BLOOD-PRESSURE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN A RURAL KENYAN COMMUNITY

Blood pressure (BP) and associated factors were determined in 1737 men in a remote Kenyan agricultural community. Systolic BP showed no significant rise with age until after 54 yr; diastolic BP showed a small rise with age. Both systolic and diastolic BP correlated with wt independent of age. Systolic and diastolic BP correlated positively with casual urinary Na/K and negatively with K/creatinine ratios. Both systolic and diastolic BP correlated significantly with the number of years of education, as did urinary Na/K and Na/creatinine ratios. K/creatinine ratios were negatively correlated with the number of yr of education. Blood pressure and urinary Na/creatinine ratios were significantly lower in subsistence farmers compared with those in other occupations, and K/creatinine ratios were significantly higher. Pilot studies (2) of Luo tribesmen showed a strong correlation between casual urinary electrolyte ratios and those derived from 24 h urine samples and a greater variance of Na excretion between these people than that found within individuals. These results suggest that a relationship between BP and casual urine electrolyte estimations may be identifiable in communities where there is less day-to-day dietary variation. Some of the changes in BP associated with urbanization could be mediated by changes in dietary electrolytes.