title: Cross-sectional study of risk factors for atherosclerosis in the Azorean population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atherosclerosis-a major cause of vascular disease, including ischemic heart disease (IHD), is a pathology that has a two-fold higher mortality rate in the Azorean Islands compared to mainland Portugal.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This cross-sectional study investigated the role of genetic variation in the prevalence of atherosclerosis in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 305 individuals were characterized for polymorphisms in eight susceptibility genes for atherosclerosis: ACE, PAI1, NOS3, LTA, FGB, ITGB3, PON1 and APOE. Data were analysed with respect to phenotypic characteristics such as blood pressure, lipid profile, life-style risk factors and familial history of myocardial infarction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the total sample, frequencies for hypercholestrolemic, hypertensive and obese individuals were 63.6%, 39.3% and 23.3%, respectively. The genetic profile was similar to that observed in other European populations, namely in mainland Portugal. No over-representation of risk alleles was evidenced in this sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One has to consider the possibility of an important non-genetic influence on the high cholesterolemia present in the Azorean population. Since diet is the most important life-style risk factor for dyslipidemia, studies aiming to evaluate the dietary characteristics of this population and its impact on serum lipid levels will be of major importance.
authors.affiliation: Center of Research in Natural Resources (CIRN), University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal. tcymbron@uac.pt
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cymbron
authors.forename: Mafalda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raposo
authors.forename: Nadiya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kazachkova
authors.forename: Conceição
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bettencourt
authors.forename: Francisca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Yahya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dahmani
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lourenço
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ferin
authors.forename: Maria Leonor
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pavão
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase / Q000235:genetics; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D001394:Azores / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D056426:Genetic Loci / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D044382:Population Groups / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008055:Lipids; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase; C468406:PON1 protein, human