Ethnic Differences in Blood Pressure and Environmental Stressors
Author Information
Author(s): Agyemang Charles, van Hooijdonk Carolien, Wendel-Vos Wanda, Ujcic-Voortman Joanne K, Lindeman Ellen, Stronks Karien, Droomers Mariel
Primary Institution: Centre for Prevention and Health Services Research; National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hypothesis
Are neighbourhood-level environmental stressors associated with blood pressure and hypertension among different ethnic groups in the Netherlands?
Conclusion
Neighbourhood-level stressors are associated with blood pressure in ethnic minority groups but were less evident in the Dutch group.
Supporting Evidence
- High density housing and drug misuse were linked to higher blood pressure in Moroccans.
- High quality green space was associated with lower blood pressure and hypertension odds.
- Turkish individuals showed higher blood pressure with increased crime and motor traffic nuisances.
- Associations were less significant among the Dutch group.
Takeaway
Living in a bad neighborhood can make some people have higher blood pressure, especially for certain ethnic groups.
Methodology
The study linked individual data from the Amsterdam Health Survey 2004 with neighbourhood stressor data to analyze associations using multilevel regression models.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the oversampling of Turkish and Moroccan groups and the reliance on self-reported data.
Limitations
The study's cross-sectional design limits causal inferences, and the response rate was relatively low.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 517 Dutch, 404 Turkish, and 365 Moroccans, with a majority being first-generation migrants.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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