Blood Pressure in Nuns in a Secluded Order: A 30-Year Follow-Up

Abstract

The powerful effect of psychosocial and acculturating influences on population blood pressure trends seems to be confirmed, through longitudinal observations, in the nuns in a secluded order. After initial observations had been made on culture, body form, blood pressure, diet, and other variables in 144 nuns and 138 lay women, included as a control group, a 30-year follow-up study was undertaken. Most striking were opposite trends noted between the two groups in blood pressure trend. During the follow-up period, blood pressure remained remarkably stable among the nuns. None showed an increase in diastolic blood pressure over 90 mm Hg. By contrast, the control women showed the expected increase in blood pressure with age. This resulted in a gradually greater difference (δ>30/15 mm Hg) in systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the two groups, which was statistically significant. In addition, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, expressed as the outcome of fatal and nonfatal events, were different in the two groups. They were significantly more common in the lay women than in the nuns. Comparisons between survivalcurves were statistically significant (p = 0.0043 for fatal events; p = 0.0056 for nonfatal events) between the two groups. In conclusion, it seems reasonable to attribute much of the difference in blood pressure and cardiovascular events, to the different burden in psychosocial factor and to the preserved peaceful lifestyle of the nuns.

Blood pressure and aging

“…The rise in systolic blood pressure is greatly attenuated in secluded communities such as nuns 8 and in rural communities in the developing world, 9 however when subjects from such areas move to an urban environment blood pressure rises. 10 What are the components of an urban lifestyle that lead to this change?…”

Senior users of the internet: lessons from the cybernun study

“…The latter results continue in the longitudinal Nun Study, an exploration of factors which stave off the onset of chronic debilitating mental disorders such as Alzheimer's disease [6]. Additional studies have examined physical functions (blood pressure) and compared these with lay women, concluding that psychosocial and lifestyle factors in the convent often led to a decrease in morbidity and mortality for the nuns [32].…”

Alltäglichen Stress reduzieren

“…B. im Invitatorium) einen festen Bestandteil des Tagesablaufs. Das meditative Gebet und wohl auch der strukturierte Lebensablauf in Klöstern wirken sich positiv auf die Gesundheit aus: Beispielsweise leiden Nonnen deutlich seltener an einem Hypertonus und die kardiovaskuläre Mortalität ist deutlich geringer als in der Allgemeinbevölkerung [9].…”