Cardiovascular Disease in a Black Barbadian Population

• Activity Number: 39
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Sunday, August 11, 2002 : 4:00 PM to 5:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistics in Epidemiology*
• Author(s): Hedy Broome*+ and Henry Fraser
• Affiliation(s): University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus and University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus
• Keywords: cvd ; Black population ; Caribbean ; Barbados

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and the associated risks with known risk factors in a sub-urban population residing in Barbados.

Design & Methods: The sub-urban Wildey cohort of 464 individuals aged 40-79 in 1987, was re-surveyed in 1997 by questionnaire that evaluated cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension status by self-report according physician diagnosis.

Results: The mean age of males was 63.7 (SD±11.4, n=190) years while that for females was 66.1 (SD±11.1, n=274) years. Overall prevalence of CVD was 11.6% (95% CI 8.7, 14.6), representing 12.1 % (95% CI 7.5, 16.7) in males and 11.3% (95% CI 7.6, 15.1) in females. Compared to those under 60 years, risk in 60-79 age group was 3.0 (95%CI [1.4, 6.8]) and that in 80+ age group was 7.3 (95%CI [3.0, 18.0]). Adjusted for age, risk in diabetics was 2.6 (95%CI [1.1, 5.8]); risk in hypertensives was 2.5 (95%CI [1.1, 5.8]). The age-adjusted risk of CVD for males was 1.2 (95%CI [0.8, 1.8]).

Conclusions: The risk of CVD was increased with age. When adjusted for age, diabetes and hypertension were found to be associated with CVD in this population but gender was not.