Comparison of the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and risk factors in urban and rural Mexican Tarahumara-foot runners

Abstract Objectives To determine and compare the prevalence and risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MS) among Tarahumara Indians living in rural and urban communities. Methods Conducted in 2010, this cross-sectional study included 204 Tarahumara (100 urban and 104 rural individuals 18–75 years old [yo]). Data obtained includes: Anthropometric, lifestyle, blood pressure (BP) and fasting blood tests. Analyses were stratified by gender and age. Results The total prevalence of MS in rural and urban Tarahumara were 41% and 28% ( p = 0.04 ), respectively. In urban cohorts, the prevalence of MS increased linearly with age. Women presented with a higher MS prevalence than men in urban (44.6% vs. 34.3%, p = 0.4 ) and rural (50% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.0001 ) cohorts. In men, urban residents presented with a higher MS prevalence vs. rural subjects; The same was not true for women. Age-related increment in waist circumference was linear and significantly higher in urban men compared to their rural counterpart (urban 6.5 [95% CI 4.24–8.79] vs. rural 2.7 [95% CI 1.19–4.24] centimeters/decade, p  ). Multivariate analysis showed a significant relationship between urban residency and MS in men, but not in women. Conclusion The overall prevalence of MS is higher in women than men, but the latter are more susceptible to the urbanization-associated worsening of cardiometabolic health.