Skin color, ancestry, and blood pressure among whites in Erie County, New York.

This study examines (1) the construct validity of a rank-order skin color measure and (2) interrelationships of skin color, ancestry, and blood pressure in a random survey of 763 white non-Hispanic and white Hispanic household residents in Erie County, NY. Skin color was significantly lighter among older respondents (P < .001) and among females (P < .0001). Skin color was lightest among Northern Europeans and darkest among Mediterraneans and white Hispanics (P < .0001). Higher systolic blood pressure was significantly associated with both darker skin color (P < .05) and northern European ancestry (P < .05). Several mechanisms to account for these findings are proposed.