Blood pressure levels and the treatment of hypertension in Auckland, 1982.

The level of coronary heart disease risk factors in a random sample of 1598 people aged 35-64 years was examined in Auckland in 1982. Blood pressure was measured and the prevalence of treated and untreated hypertension determined. Mean systolic blood pressure increased with age from 124 mmHg (16.49 kPa) in men aged 35-39 years to 144 mmHg (19.15 kPa) in those aged 60-64 years, and from 115 mmHg to 140 mmHg (15.29-18.62 kPa) in women in the same age groups. Compared with previous New Zealand studies blood pressure levels were lower in this study and considerably more people were on antihypertensive treatment. Hypertension is still a major problem in Auckland with 21% of men and 19% of women aged 35-64 years either hypertensive or on antihypertensive treatment. Although half of these people were on treatment, 16% of men and 9% of women in this age group in Auckland were estimated to have a blood pressure level in the hypertensive range.