Prevalence rate of hypertension among recent Southeast Asian refugees to northern California.
BACKGROUND
Little is known regarding the prevalence rate of hypertension among recent Southeast Asian refugees to the United States.


METHODS
In this randomized, prospective study, four northern California counties with large Southeast Asian refugee populations were screened for the prevalence rates of hypertension and borderline hypertension. A population density method based upon 1988 census data was used to screen a representative sample of subjects from each county. Criteria for hypertension came from the Joint National Committee on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.


RESULTS
In all, 964 subjects were screened. We found a prevalence rate of 4.8 percent for hypertension and 10.9 percent for borderline hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
The relatively low prevalence rates of this disease can be explained by the youth of this refugee population, mean age 37.6 +/- 0.36 years, as the presence of hypertension increases with chronological age.
Tanji
J L
JL
Department of Family Practice, University of California, Davis.
Arevalo
J A
JA
Paliescheskey
M
M
Lee
L
L
Alcalde
O
O
D000328:Adult; D001210:Asia, Southeastern / Q000208:ethnology; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012494:Sampling Studies