title: Cross-sectional study of sociodemographic patterning of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in three isolated-based subgroups of the Uyghur population in Xinjiang, China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the sociodemographic patterning of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in three isolated-based subgroups of the Uyghur population in Xinjiang, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study. Between 2005 and 2008, a non-probability sampling design method was used to select three specific groups of the Uyghur rural populations based on their potential socioeconomic status (ie, isolated, semi-isolated and open-environment status).
  
  
  METHODS
  Three communities (named Desert, Turpan and Yuli Rob) in Southern Xinjiang autonomous region, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  1656 people were included in this study. The inclusion criteria were that all participants were 18 years or older, they were descendants of at least three generations living in the same region, and there was no history of intermarriage.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prevalence of CVD risk factors (ie, tobacco use, alcohol use, obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, etc) was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the Desert and Turpan communities, Yuli Rob had the highest levels of obesity, dyslipidemia and hypertension, and the Desert had the lowest levels of CVD risk factors. Age standardisation slightly altered the estimates, though the patterns remained unchanged. Some unique characteristics were also found. For example, the Desert group displayed significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) level compared with Yuli Rob and Turpan groups. The mean values were 0.63, 1.06 and 1.45 mmol/l for men and 0.64, 1.22 and 1.51 mmol/l for women (p<0.0001). The HDLC levels in the Desert group increased with increase in body mass index and fasting glucose levels, which was inconsistent with previous studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Identifying the unique CVD risk factors of the ethnic-specific populations is very important in development of tailored strategies for the prevention of CVD.
authors.affiliation: Department of epidemiology and biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jingmei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Mayila
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wufuer
authors.forename: Amuti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simayi
authors.forename: Muyesai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nijiati
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Pengcheng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Fenghui
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Guangliang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Xiaobing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Zuheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Changchun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qiu