• Evaluate ethnicity-specific differences in the association between increasing number of metabolic risk factors and increasingly compromised LV structure and function among Mexican Americans, in comparison to non-Hispanic whites. [ Time Frame: Within 1 week of enrollment ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

• Compare the severity of MetS between a cross-sectional sample of Mexican American adults and an age- and gender-matched population of non-Hispanic whites with an established diagnosis of non-ischemic HF [ Time Frame: Within one week of enrollment ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

While it is known that Mexican Americans are inordinately affected by metabolic syndrome (MetS), it is unclear how metabolic risk factors impact left ventricular structure and function in Mexican Americans with HF. There is also a gap in the knowledge of the principal etiology of HF in this ethnic group. The overall objective of this pilot study is to define the association between MetS and and non-ischemic HF in Mexican Americans. Our central hypothesis is that there is a positive graded association between an increasing number of metabolic risk factors (ie. individual components of MetS) and increasingly compromised LV structure and function in this population, independent of blood pressure and CAD. Additionally, we hypothesize that this association is more pronounced than that seen in non-Hispanic whites suggesting a predominant role of MetS on HF among Mexican Americans. The rationale that underlies the proposed research is that, once the association between metabolic risk factors and HF in this ethnic group is defined, future research on the impact of management of these metabolic risk factors on HF outcomes, both among Mexican Americans and in the larger population, will be advanced.