title: Blood pressures in a random sample of the New Zealand population: preliminary data from the life in New Zealand survey.
abstract: Blood pressures (BPs) were measured as part of a health check in a randomly selected sample of the New Zealand population in the Life in New Zealand survey. A total of 1,410 men and 1,605 women over 15 years of age were studied. Measurements were made by trained observers using the Hawksley random zero instrument. Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) increased with age in men and women. There were 29% of men and 24% of women over the age of 45 years with BPs over 160/95 mm Hg, of whom 24% of men and 33% of women indicated they were on treatment for hypertension. No regional or urban/rural differences were seen in either SBPs or DBPs. A history of hypertension in the fathers of respondents related to BPs in the highest tertile of SBPs in males, and SBPs in females. The association was not seen between mothers of respondents, except for DBP in women respondents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Nye
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paulin
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D012015:Reference Standards