Cardiovascular risk factors emerging in Chinese populations undergoing urbanization

In this assessment of cardiovascular risk factors, we examined the associat ion between dietary habits and blood pressure(BP) according to the World He alth Organization(WHO) CARDIAC Study protocols in three Chinese populations aged 47-57 in Guangzhou prefecture (GZ group; 141 males, 158 females), Gui yang prefecture (GY group; 101 males, 103 females) and Taiwan (TW group; 10 2 males, 98 females), The same survey was repeated 10 Sr later in the GY gr oup to follow-up the past trends (MONALISA study). The observed systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), and body mass index (BMI), as well as the rates of hypertension, obesity and antihypertensive medication use were signific antly higher in both genders in the TW group compared to the groups GZ and GY. There was no significant difference in SEP or DBP in either gender betw een groups GZ and GY. Blood analyses revealed that the levels of serum tota l cholesterol (T-CHO), and HbA1c, and the rates of hypercholesterolemia and high HbA1c were significantly higher in both genders in the TW than in the Gi and GY groups, No significant difference among the populations was obse rved in 24-h urinary sodium or magnesium excretion in either gender, In the combined total populations of men and women, however, significant positive correlations were observed between BMI and each of SEP, DBP, T-CHO, and gl ycohemoglobin in both genders. A food frequency analysis revealed significa ntly greater meat consumption and significantly less tea consumption and ve getable intake in the TW than in the GY and GZ groups. Both SEP and DBP hav e increased significantly over the past 10 yr in the GY group in both gende rs., and T-CHO as well as the rate of hypercholesterolemia increased over t he same period in both genders. In conclusion, cardiovascular risk factors leading to hypertension, such as obesity, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes mellitus. are emerging in urbanized Taiwan and developing Guiyang due to t he loss of traditional dietary habits.