Lay summary
The health outcomes for Maori and Pacific are consistently poor compared to Europeans in New Zealand. Dyslipidaemia, a key component of the metabolic syndrome, is commonly observed in gout patients. Presence of gout is consistently presented with increasing levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B, all well-established risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Furthermore, gout is also associated with lowering of HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-1 levels, both having a protective role in development of CVD. I propose to evaluate the genetic and environmental causes of serum lipid profile concentrations in Pacific Islanders residing in New Zealand. This research could make a valuable contribution to Pacific health by identifying pathways that could be targeted in treating and preventing dyslipidaemia and gout, in particular in specific Pacific population groups.