A comparison of metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk factors in Filipino women and Filipino American women: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in women of Filipino ethnicity. The objective of our work was to determine if metabolic syndrome (MetS), a modifiable CVD risk factor, differs in women as a function of country of residency and to determine if, CVD prevention strategies need to differ for these groups of Filipino women.

DESIGN

Data were collected in community-based health screenings for this cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS

PARTICIPANTS were recruited at places of worship in southeast United States (n=60) and Central Visayas, Philippines (n=56).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Prevalence of MetS and its component factors as defined by the International Diabetes Federation criteria.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MetS in Filipino women (FW) and Filipino American women (FAW) groups was similar (52% vs 55%, P=.08) although the prevalence of elevated waist circumference was greater for FAW (78% vs 59%, P=.03). Conversely, the percentage of FW women with risk-associated high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels was higher than the FAW group (84% vs 42%, P<.001). Other MetS component factors (blood pressure, glucose and triglycerides) did not significantly differ between groups.

CONCLUSION

Similar high rates of MetS were observed in Filipino women regardless of the country of residency although the FAW tended to have higher rates of central obesity while the FW tended to have higher rates of risk-associated HDL levels. Further research should examine the cause of these differences in order to develop better cardiovascular screening and intervention strategies.