Blood Pressure Comparison in a Selected Native American and White Population

Abstract

This study compared the frequency of blood pressure elevation in a selected Native American and white population. Three hundred individuals participated: 87 Native Americans, 210 whites, and 3 others. Data were gathered using a questionnaire that addressed residence, sex, age, race, occupation, height, smoking, alcohol use, tea/coffee consumption, medications, and past or present illness. Weight and blood pressure were measured by the researchers at the time of data collection. The sample mean for systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 124 mm Hg (SD 14.78) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 77 mm Hg (SD 10.13). One-way analysis of variance showed age groups and sex to affect blood pressure significantly (P = 0.0001). Stepwise multiple regression indicated weight significantly predicted blood pressure (SBP multiple R = 0.39, P = 0.001; DBP multiple R = 0.43, P = 0.00001). The interaction of age, sex, tobacco, alcohol, and caffeine influenced SBP and DBP. Obviously, these findings have limited generalizeability due to the sampling frame used in this study.

Comorbidity of Alcohol Abuse and Dependence with Medical Conditions in 2 American Indian Reservation Communities

“…Previous studies conducted among AIs have described alcohol use as one of several risk factors associated with specific health problems such as cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, neurological, or metabolic conditions (Blackmer and Marshall, 1999;Buchwald et al, 2000;Counts et al, 1984;DeStefano et al, 1979;Fabsitz et al, 1999;FagotCampagna et al, 1999;Frey et al, 1998;Helgeson et al, 1993;Howard, 1996;Hoy et al, 1993;Jacobsson et al, 1993;Welty et al, 1995). None, however, have focused on the association with serious alcohol problems as formally defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) of the American Psychiatric Association (APA, 1994), namely, alcohol abuse or dependence.…”