findings: A total of 1,512 abstracts, 728 posters and 784 oral presentations were reviewed. Research on cancer and cardiovascular disease comprised approximately 15% of all abstracts published annually over the review period. Most of the cardiovascular disease studies had cross sectional or survey designs (46%), with very few laboratory-based studies (<2%) and no intervention studies/clinical trials. For cancer research, 30% were cross-sectional studies/audits, 11% were case control studies, 5% were lab based and there were no clinical trials. Almost a quarter of the cardiovascular disease / cancer abstracts over the period originated from Trinidad and Tobago (26%), with Jamaica and Barbados contributing 18% and 15% respectively. Conclusion: These finding highlight the need for additional studies that can provide evidence for interventions and policy to address the region's high cardiovascular disease and cancer burden. A Regional Centre of Research Excellence could support capacity development to facilitate this process.

Adolescent Levers for a Diet and Physical Activity Intervention Across Socioecological Levels in Kenya, South Africa, Cameroon, and Jamaica: Mixed Methods Study Protocol.

BACKGROUND: The increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases that are prevalent in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is largely attributed to modifiable behavioral risk factors such as unhealthy diets and insufficient physical activity (PA). The adolescent stage, defined as 10 to 24 years of age, is an important formative phase of life and offers an opportunity to reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases across the life course and for future generations. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to describe a protocol for a study using a convergent mixed methods design to explore exposures in the household, neighborhood, school, and the journey from home to school that may influence diet and PA behaviors in adolescents from LMICs. METHODS: Male and female adolescents (n≥150) aged between 13 and 24 years will be recruited from selected high schools or households in project site countries to ensure the socioeconomic diversity of perspectives and experiences at the individual, home, and neighborhood levels. The project will be conducted at 5 sites in 4 countries: Kenya, Cameroon, Jamaica, and South Africa (Cape Town and Johannesburg). Data on anthropometric measures, food intake, and PA knowledge and behavior will be collected using self-report questionnaires. In addition, a small number of learners (n=30-45) from each site will be selected as citizen scientists to capture data (photographs, audio notes, text, and geolocations) on their lived experiences in relation to food and PA in their homes, the journey to and from school, and the school and neighborhood environments using a mobile app, and for objective PA measurements. In-depth interviews will be conducted with the citizen scientists and their caregivers to explore household experiences and determinants of food intake and foodways, as well as the PA of household members. RESULTS: The study described in this protocol paper was primarily funded through a UK National Institute for Health Research grant in 2017 and approved by the relevant institutional ethics review boards in the country sites (South Africa, Cameroun, and Jamaica in 2019, and Kenya in 2020). As of December 23, 2020, we had completed data collection from adolescents (n≥150) in all the country sites, except Kenya, and data collection for the subgroup (n=30-45) is ongoing. Data analysis is ongoing and the output of findings from the study described in this protocol is expected to be published by 2022. CONCLUSIONS: This project protocol contributes to research that focuses on adolescents and the socioecological determinants of food intake and PA in LMIC settings. It includes innovative methodologies to interrogate and map the contexts of these determinants and will generate much-needed data to understand the multilevel system of factors that can be leveraged through upstream and downstream strategies and interventions to improve health outcomes. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/26739.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components in relation to socioeconomic status among Jamaican young adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The metabolic syndrome has a high prevalence in many countries and has been associated with socioeconomic status (SES). This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components among Jamaican young adults and evaluate its association with parental SES. METHODS: A subset of the participants from the 1986 Jamaica Birth Cohort was evaluated at ages 18-20 years between 2005 and 2007. Trained research nurses obtained blood pressure and anthropometric measurements and collected a venous blood sample for measurement of lipids and glucose. Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components were estimated using the 2009 Consensus Criteria from the International Diabetes Federation, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, American Heart Association, World Heart Federation, International Atherosclerosis Society, and International Association for the Study of Obesity. SES was assessed by questionnaire using occupation of household head, highest education of parent/guardian, and housing tenure of parent/guardian. Analysis yielded means and proportions for metabolic syndrome variables and covariates. Associations with levels of SES variables were obtained using analysis of variance. Multivariable analysis was conducted using logistic regression models. RESULTS: Data from 839 participants (378 males; 461 females) were analyzed. Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 1.2% (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.5%-1.9%). Prevalence was higher in females (1.7% vs. 0.5%). Prevalence of the components [male: female] were: central obesity, 16.0% [5.3:24.7]; elevated blood pressure, 6.7% [10.8:3.3]; elevated glucose, 1.2% [2.1:0.4]; low HDL, 46.8% [28.8:61.6]; high triglycerides, 0.6% [0.5:0.6]. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome for any of the SES measures used possibly due to lack of statistical power. Prevalence of central obesity was inversely associated with occupation (highly skilled 12.4%, skilled 13.5%, semi-skilled/unskilled 21.8%, p = 0.013) and education (tertiary 12.5%, secondary 14.1%, primary/all-age 28.4%, p = 0.002). In sex-specific multivariate logistic regression adjusted for hip circumference, central obesity remained associated with occupation and education for women only. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is low, but central obesity and low HDL are present in 16% and 47% of Jamaican youth, respectively. Central obesity is inversely associated with occupation and education in females.