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BMC Cardiovascular Disorders

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Open Access 01-12-2009 | Research article

Blood pressure and body mass index in an ethnically diverse sample of adolescents in Paramaribo, Suriname

Authors: Charles Agyemang, Eline Oudeman, Wilco Zijlmans, Johannes Wendte, Karien Stronks

Published in: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders | Issue 1/2009

Abstract

Background

High blood pressure (BP) is now an important public health problem in non-industrialised countries. The limited evidence suggests ethnic inequalities in BP in adults in some non-industrialised countries. However, it is unclear whether these ethnic inequalities in BP patterns in adults reflect on adolescents. Hence, we assessed ethnic differences in BP, and the association of BP with body mass index (BMI) among adolescents aged 12–17 years in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Methods

Cross-sectional study with anthropometric and blood pressure measurements. A random sample of 855 adolescents (167 Hindustanis, 169 Creoles, 128 Javanese, 91 Maroons and 300 mixed-ethnicities) were studied. Ethnicity was based on self-reported ethnic origin.

Results

Among boys, Maroons had a lower age- and height-adjusted systolic BP than Creoles, and a lower diastolic BP than other ethnic groups. However, after further adjustment for BMI, only diastolic BP in Maroons was significantly lower than in Javanese (67.1 versus 70.9 mmHg). Creole boys had a lower diastolic BP than Hindustani (67.3 versus 70.2 mmHg) and Javanese boys after adjustment for age, height and BMI. Among girls, there were no significant differences in systolic BP between the ethnic groups. Maroon girls, however, had a lower diastolic BP (65.6 mmHg) than Hindustani (69.1 mmHg), Javanese (71.2 mmHg) and Mixed-ethnic (68.3 mmHg) girls, but only after differences in BMI had been adjusted for. Javanese had a higher diastolic BP than Creoles (71.2 versus 66.8 mmHg) and Mixed-ethnicity girls. BMI was positively associated with BP in all the ethnic groups, except for diastolic BP in Maroon girls.

Conclusion

The study findings indicate higher mean BP levels among Javanese and Hindustani adolescents compared with their African descent peers. These findings contrast the relatively low BP reported in Javanese and Hindustani adult populations in Suriname and underscore the need for public health measures early in life to prevent high BP and its sequelae in later life.

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The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2261/9/19/prepub

Title: Blood pressure and body mass index in an ethnically diverse sample of adolescents in Paramaribo, Suriname
Authors: Charles Agyemang
Eline Oudeman
Wilco Zijlmans
Johannes Wendte
Karien Stronks
Publication date: 01-12-2009
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Cardiovascular Disorders / Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2261
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2261-9-19

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Blood pressure and body mass index in an ethnically diverse sample of adolescents in Paramaribo, Suriname

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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