title: Low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol is the most prevalent metabolic abnormality for Australian Aboriginal men and women even when lean.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of the prevalence and risk of the metabolic syndrome to body mass index (BMI) in Australian Aboriginal people.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a cross-sectional, secondary analysis of data obtained from population-based screenings in Aboriginal communities in central and northern Australia (913 participants recruited between 1993 and 1997).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one percent of men and 48% of women conformed to the National Cholesterol Education Program definition for the metabolic syndrome (chi2=3.72, P=0.054). The prevalence of low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was high in all BMI categories (89 and 95% in men and women, respectively). The prevalence of all other metabolic abnormalities increased linearly with BMI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent in Aboriginal communities and is strongly associated with BMI. Low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was the predominant component of the metabolic syndrome across sex groups and BMI strata.
authors.affiliation: Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin NT.
authors.forename: Tomer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shemesh
authors.forename: Kevin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Rowley
authors.forename: Leonard S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Piers
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Best
authors.forename: Kerin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Dea
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL