Association of elevated Factor VII activity with hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and obesity in a rural black community in Limpopo Province, South Africa

Metabolic disorders are some of the major sources of complications in the body. About 1.7 million people worldwide have obesity-related problems that include hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and haemostatic defects. The purpose of the study was to determine the association of elevated Factor VII (FVII) activity with hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and obesity in a rural black population living in Ga-Mothapo village. This cross-sectional study consisted of 286 females and 96 males aged 18-65 years. Fasting blood samples were analysed for glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and FVII. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated from total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL-C using the Friedewald formula. Weight and height were measured using a weighing scale and the Seca telescopic height-measuring rod, respectively. Body mass index was calculated from weight and height. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21.0. The following results were obtained: correlation between elevated FVII activity and hyperglycaemia (p=0.000), hypercholesterolaemia (p=0.000), LDL-C (p=0.000), obesity (p=0.000), hypertriglyceridaemia (p=0.572) and low HDL-C (p=0.201). In conclusion, elevated FVII activity was found to be significantly associated with hyperglycaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, high LDL-C and obesity. The association with hypertriglyceridaemia and a low HDL-C level was not significant.Keywords: FVII activity, hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia and obesity