Systolic blood pressure predicts cardiovascular mortality in a farming but not in a fishing community : a 40-year follow-up of theJapanese cohorts of the Seven Countries study

Background: Blood pressure (BP) is a strong determinant of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The strength of this association in 2 Japanese communities with different intakes of fish was investigated. Methods and Results: The analysis was carried out in the Japanese cohorts of the Seven Countries Study (Tanushimaru and Ushibuka), which were followed for 40 years. We included 1,006 subjects for whom data on baseline BP and relevant potential confounders were available. Data were analysed using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. In Tanushimaru men, the systolic BP level was strongly directly related to risk of stroke and CVD mortality, with hazard ratios (HR) of 4.42 (2.02-9.70) for stroke and 3.05 (1.73-3.25) for CVD for BP levels =140mmHg compared to