Online Program

336274
Race, obesity and acanthosis nigricans in US affiliated Pacific Islands, Children's Healthy Living Program (CHL)


Monday, November 2, 2015 : 1:10 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Rachel Novotny, PhD, RDN, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Honolulu, HI
Background/Significance. Difference in the prevalence of AN was previously found among US affiliated Pacific Island (USAPI) jurisdictions (American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI), Guam, Hawaii, Palau, Pohnpei, Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). AN was associated with weight category.

Objective/Purpose:  To examine racial differences in AN, whether race explains jurisdiction differences in prevalence of AN, and the relationship of AN and weight status, controlling for race-jurisdiction, age and sex differences.

Methods.  Logistic regression models (AN present or absent) were conducted for each of the three race groups found in these jurisdictions: Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) and Mixed (More than one) race.  An 8-category race-jurisdiction variable was created: Asian, MixedinCNMI, MixedinGuamHawaiiPalauSamoa, MixedinPohnpeiRMI, NHPIinCNMI, NHPIinGuamHawaii, NHPIinPalauSamoa and NHPIinPohnpeiRMI.  The final model examined the relationship between obesity and AN, controlling for race-jurisdiction, sex, and age.

Results:  The highest prevalence of AN was seen among NHPI in Pohnpei and RMI (12.0%);  the lowest was observed in the Mixed in Guam, Hawaii, Palau and Samoa (1.3%). Differences in AN prevalence were found among race-jurisdiction Mixes. Compared to NHPI in Pohnpei and RMI, all other race-jurisdiction Mixes, except Mixed in Pohnpei and RMI, had lower risk of AN (p<0.001).  Positive association was found between presence of AN and weight category controlling for age, sex, and race-jurisdiction Mix. Compared to healthy weight children, obese children were 17 times more likely to have AN (OR=17.2, p<.001), and overweight children were 2.5 times more likely (OR=2.5, p<.001). AN and Overweight/obese relationship persisted, compared to healthy weight children, controlling for race-jurisdiction.  Obese children were 17 times more likely to have AN (OR=17.2, p<0.001), and overweight children 2.5 times more likely (OR=2.5, p<.001).

Discussion/Conclusions: Race and weight category explained jurisdiction differences in AN prevalence.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Diversity and culture
Epidemiology
Program planning
Public health biology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe racial differences in prevalence of acanthosis nigricans among young children in the US affiliated Pacific Islands, and the role of race in the relationship between overweight, obesity and AN.

Keyword(s): Asian and Pacific Islanders, Diabetes

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Principal Investigator.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.