title: An international comparative study of blood pressure in populations of European vs. African descent.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The consistent finding of higher prevalence of hypertension in US blacks compared to whites has led to speculation that African-origin populations are particularly susceptible to this condition. Large surveys now provide new information on this issue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a standardized analysis strategy we examined prevalence estimates for 8 white and 3 black populations (N = 85,000 participants).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The range in hypertension prevalence was from 27 to 55% for whites and 14 to 44% for blacks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data demonstrate that not only is there a wide variation in hypertension prevalence among both racial groups, the rates among blacks are not unusually high when viewed internationally. These data suggest that the impact of environmental factors among both populations may have been under-appreciated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL, USA. rcooper@lumc.edu
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wolf-Maier
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luke
authors.forename: Adebowale
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adeyemo
authors.forename: José R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Banegas
authors.forename: Terrence
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Forrester
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giampaoli
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joffres
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kastarinen
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Primatesta
authors.forename: Birgitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stegmayr
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thamm
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000208:ethnology*; D007563:Jamaica / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*