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. 2022 Feb;16(1):107-115.
doi: 10.1016/j.pcd.2021.06.011. Epub 2021 Jul 10.

Glycemic control and management of cardiovascular risk factors among adults with diabetes in the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network (ECHORN) Cohort Study

Saria Hassan  1 , Cherlie Magny-Normilus  2 , Deron Galusha  2 , Oswald P Adams  3 , Rohan G Maharaj  4 , Cruz M Nazario  5 , Maxine Nunez  6 , Marcella Nunez-Smith  2 ; ECHORN Writing Group
Affiliations

Glycemic control and management of cardiovascular risk factors among adults with diabetes in the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network (ECHORN) Cohort Study

Saria Hassan et al. Prim Care Diabetes. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Aims: To determine the level of glycemic control and cardiovascular (CVD) risk among adults with diabetes in the Eastern Caribbean.

Methods: Baseline data from the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network (ECHORN) Cohort Study (ECS) were used for the analysis. ECS participants were 40 years of age and older, residing in the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, or Barbados. Participants completed a survey, physical exam, and laboratory studies. CVD risk was calculated using the Atherosclerotic CVD risk equation. Bivariate analysis followed by multinomial logistic regression was used to assess social and biological factors (education, lifestyle, access to care, medical history) associated with level of glycemic control.

Results: Twenty-three percent of participants with diabetes had an HbA1c ≥ 9% (>75 mmol/mol). Participants with diabetes had poorly controlled CVD risk factors: 70.2% had SBP ≥ 130 mmHg, 52.2% had LDL ≥ 100 mg/dl (2.59 mmol/L), and 73.2% had a 10-year CVD risk of more than 10%. Age and education level were significant, independent predictors of glycemic control.

Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of uncontrolled diabetes among adults in ECS. The high burden of elevated CVD risk explains the premature mortality we see in the region. Strategies are needed to improve glycemic control and CVD risk factor management among individuals with diabetes in the Caribbean.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Caribbean; Diabetes; Premature mortality.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Flow chart of study individuals with diabetes from the ECHORN cohort study
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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