HYPERTENSION AND ITS TREATMENT IN A NEW-ZEALAND MULTICULTURAL WORKFORCE

Aims. To investigate ethnic variations in blood pressure levels and th e likelihood of hypertension being treated in a multicultural New Zeal and workforce. Methods. An employed population of 5651 staff aged 40 t o 64 years at worksites in Auckland and Tokoroa, who recorded their cu rrent prescribed medication, were measured for blood pressure, weight and height. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Results. Mean blood pressure levels were higher in men than women, and increased with age and BMI. Compared with Europeans, mean systolic and diastolic blood pr essures were higher in Maori (by 5 to 6 mmHg), Pacific Islanders (by 4 to 6 mmHg) and Asians (by 1 to 5 mmHg) after controlling for age and blood pressure treatment. This increase in Maori and Pacific Islanders , compared with Europeans, was approximately halved after also control ling for BMI, but still remained statistically significant (p < 0.05). In contrast, ethnic differences in BMI did not explain any of the blo od pressure increase in Asians. In analyses restricted to hypertensive participants, the likelihood of hypertension being treated was higher in women than men (odds ratio (OR) = 3.42; 95% CI 2.13, 5.47), and lo wer in Maori (OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.19, 0.58), Pacific Islanders (OR 0.27; 95% CI 0.16, 0.47) and Asians (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.10, 0.86) than Europ eans. Conclusion. These results suggest that the likelihood of hyperte nsion being treated is related to sex and ethnic group; and that other unknown factors, in addition to increased BMI levels, explain the hig her blood pressure levels in Polynesians compared to Europeans.