title: Prevalence of Diabetes, Obesity and Dyslipidaemia in Persons within High and Low Income Groups Living in North and South Trinidad.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diabetes Mellitus, obesity and dyslipidaemia are metabolic disorders characterized by similar risk factors, complications and outcomes including stroke, insulin resistance, MI and even death. Studies have indicated that impoverished and low income areas of developing countries are more prone to increasing obesity which when uncontrolled can lead to diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study was aimed to compare the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, obesity and dyslipidaemia in high and low income groups of North and South Trinidad, to determine factors that contribute to its prevalence and to observe any associations between the three aforementioned diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 participants who visited the two major hospitals at south and north Trinidad where the mean differences between fasting glucose, lipid profile, BMI, waist and hip ratio and blood pressure of both diabetic and non-diabetic participants were obtained via questionnaires and then analysed using SPSS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Residents of south Trinidad showed a higher proportion of persons with diabetes and dyslipidaemia at 68.6% and 52% when compared to 28.6% and 27% respectively for the north population. Those from north Trinidad showed a higher prevalence of obesity at 45.9% with higher income levels. About 17.3% participants smoked or were exposed to cigarettes in north compared to 9.8% of participants whom smoked or were exposed to cigarettes in south. North had 2% of alcohol consumed daily and 3.9% consumed alcohol daily in south. In north, 21.4% of participants were stressed when compared to 18.6% from south.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant correlation was established between cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides which lead to the conclusion that obesity is caused by dyslipidaemia. Also, our study concluded that stress and dyslipidaemia are income related.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Preclinical Sciences, The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago .
authors.forename: Shivananda B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, Department of Preclinical Sciences, The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago .
authors.forename: Valendrea
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rahming
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, Department of Preclinical Sciences, The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago .
authors.forename: Yudestri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Raghunanan
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, Department of Preclinical Sciences, The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago .
authors.forename: Chandani
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Raghoonath
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, Department of Preclinical Sciences, The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago .
authors.forename: Adriel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, Department of Preclinical Sciences, The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago .
authors.forename: Dillon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rajh
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, Department of Preclinical Sciences, The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago .
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rambadan
authors.affiliation: Medical Student, Department of Preclinical Sciences, The University of the West Indies at St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago .
authors.forename: Nandini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ramdass
keywords: Body mass index; Life style; Lipid profile