[High blood pressure and obesity in indigenous Ashaninkas of Junin region, Peru].
In order to determine the prevalence of high blood pressure and obesity in indigenous Ashaninkas, with limited contact with Western culture, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 2008 in five Ashaninka communities of the Junin region in the jungle of Peru. Individuals aged 35 or older were included. 76 subjects were evaluated (average age 47.4 years old, 52.6 % women) corresponding to 43.2% of the eligible population. The prevalence of hypertension was 14.5% (CI 95%: 6.4-22.6) and the prevalence of obesity, according to body mass index, was 4% (CI 95%: 0-8.4). No differences were observed in gender or in blood pressure levels by age group. Compared with previous studies in non-indigenous people of the Peruvian jungle, the prevalence of high blood pressure was higher while the prevalence of obesity was lower. Our findings are a call to be aware of the situation of chronic non-communicable diseases in indigenous populations in the Peruvian Amazon.
Área de Investigación y Desarrollo, A. B. PRISMA, Lima, Perú
Candice
C
Romero
Unidad Salud Indígena, Fundación Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
Carol
C
Zavaleta
Unidad Salud Indígena, Fundación Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
Lilia
L
Cabrera
Área de Investigación y Desarrollo, A. B. PRISMA, Lima, Perú
Robert H
RH
Gilman
CRONICAS Centro de Excelencia en Enfermedades Crónicas, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
J Jaime
JJ
Miranda
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007199:Indians, South American; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010568:Peru / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence