Blood Pressure Studies on West Indians and Panamanians Living on the Isthmus of Panama

The purposes of this paper are (1) to compare the incidence of hypertension in West Indians and Panamanians living on the Isthmus of Panama, and (2) to provide data which may be of value in considering the relation between arterial tension and such factors as race, heredity and climate. LITERATURE Reports on the blood pressure of various peoples and on the importance of race and climate as factors influencing blood pressure have not been numerous, and the results are inconclusive. Philippines. —Musgrave and Sison1expressed the belief that blood pressure in persons living in the tropics is low. The average systolic blood pressure for 30 native males was 108 mm. of mercury and for 19 females 113 mm. Figures given for foreigners included 124 mm. after one year of residence, 115 mm. after one to five years of residence and 113 mm. after ten years of residence. Chamberlain2