Browsing by Author "Akinyemi J."

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African Ancestry, APOL1, candidate genes, CDKN2A/CDKN2B, HDAC9, small vessel disease, stroke, West Africa
(John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2017) Akinyemi R.; Tiwari H. K.; Arnett D. K.; Ovbiagele B.; Irvin M. R.; Wahab K.; Sarfo F.; Srinivasasainagendra V.; Adeoye A.; Perry R. T.; Akpalu A.; Jenkins C.; Arulogun O.; Gebregziabher M.; Owolabi L.; Obiako R.; Sanya E.; Komolafe M.; Fawale M.; Adebayo P.; Osaigbovo G.; Sunmonu T.; Olowoyo P.; Chukwuonye I.; Obiabo Y.; Onoja A.; Akinyemi J.; Ogbole G.; Melikam S.; Saulson R.; Owolabi M.
Objective: Worldwide, the highest frequencies of APOL1-associated kidney variants are found in indigenous West Africans among whom small vessel disease (SVD) is chemic stroke is the most common stroke phenotype. The objective of this study was to investigate the association and effect sizes of 23 selected SNPs in 14 genes of relevance, including the APOL1 G1 variants, with the occurrence of SVD ischemic stroke among indigenous West African participants in the Stroke Investigative Research and Education Network (SIREN) Study. Materials and Methods: Cases were consecutively recruited consenting adults (aged 18 years or older) with neuroimaging—confirmed first clinical stroke. Stroke-free controls were ascertained using a locally validated version of the Questionnaire for Verifying Stroke-Free Status (QVSFS). Logistic regression models adjusting for known vascular risk factors were fitted to assess the associations of the 23 SNPs in rigorously phenotyped cases (N = 154) of SVD ischemic stroke and stroke-free (N = 483) controls. Results: Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) rs73885319 (OR = 1.52; CI: 1.09-2.13, P value = .013), rs2383207 in CDKN2A/CDKN2B (OR = 3.08; CI: 1.15-8.26, P – value = .026) and rs2107595 (OR = 1.70; CI: 1.12-2.60, P-value = .014) and rs28688791 (OR = 1.52; CI: 1.03-2.26, P-value = .036) in HDAC9 gene were associated with SVD stroke at 0.05 significance level. Polymorphisms in other genes did not show significant associations. Conclusion: This is the first report of a specific association of APOL1 with a stroke subtype. Further research is needed to confirm these initial findings and deepen understanding of the genetics of stroke in people of African ancestry with possible implications for other ancestries as all humans originated from Africa
Exploring overlaps between the genomic and environmental determinants of LVH and stroke
(Elsevier Ltd, 2017) Adeoye A. M.; Ovbiagele B.; Kolo P.; Appiah L.; Ajek A.; Adebayo O.; Sarfo F.; Akinyemi J.; Adekunle G.; Agyekum F.; Shidali V.; Ogah O.; Lackland D.; Gebregziabher M.; Arnett D.; Tiwari H. K.; Akinyemi R.; Olagoke O. O.; Oguntade A. S.; Olunuga T.; Uwanruochi K.; Jenkins C.; Adadey P.; Iheonye H.; Owolabi L.; Obiako R.; Akinjopo S.; Armstrong K.; Akpalu A.; Fakunle A.; Saulson R.; Aridegbe M.; Olowoyo P.; Osaigbovo G.; Akpa O.
Background: Whether left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is determined by similar genomic and environmental risk factors with stroke, or is simply an intermediate stroke marker, is unknown. Objectives: We present a research plan and preliminary findings to explore the overlap in the genomic and environmental determinants of LVH and stroke among Africans participating in the SIREN (Stroke Investigative Research and Education Network) study. Methods: SIREN is a transnational, multicenter study involving acute stroke patients and age-, ethnicity-, and sex-matched control subjects recruited from 9 sites in Ghana and Nigeria. Genomic and environmental risk factors and other relevant phenotypes for stroke and LVH are being collected and compared using standard techniques. Results: This preliminary analysis included only 725 stroke patients (mean age 59.1 13.2 years; 54.3% male). Fifty-five percent of the stroke subjects had LVH with greater proportion among women (51.6% vs. 48.4%; p < 0.001). Those with LVH were younger (57.9 12.8 vs. 60.6 13.4; p ¼ 0.006) and had higher mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure (167.1/99.5 mm Hg vs 151.7/90.6 mm Hg; p < 0.001). Uncontrolled blood pressure at presentation was prevalent in subjects with LVH (76.2% vs. 57.7%; p < 0.001). Significant independent predictors of LVH were age 90 mm Hg (AOR: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.39 to 3.19; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The prevalence of LVH was high among stroke patients especially the younger ones, suggesting a genetic component to LVH. Hypertension was a major modifiable risk factor for stroke as well as LVH. It is envisaged that the SIREN project will elucidate polygenic overlap (if present) between LVH and stroke among Africans, thereby defining the role of LVH as a putative intermediate cardiovascular phenotype and therapeutic target to inform interventions to reduce stroke risk in populations of African ancestry
Knowledge, attitudes and practices of West Africans on genetic studies of stroke: Evidence from the SIREN Study
(World Stroke Organization Reprints and permissions, 2018) Akinyemi R. O.; Sarfo F. S.; Akinyemi J.; Singh A.; Akpa M. O.; Akpalu A.; Owolabi L.; Adeoye A. M.; Obiako R.; Wahab K.; Sanya E.; Komolafe M.; Ogbole G.; Fawale M.; Adebayo P.; Osaigbovo G.; Sunmonu T.; Olowoyo P.; Chukwuonye I.; Obiabo Y.; Adeniji O.; Fakunle G.; Melikam E.; Saulson R.; Yaria J.; Uwanruochi K.
Background: It is crucial to assess genomic literacy related to stroke among Africans in preparation for the ethical, legal and societal implications of the genetic revolution which has begun in Africa. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of West Africans about stroke genetic studies. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among stroke patients and stroke-free controls recruited across 15 sites in Ghana and Nigeria. Participants’ knowledge of heritability of stroke, willingness to undergo genetic testing and perception of the potential benefits of stroke genetic research were assessed using interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive, frequency distribution and multiple regression analyses were performed. Results: Only 49% of 2029 stroke patients and 57% of 2603 stroke-free individuals knew that stroke was a heritable disorder. Among those who knew, 90% were willing to undergo genetic testing. Knowledge of stroke heritability was associated with having at least post-secondary education (OR 1.51, 1.25–1.81) and a family history of stroke (OR 1.20, 1.03–1.39) while Islamic religion (OR¼0.82, CI: 0.72–0.94), being currently unmarried (OR ¼ 0.81, CI: 0.70–0.92), and alcohol use (OR ¼ 0.78, CI: 0.67–0.91) were associated with lower odds of awareness of stroke as a heritable disorder. Willingness to undergo genetic testing for stroke was associated with having a family history of stroke (OR 1.34, 1.03– 1.74) but inversely associated with a medical history of high blood pressure (OR ¼ 0.79, 0.65–0.96). Conclusion: To further improve knowledge of stroke heritability and willingness to embrace genetic testing for stroke, individuals with less formal education, history of high blood pressure and no family history of stroke require targeted interventions
Multilingual Validation of the Questionnaire for Verifying Stroke-Free Status in West Africa
(Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2016) Sarfo F.; Gebregziabher M.; Ovbiagele B.; Akinyemi R.; Owolabi L.; Obiako R.; Akpa O.; Armstrong K.; Akpalu A.; Adamu S.; Obese V.; Boa-Antwi N.; Appiah L.; Arulogun O.; Mensah Y.; Adeoye A.; Tosin A.; Adeleye O.; Tabi-Ajayi E.; Phillip I.; Sani A.; Isah S.; Tabari N.; Mande A.; Agunloye A.; Ogbole G.; Akinyemi J.; Laryea R.; Melikam S.; Uvere E.; Adekunle G.; Kehinde S.; Azuh P.; Dambatta A.; Ishaq N.; Saulson R.; Arnett D.; Tiwari H.; Jenkins C.; Lackland D.; Owolabi M.
Background and Purpose—The Questionnaire for Verifying Stroke-Free Status (QVSFS), a method for verifying stroke-free status in participants of clinical, epidemiological, and genetic studies, has not been validated in low-income settings where populations have limited knowledge of stroke symptoms. We aimed to validate QVSFS in 3 languages, Yoruba, Hausa and Akan, for ascertainment of stroke-free status of control subjects enrolled in an on-going stroke epidemiological study in West Africa. Methods—Data were collected using a cross-sectional study design where 384 participants were consecutively recruited from neurology and general medicine clinics of 5 tertiary referral hospitals in Nigeria and Ghana. Ascertainment of stroke status was by neurologists using structured neurological examination, review of case records, and neuroimaging (gold standard). Relative performance of QVSFS without and with pictures of stroke symptoms (pictograms) was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Results—The overall median age of the study participants was 54 years and 48.4% were males. Of 165 stroke cases identified by gold standard, 98% were determined to have had stroke, whereas of 219 without stroke 87% were determined to be stroke-free by QVSFS. Negative predictive value of the QVSFS across the 3 languages was 0.97 (range, 0.93–1.00), sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value were 0.98, 0.82, and 0.80, respectively. Agreement between the questionnaire with and without the pictogram was excellent/strong with Cohen k=0.92. Conclusions—QVSFS is a valid tool for verifying stroke-free status across culturally diverse populations in West Africa.
Prevalence and predictors of anxiety in an African sample of recent stroke survivors
(2017) Ojagbemi A.; Owolabi M.; Akinyemi R.; Arulogun O.; Akinyemi J.; Akpa O.; Sarfo F. S.; Uvere E.; Saulson R.; Hurst S.; Ovbiagele B.
Objectives: Studies considering emotional disturbances in the setting of stroke have primarily focused on depression and been conducted in high-income countries. Anxiety in stroke survivors, which may be associated with its own unique sets of risk factors and clinical parameters, has been rarely investigated in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We assess the characteristics of anxiety and anxiety-depression comorbidity in a SSA sample of recent stroke survivors. Materials and methods: We assessed baseline data being collected as part of an intervention to improve one-year blood pressure control among recent (≤1 month) stroke survivors in SSA. Anxiety in this patient population was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), while the community screening instrument for dementia was used to evaluate cognitive functioning. Independent associations were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results: Among 391 participants, clinically significant anxiety (HADS anxiety score≥11) was found in 77 (19.7%). Anxiety was comorbid with depression in 55 (14.1%). Female stroke survivors were more likely than males to have anxiety (OR=2.4, 95% CI=1.5-4.0). Anxiety was significantly associated with the presence of cognitive impairment after adjusting for age, gender and education (OR=6.8, 95% CI=2.6-18.0). Conclusions: One in five recent stroke survivors in SSA has clinically significant anxiety, and well over 70% of those with anxiety also have depression. Future studies will need to determine what specific impact post-stroke anxiety may have on post processes and outcomes.