title: Hypertension in middle-aged men. The effect of repeated screening and referral to community physicians on hypertension control.
abstract: 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)
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sigfússon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007055:Iceland; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents