Affect of country of birth on arterial function in subjects (14,818 men and 9121 women) living in Paris but born in France or elsewhere in Europe (67%), Africa (25%), Asia (5%), and French Overseas Departments and Territories (3%) was investigated. Pulsatile hemodynamics involved central augmentation index (CAI) and central (carotid) pulse pressure (CPP). In African-born subjects compared with those born in France, age, blood pressure, overweight, and diabetes were factors associated with hypertension, but cardiovascular and renal impairment were absent. Asian-born subjects differed from others with lower body weight and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, but higher plasma triglycerides and heart rate. Men's and women's pulsatile changes revealed significant interactions with CAI, and to a lesser extent with CPP, between gender and country of birth, particularly for African- and European-born subjects. For all the latter countries, increased cardiovascular risk of mortality, evaluated with Framingham scores, was highly significant but mainly for men. These data show that country-of-birth impact necessitated subdividing populations into men and women; at-risk populations were born in Africa, Asia, and Europe but less frequently in France; factors involving country-of-birth impact require further research on hereditary and environmental (frequently socioeconomic) factors but also geography and climate.
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