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Heart disease in the Māori community

Māori adults have higher rates of most health conditions – including coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes – and lower access to health care than non-Māori adults.

Sobering statistics

The Māori population, when compared with non-Māori New Zealanders, are:

  • More than twice as likely to die from cardiovascular disease, and 1.5 times as likely to be hospitalised for cardiovascular disease.1
  • Twice as likely to die from ischaemic heart disease, and 1.3 times as likely to be hospitalised for ischaemic heart disease. The disparity is even greater for females; Māori females are almost twice as likely to be hospitalised for ischaemic heart disease as non-Māori females.1
  • 1.5 times more likely to die from stroke, and 1.5 times more likely to be hospitalised for stroke. The disparity is greater for females; stroke hospitalisation among Māori females is more than twice as high as that among non-Māori females.1

The risk

Much of the burden caused by cardiovascular disease is preventable.

Major modifiable risk factors include tobacco smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, insufficient physical activity, overweight and obesity, diabetes, poor nutrition, and excessive intake of alcohol. Other risk factors that are beyond our control include age, gender, family history and ethnicity.

While the risk factors for Māori people are the same as for non-Māori, the rates differ.

  • Obesity rates among Māori children and adults are twice the rate of non-Māori children and adults. Around 19 per cent of Māori children and 48 per cent of Māori adults are obese.2
  • Māori adults are twice as likely to have diabetes and 1.4 times more likely to have high blood pressure.3
  • Māori adults are more than twice as likely to smoke as non-Māori adults. Around 41 per cent of Maori adults are smokers.1

References

  1. 2013/14 New Zealand Health Survey, Ministry of Health, Tatau Kahukura: Maori health statistics, Cardiovascular Disease
  2. Ministry of Health. 2013. New Zealand Health Survey: Annual update of key findings 2012/13. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
  3. 2013/14 New Zealand Health Survey, Ministry of Health, Tatau Kahukura: Maori health statistics, Diabetes

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