The Queenscliff study: a community screening programme for hypertension.

The Victorian community of the Borough of Queenscliffe (Queenscliff and Point Lonsdale) was screened for high blood pressure in May, 1975, and a high response rate was achieved. The prevalence of hypertension was lower than that reported from Albury in 1971, Brunswick in 1972 or Busselton in 1969, but the difference from the latter is likely to be due to a higher treatment rate in Queenscliff. The difference from the Albury (and, to a lesser extent, the Brunswick) data is substantial and cannot be explained in this way. While geographic variability in high blood pressure cannot be excluded, it is possible that different screening circumstances were a major factor.