Doctors should use lower thresholds when treating high blood pressure and other cardiac risk factors in ethnic minorities.

Researchers at St George's Hospital, London, have carried out a population survey covering 1386 men and women of various ethnic origins, looking at their heart disease and stroke risk factors. They find that people of African origin have the lowest risk of heart disease, and the highest risk of stroke.

Meanwhile, south Asians have the highest risk of heart disease and stroke combined. Also, the ethnic minorities have the highest levels of hypertension in the population. While many were being treated, there were also many instances where target blood pressure was not being met. This suggests that African and South Asian people are at risk of hypertension which is not properly controlled - and this contributes to higher levels of heart disease and stroke. So doctors should perhaps take a lower threshold blood pressure in ethnic minorities before beginning treatment.

Source

British Medical Journal 30th November 2002