Prison life and the blood pressure of the inmates of a developing community prison.

The blood pressure (BP) of the inmates of a developing community prison was assessed. The inmates of the all-male prison were interviewed as regards medical and diet history, alcohol and smoking habit, use of hard drugs, salt intake and duration of prison confinement and had their BP measured. Sixty-two low social class males were similarly assessed as controls. Eighty-one of the 84 inmates consented. Systolic BP (SBP) ranged from 80-150 mm Hg (mean 115.1 +/- 1.7) for prisoners and 80 to 140 mm Hg (mean 107.5 +/- 1.6) for controls (P < 0.05); diastolic BP (DBP) from 50-110 mm Hg (mean 74.1 +/- 1.3) and 45-90 mm Hg (mean 68.8 +/- 1.6) respectively (P < 0.05). Twelve (14.8%) of the prisoners had DBP > or = 85 mm Hg compared to three (4.8%) of controls (P = 0.05). The prisoners have been in confinement for 1 to 790 days. Both SBP and DBP increased with duration of confinement (r = 0.26 P = 0.02 and 0.22 P = 0.057 respectively). The prevalence of "hard' drug abuse, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption was quite high among prisoners (34.6%, 66.7% and 77.8% respectively). The study suggests that both SBP and DBP are higher in the prisoners compared to controls and appear to increase with duration of prison confinement. This might in part be related to certain stressful factors associated with prison life and possibly substance abuse.