Table 2 Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures according to age, ethnicity, education level and physical activity level

  < 20

124.1^a (10.6)

78.9^a (6.9)

 20–30

124.8^a,b (10.8)

79.9^a,b (7.2)

 31–40

126.0^b (10.8)

80.7^b (7.2)

 41–50

128.4^c (12.4)

82.4^c (7.3)

  > 50

130.7^d (11.4)

82.9^c (8.5)

 Sinhalese

125.9^a (11.3)

80.5^a (7.4)

 Tamil

126.1^a (9.3)

80.8^a (6.1)

 Moor

126.0^a (12.2)

80.7^a (8.6)

 No education – grade 5

131.2^a (11.1)

82.6^a (5.6)

 Grade 6 – grade 11

126.1^b (11.8)

80.4^a (7.6)

 Ordinary level passed

125.9^b (10.8)

80.8^a (7.3)

 Advanced level passed

125.5^b (11.5)

80.1^a (7.3)

 Graduate/postgraduate

129.4^a,b (13.1)

81.7^a (6.8)

 Low

125.7^a (11.6)

80.3^a (7.6)

 Medium

125.9^a (10.7)

80.2^a (7.3)

 High

126.1^a (11.0)

80.7^a (7.2)