Principal Investigator: Prof L Lammertyn

The Sympathetic activity and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Africans (SABPA) Prospective Cohort study

The evidence in more than 10 000 Africans of the North-West Province of South Africa that taxing environmental demands may be detrimental to their cardio-metabolic health, motivated the design of the SABPA Prospective cohort study. The main aim of the study was to determine neural mechanistic pathways involved in emotional distress, cardio-metabolic risk and target organ damage in the brain, retina, heart and kidneys. The study received an international award for study design excellence in 2008 from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).

The participant sample included 409 Black and White male and female teachers (aged 20-65 years) who were recruited from all enrolled teachers (N=2170) from 43 schools of the Dr Kenneth Kaunda Education District (Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp), North-West Province, South Africa. The first phase of the study was conducted in 2008-2009 and the second in 2011-2012, with an 87.8% successful follow-up rate. The assessment periods were selected to avoid seasonal changes. Each participant took part in a battery of clinical assessments performed during a 48 hour period under well-controlled conditions. Several grants were received from the North-West University; the National Research Foundation (NRF) and Medical Research Council (MRC); the North-West Department of Education and ROCHE Diagnostics, South Africa.

Our research and data dissemination are supported by an extensive network of expert national, international and pharmaceutical collaborators. This network-relationship is based on respect, trust and integrity which are clearly evident in the sponsored biochemical analyses and numerous peer-reviewed publications.