Relation of metabolic syndrome components to left ventricular mass in Mexican Americans versus non-Hispanic whites.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Mexican Americans (MA) exhibit increases in CVD risk factors compared with non-Hispanic whites (NHW), but few data exist comparing the relation of MetS to subclinical CVD, for example, left ventricular (LV) mass. Asymptomatic subjects (104 MA and 101 NHW, 52.

Do differences in subclinical cardiovascular disease in mexican americans versus European americans help explain the Hispanic paradox?

Mexican Americans have exhibited increases in various coronary heart disease risk factors compared to European Americans but have also had reportedly lower coronary heart disease mortality from vital statistics studies. We hypothesized this apparent paradox might relate to lower levels of subclinical disease in Mexican Americans. A total of 105 adult Mexican Americans (42 men and 63 women, age 46 +/- 14 years) and 100 European Americans (59 men and 41 women, age 50 +/- 11 years) were studied using blood tests, transthoracic echocardiography, and computed tomography coronary artery calcium (CAC) scans.

Endothelial function and urine albumin levels among asymptomatic Mexican-Americans and non-Hispanic whites.

Background: Mexican-Americans (MA) exhibit increases in various cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors compared to non-Hispanic Whites (NHW), yet are reported to have lower CVD mortality rates. Our aim was to help explain this apparent paradox by evaluating endothelial function and urine albumin levels in MA and NHW.

Methods: One hundred-five MA and 100 NHW adults were studied by brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), blood and urine tests.