Ethnic differences in total and HDL cholesterol among Turkish, Moroccan and Dutch ethnic groups living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>High total cholesterol and low HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol are important determinants of cardiovascular disease. Little is known about dyslipidemia among Turkish and Moroccan migrants, two of the largest ethnic minority groups in several European countries. This study examines ethnic differences in total and HDL cholesterol levels between Dutch, Turkish and Moroccan ethnic groups.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were collected in the setting of a general health survey, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 2004. Total response rate was 45% (Dutch: 46%, Turks: 50%, Moroccans: 39%). From 1,220 adults information on history of hypercholesterolemia, lifestyle and demographic background was obtained via health interviews. In a physical examination measurements of anthropometry and blood pressure were performed and blood was collected. Total and HDL cholesterol were determined in serum.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Total cholesterol levels were lower and hypercholesterolemia was less prevalent among the Moroccan and Turkish than the Dutch ethnic population. HDL cholesterol was also relatively low among these migrant groups. The resulting total/HDL cholesterol ratio was particularly unfavourable among the Turkish ethnic group. Controlling for Body Mass Index and alcohol abstinence substantially attenuated ethnic differences in HDL cholesterol levels and total/HDL cholesterol ratio.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Total cholesterol levels are relatively low in Turkish and Moroccan migrants. However part of this advantage is off-set by their relatively low levels of HDL cholesterol, resulting in an unfavourable total/HDL cholesterol ratio, particularly in the Turkish population. Important factors in explaining ethnic differences are the relatively high Body Mass Index and level of alcohol abstinence in these migrant groups.</p

Ethnic differences in the effect of environmental stressors on blood pressure and hypertension in the Netherlands

Abstract Background Evidence strongly suggests that the neighbourhood in which people live influences their health. Despite this, investigations of ethnic differences in cardiovascular risk factors have focused mainly on individual-level characteristics. The main purpose of this study was to investigate associations between neighbourhood-level environmental stressors (crime, housing density, nuisance from alcohol and drug misuse, quality of green space and social participation), and blood pressure (BP) and hypertension among different ethnic groups. Methods Individual data from the Amsterdam Health Survey 2004 were linked to data on neighbourhood stressors creating a multilevel design for data analysis. The study sample consisted of 517 Dutch, 404 Turkish and 365 Moroccans living in 15 neighbourhoods in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Results Amongst Moroccans, high density housing and nuisance from drug misuse were associated with a higher systolic BP, while high quality of green space and social participation were associated with a lower systolic BP. High level of nuisance from drug misuse was associated with a higher diastolic BP. High quality of green space was associated with lower odds of hypertension. Amongst Turkish, high level of crime and nuisance from motor traffic were associated with a higher diastolic BP. Similar associations were observed among the Dutch group but none of the differences were statistically significant. Conclusion The study findings show that neighbourhood-level stressors are associated with BP in ethnic minority groups but were less evident in the Dutch group. These findings might imply that the higher BP levels found in some ethnic minority groups might be partly due to their greater susceptibility to the adverse neighbourhood environment in which many ethnic minority people live. Primary prevention measures targeting these neighbourhood stressors may have an impact in reducing high BP related morbidity and mortality among ethnic minority groups.</p

Measuring sleep health in primary school-aged children: A systematic review of instruments and their content validity

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This review aimed to summarize instruments that measure one or more domains of sleep health (i.e. duration, quality, efficiency, timing, daytime sleepiness and sleep-related behaviors) in a general population of 4-12-year old children, and to assess these instruments' content validity. Other measurement properties were evaluated for instruments with indications of sufficient content validity. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and EmBase. Methodological quality, content validity, and other measurement properties were assessed via the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) methodology. Instruments with indications of sufficient content validity (i.e. relevance, comprehensiveness and comprehensibility) were further evaluated on other measurement properties (i.e. other aspects of validity, reliability, responsiveness). A modified GRADE approach was applied to determine the quality of evidence. RESULTS: Twenty instruments, containing 36 subscales, were included. None of the instruments measured all sleep health domains. For five (subscales of) instruments sufficient relevance and comprehensibility was found. The quality of evidence ranged from very low to moderate. For these five instruments all additional measurement properties were assessed. Sufficient results were found for structural validity (n = 1), internal consistency (n = 1), and construct validity (n = 1), with quality of evidence ranging from very low to high. CONCLUSIONS: Several (subscales of) instruments measuring domains of child sleep health showed good promise, demonstrating sufficient relevance, comprehensibility, and some also sufficient results on other measurement properties. However, more high quality studies on instrument development and the evaluation of measurement properties are required.PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021224109

Ethnic differences in the effect of environmental stressors on blood pressure and hypertension in the Netherlands-0

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Ethnic differences in the effect of environmental stressors on blood pressure and hypertension in the Netherlands"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/7/118</p><p>BMC Public Health 2007;7():118-118.</p><p>Published online 23 Jun 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1919368.</p><p></p

Ethnic differences in the association between cardiovascular risk factors and psychological distress in a population study in the Netherlands

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is growing body of evidence of an association between cardiovascular risk factors and depressive and anxiety symptoms. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether these associations are similar in ethnic minority groups.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A random urban population sample, aged 18+, stratified by ethnicity (484 native Dutch subjects, 383 Turkish-Dutch subjects, and 316 Moroccan-Dutch subjects), in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, was interviewed with the Kessler Psychological Distress scale (K10) in combination with measurements of several cardiovascular risk factors. The association of psychological distress (defined as a K10 score above cut-off of 20) with cardiovascular risk factors (obesity, abdominal obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, low HDL cholesterol levels or diabetes), ethnicity and their interaction was analyzed using logistic regression analyses, stratified by gender and adjusted for age.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Cardiovascular risk factors were not significantly associated with psychological distress in any of the gender/ethnic groups, with the exception of a positive association of obesity and hypertension with psychological distress in native Dutch women and a negative association of hypertension and psychological distress in Turkish men. Interaction terms of cardiovascular risk factors and ethnicity were approaching significance only in the association of obesity with the K10 in women.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this cross-sectional multi-ethnic adult population sample the majority of the investigated cardiovascular risk factors were not associated with psychological distress. The association of obesity with psychological distress varies by gender and ethnicity. Our findings indicate that the prevention of obesity and psychological distress calls for an integrated approach in native Dutch women, but not necessarily in Turkish-Dutch and Moroccan-Dutch women, in whom these problems may be targeted separately.</p