[The prevalence of abnormal glucose regulation after myocardial infarction: Comparative study in two French ethnic groups].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance in patients stemming from two French ethnic groups and admitted for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) to intensive coronary care unit.


METHODS
During a period of six months, 53 and 60 consecutive patients were enrolled at Fort-de-France (Martinique, French West Indies, Afrocaribbeans, group F) and at Bordeaux (France, Europeans, group B), respectively. Glucometabolic state was classified according to medical history and fasting glycemia measured from the fourth day after ACS.


RESULTS
At baseline, 36% of the patients of group F and 20% of the patients of group B had previously known diabetes (p=0.06). Prevalence of hypertension was higher in Afrocaribbeans than in Europeans (60 versus 40%, p<0.05). According to fasting glycemia, newly detected diabetes were found in six Afrocaribbeans and only one was found in Europeans; two patients in group F and three patients in group B displayed impaired fasting glycemia. As a whole, 51% of Afrocaribbeans and 27% of Europeans showed abnormal glucose tolerance (p<0.05). Furthermore, Afrocaribbeans displayed lower levels of triglycerides and higher levels of HDL cholesterol than Europeans (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggested a higher prevalence of impaired glucose metabolism in French Afrocaribbeans than in European counterparts after ACS. Furthermore, French Afrocaribbeans displayed a more favorable lipoprotein profile. These characteristics look like that of the American and British Afrocaribbeans, maybe because of a common genetic origin.
Fagour
C
C
Service d'endocrinologie et de diabétologie, CHU de Bordeaux, hôpital Haut-Lévêque, avenue de Magellan, 33604 Pessac, France. cedricfagour@hotmail.com
Sorel
G
G
Inamo
J
J
Couffinhal
T
T
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D044383:Black People; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003422:Critical Care; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D044465:White People
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides