Purpose: To evaluate, in an isolated group of black individuals from a quilombo--a previous stronghold of rebel slaves (Kalunga) in the north of Goiás, the arterial blood pressure, as it related to age, sex, salt consumption, physical activities, obesity, tobacco and alcoholic beverage consumption and social organization.
Methods: We studied 159 people (74 males and 85 females) representing 15% of the adult population. All measurements, were taken by the first author with the patient both sitting and supine, after 3 minutes of relaxation. This procedure was repeated 3 times and only the last measurement was used for research purposes.
Results: Of the studied cases only 10 individuals with hypertension (PAd > or = 95 mmHg) representing 6.28% of the population were found. Of the patients with hypertension 2 were between 18 and 29 years of age, 3 between 30 and 45 and 5 over 46 years old. They were 7 females and 3 males. We did not find any significant difference between sexes or any significant elevation in the medium BP value. The salt intake is relatively low among them and 81.7% of the population do not use any salt at all in their food. Alcohol consumption and the habit of smoking are moderate. They have intense physical activity and obesity is rare. The Kalunga have a cooperativist society and money is not frequently used as they favor the barter system.
Conclusion: In isolated population that maintain their cultural traits and basic life style, not adding salt to their diet, not being obese and maintaining intense physical activities, the occurrence of arterial hypertension is rare and the increases in BP level with age is not significant.