Comparison of electrocardiogram findings and lifestyles between urbanized people and ger-living people in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Abstract In Ulaanbaatar, lifestyles differ between urbanized people (group A) and ger (tent)-living people (group B). Group A earn high annual incomes and live in houses or apartments. Group B (who had moved to Ulaanbaatar from nomadic areas) earn low incomes and live in narrow gers. In 2002, we investigated daily food intake, health status, and electrocardiogram (ECG) in these groups. In total, 256 subjects (group A, 142; group B, 114) were enrolled. Group A ate meat, vegetables, and fruits high enough by a Western style. Group B consumed meat but ate only small amounts of vegetables and fruits. They took a lot of fat, however, the serum lipid levels of them were not so high. The fat source as energy was plant oil for cooking rather than meat. Several abnormal ECG findings including left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were found in 32 (22.5%) of group A and 50 (43.9%) of group B ( P