Blood pressure in Afghan male immigrants to Denmark. (27th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Asmar, Ali; Bülow, Jens; Simonsen, Lene; Christensen, Niels J.; Frandsen, Erik; Norsk, Peter
• Is Part Of: Clinical physiology and functional imaging. Volume 33:Number 6(2013:Nov.)
• Page Start: 470
• Page End: 477
• Publication Date: 2013-05-27
• Subjects: Physiology, Pathological -- Periodicals; Diagnostic imaging -- Periodicals; 612
• DOI: 10.1111/cpf.12055
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1475-0961

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="cpf12055-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="cpf12055-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Purpose</title> <p>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.</p> </sec> <sec id="cpf12055-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>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, <italic>n</italic> = 20) and middle aged (40–60 years, <italic>n</italic> = 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 (<italic>n</italic> = 18).</p> </sec> <sec id="cpf12055-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>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, <italic>P</italic><0·05, and 89 ± 2 versus 100 ± 1 mm Hg, <italic>P</italic><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) (<italic>P</italic><0·05). Plasma noradrenaline (P<sub>NA</sub>) was significantly higher among the young Afghans.</p> </sec> <sec id="cpf12055-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>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 P<sub>NA</sub> 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.</p> </sec> </abstract>