Motivation: Hypertension is a fast growing health risk, leading to increased incidences of
cardiovascular dysfunction and mortality. However, the prevalence of hypertension is higher
in some ethnic populations than others. Several South African studies have found that the
African population is more susceptible to the development of hypertension, compared to the
Caucasian population. Cardiovascular dysfunction is often accompanied by elevated levels
of uric acid (UA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-I (PAI-1) and both are factors
associated with the metabolic syndrome. A lack of data regarding the association of UA and
PAL1 with cardiovascular dysfunction in a South African context, serves as a motivation for
conducting this study.
Objective: To determine the association of UA and PAI-1 with cardiovascular dysfunction in
African and Caucasian women from South Africa.
Methodology: The manuscript presented in Chapter 2 made use of the data obtained in the
POWIRS (Profiles of Obese Women with the Insulin Resistance Syndrome) study. A group
of 102 African women and 115 Caucasian women, living in the North West Province of
South Africa, were recruited according to their body mass indexes. The groups were divided
into lean, overweight and obese according to their body mass index. Anthropometric and
cardiovascular measurements were taken and determinations were done of their blood lipid
profiles, UA. PAI-1, fasting insulin and glucose levels, HOMA-IR (homeostasis model
assessment-insulin resistance) and leptin levels. The subject's total dietary protein intake
was determined by means of a dietary questionnaire. Comparisons between the groups
were done using an independent t-test as well as a multiple analysis of covariance
(MANCOVA) whilst adjusting for certain variables. Each ethnic group was divided into UA
and PAI-1 tertiles, for comparison between the 1" and 3' tertiles. Correlation ~0efIi~ientS
were determined to show any associations between UA and PAI-1 with cardiovascular
variables as well as variables associated with the metabolic syndrome. Forward stepwise
multiple regression analyses were performed using UA and PAL1 respectively as dependent
variables.
The study was approved by the Ethics committee of the North-West University and all the
subjects gave informed consent in writing. The reader is referred to the experimental
procedure section in Chapter 2 for a more detailed description of the subjects, study
design and analytical procedures used in this dissertation.
Results and conclusion: Results from the POWIRS-study showed that despite the
African women's higher blood pressure, they had significantly lower levels of UA and PAI-I
compared to the Caucasian women. Although the Caucasian women had significantly
higher circulating levels of UA and PAI-1, they showed no sign of cardiovascular
dysfunction. The detrimental effects might, however, become more noticeable with an
increase in age. From this study it is concluded that UA and PAL1 is not associated with
the increased blood pressure in young African women. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/117 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Creators | Palmer, Iolanthe Marike |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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