Association between Practising Religion and Cardiovascular Disease Risk among Ghanaian Non-Migrants and Migrants in Europe: The RODAM Study

Abstract

(1) Background: Sub-Saharan African migrants residing in high-income countries are more affected by cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and associated risk factors than host populations for unclear reasons. The aim was to explore the associations of religion and religious affiliations with CVD risk among Ghanaian non-migrants and migrants in Europe. (2) Methods: The 10-year CVD risk was estimated using pooled cohort equations for 3004 participants from the cross-sectional Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) study. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess associations between religion and elevated CVD risk (score ≥ 7.5) with adjustment for covariates. (3) Results: Religious men in Europe had a lower 10-year CVD risk compared with non-religious men (adjusted OR 0.51; 95% confidence interval 0.30–0.85), specifically men affiliated with Seventh-Day Adventism (0.24; 0.11–0.53) followed by other affiliations (0.32; 0.11–0.94) and Roman Catholicism (0.42; 0.21–0.86). The opposite was found in Ghana, with religious women having higher odds for elevated 10-year CVD risk (1.53; 1.02–2.30) compared with their non-religious counterparts, specifically women affiliated with Reformed Christianity (1.73; 1.03–2.90) and other denominations (2.81; 1.20–6.54). Associations were not significant for men in Ghana and women in Europe. Adjustments for social support, stress, and health behaviors did not meaningfully alter the associations. (4) Conclusions: Christian religious Ghanaian men living in Europe seem to have lower CVD risk compared with their non-religious counterparts, while Christian religious women in Ghana appear to have increased CVD risk. Further unravelling the contributing factors and the differences between sex and environmental settings is needed.

Associations of psychosocial stress with type 2 diabetes and glycaemic control among Ghanaians: The RODAM study

“…The larger effect in men as compared to women could be related to levels of social support. In Ghana, women are more likely to receive social support from the church (religious institutions) and women groups than men 13 . Eventually, this could act as a buffer of perceived discrimination in women than in men.…”

“…In Ghana, women are more likely to receive social support from the church (religious institutions) and women groups than men. 13 Eventually, this could act as a buffer of perceived discrimination in women than in men. 4.2.2 | Psychosocial stress and glycaemic control…”

“…For example, community and religious social support might be higher in SSA populations than in high‐income countries' origin populations. 13 Moreover, factors such as migration status (i.e. whether residing in Africa or abroad in Europe), age, sex and education might also distinctively moderate the relationship between psychosocial stress and type 2 diabetes among SSA populations.…”

“…may differentially affect the relationship between psychosocial stress and type 2 diabetes status among SSA populations as opposed to populations originating from high‐income countries. For example, community and religious social support might be higher in SSA populations than in high‐income countries' origin populations 13 . Moreover, factors such as migration status (i.e.…”

A 10-Year Cardiovascular Risk in Adults with Different Levels of Spiritual Health: Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

“…However, more evidence indicates that spiritual beliefs might predict the elevated CVD risk, which could be influenced by sex. Michgelsen et al revealed that religious men in Europe had a lower 10-year CVD risk than their non-religious counterparts, while religious women in Ghana appear to have increased CVD risk [ 11 ]. Despite the proven gender differences regarding cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension and overweight, and individual differences in psycho-spiritual responses [ 12 ], there is limited gender-specific evidence indicating an interaction between spiritual health and CVD risk.…”