[Epidemiology of hypertension risks: of no consequence to the German Federal Republic? (author's transl)].

A widely based epidemiologic research on hypertension has led to successful action programs abroad: e.g. the incidence of hypertension fell by about 50% in North Karelia, Finland, and in the USA the life expectancy rose by 1.5 years. Against the background of international scientific agreement both the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the World Health Organization have awarded hypertension the highest priority for European cooperation. In the Federal Republic there is a great backlog; the responsible politicians are called upon to set a new course.