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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Exposure over the life course to an urban environment and its relation with obesity, diabetes, and hypertension in rural and urban Cameroon
International Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 33, No. 4, Year 2004
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Description
Background. This study aimed to assess the association between lifetime exposure to urban environment (EU) and obesity, diabetes, and hypertension in an adult population of Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods. We studied 999 women and 727 men aged ≥25 years. They represent all the adults aged ≥25 years living in households randomly selected from a rural and an urban community of Cameroon with a 98% and 96% participation rate respectively. Height, weight, blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose were measured in all subjects. Current levels of physical activity (in metabolic equivalents [MET]) were evaluated through the Sub-Saharan African Activity Questionnaire. Chronological data on lifetime migration were collected retrospectively and expressed as the total (EUt) or percentage (EU%) of lifetime exposure to urban environment. Results. Lifetime EUt was associated with body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.42; P < 0.0001), fasting glycaemia (r = 0.23; P < 0.0001), and blood pressure (r = 0.17; P < 0.0001) but not with age. The subjects who recently settled in a city (≤2 years) had higher BMI (+2.9 kg/m2; P < 0.001), fasting glycaemia (+0.8 mmol/l; P < 0.001), systolic (+23 mmHg; P < 0.001) and diastolic (+9 mmHg; P = 0.001) blood pressure than rural dwellers with a history of 2 years EU. EU during the first 5 years of life was not, on its own, associated with glycaemia or BMI. However, both lifetime EUt and current residence were independently associated with obesity and diabetes. The association between lifetime EUt and hypertension was not independent of current residence and current level of physical activity. Conclusions. This study suggests that for the study of obesity and diabetes, in addition to current residence, both lifetime exposure to an urban environment and recent migration history should be investigated. © International Epidemiological Association 2004; all rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Sobngwi, Eugène
Cameroon, Yaounde
Université de Yaoundé I
United Kingdom, Newcastle
University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Faculty of Medical Sciences
France, Paris
Hôpital Saint-louis
Mbanya, J. C.
Cameroon, Yaounde
Université de Yaoundé I
Unwin, Nigel C.
United Kingdom, Newcastle
University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Faculty of Medical Sciences
United Kingdom, Newcastle
Newcastle University
Porcher, Raphaël
France, Paris
Hôpital Saint-louis
Kengne, Andre-Pascal Pascal
Cameroon, Yaounde
Université de Yaoundé I
Fézeu, Léopold K.
Cameroon, Yaounde
Université de Yaoundé I
Minkoulou, Etienne Magloire
Cameroon, Yaounde
Université de Yaoundé I
Tournoux, Caroline
France, Paris
Hôpital Saint-louis
Gautier, Jean François
France, Paris
Hôpital Saint-louis
Aspray, Terry J.
United Kingdom, Newcastle
University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Faculty of Medical Sciences
United Kingdom, Newcastle
Newcastle University
Alberti, K. George M.M.
United Kingdom, Newcastle
University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Faculty of Medical Sciences
Statistics
Citations: 231
Authors: 11
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1093/ije/dyh044
ISSN:
03005771
Research Areas
Noncommunicable Diseases
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
Cameroon
Participants Gender
Male
Female