The metabolic syndrome in Spanish migrants to Brazil: unexpected results.
A cross-sectional study was performed involving epidemiological and clinical features of the metabolic syndrome (MS) in Spanish migrants to Brazil and their descendants. This included 479 subjects: Group A (Spanish migrants): n=215; Group B (descendants born in Brazil of Spanish parents): n=126, Group C (mixed descendants born in Brazil with either father or mother born in Spain): n=138. MS was defined according to the original NCEP/ATP III criteria and by the revised NCEP/ATP definition (glucose>or=100mg/dl). Overall prevalence of MS according to NCEP/ATP III criteria was 26.3%. Age/sex-adjusted prevalence was 27.4%. When the revised NCEP criteria were considered, overall prevalence was 30.1% (age/sex-adjusted 31.3%). The differences between the two criteria were 3.8% and 3.9% (CI -1.9-9.4%). When stratified by groups the MS was more prevalent in Group A (37.2%) and Group B (20.6%) than in Group C (10.9%). Environmental factors may have influenced the development of MS. Reason for the apparently protective role of genetic features due to admixture between populations in the mixed descendants needs to be explored.
Pousada
Judith M D C
JM
Department of Medicine, Medical School, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador-Bahia, Brazil. judicarreiro@terra.com.br
Britto
Maria M S
MM
Cruz
Thomaz
T
Lima
Maria de Lourdes
Mde L
Lessa
Ines
I
Lemaire
Denise C
DC
Carvalho
Rejane H
RH
Martinez-Larrad
Maria T
MT
Torres
Elisabeth Coll
EC
Serrano-Rios
Manuel
M
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005190:Family; D005215:Fasting; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D013030:Spain / Q000208:ethnology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin