Obesity in American Indian and Mexican American Men and Women: Associations with Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Autonomic Control

Abstract

Obesity is a serious public health problem, especially in some minority communities, and it has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. While obesity is a serious health concern in both American Indian and Mexican American populations, the relationship between obesity and cardiac autonomic control in these two populations is not well understood. The present study in a selected sample of American Indians and Mexican Americans assessed associations between obesity, blood pressure (BP), and cardiovascular autonomic control. Cardiovascular autonomic control, systolic and diastolic mean BP, and body mass index were obtained from one hundred thirty-two American Indian and Mexican American men and women who are literate in English and are residing legally in San Diego County. Men had a significant greater systolic and diastolic BP and were more likely to develop systolic prehypertension and hypertension than women. Obese participants showed greater mean heart rate (HR) and systolic and diastolic BP than nonobese participants. Obese men also exhibited greater cardiac sympathetic activity and lower cardiovagal control than obese women. These results suggest that obesity and gender differences in cardiovascular autonomic control may contribute to risk for cardiovascular disorders in this sample of American Indians and Mexican Americans.

Lifetime history of traumatic events in a young adult Mexican American sample: Relation to substance dependence, affective disorder, acculturation stress, and PTSD

“…The lifetime prevalence of substance dependence in this sample and associations with acculturation stress and other comorbid mental disorders has been previously reported (Criado and Ehlers, 2007; Criado et al, 2013; Ehlers and Phillips, 2007; Ehlers et al, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014; Gilder et al, 2007; Norden-Krichmar et al, 2014). Specifically, lifetime diagnoses of alcohol dependence, substance dependence, and anxiety disorders were associated with elevations in acculturation stress.…”

Cardiovascular disease risks in adult Native and Mexican Americans with a history of alcohol use disorders: association with cardiovascular autonomic control

“…There is also evidence that Mexican Americans have a higher incidence of stroke than non-Hispanic whites [8, 9] and being Mexican American is a risk factor for alcohol dependence among Hispanic groups [10]. While we have shown that obesity and being male increases the risk for CVD in this sample of Native and Mexican Americans [3], the consequences of lifetime AUD on the risk of CVD and its comorbidities in these groups is of significant concern in order to address health disparities.…”

“…Epidemiological studies and results of several meta-analyses have shown that heavy alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and hypertension [2]. We have previously reported the presence of several CVD risk factors including hypertension and obesity in a community sample of Native and Mexican Americans at a high risk of developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD) e.g., 3–5. Studies have shown evidence of higher prevalence of CVD risk factors in both Native and Mexican Americans.…”

“…The present report is part of a larger study exploring risk factors for substance dependence among Native and Mexican American men and women residing in southwest California [3–5]. The overall objective of this study was to assess the relationship between cardiovagal control and CVD risk factors in a community sample of Native and Mexican American men and women with a high prevalence of lifetime AUD.…”

Body mass index interaction with SCN10A effects on cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy risk in a Chinese Han population

“…9 Our previous studies indicated that MetS was associated with CAN in the general Chinese population. 10,11 However, the documented association of obesity or overweight with CAN in several ethnic populations 12,13 has not been replicated in the general Chinese population.…”