Westernization of the Filipino population resident in Rome: obesity, diabetes and hypertension.
BACKGROUND
Aims of the present study were to examine the anthropometrical and metabolic characteristics of the Filipino population migrant to the Southern European city of Rome, Italy.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was carried out in the city of Rome. Three hundred thirty-five Filipinos (95 M/240 F, mean age: 44.0+/-9.8 years, mean residence in Italy: 12.9+/-6.3 years) were studied. Data were collected by standardized questionnaires; anthropometrical parameters, arterial pressure, and fasting capillary blood glucose (FCG) were measured.


RESULTS
Abdominal obesity was found in 52.5%, and BMI >or= 25 kg/m(2) in 44.5% of subjects. History of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension were reported by 6.0 and 9.0% of subjects, respectively. Impaired fasting glucose was found in 13.1%, and FCG >or= 110 mg/dl in 18.5% of subjects. Altered systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure was found in 34.3% of subjects. About three-fourths of subjects were unaware of being diabetic and/or hypertensive. Years of Italy residence showed a direct significant correlation with the degree of changes in alimentary behaviours (rho=0.18, p=0.001), and with weight gain (rho=0.27, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed only age and waist circumference to be associated with both diabetes and hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study, the first to examine the metabolic disorders in a migrant Filipino population resident in Rome, a high prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension was found. The alarming results emerging from this study should be seriously considered by public health practitioners and decision makers, and made known to the Filipinos resident in Europe.
Gentilucci
Umberto Vespasiani
UV
Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Centre of Interdisciplinary Research, Rome, Italy.
Picardi
Antonio
A
Manfrini
Silvia
S
Khazrai
Yeganeh Manon
YM
Fioriti
Elvira
E
Altomare
Maria
M
Guglielmi
Chiara
C
Di Stasio
Enrico
E
Pozzilli
Paolo
P
D000328:Adult; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010679:Philippines / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012384:Rome / Q000453:epidemiology