Some studies have found different distribution patterns for the lipid profile of high altitude populations, having found the majority of them a more favorable one in these subjects. The objective of this study is to describe the lipid profile of a high altitude population and relate it to the waist circumference, body mass index, gender, and age. A descriptive study was done in an adult population, 30 yr old and above, of the town of San Pedro de Cajas (SPC), Peru, located at 4100 m (13,450 ft) above sea level. One hundred and two representative individuals (38 males and 64 females) were included. HDL cholesterol and triglyceride means were elevated, whereas total cholesterol means were average, and LDL cholesterol means were low. The BMI mean was 25.4 +/- 3.7. We observed a high prevalence of hypercholesterolemia (34.3%) and hypertriglyceridemia (53.9%) in both genders. Higher prevalences of low HDL (45.3%), abnormal waist circumference (64%), and obesity (14.1%) were found in women (p < 0.001). A higher prevalence of low HDL in overweight/obese (74.2%) and abnormal waist circumference (77.4%) subjects was evident (p < 0.001). We found high prevalences of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia for both genders and important prevalences of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease, such as hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL, abnormal waist circumference, and obesity, in high altitude natives, especially in women.

We found an overwhelming predominance of females with the metabolic syndrome in both populations due to high prevalences of abdominal obesity and low highdensity lipoprotein (HDL) Hypertriglyceridemia prevalence was elevated in both men and women of high altitude. Lower prevalence of high blood pressure and of high fasting glucose was found in the high-altitude natives. The prevalence and characteristics of the metabolic syndrome apparently varies among different ethnic groups and this indicates the need for more epidemiologic studies.

Classic KS in South America has a very similar clinical presentation but not the same as the classic KS variety described in the Mediterranean. Initial seroprevalence studies performed in the general population and in blood donors showed low seroprevalence of HHV-8, whereas high seroprevalence rates were seen in Amerindian population. The existing serological assays, nonetheless, need to be further refined, and new assays need to be developed. Finally, the key to understanding the precise molecular epidemiology and phylogenetic distribution of HHV-8 in South America would be to perform more subtyping of classic KS cases.

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