Blood Pressure Trend and Cardiovascular Events in Nuns in a Secluded Order: A 30-Year Follow-up Study

Timio M, Lippi G, Venanzi S, Gentili S, Quintaliani G, Verdura C, Monarca C, Saronio P, Timio F. Blood Pressure Trend and Cardiovascular Events in Nuns in a Secluded Order: a 30-Year Follow-up Study.30-year data are presented on blood pressure and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality for 144 nuns living in a secluded order in six nunnerlie in Umbria, central Italy and 138 lay women from the same region. There were no significant differences at baseline regarding age, blood pressure, body mass index, race, ethnic background, menarche, family history of hypertension or 24-hour urinary sodium excretion. None of the women were smokers and none took birth control pills nor did they use estrogen replacement therapy. During the observation period blood pressure remained remarkably stable among the nuns. None showed a rise in diastolic blood pressure to above 90 mm Hg. On the contrary the lay women showed the expected rise in blood pressure with age. This resulted in a gradually greater difference (Δ > 30/15 mm...