Correlation Between Prevalence of Hypertension and Degree of Acculturation

Epidemiological evidence indicates that the development of hypertension in human populations depends on the interaction of a genetic heterogeneity and multiple environmental factors. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the hypothesis that the rise of prevalence of hypertension in developing countries is real and associated with the influence of environmental factors created by the process of 'acculturation'. I have studied all reported prevalence rates of hypertension in Chile between 1936 and 1984. Data from 31 studies in urban and rural populations were correlated to demographic markers of acculturation, life expectancy at birth and urbanization trend (%). Results showed that during this period life expectancy rose from 40 to 67 years and urbanization trend from 51 to 80%. These correlated with the secular increase in the prevalence of hypertension, from a 5% level to almost a 20% level. The study of the cultural breakdown of six rural isolated populations showed after a mean of 15 years a highly significant increase in hypertension prevalence from 1.5 to 7.5%. These positive findings support the hypothesis that the change in prevalence of hypertension in the Chilean population during half a century may be associated with the process of cultural transition to an industrial state.