RESUMEN
The pattern of mortality and the influence of blood pressure, serum cholesterol, and body mass on mortality is examined in 1980 adults in four contrasting South Pacific populations. Three of the populations are Polynesian: Pakapuka, an isolated coral atoll, Rarotonga, a less isolated volcanic island, and the New Zealand Maoris, and they are compared with a New Zealand caucasian sample. The baseline examinations were performed in 1963-64 and the cardiovascular risk factors and associated disease were found to be more prevalent in Polynesians with increasing westernisation. The dead or alive status was ascertained in 1974 for 99 percent of the subjects. The age standardised 10-11 year death rates also increased with increasing westernisation from 11.7 percent in Pukapukan men to 26.7 percent in Maori men. The Mantel-Haenszel method of analysis of survivorship data demonstrated a significant inverse relationship between baseline serum cholesterol and mortality in the New Zealand Maoris. Cox's proportional hazards regression model was used to examine the population differences in mortality and it was found that the variables studied do not explain these differences. This study demonstrates the adverse effect of esternisation on the health of Polynesians and suggests that the relationsip between risk factors and mortality differs between populations.
PIP: The authors examine the pattern of mortality and the influence of blood pressure, serum cholesterol, and body mass on mortality in 1,980 adults in four contrasting South Pacific populations. They consider the adverse effect of westernization on the health of Polynesians and demonstrate that the relationship between risk factors and mortality differs between populations
Asunto(s)
Mortalidad , Adulto , Anciano , Presión Sanguínea , Colesterol/sangre , Femenino , Humanos , Estilo de Vida , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Islas del Pacífico , Riesgo , Factores SexualesRESUMEN
The relation between serum cholesterol concentration and mortality was studied prospectively over 11 years in 630 New Zealand Maoris aged 25-74. Serum cholesterol concentration was measured at initial examination in 1962-3 in 94% of the subjects and whether each was dead or alive was determined in 1974. The causes of death were divided into three categories: cancer, cardiovascular disease, and "other." The Mantel-Haenszel method of analysis of survivorship data showed a significant inverse relation between serum cholesterol concentration and overall mortality in men (x 2/2 = 11.6; p = 0.003) and women (x 2/2 = 7.6; p = 0.02) with odds ratios of 2.3 and 1.9 respectively. Similar significant inverse relations were found for cancer and "other" causes of death. These relations remained significant when baseline age, systolic blood pressure, and the Quetelt index were controlled in Cox's proportional hazards regression model. The results of this study provide evidence for a potentially deleterious effect of low serum cholesterol concentration. Hence, further research is needed before indiscriminate efforts are made to lower serum cholesterol concentrations in New Zealand Maoris.
Asunto(s)
Colesterol/sangre , Mortalidad , Población Blanca , Adulto , Anciano , Presión Sanguínea , Estatura , Peso Corporal , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/mortalidad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neoplasias/mortalidad , Nueva Zelanda , Estudios ProspectivosRESUMEN
The prevalence of asthma has been studied in Tokelauan children aged 0--14 years in two environments--Tokelau and New Zealand. Only 11.0% of the 706 children examined in Tokelau were classified as asthmatic, whereas 25.3% of the 1,160 children seen in New Zealand were asthmatic. For those children examined in New Zealand there was no significant difference in the prevalence of asthma between those children who were born in New Zealand and those who were born in Tolelau.