American Journal of Epidemiology
Volume 122, Issue 2, 1985, Pages 291-301

Longitudinal analysis of the relationship between blood pressure and migration: The Tokelau Island migrant study (Article)

Salmond C.E.* , Joseph J.G. , Prior I.A.M. , Stanley D.G. , Wessen A.F.
  • a Epidemiology Unit, Wellington Hospital, Private Bag, Wellington, New Zealand
  • b Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
  • c Epidemiology Unit, Wellington Hospital, Private Bag, Wellington, New Zealand
  • d Epidemiology Unit, Wellington Hospital, Private Bag, Wellington, New Zealand
  • e Departments of Community Health and Sociology, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States

Abstract

The Pacific atoll population of Tokelau has been followed since 1968 to assess the health consequences of migration to a western society. The blood pressure of a cohort of 532 adults who were still living in Tokelau in 1976 (nonmigrants) are compared with those of a cohort of 280 adults who had migrated to New Zealand (migrants). Significant differences between migrants and nonmigrants were detected in the rates of change of both systolic and diastolic pressures in men, and in the rates of change of diastolic pressures in women. The age-, body mass-, and blood pressure-corrected rates of change were greater in migrants than in nonmigrants, and greater in men than in women. Blood pressures tend to rise 1 mmHg/year faster among male migrants than among male nonmigrants, and about 0.4 mmHg/year faster among female migrants than among female nonmigrants. These findings have dear implications for the health of migrants. © 1985 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health.

Author Keywords

blood pressure Longitudinal studies Acculturation

Index Keywords

Short Survey cultural anthropology longitudinal study blood pressure human Longitudinal Studies middle aged priority journal health status Aged geographic distribution Humans Cross-Cultural Comparison Adolescent male female adult migration Sex Factors New Zealand ethnic or racial aspects normal human anthropometry Transients and Migrants cardiovascular system etiology
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0021881233&doi=10.1093%2foxfordjournals.aje.a114101&partnerID=40&md5=209992e024d5d195e16cc48a4419628b
DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114101
ISSN: 00029262
Cited by: 46
Original Language: English