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Background: A limited body of evidence, mostly based on self-report, is available regarding physical activity levels among American-Indian adults.Purpose: This study aims to examine physical activity levels objectively using pedometers among a large cohort of American-Indian adult participants in the Strong Heart Family Study (SHFS).Methods: Physical activity levels in 2604 American-Indian adults, aged 18-91 years, from 13 American-Indian communities were assessed using Accusplit AE120 pedometers over a period of 7 days during 2001-2003. Anthropometric measurements were also assessed. All data analyses were conducted in 2008. Age-adjusted Pearson correlations were used to examine the relationship between average steps per day and age and anthropometric variables. Subjects were placed in age and BMI categories (according to National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute cut points) to examine trends in physical activity with increasing age and BMI.Results: Daily pedometer steps ranged from 1001 to 38,755. Mean step counts by age group for men were 5384 (aged 18-29 years); 5120 (aged 30-39 years); 5040 (aged 40-49 years); 4561(aged 50-59 years); 4321 (aged 60-69 years); and 3768 (aged >or=70 years) and for women, 5038 (aged 18-29 years); 5112 (aged 30-39 years); 5054 (aged 40-49 years); 4582 (aged 50-59 years); 3653 (aged 60-69 years); and 3770 (aged >or=70 years). A significant linear trend in physical activity was noted with increasing age (p=0.002 for men, p<0.0001 for women) and with increasing BMI (p=0.05 for men, p=0.04 for women).Conclusions: Objectively measured data suggest that inactivity is a problem among American-Indian adults and that a majority of American-Indian adults in the SHFS may not be meeting the minimum physical activity public health recommendations. Efforts to increase physical activity levels in this population are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the distribution of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) and assess its association to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in American Indians.Methods: Lp(a) was measured in 3991 American Indians (aged 45-74 years with no prior history of CVD at baseline) from 13 communities in Arizona, Oklahoma, and South/North Dakota. They were followed prospectively from 1989 to 1997 for CVD. The distribution of Lp(a) was examined by center, sex, and diabetic status. Spearman correlation coefficients and Cox regression models were used to evaluate the association of Lp(a) to CVD.Results: A total of 388 participants subsequently developed CVD. Median Lp(a) concentration in American Indians was 3.0 mg/dl. This was almost half of that in whites and one sixth in blacks from the CARDIA study measured by the same method. Nondiabetic participants had significantly higher Lp(a) levels than diabetic participants for both genders. Lp(a) levels were higher in women than in men for nondiabetic participants, but there was no gender difference for diabetic participants. Correlation analysis showed Lp(a) was significantly negatively correlated with the degree of Indian heritage, insulin, triglycerides (TG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and 2-hour plasma glucose (2hPG), and positively with low-density lipoproteins (LDL), apoprotein B (apoB), and fibrinogen (FIB). In Cox regression models, adjusting for other risk factors, Lp(a) was no longer a significant predictor of CVD in either diabetic or nondiabetic participants.Conclusions: The lower concentration of Lp(a) in American Indians and the high correlation with Indian heritage confirm the concept that Lp(a) concentration is in large part genetically determined. Lp(a) concentration is not an independent predictor of CVD among American Indians; it is higher in those who develop CVD because of its positive correlation with LDL, apoB, and FIB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]