Inflammatory markers and cardiovascular risks among overweight-obese Emirati women

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of abdominal obesity among women in UAE is exceptionally high. However, its impact on cardiovascular health has not been adequately investigated. The aims of this study were to investigate: (1) correlations between inflammatory and oxidative biomarkers vs. anthropometric and metabolic measures; (2) rates of dyslipidemia, diabetes, and hypertension and (3) risks of cardiovascular disease. METHODS: One hundred ten “healthy” overweight/obese Emirati women attending nutrition counselling clinics were randomly recruited. All participants had completed questionnaire, physical examination and laboratory assessment. RESULTS: The participants’ mean ± SD of age, body mass-index, waist circumference were 39 ± 9 years, 34 ± 6 kg/m(2) and 100 ± 13 cm respectively. Among the studied women 45 % met diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome showing a positive correlation of hsCRP with BMI (p = 0.002), body fat (p = 0.002) and waist circumference (p = 0.018). There was positive correlation of IL-6 with waist circumference (p = 0.019) and adiponectin with HDL (p = 0.007). Prevalence of HDL <1.3 mmol/L or triglycerides ≥1.7 mmol/L were 82 %, dysglycemia 31 %, and hypertension 27 and 37 % of women had either ‘high’ or ‘moderate’ calculated cardiovascular 10-year risk score. CONCLUSION: The levels of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were highly prevalent among overweight/obese Emirati women and this may predispose to increasing cardiovascular risks at relatively young age. Thus effective strategies to impact cardiovascular burden and conducting outcome studies assessing the increased risk of cardiovascular disease and addressing obesity prevention among women are urgently needed.