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Comparative Study
. 2005 Jan 5:3:2.
doi: 10.1186/1741-7015-3-2.

An international comparative study of blood pressure in populations of European vs. African descent

Richard S Cooper  1 , Katharina Wolf-Maier, Amy Luke, Adebowale Adeyemo, José R Banegas, Terrence Forrester, Simona Giampaoli, Michel Joffres, Mika Kastarinen, Paola Primatesta, Birgitta Stegmayr, Michael Thamm
Affiliations
Comparative Study

An international comparative study of blood pressure in populations of European vs. African descent

Richard S Cooper et al. BMC Med. .

Abstract

Background: The consistent finding of higher prevalence of hypertension in US blacks compared to whites has led to speculation that African-origin populations are particularly susceptible to this condition. Large surveys now provide new information on this issue.

Methods: Using a standardized analysis strategy we examined prevalence estimates for 8 white and 3 black populations (N = 85,000 participants).

Results: The range in hypertension prevalence was from 27 to 55% for whites and 14 to 44% for blacks.

Conclusions: These data demonstrate that not only is there a wide variation in hypertension prevalence among both racial groups, the rates among blacks are not unusually high when viewed internationally. These data suggest that the impact of environmental factors among both populations may have been under-appreciated.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean Systolic Blood Pressure, African Descent Populations; By Age Group
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean Systolic Blood Pressure, European Descent Populations; By Age Group
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean Systolic Blood Pressure, African and European Descent Populations; By Age Group
Figure 4
Figure 4
Hypertension Prevalence (140/90 mmHg or Treatment), African and European Descent Populations; Ages 35–64, Age Adjusted
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Comment in

References

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