A cohort of 194 American Samoan adults with no history of antihypertensive treatment was seen at two times, 14 years apart, 1976 and 1990. Anthropometric and blood pressure (BP) data in 1976 and 1990, and the chages, were described and correlated within age (<40 and ⩾40 years) and sex groups. These Samoans are characterized by massive adiposity and body mass, as well as high prevalence and incidence of overweight and hypertension. The younger group had a notable mean increase in the body mass index (BMI) and fatness over 14 years, whereas only younger females had BP increases. Among older females there were small negative mean chages, and in older males small positive mean changes in BMI and skinfolds. In both older males and females, systolic BP increased markedly with little mean change in diastolic BP. There was substantial heterogeneity around the mean chages in all sex-age groups. Adiposity in 1976, assessed by the BMI and skinfolds, was positively related to follow-up BP in all groups except older males. Chages in adiposity were positively related to chages in BP in all groups. Multiple regression analyses showed that change in BMI and age were positively related to 1990 BP after adjustment for baseline BP. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Copyright © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company.