Abstract
BackgroundExposure to hypoxia at high altitude is increasingly being recognized as a risk factor for metabolic diseases.ObjectiveTo 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.MethodsThis 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.ResultsThere 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.ConclusionThis study shows that indigenous Argentinean children living at 3750 meters have higher T2D risk compared with those living at 1400 meters above sea level.
Highlights
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, with a greater incidence in developing countries. [1]
This study shows that indigenous Argentinean children living at 3750 meters have higher Type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk compared with those living at 1400 meters above sea level
This cross-sectional study shows that indigenous children from a similar ethnic background had increased levels of T2D markers when they lived permanently at higher altitudes than those living at lower altitudes
Summary
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, with a greater incidence in developing countries. [1]. The size of the population currently living above 2500 m is estimated to be over 140 million worldwide [5] At such altitudes, some adaptive changes occur with time that affects different organs, systems, and overall metabolism. A previous study performed by our group found that indigenous Andean Argentinean children living at 3750 m above sea level had higher T2D markers than children from a mixed population in an urban setting, probably due to ambient hypoxia or ethnicity [8]. The objective of the study was to determine the association between T2D risk factors and altitude in two groups of Argentinean indigenous school children who live permanently at different altitudes. Objective: 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. Conclusion: 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
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