PATTERNS OF BLOOD PRESSURE RESPONSE IN MIGRANT AND NONMIGRANT TOKELAUANS II: PHYSIOLOGICAL AND SOCIO-CULTURAL CORRELATES OF BP RESPONSE

Cardiovascular risk factors were measured on Tokelau Islanders, on the atolls, and several years later on the atolls or in New Zealand (NZ). BP response is computed as the difference between observed postmigration blood pressure (BP) and the BP predicted from a set of concomitants known to be important in the premigrant environment. The major component of BP change in adults is a consequence of increased obesity in NZ. Despite the marked increase of urinary sodium (UNA), and decrease of urinary potassium (UK) excretion, in NZ, only a very small component of BP response is associated these variables. Other variables associated with response include pulse, serum lipids, serum glucose, and serum uric acid (SUA). Socio-cultural variables which contribute to response include smoking and drinking habits, work and marital status, and contraceptive use. Despite increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in migrants, the prevalence of heart disease and strokes in both the migrant and nonmigrant populations is low