These researchers sought to determine levels of cardiovascular disease (CVD), diagnosed and undiagnosed risk factors and clinical management of CVD risk in a rural Māori cohort of 252 adults aged 20–64 years (mean age 45.7 years). At the screening visit, 8% reported a history of cardiac disease, 43% were current smokers, 22% had a healthy BMI, 30% were overweight and 48% obese. A total of 25% of participants had previous diagnoses of hypertension; an additional 22% received new diagnoses of hypertension at screening. Similarly, 14% of participants had previous diagnoses of dyslipidaemia and an additional 43% were dyslipidaemic at screening. Type 2 diabetes was previously diagnosed in 11%. Among those with type 2 diabetes, only 21% achieved glycaemic control. Blood pressure and cholesterol exceeded recommended targets in more than half of those with diagnosed CVD risk factors.
