January 25, 2016 | Pietro Amedeo Modesti, Gianpaolo Rebaldi, Francesco P. Cappuccio, Charles Agyemang, Giuseppe Remuzzi, Stefano Rapi, Eleonora Perruolo, Gianfranco Parati, ESH Working Group on CV Risk in Low Resource Settings
A systematic review and meta-analysis of blood pressure (BP) levels in Europe found significant differences among Sub-Saharan Africans (SSA), South Asians (SA), and Europeans (EU). SSA individuals had higher SBP and DBP levels compared to EU, with men showing a 3.38 mmHg higher SBP and women 6.00 mmHg higher SBP. SA individuals had lower SBP than EU, with men showing a -4.57 mmHg lower SBP and women -2.97 mmHg lower SBP. SA individuals from Muslim countries had significantly lower BP levels than EU. The difference in BP between minority groups and EU was influenced by panethnicity and diabetes prevalence. The study highlights the need for targeted prevention strategies, as BP levels in SSA remain high despite prevention efforts. Lower BP in Muslim populations suggests potential lifestyle factors that could help prevent hypertension. The study also emphasizes the role of diabetes in BP levels, indicating the need for new strategies to control hypertension in high-diabetes-prevalence groups. The findings suggest that ethnic differences in BP are significant and require tailored approaches to address health inequalities.A systematic review and meta-analysis of blood pressure (BP) levels in Europe found significant differences among Sub-Saharan Africans (SSA), South Asians (SA), and Europeans (EU). SSA individuals had higher SBP and DBP levels compared to EU, with men showing a 3.38 mmHg higher SBP and women 6.00 mmHg higher SBP. SA individuals had lower SBP than EU, with men showing a -4.57 mmHg lower SBP and women -2.97 mmHg lower SBP. SA individuals from Muslim countries had significantly lower BP levels than EU. The difference in BP between minority groups and EU was influenced by panethnicity and diabetes prevalence. The study highlights the need for targeted prevention strategies, as BP levels in SSA remain high despite prevention efforts. Lower BP in Muslim populations suggests potential lifestyle factors that could help prevent hypertension. The study also emphasizes the role of diabetes in BP levels, indicating the need for new strategies to control hypertension in high-diabetes-prevalence groups. The findings suggest that ethnic differences in BP are significant and require tailored approaches to address health inequalities.