Background and objective: Hypertension and obesity are major contributors to cardiovascular disease, and the relationship between these conditions is known to vary among ethnicities. However, this relationship has not previously been examined in aboriginal populations. The present investigation aimed to identify and compare this relationship among white (n = 3566), aboriginal (n = 850), East Asian (n = 446), and South Asian (n = 222) individuals from the province of British Columbia, Canada.
Methods: Blood pressure, BMI, and waist circumference were directly measured along with self-reported antihypertensive medication usage. Relative risk ratios were calculated to evaluate the risk of hypertension among individuals of varying BMI and waist circumference measurements. The relative risks of hypertension were compared both within and between four ethnic groups.
Results: Greater relative risks for hypertension were observed among individuals with increased BMI or increased waist circumference among all four ethnic groups. Aboriginal individuals appear to experience the greatest increases in relative risk for hypertension with increased BMI or waist circumference compared to other ethnic groups. The differences in the risk of developing hypertension between aboriginal and white populations appear to be largely associated with differences in body composition (i.e., BMI or waist circumference). East Asian and South Asian populations experience greater relative risk for hypertension than white populations at the same level of BMI or waist circumference.
Conclusion: Hypertension prevention and treatment strategies among aboriginal, East Asian, and South Asian populations should target reducing fat mass and abdominal fat.