title: Blood pressure and hypertension in New Zealand: results from the 2008/09 Adult Nutrition Survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the blood pressure results from the 2008/09 New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey (2008/09NZANS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood pressure measurements were available for 4,407 adults who were part of a survey involving face-to-face interviews with 4,721 New Zealanders aged 15 years and over. Three measurements were taken one minute apart, and the mean of the second and third readings has been used for this analysis. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) greater than and equal to 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) greater than and equal to 90 mmHg or self reported use of antihypertensive medications. Comparisons were made with previously published New Zealand population blood pressure estimates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean SBP for the New Zealand adult population was 126 mmHg. The prevalence of hypertension was 31%, with 15% reporting taking antihypertensive medication. Mean SBP has increased since 2002/03 for New Zealand European and others (NZEO) aged 35-54 years and Maori aged 35-74 years, reversing a downward trend observed in NZEO between 1982 and 2002.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increasing blood pressure levels are concerning. Given the importance of elevated blood pressure as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, intensive screening, public health measures aimed at lowering population blood pressure, and further population monitoring are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Edgar National Centre for Diabetes and Obesity Research, Department of Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. rachael.mclean@otago.ac.nz
authors.forename: Rachael M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Jim I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Jody C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Winsome R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Parnell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents