Afro-caribbean

The rate of cardiovascular disease amongst the Afro-caribbean population in the Western hemisphere appears to increase progressively as geographic location changes: from West Africa to the Caribbean, among those who migrated to Europe and finally African-Americans who have the highest rate of hypertension-related disease in the world.

Hypertension is more common in Afro-Caribbeans than caucasian population in the UK.

• Afro-caribbeans tend to develop low-renin, salt sensitive type hypertension
  • monotherapy for hypertension - calcium channel blocker or low dose diuretic

Coronary artery disease occurs at only half to two-thirds of the national level. More Afro-Caribbean people die from stroke, heart failure and renal pathology secondary to hypertension.

Type 2 diabetes is more common in hypertensive Afro-Caribbeans.

Reference:

1. Factfile (9/97). British Heart Foundation
2. Marmot (1992). Primary prevention of stroke. Lancet 339.
3. Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (2001), 39(5), 37-40.
4. NICE (August 2011). Hypertension - management of hypertension in adults in primary care.