Coronary Heart Disease and Hypertension in the White Mountain Apache Tribe

Abstract

Investigation of the members of the White Mountain Apache Tribe has confirmed our clinical experience that coronary artery disease is extremely rare in these people. The Apaches eat a diet low in saturated fat and have a correspondingly low mean serum cholesterol level. Older Apache males tend to have lower cholesterols than the younger men. A surprisingly high prevalence of high blood pressure was found, particularly in young men. A brief discussion of similar studies is included. Further investigation of this relatively stable socioeconomic and racial group is needed.