Cohort Profile: Africa Wits-INDEPTH partnership for Genomic studies (AWI-Gen) in four sub-Saharan African countries

Abstract

Key Features<br/>Africa Wits-INDEPTH partnership for Genomic studies (AWI-Gen) was established to examine genomic, environmental and behavioural factors influencing body composition and cardiometabolic diseases and traits in African populations.<br/><br/>Population-based longitudinal cohort, involving four sub-Saharan African countries representing rural and urban settings: West Africa [Nanoro (Burkina Faso) and Navrongo (Ghana)]; East Africa [Nairobi (Kenya)]; and South Africa (Agincourt, Dikgale/DIMAMO and Soweto).<br/><br/>Baseline data collected from 2013 to 2017, enrolling 12 032 adults [55.1% women; mean (SD) 51.9 (8.3) years, range 37–82], with follow-up ∼5 years later and a retention rate of almost 60%. In Wave 2 an additional 579 individuals were enrolled (n = 7804; 55.9% women; 57.0 (7.9), 39–98).<br/><br/>Main categories of data collected at two time points include sociodemographic characteristics, history of chronic diseases and lifestyle behaviours, with spirometry, cognition and frailty added in the second data collection wave. Measurements at both time points include anthropometry, blood pressure, carotid intima–media thickness and body fat distribution. Blood and urine samples are collected to measure biomarkers for diabetes, HIV, dyslipidaemia and kidney disease, and stool samples are collected in a women’s sub-sample for gut microbiome analyses. Genome-wide genotyping is available for all participants and whole genome sequences for a subset.<br/><br/>We encourage collaboration, and data are accessible through the AWI-Gen Principal Investigator [Michele.Ramsay@wits.ac.za] in consultation with the steering committee or the H3Africa Data and Biospecimen Access Committee.