Blood pressure and valvular and congenital heart disease in Torres Strait Islanders

Blood pressure levels were recorded in 1922 Torres Strait Islanders. Comparison with blood pressure levels of an Australian urban community which were recorded in the Busselton survey of 1972 shows that Islanders who are 20 years of age and over hav significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels in both males and females. Systolic and diastolic pressure levels also increase in both males and females with age, as in the Busselton patients. Surprisingly, the "urbanized" Islanders have lower blood pressure levels than those who live in village communities in the outer islands. The reasons for this are to be investigated. Comparison with New Guinea Melanesians shows that the Islanders consistently have significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels in both males and females in adult age groups. In addition the frequency of congenital and rheumatic valvular heart disease in a group of Torres Strait Islanders is reported. There is no evidence that the incidence of these lesions in the Island population is different from that reported in communities of European descent.