Blood pressure and hypertension for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Abstract

Reliable, large-scale, population-based data on blood pressure for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations are limited. This present study aims to describe the blood pressure levels and to explore the clinical risk factors for hypertension among Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. A cross-sectional population survey was conducted in isolated communities in northern and central Australia. Methods Australian Aboriginal people (n = 1088) and Torres Strait Islanders (n = 606) aged 15 years and over were examined between 1993 and 1997. Blood pressure, body mass index, plasma glucose and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio were measured. The association of s..