Diabetes and accompanying obesity, hypertension and ECG abnormalities in Yemenite Jews 40 years after immigration to Israel.
A repeat survey in 1988-1989 on the prevalence of diabetes among Yemenites aged 30 years and over was 3.6% as compared to 2.9% in 1977-78 and 0.25% in 1958-59 soon after their immigration to Israel. In age and gender-matched ethnic Jewish groups at the time it was 5/9% in Ashkenazis (originating in Europe and North America) and 2.5% in Sephardis (originating from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries). In Yemenites obesity was associated with a marked increase in the prevalence of diabetes the same as in the other ethnic groups. The prevalence of hypertension and ischemic heart disease ECG changes were higher in diabetic Yemenites than in non-diabetic ones, the same as in the other ethnic groups. There was no difference between the incidence of ischemic heart disease ECG changes among diabetics and subjects with IGT. These facts suggest that the metabolic changes that accompany the development of diabetes lead to the same pathological changes irrespective of the ethnic group.
Cohen
A M
AM
Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
Marom
L
L
D000328:Adult; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007585:Jews; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015006:Yemen / Q000208:ethnology