Type 2 diabetes markers in indigenous Argentinean children living at different altitudes

Exposure to hypoxia at high altitude is increasingly being recognized as a risk factor for metabolic diseases.

To determine the association between Type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk factors and altitude in two groups of Argentinean indigenous schoolchildren who live permanently at different altitudes.

This cross-sectional study compared 142 schoolchildren from San Antonio de los Cobres (SAC), 3750 m above sea level, with 171 from Chicoana (CH), 1400 m. Data for children's anthropometry, blood pressure and lipids, as well as mothers' height and weight were assessed.

There was not a significant difference in age between SAC (9.0 + 2y) and CH (9.4 + 2y) children. However, mean children's weight (29 vs. 38 kg), height (130 vs. 138 cm), BMI (17 vs. 19 kg/m²), and HDL-C (46 vs. 48 mg/dL) were significantly lower in SAC than in CH, respectively. In contrast, systolic blood pressure (87 vs. 70 mmHg), cholesterol (157 vs. 148 mg/dL), and triglycerides (104 vs. 88 mg/dL) were significantly higher in SAC than in CH, respectively. There was not a significant difference in age (33.2 + 7y vs. 34.4 + 8y) and BMI (26.2 + 4y vs. 28 + 5y) between SAC and CH mothers. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that children's blood pressure (R² = 0.38), triglycerides (R² = 0.21), and HDL-C (R² = 0.16) were significantly associated with altitude, adjusted for confounding variables.

This study shows that indigenous Argentinean children living at 3750 meters have higher T2D risk compared with those living at 1400 meters above sea level.