Blood pressure in Ethiopian immigrants: Relationship to age and anthropometric factors, and changes during their first year in Israel

Blood pressure was measured in 483 Ethiopian immigrants during the first week following their arrival in Israel. Mean levels of diastolic (DBP) and systolic blood pressures (SBP) were very low compared with known levels in the Israeli population. BPs were elevated in men >20 years old and in women >40 years old. Quetelet index averaged below 2.00 g/cm². Considerable weight gains were observed in 265 individuals examined after 1 year. Simultaneously, DBP increased by 4 mm Hg on average, whereas the changes in SBP were small. At the end of 1 year, the mean SBP ranged from 107 (age 5-9 and 10-14) to 124 m Hg (age ≥60) and mean DBP from 69 (age 10-14 and 15-19) to 78 mm Hg (age ≥60), remaining nevertheless considerably lower than levels observed in diverse Israeli population groups. Covariance analysis revealed that initial BPs, gender, age, and weight gain significantly affected SBP and DBP at the end of the year.