Ethnic group comparisons of variables associated with ischaemic heart disease.

Abstract

SUMMARY Variables known or postulated as being associated with the onset of ischaemic heart disease have been measured in 553 male and female members, aged 18 to 49, of a working population in northwest London; 412 were white, and 141 were black. Cigarette and alcohol consumption were higher in white than in black men, and so were cholesterol, triglyceride, factor VII, carbon monoxide, and haemoglobin levels, and platelet and white cell counts; factor VIII and blood pressure levels, and fibrinolytic activity were lower. More white than black women smoked; the latter were more obese. Differences between black and white women in factor VIII, carbon monoxide, haemoglobin, and blood pressure levels, and in white cell count were similar to those seen in men; however, there were no significant differences in levels of cholesterol, triglycerides or factor VII, or in platelet count, or fibrinolytic activity. Though fibrinolytic activity was higher in the black men than in the white, the difference was not as distinct as in some other studies; the possibility that black men may be losing some of their natural protection against ischaemic heart disease should be borne in mind. On the basis of the ethnic group comparisons it is concluded that, in addition to variables already known to be associated with the onset of ischaemic heart disease, attention should be given to the possible effects ofhigh factor VII levels, poor fibrinolytic activity, and high platelet counts; other considerations suggest that further haemostatic variables, such as factor VIII and fibrinogen, should also receive attention.

Is the blood pressure of people from African origin adults in the UK higher or lower than that in European origin white people? A review of cross-sectional data

“…9,16 Three studies 5,10,16 were designed specifically to compare BP levels; the rest had broad aims relating to a range of cardiovascular risk factors. Name analysis, 9,11 self-reported origin, 9,13,14 country of birth, 3,6,7,9 parental origin, 8,10,11,15 and observer classification 5,12,16 were used as indicators of ethnicity. One study did not state which indicator of ethnicity was used.…”

“…The largest, most representative and most up-to-date study was the Health Survey for England '99. 14 Table 2 shows that BPs were measured in three studies in a workplace, [3][4][5] in three studies at the participants' own homes, 7,13,14 in four studies in a health centre, 6,8,10,15 in one study in a hospital clinic 11 and in one study in a hospital clinic and in a workplace. 9 In six studies, BP was measured with a random zero sphygmomanometer.…”

“…Two studies did not indicate which measurements were taken for analysis. 3,9 Two studies reported actual mean systolic and diastolic BPs, 3,4 two age-adjusted median systolic and diastolic BPs 9,10 and the rest of the studies published age-adjusted mean systolic and diastolic BPs. 5,8,[11][12][13][14][15][16] In 10 of 14 studies, mean systolic BP was higher in men from African descent than in white men.…”

“…In all, 14 studies were found that were relevant. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Two authors supplied unpublished data. 11,15 Study selection and data extraction Of 14 papers included in the final analysis, 11 were cross-sectional surveys, most in the community, but some in occupational settings.…”

Does the pulse pressure in people of European, African and South Asian descent differ? A systematic review and meta-analysis of UK data

“…[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] In four of these, mean BP levels were not adjusted for age, [12][13][14][15] and one study based on the health Survey for England (the availability of data from two Health Surveys for England made this study unnecessary) did not provide information on standard deviations nor 95% CI to enable quantitative analyses. 15 One study did not provide information on BP values.…”