Hypertension in the Papago Indians

Abstract

A study of blood pressure in Papago Indians was undertaken utilizing a computerized health information system. Hypertension was present in close to 20% of the study population. The prevalence of hypertension in the Papago tended to peak during young adulthood and showed very little increase in older age groups. The rates of cardiac, cardiovascular and renal complications were analyzed for the hypertensive and nonhypertensive Papago. Hypertension was associated with increased morbidity from target organ damage despite a low rate of arteriosclerosis. This increased morbidity appeared to be independent of the morbidity associated with diabetes which is also common in the Papago Indians.