Blood pressure and cardiovascular risk profiles of Africans who migrate to a Western country

• Published in: Ethnicity & disease Vol. 18; no. 4; p. 512
• Main Authors: Dominguez, Ligia J, Galioto, Antonio, Pineo, Antonella, Ferlisi, Anna, Vernuccio, Laura, Belvedere, Mario, Costanza, Giuseppe, Putignano, Ernesto, Barbagallo, Mario
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2008
• Subjects: Adult; Africa South of the Sahara - ethnology; Blood Pressure; Cardiovascular Diseases - ethnology; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Exercise; Female; Humans; Hypertension - diagnosis; Hypertension - ethnology; Hypertension - etiology; Italy - epidemiology; Male; Risk Factors; Smoking - adverse effects; Transients and Migrants - statistics & numerical data; Africa South of the Sahara; Italy
• ISSN: 1049-510X

Africans who live in Western countries have a higher prevalence of hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors than do age-matched Africans who live in Africa. We conducted a community survey to evaluate cardiovascular risk in Africans who recently migrated to Italy. Participants (N=83) from sub-Saharan Africa were recruited from an outpatient clinic for immigrants. Information on immigration date, family history of cardiovascular disease, physical activity, and smoking was obtained for all participants. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure measurements, and laboratory analyses--including lipid profiles, plasma glucose, renal function, and serum and urinary electrolytes--were performed. Although participants who had recently arrived in Italy had a low cardiovascular risk, the correlations were significant between the length of time in Italy and body weight (r=.47, P<.001), body mass index (r=.59, P<.0001), waist circumference (r=.54, P<.0001), total cholesterol (r=.41, P<.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r=.46, P<.0001), systolic blood pressure (r=.31, P<.01), and diastolic blood pressure (r=.23, P<.05). The rise in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was positively correlated with body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference (P<.05 for all) and inversely correlated with 24-hour urinary potassium (systolic blood pressure, r=-.35, P<.01; diastolic blood pressure, r=-.42, P<.0001). The length of residence in Italy is associated with progressive modifications in cardiovascular risk even in a relatively short period of time. The inverse correlation between blood pressure and urinary potassium may reflect dietary changes, with a possible reduction in fruit and vegetable consumption compared with their original diet.