Abstract

The main cause of mortality among Indonesian pilgrims was circulatory diseases. The death was common among old pilgrims, especially due to heart failure. It is known that hypertension is one of the causes of heart failure The study aimed to determine blood pressures among high risk pilgrims after umrah in Mecca, Saudi Arabia and blood pressure in Indonesia with influencing factors: sex, body mass index, accommodation room density, and number of condition/diseases.It was an observational study. Twenty eight high risk pilgrims of kelompok terbang (kloter) or flight group 30 JKS year 2003 were voluntarily participated in the study. The blood pressure of the respondents was measured at sitting position. Mean differences of systolic and diastolic blood pressure in Indonesia and after umrah was compared by paired t-test. Systolic blood pressure in Indonesia after umrah, by controlling confounding variables was analyzed by linear regression model. The systolic blood pressure of respondents after umrah tended to decrease to 0.43 mm Hg in comparison to 1 mmHg increase on examination in Indonesia, at number of conditions/diseases to be constant. It is likely that the psychological sincerity (ikhlas) has influenced the decrease of sympathetic intervations system in brainstem for blood pressure to lower of systolic blood pressure. Meanwhile, the systolic blood pressure after umrah tended to increase to 11.94 mmHg for a number of conditions/diseases to be constant. The pilgrimage activities is hard, especially in surrounding higher climate at the average of 39• C. So pilgrims with the condition as old people or having diseases influenced the systolic blood pressure. The peripheral vasoconstriction possibly caused increase systolic blood pressure. Pilgrimage is a hard physical activity, more over for high risk pilgrims. Hence, monitoring pilgrim health conditions, especially the high risk pilgnms, should be conducted by kloter health workers, like to control blood pressure as one of health indicators. Because hypertension is one of heart failure causes. Key words: systolic blood pressure, high risk pilgrims, old persons, diseases