Lifestyle Changes for Abdominal Obesity Prevention and Encouraging Fruit Consumption May Be Beneficial in Preventing Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Sub-Saharan African and Maghreb

There is a growing body of evidence showing a close correlation between left ventricular mass with cardiovascular morbidity and overall mortality. Therefore, identifying the determinants of left ventricular hypertrophy can be of great importance for cardiovascular prevention, for prognosis and therapeutic intervention. Objective: To assess the prevalence and identify the independent determinants of echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy in The MA-Ghreb and Sub-Saharan Africa Left-Ventricul ArGEometry Study (MAG-SALVAGES) participants. Methods: The MAG-SALVAGES is a community based study in which 100 asymptomatic Black Sub-Saharan African (BSSA) and 189 white skin Maghreb within the age of 18 to 55 years underwent a resting echocardiography. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to identify the independent determinants of LVH left ventricular hypertrophy. Results: Men represented the majority of the enrolled participants: 173 (59.9%). Echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy was seen in 10 (3.5%) participants. Age ≥40 years, female gender, overall obesity, abdominal obesity, hypertension status and less fruit consumption were significantly associated with echocardiography left ventricular hypertrophy. After adjusting for confounding factors, age ≥40 years, female gender, abdominal obesity and less fruit consumption were independently and significantly associated with echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy, as illustrated in the following equation: Y = 0.36 + 0.162 age >40 years + 2.69 female gender + 2.52 abdominal obesity + 1.31 less fruit consumption. Conclusion: Lifestyle changes for the prevention of abdominal obesity and encouraging fruit consumption may be beneficial in preventing left ventricular hypertrophy.