Cardiovascular Journal of Africa: Vol 29 No 6 (November/December 2018)

CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL OF AFRICA • Volume 29, No 6, November/December 2018

372

AFRICA

increased

-adrenergic vascular responsiveness, predominantly

in the SABPA black teachers’ cohort.

Their profile of risk for

left ventricular distension and chronic hypertensive status on a

pre-clinical level may elevate the risk for future cardiovascular

events. On a related note, differing cultural coping mechanisms

may enhance hypertensive risk, specifically in black teachers.

Limitations

Our study has some limitations, as important data, such

as sickle cell anaemia, CVD family history or self-reported

dietary intake, were not available to explain the prevalence of

hypertension. However, essential amino acids in DefS black men

from the SABPA study were disturbed compared to their white

counterparts.

DefS black men showed higher phenylalanine

and tyrosine (catecholamine precursor) levels, contributing to

higher blood pressure and structural vascular abnormalities.

Conclusion

Results indicated that blacks and whites have different and varied

coping styles based on their respective cultural backgrounds.

Blacks showed higher cardiovascular risk than whites, which

could have been a result of increasing defensiveness and chronic

depression observed among blacks over the three-year period.

Whites showed consistent spiritual-centred coping while utilising

avoidance or loss-of-control coping, with a trend of consistently

seeking less social support or isolation as a coping mechanism.

Differing cultural coping mechanisms reflected hypertension risk

in black teachers.

The consideration of chronic depression during the assessment

and treatment of hypertension could imply distinct treatment

programmes in groups with contrasting cultural backgrounds.

During counselling of depressed patients with hypertension, the

salutary effects of support and spiritual coping may be of great

importance. The beneficial effects of pastoral counselling may

also be considered.

This study would not have been possible without all the participants

who volunteered to be part of the SABPA study, and in-kind analyses of

the collaborators. Funding was obtained by the North-West University,

Potchefstroom, South Africa; the National Research Foundation (NRF) and

the Medical Research Council, South Africa; the Department of Education,

North-West Province; Roche diagnostics, South Africa; and the Metabolic

Syndrome Institute, France.

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