Comparison of glucose tolerance, lipids and blood pressure in young male Ethiopians from two different immigrations, 1989 and 1991.

The prevalence of glucose intolerance and hypertension was compared between a group of 87 young Ethiopian males (age 21.6 +/- 2.8 years) from the post Moses immigration of 1989 (group 1) and 89 age-matched Ethiopian males (age 21.4 +/- 3.1) from the Solomon immigration of 1991 (group 2). Both groups demonstrated a relatively high, for age, prevalence of glucose intolerance: 5% and 8% in groups 1 and 2 respectively (not significant). However, group 1 had a higher glucose level 2 h after an oral glucose tolerance test (P < 0.05) and a higher level of HbA1C (P < 0.05) and fructosamine (P = 0.07), concomitant with a lower fasting insulin (P < 0.005), when compared with group 2. Group 2 had a significant increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure when compared with group 1 (P < 0.05, P < 0.005 respectively). Group 2 had higher blood pressure levels and higher fasting insulin than group 1, suggesting a relationship between insulin levels and blood pressure in this population.