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Undiagnosed Hypertension in Vancouver’s Punjabi Sikh Community: A Cross-Sectional Study

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Abstract

South Asians bear a greater burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to other ethnic groups and hypertension is a major modifiable risk factor. The purpose of this study was to examine rates and predictors of uncontrolled blood pressure among an immigrant Punjabi Sikh community in Vancouver. We recruited 350 adults (40% women; mean age 67.3 ± 11.9 years) across 5 Sikh temples and measured blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight, waist circumference, socio-demographic background, and health history. 42% of participants had uncontrolled blood pressure of which one-third reported no previous history of hypertension. Based on modified cut-offs for South Asians, the mean waist circumferences across groups were well above target and 50% classified as obese. A higher percentage in the uncontrolled group (vs. controlled group) were of an older age, had a diabetes history and reported a physically active lifestyle. Findings suggest more efforts are needed to reduce the rates of uncontrolled blood pressure in this community. Interventions such as blood pressure drives, community-based outreach programs, and physical activity and dietary interventions should be explored to lower this CVD risk factor in this community.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Punjabi Sikh community of the Metro Vancouver area for their support and contribution to this study.

Funding

Not applicable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Core Internal Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Sarpreet S. Sekhon

  2. Internal Medicine Program, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Amrit S. Jhajj

  3. Internal Medicine Program, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL, Canada

    Harinder Pal S. Gill

  4. Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Nadia Khan

  5. Center for Health Evaluation and Outcomes Sciences, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Nadia Khan

  6. Division of Endocrinology, University of British Columbia, 4th floor, Diamond Health Care Centre, 2775 Laurel Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Sarpreet S. Sekhon & Tricia S. Tang

Authors
  1. Sarpreet S. Sekhon
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  2. Amrit S. Jhajj
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  3. Harinder Pal S. Gill
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  4. Nadia Khan
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  5. Tricia S. Tang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarpreet S. Sekhon.

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All authors have no conflict of interest to disclose.

Ethical Approval

This study was approved by the University of British Columbia Clinical Research Ethics Review Board.

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Sekhon, S.S., Jhajj, A.S., Gill, H.P.S. et al. Undiagnosed Hypertension in Vancouver’s Punjabi Sikh Community: A Cross-Sectional Study. J Immigrant Minority Health 24, 1371–1374 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-022-01355-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-022-01355-3

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