title: Differences in markers of cardiovascular disease between professional football players of West-Asian and Black African descent.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the cardiovascular risk factors of professional football players of West-Asian and Black African descent competing in the 2010/11 Qatar Stars League.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten out of twelve professional football clubs attended pre-participation screening. 100 West-Asian males from seven Gulf States and six Middle-Eastern countries and 90 Black males from seven African countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  All players were screened using the FIFA pre-competition medical assessment, incorporating a physical examination, resting 12-Lead ECG, echocardiogram, with determination of total cholesterol, high and low density lipoprotein (HDL/LDL) and triglycerides.
  
  
  RESULTS
  West-Asian football players had a higher prevalence of a family history (FH) of coronary heart disease (CHD) (25% vs. 12%, p = 0.025) compared to Black African players predominantly due to CHD in their fathers (14% vs. 6%, p<0.05). West-Asian players had higher total cholesterol levels (4.4 vs. 4.2 mmol/L, p = 0.025) and lower HDL levels (1.3 vs. 1.4 mmol/L, p = 0.004) than Black African players; remaining significant after adjusting for a FH of CHD. Positively, all lipid levels were clinically acceptable for both ethnicities. Finally, one in eight West-Asian and one in eleven Black African football players were regular smokers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of cardiovascular disease in West-Asia is increasing. This study observed clinically acceptable blood lipid profiles for both West-Asian and Black African football players. However, West-Asian players had a greater number of markers for CVD than their Black African counterparts despite being matched for physical activity levels. Targeted education with regards to diet, lifestyle and tobacco use is required for both ethnicities.
authors.affiliation: ASPETAR, Sports Medicine Department, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar. mathew.wilson@aspetar.com
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Sandridge
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Salah
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chalabi
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D056352:Athletes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011780:Qatar / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D012916:Soccer; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol