Ethnic differences in selected cardiovascular disease risk factors in Israeli workers

Ethnic differences in the distribution of risk factors for coronary heart disease were investigated between 1979 and 1982 in 2,355 Jewish and Arab factory employees in Israel. Among both sexes, blood pressure (BP) was found to be significantly higher in those of European origin than in those of Asian or North African origin, mainly in the 20- to 39-year age-group. Ethnic differences in height and weight were generally more marked than those in Quetelet's index. Among older men, Western Europeans smoked the least. They had the highest prevalence of ECG abnormalities and of cardiovascular disease. Arab workers from the Gaza Strip had the highest smoking rates and the lowest prevalence of ECG abnormalities and awareness of cardiovascular disease. After adjusting for age, Quetelet's index, smoking and place of employment, ethnic differences in BP and heart rate were apparent in both sexes, but were more significant among men. The findings indicate that ethnic differences in BP noted in earlier studies are evident in the younger age-group, whereas smoking behavior and relative weight differ mainly at an older age.