RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE IN NEW GUINEA: INCLUDING A CARDIOVASCULAR SURVEY OF 200 NATIVE PAPUANS

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Abstract
During service in New Guinea the diagnosis of mitral stenosis was made in 4 natives of New Guinea, the first 2 in association with aortic insufficiency and auricular fibrillation. One was seen at the ANGAU native hospital at Lae, Manadated Territory, another at Kerema on the Papuan Gulf and the other 2 in a cardiovascular survey of 200 native Papuans in the villages of Seapiapi and Uritai. Faint systolic murmurs were heard in 34 individuals in this group and were attributed to anemia. Four individuals had unexplained systolic murmurs. Nine showed palpable enlargement of the heart. In 6 of these, the enlargement was attributed to anemia, in two it was associated with peripheral arteriosclerosis. In 137 individuals in whom blood pressure readings were made, 38 had hypotension. Only one individual showed an elevated systolic blood pressure. Some degree of peripheral arteriosclerosis was noted in 29 individuals. Premature development of the stigmata of senility was frequent. Only 20 people in the group of 200 were over 40 yrs. of age. This premature aging of the population was regarded as due to the prevalence of the infectious tropical diseases of youth rather than the degenerative changes of middle age. Rheumatic heart disease appears to be uncommon, but by no means rare, in natives of Eastern New Guinea. More careful study of people in the tropics may reveal that rheumatic heart disease is universal in location. Meteorologic data are given.