title: Metabolic syndrome in andean populations.
abstract: The metabolic syndrome, a cluster of metabolic abnormalities, has been linked to both cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus risk. Several studies have shown that ethnicity is an important determinant for risk of developing the metabolic syndrome; therefore, further understanding of the prevalence and presentation of the metabolic syndrome in various ethnic groups is needed. Latin American communities, and particularly Andean countries, are largely understudied in relation to the metabolic syndrome and until recently, the prevalence of this metabolic disturbance in Andean Hispanics was unknown. Nonetheless, recent (and ongoing) population studies are providing important data regarding the prevalence and patterns of the metabolic syndrome in various Andean countries. This review aims to summarize and interpret the information provided by these studies in an effort to better characterize the metabolic syndrome in Andean Hispanics.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Medicine Research Center, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA; Santa Maria Catholic University School of Medicine and Santa Maria Research Institute, Arequipa, Peru. Electronic address: dchirinos-medina@psy.miami.edu.
authors.forename: Diana A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Chirinos
authors.affiliation: Santa Maria Catholic University School of Medicine and Santa Maria Research Institute, Arequipa, Peru.
authors.forename: Oscar L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Morey-Vargas
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Medicine Research Center, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Julio A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Chirinos
authors.affiliation: Santa Maria Catholic University School of Medicine and Santa Maria Research Institute, Arequipa, Peru.
authors.forename: Josefina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Medina-Lezama