title: Blood pressure in Afghan male immigrants to Denmark.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Immigration from a Third-World society to a Western society can be associated with higher blood pressure and salt sensitivity. We therefore tested whether immigrants from Afghanistan to Denmark compared with non-immigrant Danes exhibit a (i) higher 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (24-h ABP) and (ii) blunted renin response to a change in salt intake.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four-hour ABP was measured in 40 men of Afghan (Afghans) and 40 men of Danish (Danes) origin. Each group was divided into young (20-30 years, n = 20) and middle aged (40-60 years, n = 20). A 3-day low (70 mmol per 24-h) and a 3-day high (250 mmol per 24-h) salt intake were in addition instituted in subgroups of the young groups (n = 18).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Young and middle-aged Afghans exhibited a lower 24-h mean arterial pressure (24-h MAP) than the same respective age groups of Danes (83 ± 1 versus 90 ± 1 mm Hg, P<0·05, and 89 ± 2 versus 100 ± 1 mm Hg, P<0·05). 24-h ABP did not change in any of the young groups during increased salt intake, whereas the Danes exhibited a greater decrease in plasma renin activity (PRA) (P<0·05). Plasma noradrenaline (PNA ) was significantly higher among the young Afghans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Afghan immigrants to Denmark exhibit a lower 24-h ABP than Danes. In young Afghans, PRA is less sensitive to changes in salt intake, while PNA is higher and may reflect their lower systolic blood pressure and/or arterial pulse pressure. Whether these hormonal differences can explain the lower 24-h ABP in Afghans should be further explored.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asmar
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bülow
authors.forename: Lene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Simonsen
authors.forename: Niels J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frandsen
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Norsk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000346:Afghanistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D017673:Sodium Chloride, Dietary; D012083:Renin; D009638:Norepinephrine
keywords: ethnicity; immigration; noradrenaline; renin; salt sensitivity