Mortality and hospital admissions due to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus
have been increasing in Fiji steadily over the past 20years. These diseases werepresent more
frequently in the Indian than the Melanesian population of Fiji, but recently the steepest
rise in prevalence rates occurred among the Melanesian population. The underlying
conditions that contributed most to increasing mortality and morbidity were hypertension
and diabetes mellitus. In 1978, the proportional mortality from diabetes mellitus was 6.0%
(9. 0% in persons aged > 40 years), and thatfrom cardiovascular diseases was 30.3% (39%
in those aged > 40 years). Ischaemic heart disease was the main cause of mortality and
morbidity among the Indian population. This analysis of mortality and morbidity data is
supported by thefindings ofapopulation survey, which showed that the prevalence rates of
diabetes and hypertension in 1980 among urban Melanesians were similar to those among
Indians. Urbanization and a modern life-style seem to play an important role in determining
the disease pattern in Fiji, which is following the patterns in many industrial
countries.