[Behavior of hypertension and cardiovascular findings in hypertension within an observation period of 10 years (the Wurzen study 1961-1971)].

In concert with literary data during a mass X-ray examination in 1961 we established in 5,517 men of the district Wurzen a frequency of hypertension of 13.6% and in 1971 in the same group of test persons a frequency of hypertension of 19.4%. The percentage of the pathological cardiovascular X-ray findings was in normotonus 10.4% in 1961 and 11.2% in 1971, in hypertension 22.3% in 1961 and 27.5% in 1971. The dependence on the age of the test persons, on the degree of severity of hypertension, and particularly on the duration of the hypertension is clear. For prevention of a hypertensive heart disease the early recognition of a hypertension and an early therapy are necessary. On the basis of our studies the making of cardiovascular X-ray findings from photofluorograms is not suitable as screening test for the hypertension. The value of blood pressure controls in mass X-ray examinations must be emphasized. Important is the collection of cardiovascular X-ray findings from photofluorograms of the thorax for the establishment of a hypertensive heart disease, of not recognized vitia and age-conditioned cardiac and vascular changes. It implies an optimum use of the material collected in the mass X-ray examination.