Hypertension in European immigrants to Israel: those who experienced the Holocaust and those who did not.
To examine the effect of stressful life events and chronic emotional distress in the development of hypertension (HT), we have compared the blood pressure (BP) of 1150 Israelis (aged 50-80 years) who immigrated from Europe before the Second World War with 2159 Israelis who survived the Holocaust and came to Israel after the Second World War. Most of the subjects were examined as part of a periodical health examination offered by their employers. There were only minor differences in age, height, country of origin and level of education between the two groups. There was no difference in the prevalence of HT (lying systolic > or = 160 mmHg and/or diastolic > or = 95 mmHg and/or on antihypertensive medications) between the two immigration groups and a similar percentage of both groups were receiving treatment. Analyses of variance showed that age, sex and degree of obesity were the main factors contributing to the BP. Although the degree of emotional stress was greater in the Holocaust survivors, there was no correlation between level of emotional distress, satisfaction with life or number of psychosomatic complaints and level of BP or prevalence of HT.
Silverberg
D S
DS
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel.
Aviram
A
A
Carel
R S
RS
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005060:Europe / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007585:Jews / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D014858:War Crimes