Year: 2005
Type: dissertation
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: The objective of the study was to review published evidence on whether blood pressure levels \nand the prevalence of hypertension are higher or lower in South Asian adults living in the UK as \ncompared to white populations. A systematic literature review was carried out using MEDLINE \n1966-2001, EMBASE 1980-2001, and citations from references. A total of 12 studies were \nidentified. The data showed important differences between studies in terms of age and sex of \nsamples, definition of South Asians (Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi) and methods of \nevaluating blood pressure. Seven studies reported lower mean systolic blood pressures, while \nseven studies showed higher diastolic pressures in South Asian men compared to white men. In \nwomen, six of nine studies showed lower systolic blood pressures, while five reported higher \ndiastolic pressures. For prevalence of hypertension, five of 10 studies reported higher rates in \nSouth Asian men than in white men. Two of six studies showed higher prevalence rates in South \nAsian women. Overall, the most representative sample and up-to-date data came from the Health \nSurvey of England 1999. Both blood pressure and the prevalence data show important \ndifferences between South Asian subgroups, yet most studies combined them. The data also \nshowed a geographical variation between London (comparatively high blood pressure in South \nAsians) and the rest of the UK (comparatively low or similar blood pressure). Bangladeshis had \nlow blood pressure and body mass index (BMI). In other South Asian subgroups, low blood \npressure and the low BMI did not always coincide. To conclude, the common perception that \nblood pressure in South Asians is comparatively high is unreliable - the picture is complex. \nOverall, blood pressures are similar but there is stark heterogeneity in the South Asian groups, \nwith slightly higher blood pressure in Indians, slightly lower blood pressure in Pakistanis, and \nmuch lower blood pressure in Bangladeshis. Variations in study methods, body shape, size and \nfat, and in the mix of South Asian groups probably explain much of the inconsistency in the \nresults.
Author: Charles Agyemang
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1816753290