Ethnic differences in cardiovascular risk profiles among 475,241 adults in primary care in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Vanessa Selak, Katrina Poppe, Corina Grey, Suneela Mehta, Julie Winter-Smith, Rod Jackson, Sue Wells, Daniel Exeter, Andrew Kerr, Tania Riddell, Matire Harwood
Abstract
AIM: In Aotearoa, New Zealand, cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden is greatest among Indigenous Māori, Pacific and Indian people. The aim of this study was to describe CVD risk profiles by ethnicity. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a cohort of people aged 35-74 years who had a CVD risk assessment in primary care between 2004 and 2016. Primary care data were supplemented with linked data from regional/national databases. Comparisons between ethnic groups were made using age-adjusted summaries of continuous or categorical data. RESULTS: 475,241 people (43% women) were included. Fourteen percent were Māori, 13% Pacific, 8% Indian, 10% Other Asian and 55% European. Māori and Pacific people had a much higher prevalence of smoking, obesity, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and prior CVD compared with other ethnic groups. Pacific and Indian peoples, and to a lesser extent Māori and Other Asian people, had markedly elevated diabetes prevalence compared with Europeans. Indian men had the highest prevalence of prior coronary heart disease. CONCLUSIONS: Māori and Pacific people experience the most significant inequities in exposure to CVD risk factors compared with other ethnic groups. Indians have a high prevalence of diabetes and coronary heart disease. Strong political commitment and cross-sectoral action to implement effective interventions are urgently needed.