Ethnic disparities in nutrition-related mortality in New Zealand: 1997-2011.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the mortality due to non-optimal levels of systolic blood pressure, total blood cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), and vegetable and fruit intake amongst Maori and non-Maori in New Zealand in 1997. In addition, to estimate the ethnic-specific burden of disease that could potentially be avoided in 2011 if exposure to these risk factors were reduced.


METHODS
The study uses comparative risk assessment methodology, a systematic approach to estimating both attributable and avoidable burden of disease developed by the World Health Organization.


RESULTS
About 47% of deaths among Maori and 39% of deaths among non-Maori were estimated to be due to the selected risk factors. Age-standardised mortality rates for attributable ischaemic heart disease burden were consistently higher in Maori for individual risk factors. Age standardised mortality attributable to BMI was relatively higher for Maori, especially diabetes mortality. Estimates of avoidable mortality suggest that the health gains for Maori would be relatively greater than for non-Maori across all risk factors, but particularly with improvements in BMI.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-optimal levels of systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI, and to a lesser extent vegetable and fruit intake are major modifiable causes of death in New Zealand. Small changes in risk factor levels could have a major impact on population health within a decade, with relatively greater health gains for Maori.
Lawes
Carlene
C
Clinical Trials Research Unit, University of Auckland, Auckland.
Stefanogiannis
Niki
N
Tobias
Martin
M
Paki Paki
Natalie
N
Ni Mhurchu
Cliona
C
Turley
Maria
M
Vander Hoorn
Stephen
S
Rodgers
Anthony
A
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D009748:Nutrition Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality; D014675:Vegetables
D002784:Cholesterol