Follow up study of blood pressure and its correlated factors in the southern seasick community of Wakayama prefecture

Abstract

We followed 187 residents of Kushimoto-cho Ohshima in the southern part of Wakayama prefec-ture for 20 years starting in 1975 in order to determine the changes in blood pressure over the 20 years and its correlated factors. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (from 124.5/74.1mmHg to 147.2/84.2 mmHg), total cholesterol (from 211.4 to 224.6mg/dl) and blood glucose levels (from 71.5 to 100. 7mg/ dl) were increased but body weight and plasma creatinine level did not. Fifty five percent of those subjects initially with normal blood pressure shifted to borderline hypertension or definite hypertension and 44.9 percents remained in the normal range. Systolic blood pressure in 1975 was significantly correlated with age (p<0.01), body weight (P = 0.06), and plasma glucose level (p=0.023) in multi-regression analysis. Diastolic blood pressure was significantly correlated with body weight (0.002) and total cholesterol level (p =0.043). Plasma creatinine level and its increase during 20 years were significant correlated factors for the increase of diastolic blood pressure (p <0.001). Increase of total cholesterol level was significant correlated with the increase of blood pressure in females (p <0.001) but not in males.