Hypertension in middle-aged men. The effect of repeated screening and referral to community physicians on hypertension control.

The purpose of this study was to find the prevalence and incidence of hypertension in middle-aged Icelandic men, their awareness of this condition and treatment status and to what extent the control of hypertension was changed by regular follow-up and referral to community physicians. The study was a part of the Health Survey in the Reykjavik area, a prospective cardiovascular health survey. Participants in the study were 10,741 men aged 34-61 at the onset, that were allotted to a study group of 2,955 men (Group B) examined by standardized methods in 1967-'68 (Stage I), 1970-'71 (Stage II), 1974-'76 (Stage III) and 1979-'81 (Stage IV) and three control groups, Group C (2,744 men), Group A (2,755 men) and Group D (2,287 men) examined in Stage II, III and IV respectively. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure greater than or equal to 160 systolic and/or greater than or equal to 95 diastolic on two occasions and/or current treatment for hypertension. All hypertensives were referred to community physicians for control and/or treatment. The main findings and conclusions were as follows: The prevalence of hypertension was age dependent, increasing from about 5% in men in the mid-thirties to about 35% in the mid-seventies. In comparable age groups there was no significant change in prevalence during the 12-year study period. The annual incidence was age-dependent, lowest in the youngest around 2% and highest in the oldest, around 5%. Awareness of hypertension was low at the start of the study only 24% of hypertensives knowing about their condition but increased in the study group to 68% at the end of the study. In the control groups there was also an increase from 20% in Stage II to 63% in Stage IV. In the study group 16% of hypertensives were under treatment in 1967-'68 but 64% in 1980-'81 or 94% of known hypertensives.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)