CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL OF AFRICA • Vol 21, No 5, September/October 2010
AFRICA
273
in urban AC African men by positive associations, which existed
between MS indicators and target end-organ damage depicted
by carotid intima–media thickness and microalbuminuria. The
SABPA study therefore indeed indicates that an AC style is
associated with risk of pathology rather than being a health
promoter.
3
The SABPA study was limited with respect to the number of
male participants. Enlarging the sample of participants would
enhance identification of the influence of the specific coping
styles on increased MS indicators and future development of the
MS. The second recommendation is that seeking social support
as a coping strategy should be further investigated, as well as its
different effects in AC and PC men. Furthermore, indication of
biological markers for smoking (Cotinin) and alcohol consump-
tion (gamma glutamyl transferase) is essential. One last recom-
mendation is to do a comparative study of Caucasian and African
men utilising different coping styles, so as to show differences
in population groups in accordance with development of the
metabolic syndrome.
Conclusion
Only BP and social support were associated with target end-
organ damage in PC men, while in urban AC men, most MS indi-
cators were positively associated with target end-organ damage,
depicted by sub-clinical atherosclerosis and renal impairment.
The author acknowledges all the collaborators involved, particularly Chrissie
Lessing (RN) and Szabolcs Péter (MD). Financial support was obtained from
the National Research Foundation, North West University, Potchefstroom,
and the Metabolic Syndrome Institute, France.
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