Diet, lifestyle, and blood pressure of the middle-aged and elderly in the Guangxi Bai Ku Yao and Han populations.
BACKGROUND
Bai Ku Yao is an isolated subgroup of the Yao minority in China. Little is known about the association of diet and lifestyle with the prevalence of hypertension in this population.


METHODS
A total of 485 subjects of Bai Ku Yao and 501 participants of Han Chinese aged 40-89 were surveyed using stratified randomized cluster sampling. Information on diet and lifestyle was collected by using standard questionnaires. Blood pressure (BP) and serum lipid levels were measured.


RESULTS
Physical activity levels, carbohydrate, vegetal protein, and dietary fiber intake were higher in Bai Ku Yao than in Han, whereas educational level, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and total energy, fat, protein, dietary cholesterol, and salt intake were higher in Han than in Bai Ku Yao. Systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure (PP) levels and the prevalence of hypertension (21.9% vs. 28.9%, P < 0.05)were lower in Bai Ku Yao than in Han. Hypertension was positively correlated with age, physical activity,BMI, and waist circumference, as well as with total energy, fat, and salt intake, and negatively associated with educational levels and dietary fiber intake in both ethnic groups (P < 0.05 for all). Hypertension was also positively correlated with triglycerides (TGs) in Bai Ku Yao and alcohol consumption in Han (P < 0.05 for each).


CONCLUSIONS
The differences in BP levels and the prevalence of hypertension among the middle-aged and elderly between Bai Ku Yao and Han might result from different dietary patterns, lifestyle choices, physical activity levels, sodium intake, and even genetic factors.
Ruixing
Yin
Y
Department of Cardiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China. yinruixing@yahoo.com.cn
Weixiong
Lin
L
Hanjun
Yang
Y
Dezhai
Yang
Y
Shuquan
Li
L
Shangling
Pan
P
Qiming
Feng
F
Jinzhen
Wu
W
Jianting
Gan
G
Yaju
Deng
D
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D008055:Lipids