O-22 Preliminary report of the first epidemiologic study of cardiac structure and function in African ancestry adults in the Caribbean: The Tobago Heart Study
Author(s):
AL Kuipers , R Katz , DK Gupta , R Mallugari , CNThomas , I Gonzalez , RK Cvejkus , V Wheeler , I Miljkovic
Year of Presentation:
2022
Objective: To assess prevalence and correlates of cardiac
remodeling and dysfunction in Afro-Caribbean adults in
Tobago.
Methods: Adults aged 55+ years were invited to participate in the Tobago Heart Study (THS) without regard to their health status. THS will enroll 1000 men and women in total; the current analyses reports preliminary data from 62 women. Participants underwent standard transthoracic echocardiography. Clinical health histories and examinations were also completed by trained staff. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, and unadjusted and ageadjusted Spearman correlations.
Results: These 62 women were middle-age to elderly (mean 61 years), obese (mean BMI 32 kg/m2 ), post-menopausal (97%), and hypertensive (83%). By echocardiography, abnormal left ventricular (LV) geometry was common (79%), including 8% with hypertrophy. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction was present in 17.5% (15.8% grade I, 1.8% grade II, 0% grade III), while ejection fraction below 50% was present in 8% of women. Age significantly correlated with functional (cardiac output, right ventricular function and pulmonary hemodynamics; all P
Conclusion: Among middle-aged to elderly Tobago women, hypertension is highly prevalent with blood pressure correlating with cardiac remodeling and function. While cardiac remodeling was present in the majority, a minority displayed LV diastolic dysfunction or reduced ejection fraction. Completion of the THS will provide novel insights into determinants of cardiac structure and function in this understudied population.