[Serum lipids and blood pressure levels in the +Mapuche population living in the Chilean region of Araucanía].
BACKGROUND
Chilean aboriginal populations (Mapuche) predominantly live in the region of Araucanía, in the southern part of the country. Their cardiovascular risk factors have not been systematically assessed.


OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the Mapuche population.


METHODS
Blood pressure, weight, height, dietary habits, fasting serum total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in 1.948 adults living in 28 Mapuche communities.


RESULTS
Thirteen percent of males and 16% of females had high blood pressure. Body mass index was 25.5 kg/m2 in males and 28.1 kg/m2 in females. Forty five percent of women and 24% of men were classified as obese. Mean serum total cholesterol was 186.7 +/- 9.6 mg/dl, HDL cholesterol was 58.7 +/- 30.7 mg/dl, total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol was 3.4 +/- 2 and triglycerides were 155.2 +/- 91.2 mg/dl. Twenty eight percent of males and 9.6% of females smoked.


CONCLUSIONS
Mapuche individuals have higher levels of HDL cholesterol a better total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio and lower frequency of smoking than non aboriginal Chileans subjects.
Stockins
B
B
Departamento de Medicina Interna, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco.
Larenas
G
G
Charles
M
M
Standen
D
D
Espinoza
O
O
Illesca
M
M
Opazo
J A
JA
Carrasco
B
B
Lanas
F
F
Davis
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007199:Indians, South American; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
D008055:Lipids; D002784:Cholesterol