[The combination mass radiography--blood pressure measurement. Experiences and results in the Canton Bern].

The combination of mass radiophotography and blood pressure measurement was started in the Canton Berne (population approx. 1 million) in 1974. Experience with this method has been highly satisfactory: An average of 80% of personnel attented mass radiophotography on a voluntary basis and 97--i00% participated in the blood pressure measurement. The costs were low because a well-established service could be utilized. In this way, it has been possible to examine 90,000 persons within three years, or 45% of the population (age 30 to 65 years). The results for 1977 were analyzed using a general computer program. A total of 17,112 persons aged 30 years and more and belonging to the working population were examined: 14.6% of the screened population had hypertension of greater than or equal to 160 and/or greater than or equal to 95 mm Hg. Diastolic pressure was found to be greater than or equal to 100 mm Hg in 5.9% and greater than or equal to 110 mm Hg in 1.8%. 54.8% of the detected hypertensions were unknown to the examined persons and 17.8% were under treatment. Correlations with other findings, such as pathologic images of the heart in the X-ray and smoking, have been investigated. An interesting fact was the remarkable difference in the percentage of hypertension between population groups (10.7--20.7%) and occupations such as industry, trades and public utilities (3.0--29.8%). It has been shown that screening for hypertension is not only a propaganda move. A large number of undetected hypertensive subjects can be passed on for treatment.