Summary: | Surveys of Aleuts on St. Paul Island, Alaska, In 1966 and 1976 found a prevalence of hypertension as high as any reported In the United States. The rate remained high over the 10-year period. Preliminary data from other Aleut villages on the Aleutian Chain Indicate that a high prevalence of hypertension may be widespread In this region. Etiologically genetic factors, obesity, and a high salt Intake are all present. In addition, an exceedingly high level of cadmium content was found In seal livers, a dietary staple. Isolated locations such as St. Paul provide natural laboratories for possibly elucidating the complex etiology of this disease.
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