Blood pressure trend and psychosocial factors: the case of the nuns in a secluded order.

Abstract

The powerful effect of psychosocial and acculturating influences on population blood pressure trends seems to be confirmed, through longitudinal observations in the nuns in a secluded order. After initial observation had been made on culture, body form, blood pressure, diet, and other variables in 144 nuns and 138 lay-women, included as a control group, a 30-year follow-up study was undertaken. Most striking were opposite trends noted between the two groups in blood pressure trend. During the follow-up period blood pressure remained remarkably stable among the nuns. None showed a rise in diastolic blood pressure to above 90 mmHg. By contrast, the control women showed the expected increase in blood pressure with age. This resulted in a gradually greater difference (A > 30/15 mmHg) in systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the two groups, which was statistically significant. It appears reasonable to attribute much of the difference in blood pressure to the different burden in psychosocial factor and to the preserved peaceful lifestyle of the nuns.