Comparison of cardiovascular risk factors between sri lankans living in kandy and oslo

Sampath Ub Tennakoon,Haakon E Meyer,Danasela B Nugegoda,Bernadette N Kumar

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-10-654

Sampath Ub Tennakoon, Haakon E Meyer + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-10-654

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Abstract

BackgroundSouth Asians living in western countries are known to have unfavourable cardiovascular risk profiles. Studies indicate migrants are worse off when compared to those living in country of origin. The purpose of this study was to compare selected cardiovascular risk factors between migrant Sri Lankans living in Oslo, Norway and Urban dwellers from Kandy, Sri Lanka.MethodsData on non fasting serum lipids, blood pressure, anthropometrics and socio demographics of Sri Lankan Tamils from two almost similar population based cross sectional studies in Oslo, Norway between 2000 and 2002 (1145 participants) and Kandy, Sri Lanka in 2005 (233 participants) were compared. Combined data were analyzed using linear regression analyses.ResultsMen and women in Oslo had higher HDL cholesterol. Men and women from Kandy had higher Total/HDL cholesterol ratios. Mean waist circumference and body mass index was higher in Oslo. Smoking among men was low (19.2% Oslo, 13.1% Kandy, P = 0.16). None of the women smoked. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher in Kandy than in Oslo.ConclusionsOur comparison showed unexpected differences in risk factors between Sri Lankan migrants living in Oslo and those living in Kandy Sri Lanka. Sri Lankans in Oslo had favorable lipid profiles and blood pressure levels despite being more obese.

Highlights

South Asians living in western countries are known to have unfavourable cardiovascular risk profiles
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profile of South Asians living in western countries is characterized by low High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, central obesity and increased diabetes mellitus together with higher rates of myocardial infarctions, re-infarctions and higher mortality rates from Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) [1,2,3,4]
A diet rich in carbohydrates and saturated fats but low in protein may contribute to the worsening burden of CVD and diabetes [9,16]

Summary

Introduction

South Asians living in western countries are known to have unfavourable cardiovascular risk profiles. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profile of South Asians living in western countries is characterized by low High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, central obesity and increased diabetes mellitus together with higher rates of myocardial infarctions, re-infarctions and higher mortality rates from Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) [1,2,3,4]. A diet rich in carbohydrates and saturated fats (coconut is the major supplier of fat energy) but low in protein may contribute to the worsening burden of CVD and diabetes [9,16] It has been previously reported from Oslo, Norway that Sri Lankan migrants have lower HDL cholesterol and higher triglycerides compared to Vietnamese, Iranians and ethnic Norwegians[17]. The study design and implementation in Kandy was as similar as possible to the Oslo study to facilitate the comparison

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