Ethnic variation in hypertension prevalence of women in Taiwan

Abstract

The prevalence and risk factors of hypertension vary in ethnic groups. This study aimed to estimate the hypertension prevalence and to compare risk factors associated with hypertension in women of four ethnic groups in Taiwan. The study subjects were participants in the Taiwanese Survey on Hypertension, Hyperglycemia and Hyperlipidemia (TwSHHH) enrolled in 2002. In this analysis, only 2810 women who were at age of 20-80 years old and whose father and mother had same ethnic background (Minnan, Hakka, Aborigines or Mainland Chinese) were included. Results showed that there were significant ethnic differences in the prevalence of hypertension, obesity indices, fasting glucose, dyslipidaemia, hyperuricaemia, history of alcohol drinking and tobacco smoking and socioeconomic status. Aborigines had the highest prevalence of hypertension (28.6%) and diabetes mellitus (8.9%), whereas the Minnan group had the second highest prevalence of hypertension (19.2%) and diabetes mellitus (7.9%). Both age and central obesity were associated with an increased prevalence of hypertension except central obesity in Mainland Chinese in all four ethnic groups. Compared with the Mainland Chinese as the referent, the multivariateadjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) was 1.19 (0.63-2.26), 1.92 (1.15-3.21) and 2.03 (1.00-4.12) for Hakka, Minnan and Aborigines, respectively. Elevated body mass index (X27.0 vs o24.0 kg m À2 ) and central obesity were significantly associated with hypertension showing multivariate-adjusted OR (95% CI) of 1.68 (1.18-2.38) and 1.95 (1.48-2.57), respectively. In addition, dyslipidaemia, hyperuricaemia and diabetes associated with higher OR for hypertension in Minnan women. In conclusion, there were ethnic variations in hypertension prevalence and determinants in Taiwanese women.

Understanding high-risk behavior among non-dominant minorities: A social resistance framework

“…Indeed, minorityemajority disparities in both high-risk behaviors and in health outcomes are remarkably common, despite differences in the genetic background of different non-dominant minority groups, and the heterogeneous historical contexts and events that led to their marginalization (e.g., through enslavement, colonization, or immigration). Thus, similar patterns can be observed in Maori New Zealanders vs. "pakeha" New Zealanders of European descent (Edwards et al, 2009); Australian Aborigines vs. white Australians (Guest, O'Dea, Carlin, & Larkins, 1992); First Nations tribes vs. the rest of Canada (Leslie, Weiler, & Nyomba, 2007;Oster & Toth, 2009); aboriginal Taiwanese vs. Chinese-ethnic Taiwanese from the mainland (Ho & Tsai, 2007;Su, Hwang, You, & Chen, 2009); Gypsies and Travelers vs. whites in England (Peters et al, 2009); Central and Eastern European migrants vs. the general population in London (Burns et al, 2011); individuals of Turkish vs. Dutch descent in the Netherlands (Ujcic-Voortman et al, 2010); non-Jews vs. Jews in Israel (Factor, Mahalel, & Yair, 2008;Factor, Yair, & Mahalel, 2010;Nitzan Kaluski, Demem Mazengia, Shimony, Goldsmith, & Berry, 2009); Native Americans vs. white Americans (Falk, Yi, & Hiller-Sturmhofel, 2006;Grossman, Sugarman, Fox, & Moran, 1997); and in African Americans (or blacks) vs. whites in the U.S. (Williams, Mohammed, Leavell, & Collins, 2010). Similar patterns can also be observed in groups of lower socioeconomic and educational status in the U.S. (Fujiwara & Kawachi, 2009;Phelan, Link, Diez-Roux, Kawachi, & Levin, 2004;Sorensen et al, 2004), and where socioeconomic status intersects with race (Braveman, Cubbin, Egerter, Williams, & Pamuk, 2010;Kawachi, Daniels, & Robinson, 2005).…”

Medical appointment no‐shows associated with poor glycaemic control among Taiwanese aborigines

“…However, the life expectancy of Taiwanese aborigines was nine years fewer than that of non‐aboriginal people, according to the statistics released by Taiwan Ministry of the Interior in 2010. An epidemiology survey in 2009 also confirmed that Taiwanese aborigines had the highest prevalence of diabetes mellitus(8.9%) among different ethnic groups . Moreover, diabetes complications and extremely high blood sugar levels were frequently seen among Taiwanese aboriginal patients in our daily practice.…”

The value of losartan suppression test in the confirmatory diagnosis of primary aldosteronism in patients over 50 years old

“…Hypertensive crises are characterized by severely elevated blood pressure (BP), usually higher than 180/110 mmHg, along with progressive or impending target organ damage 17 . The ethnic composition of our cohort reflected a typical Taiwanese population 18 .…”