Geographic distributions of within-population variability in blood pressure.
Data on mean blood pressure with standard deviation were extracted from the medical and anthropologic literature for as many populations as possible. The populations were classified as traditional, transitional, or modern. Both mean and within-population variability were found to be higher in more modern populations, confirming the prediction that variability of a character of low heritability is higher in an adverse environment, where it is more difficult to maintain homeostasis. In addition, variability increases with age, indicating a breakdown in homeostasis with aging. On average, males had higher diastolic blood pressure than females, and on average, females had greater variability in systolic blood pressure than males. There was a highly significant negative relationship between latitude and within-population variability in blood pressure.
Institute of Biological Anthropology, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
T M
TM
Pollard
G
G
Brush
G A
GA
Harrison
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics*; D004777:Environment; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors