Blood pressure in the Australian- and Italian-born: a Melbourne suburb revisited after 20 years.

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the average blood pressure of Australian-born and Italian-born men and women after a 20-year interval, in the same location, the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick, located about five km north of the centre of the city. Data pertaining to blood pressure and its control were obtained from all Australian- and Italian-born residents of Brunswick enrolled in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study between 1990 and 1994. Comparisons were made with published data from a random household survey in Brunswick in 1972. Within the age group 40 to 59 years (in contrast to the earlier study) average blood pressure was significantly higher in Italian-born men and women relative to the Australian-born. Between 1972 and 1990-1994, significant reductions in average systolic and diastolic blood pressure occurred in Australian-born women aged 40 to 59 years. Average systolic and diastolic blood pressures also fell in Australian-born men, although the reduction in systolic blood pressure for those aged 50 to 59 was not statistically significant. Average systolic blood pressure increased in Italian-born men and women. However, the increase was statistically significant only for men aged 50 to 59 years. Average diastolic blood pressure increased in Italian-born men aged 50 to 59 and fell in Italian-born women of the same age. The observed changes in blood pressure could not be attributed directly to changes in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, or to changes in the prevalence of overweight and obesity.