Date of Conferral

8-13-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Srikanta Banerjee

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disproportionately impacts African American adults, particularly those with obesity, due to overlapping cardiometabolic risks and health care disparities. The intersection of RA, obesity, and chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and hypertension underscores the need for targeted public health interventions. This study investigated the association between RA and cardiometabolic outcomes among African American adults with obesity, aiming to identify significant predictors within this high-risk population. This quantitative study employed a cross-sectional design to analyze data from the 1999–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey undergirded by the social ecological change framework with N=23644 African American adults age 20 years and older. Logistic regression analyses were conducted, with adjustments made for age, gender, educational attainment, and socioeconomic status as measured by the poverty-income ratio. The findings revealed that individuals with CVD were 2.66 times more likely to have RA (OR = 2.66, 95% CI: 2.03–3.48, p < .001), and those with hypertension had 1.89 times higher odds (OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.38–2.58, p < .001). Sex and socioeconomic status also emerged as significant predictors of RA among African Americans with obesity. Men had higher odds of RA compared to women despite previous literature reporting a higher prevalence of RA among women. The study may contribute to health equity efforts by informing culturally responsive, evidence-based interventions to reduce disease burden and improve outcomes in underserved communities.

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