Differences in cardiovascular risks in the aboriginal and non-aboriginal people living in Bella Coola, British...

There is a lack of information regarding cardiovascular disease (CVD) in rural areas in British Columbia, Canada. To establish the relative prevalence of CVD risk factors in a rural area weanalyzed biochemical and clinical data collected on aboriginal and non-aboriginal descent people living in the community of Bella Coola.

A retrospective review of the 2378 charts located in the Bella Coola Medical Clinic was done in the Fall of 2002. Anthropometric, biochemical and clinical information was obtained from 1,120 people of Nuxalk descent and 1258 people of mainly European descent. Children and adults of either sex, pre- and post-menopausal women, and patients with hyperlipidaemia, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension were included in the review.

After adjusting for age, gender and BMI, non-aboriginal origin was associated with higher total and LDL-cholesterol (p<0.01) and aboriginal origin was associated with higher glucose levels (p < 0.0Ol). A significantly higher value for Log (TG/HDL), a plasma parameter defined as "Atherogenic index plasma (AIP)" was found in the aboriginal group. In addition, both aboriginal women and men had higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome than the non-aboriginal men and women.

This study found different patterns of CVD risk factors i n non-aboriginal and aboriginalgroups living in the same geographic area. Based on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, higher triglycerides and AIP, aboriginal participants, especially the women, are at a higher risk for CVD.