Diabetes and Heart Structure in African-Americans
Author Information
Author(s): Foppa Murilo, Duncan Bruce B, Arnett Donna K, Benjamin Emelia J, Liebson Philip R, Manolio Teri A, Skelton Thomas N
Primary Institution: Graduate Studies Program in Cardiology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Hypothesis
Is there an independent association between diabetes and left ventricular structural abnormalities in African-Americans?
Conclusion
Diabetes is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and different patterns of structural abnormalities between genders in African-Americans.
Supporting Evidence
- Diabetes prevalence was 22%, with higher left ventricular mass in diabetic individuals.
- Women with diabetes had a higher prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy compared to men.
- The association of diabetes with left ventricular structural abnormalities was attenuated after adjusting for obesity.
Takeaway
People with diabetes often have changes in their heart structure, and these changes can be different for men and women.
Methodology
The study analyzed echocardiographic left ventricular mass measurements from 1479 African-American participants aged 51 to 70 years.
Potential Biases
Participants included were generally healthier than those excluded, potentially leading to selection bias.
Limitations
40% of initially enrolled participants could not be analyzed, which may underestimate the true association between diabetes and left ventricular hypertrophy.
Participant Demographics
514 men and 965 women, aged 51 to 70 years, predominantly African-American.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95%CI:1.12–2.00
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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