76
VOLUME 10 NUMBER 2 • JUNE 2013
CONFERENCE REPORT
SA JOURNAL OF DIABETES & VASCULAR DISEASE
HYPERTENSION
WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE: AN ANTHROPOMETRIC MEAS-
URE OF ADIPOSITY IN HYPERTENSIVE AFRICAN POPU-
LATION
Adeoye AM*, Adebiyi A, Tayo b, Salako BL, Ogunniyi A, Cooper R
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Uni-
versity College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria
Introduction:
Studies differ on which anthropometric measure of
adiposity best correlates with cardiovascular diseases. In this study
we re-examined the role of waist circumference as the correlate of
elevated blood pressure in an African population.
Subjects and methods:
A cross-sectional prospective study was car-
ried out on a total of 1 858 subjects (mean age 49 ± 9; 1 411 females
and 447 males) over 2.5 years between June 2009 and December
2011. All subjects underwent a standardised clinical examination
and anthropometric measurements. Correlation analysis was used to
assess the relationship between blood pressure and body mass index
(BMI), waist height ratio and waist circumference respectively.
Results:
Females were significantly older, shorter, heavier and had
greater arm circumference and heart rates when compared with
males. Blood pressure parameters were comparable between the
two groups. Anthropometric measurements showed that 587
(34.1%) were overweight, 372 (21.6%) were obese and 186
(10.8%) had morbid obesity. Compared with their male counter-
parts, females were significantly more obese (
p
<0.0001). Similarly
51.6% of the subjects had abdominal obesity, with female prepon-
derance (
p
<0.0001). Compared with other measures of adiposity,
waist circumference best correlated with blood pressure (
p
<0.01).
Interpretation:
This study shows that obesity is a major cardiovas-
cular risk factor among the study population. Waist circumference
correlates most with blood pressure. Significant reduction in hyper-
tension is possible if the waist size is reduced in this population.
Intervention programmes targeted at waist circumference reduc-
tion through lifestyle modification, including exercise and diet, may
have significant public health significance in reducing the incidence
of hypertension among the population.
EFFECTS OF NEWER V. OLDER ANTIHYPERTENSIVE
DRUGS ON CENTRAL HAEMODYNAMICS IN BLACK
HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS LIVING IN SUB-SAHARAN
AFRICA: INSIGHT FROM NOAAH STUDY
Lemogoum D*, Jacobs,B Anisiuba B, Kamdem MM, Thijs L, Kaptue
J, Odili AN, Ezeala-Adikaibe B, M’Buyamba-Kabangu JR, Ulasi II,
Staessen JA
Service of Cardiology, ULB-Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
Introduction:
The Newer versus Older Antihypertensive agents
in African Hypertensive patients (NOAAH) trial was designed to
compare the efficacy of single-pill combinations of amlodipine-
valsartan 5/160 mg (E) and bisoprolol-hydrochlorothiazide 5/6.25
mg (R) drugs on blood pressure (BP) in native black patients living in
sub-Saharan Africa. Furthermore, the present ancillary study aimed
to explore the effects of E and R drugs on central haemodynamics
in 80 of 183 randomised patients (40 per drug arm) aged 30–69
years with uncomplicated hypertension (140–179/90–109 mmHg)
recruited from two NOAAH centres.
Subjects and methods:
Central pressures, systolic augmenta-
tion, augmentation index (AIx), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity
(PWV) were measured using applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor)
at inclusion, after 8 and 16 weeks of treatment.
Results:
At randomisation age, sex, BP, AIx, and heart rate (HR)
were comparable in both regimens, while PWV was faster in E than
R
p
=0.02). Despite similar changes in brachial BP, aortic systolic
augmentation was less in E than R: difference = -2.8 mmHg (95%
confidence interval (CI) -4.8 to -0.8),
p
=0.007, while E non-signif-
icantly lowered more aortic systolic pressure than R: difference =
-4.6 mmHg (95% CI -9.6 to 0.5),
p
=0.078. Central pulse pressure
decreased markedly in the E than R: mean changes = -8.4 ± 1.9
mmHg v. -3.4 ± 2.4 mmHg,
p
=0.008. AIx standardised for HR sig-
nificantly decreased in E, whereas it increased in R: mean changes =
-8.4 ± 1.6% v. 5.4 ± 5.5%,
p
=0.0007. Change in PWV was similar
between both drug arms (
p
=0.82).
Interpretation:
In black patients the amlodipine-valsartan regimen
decreases more central pressures and AIx than the bisoprolol-hy-
drochlorothiazide combination.
EFFECTS OF MELATONIN TREATMENT ON CARDIAC
FUNCTION IN A MODEL OF PULMONARY ARTERIAL
HYPERTENSION
Maarman G*, Blauwet L, Sliwa K, Lecour S
Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa (HICRA),
Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Introduction:
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disorder
characterised by elevated pulmonary arterial pressure which leads to
cardiac hypertrophy and ventricular dysfunction. Current treatments
are only marginally effective and additional therapies are required.
Melatonin is a natural product that has been shown to be cardiopro-
tective against hypertension and myocardial infarction. We therefore
propose that a chronic melatonin treatment may be cardioprotective
in a rat model of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PAH.
Subjects and methods:
Male Long Evans rats (150–175 g) received
a single subcutaneous injection of MCT (80 mg/kg) which induced
4
th
All African Conference on Heart Disease, Diabetes and Stroke
11
th
Pan African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR) Conference
The 4
th
All African Conference on Heart Disease, Diabetes and Stroke was hosted in Dakar, Senegal, 16
th
-20
th
May,
2013. A record turnout of both registered delegates and number of African nations represented reflected kudos
on the co-hosts PASCAR and the Senegalese Society of Cardiology (SOSECAR). Selected abstracts are reported by
theme; view the full book of abstracts at
